Network Audio Processing for Hearing Aid Noise Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with hearing loss or those needing language clarification face challenges in filtering out unrelated noise during conferences or classes, as existing hearing aids amplify noise from all sources within a predefined distance, including unwanted frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A network of computing devices with audio sensors and processors that create a sound map to identify and amplify specific audio preferences, allowing users to select which conversations to prioritize and deliver processed audio through a speaker or hearing device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If hearing aids amplify noise from all sources within a predefined distance, then the volume of desired audio is increased, but unwanted noise and frequencies are also amplified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes audio from multiple individual sources separately using multiple microphones and beamforming techniques, then selectively amplifies only the desired speaker's voice while excluding other noise sources, rather than amplifying all audio within a predefined distance
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates different audio processing zones by implementing beamforming that focuses on specific directional sources, applying different amplification and noise suppression characteristics to different spatial locations and audio sources within the environment
2Measurement precision
If a network of computing devices monitors and processes audio from multiple users, then audio clarity and noise filtering are improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The audio processing system is segmented across multiple independent computing devices, where each device processes audio from its local microphones and contributes to the overall sound map, distributing the computational complexity rather than concentrating it in a single system
Solution Approach 2:
Each computing device in the network serves multiple functions: capturing audio locally, processing the audio signal, contributing to the collective sound map, and enabling the user to select and prioritize different audio sources, making the system adaptable to various conference and classroom scenarios
Data Source
AI summary
A method of processing audio through devices connected in a network. The devices include at least a device of a first user and at least one of the devices is a device of another user. The devices comprising at least an audio sensor for detecting audio from the other user, and the device of the first user comprising a processor coupled to at least a speaker for outputting audio. The device of the first user monitors audio from at least one audio sensor on a device of another user for preferences selected by the first user. When the device of the first user detects a preference within the audio, the device of the first user sends a notification to the first user regarding preference detected; and based on an input from the first user, plays the audio for the first user through the speaker.