Mobile Device Reminder Volume Adjustment via Acoustic Echo Analysis

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile devices require user intervention to adjust reminder volumes based on their location, leading to either unnoticed reminders in quiet environments or disturbances in louder settings, as prior solutions depend on user foresight and manual adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that automatically adjust the initial volume of reminders by sampling sound via the device's microphone to estimate the space size, adjusting the volume accordingly, ensuring the reminder is audible without disturbing others, using a play alarm applet that repeats the process until the alarm is acknowledged.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the reminder volume is set to be loud to ensure audibility in small spaces (pocket, purse), then the reminder becomes audible, but it disturbs other people in the vicinity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereminder audibilityVSAvoiddisturbance to others

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the reminder volume based on real-time acoustic environment detection. The volume is not fixed but changes adaptively according to the detected space characteristics, transitioning between quiet and loud states based on environmental feedback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the microphone to detect acoustic echoes and feedback from the played reminder sound. By analyzing the reflected sound characteristics, the system determines whether the device is in a confined space (pocket/purse) or open space, and adjusts volume accordingly to prevent disturbance while ensuring audibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the reminder volume is set to be quiet to avoid disturbing others in large spaces (room, desk), then disturbance to others is minimized, but the reminder may pass unnoticed in small spaces (pocket, purse)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisturbance to othersVSAvoidreminder audibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the reminder volume based on real-time acoustic environment detection. The volume is not fixed but changes adaptively according to the detected space characteristics, transitioning between quiet and loud states based on environmental feedback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the microphone to detect acoustic echoes and feedback from the played reminder sound. By analyzing the reflected sound characteristics, the system determines whether the device is in a confined space (pocket/purse) or open space, and adjusts volume accordingly to prevent disturbance while ensuring audibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If manual volume adjustment is required when changing location, then the reminder can be optimized for each environment, but user intervention and forethought are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereminder optimizationVSAvoiduser intervention requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic environment detection and volume adjustment without requiring user intervention. The microphone-based acoustic analysis and echo detection mechanisms enable the device to self-determine the appropriate volume level based on its current environment, eliminating the need for manual user adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary acoustic environment analysis before playing the reminder sound at full volume. By detecting space characteristics in advance through echo analysis and acoustic feedback measurement, the system prepares the appropriate volume level to ensure optimal reminder delivery without requiring user forethought or manual adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Automatically sets the reminder volume based on the space size, ensuring audibility without disturbing others, eliminating the need for user intervention and providing a consistent notification experience across different environments.

Implementation Method 1

sampling the sound via the device microphone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound wave detection: Sound

Implementation Method 2

estimating the 'size' of the space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic echo: Echo

Data Source

PatentEP1971120B1Method and apparatus for automatically adjusting reminder volume on a mobile communication device

Publication Date: 2014.01.15 MITEL CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting volume of an audio signal on a mobile device, comprising playing the audio signal at an initial volume, sampling the audio signal, estimating a transfer function based on an echo path characteristic between the played audio signal and sampled audio signal, selecting a volume policy based on the estimated transfer function, and adjusting the volume of the audio signal in accordance with the selected volume policy.