Mobile Terminal Audio Recognition for Wearable Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

In noisy environments, users wearing wearable sound devices like Bluetooth earphones or neckbands often fail to recognize urgent surrounding voices due to maximized volume, leading to difficulties in responding to situations promptly.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal equipped with a microphone and short-range communication module, which establishes communication with wearable devices to enter an audio recognition mode, detects preset audio signals, and transmits notification information to the wearable device, allowing users to be aware of their surroundings even when listening to audio.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If users maximize the volume of wearable sound devices in noisy environments, then audio output quality is improved, but the ability to hear surrounding voices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio output volumeVSAvoidsurrounding voice perception

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the audio function into two separate channels: the wearable sound device for entertainment audio and the mobile terminal's speaker for environmental awareness. This allows users to listen to music at high volume while simultaneously hearing surrounding voices through the phone's speaker, resolving the contradiction between audio quality and environmental perception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile terminal acts as an intermediary device that receives audio data from the wearable sound device and re-transmits it through its own speaker. This intermediary function enables users to hear both the entertainment audio (from the wearable device) and environmental sounds (from the mobile terminal's speaker) simultaneously, eliminating the need to choose between volume and situational awareness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If users wear wearable sound devices to listen to audio, then entertainment experience is improved, but situational awareness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio listening experienceVSAvoidsurrounding environment awareness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile terminal performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as both the source of entertainment audio (via the wearable device) and the detector of environmental sounds (via its own speaker and microphone). This multi-functionality allows users to maintain both entertainment experience and situational awareness without sacrificing either aspect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the audio environment through the mobile terminal's microphone and provides feedback to the user through the wearable sound device or mobile terminal display. This feedback mechanism alerts users to important environmental sounds while they are listening to entertainment audio, maintaining situational awareness without interrupting the entertainment experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If users ignore surrounding noises to enjoy audio, then relaxation is improved, but safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio listening comfortVSAvoidsafety response capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile terminal continuously monitors the audio environment in advance, detecting preset audio signals (such as alarms, sirens, or urgent voices) before they become critical. This preliminary detection and notification allows users to remain relaxed while listening to entertainment audio, yet be prepared to respond safely when important environmental sounds occur.

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

Enables users to automatically recognize and respond to urgent situations, such as missing a subway station or hearing important voices, by providing notification through the wearable device, thus enhancing situational awareness and safety.

Implementation Method 1

a microphone; a short-range communication module; and a controller operably coupled to the microphone and the short-range communication module

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrophone transduction:

Implementation Method 2

establish communication with a wearable device via the short-range communication module; cause the short-range communication module to transmit notification information

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWireless communication:

Data Source

PatentUS10397736B2Mobile terminal

Publication Date: 2019.08.27 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A mobile terminal includes: a microphone; a short-range communication module; and a controller operably coupled to the microphone and the short-range communication module. The controller is configured to: establish communication with a wearable device via the short-range communication module; enter an audio recognition mode when the communication is established with the wearable device to perform surrounding context awareness in response to audio received via the microphone; and cause the short-range communication module to transmit notification information corresponding to a preset audio signal to the wearable device when the preset audio signal is detected in the audio.