Playback Volume Control During Media Replacement Events
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Solution Overview
Problem
During media content replacement events, playback devices often fail to respond to user-triggered volume adjustments, leading to a poor user experience as they lack access to volume playback information from the original source, resulting in volume malfunctions or unresponsive controls.
Innovation Solution
A playback device determines the loudness level of the original media content, compares it to a reference loudness level profile, and adjusts its volume accordingly while presenting replacement content, using a smoothing filter to smoothly transition to the target volume level, thereby detecting and responding to user adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the playback device replaces media content from a first source with replacement media content from a second source, then the device can provide targeted advertisements or alternative content, but the device loses access to volume playback information from the original source, causing volume controls to become unresponsive
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of the volume playback information from the first source and stores it in a buffer before the media content replacement occurs. This copied volume information is then used to control the replacement media content, allowing the device to maintain volume control functionality even when the original source is replaced.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing and buffering volume playback information before the media content replacement event occurs. This advance preparation ensures that volume control data is preserved and available when the replacement media content needs to be controlled, preventing information loss during the transition.
2Reliability
If the playback device uses volume information from replacement media content, then volume control remains functional, but the volume level may not match the user's intended adjustment made during the original content playback
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the buffered volume playback information from the first source and using it to adjust the volume of the replacement media content. This feedback mechanism ensures that volume adjustments made by the user during original content playback are accurately reflected in the replacement content, maintaining both responsiveness and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter source for volume control from the replacement media content back to the buffered volume information from the original source. This parameter switching ensures that volume levels remain consistent with user intentions while maintaining functional control during the replacement event.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, an example method includes (i) determining, by a playback device, a loudness level of first media content that the playback device is receiving from a first source; (ii) comparing, by the playback device, the determined loudness level of the first media content with a reference loudness level indicated by a loudness level profile for the first media content; (iii) determining, by the playback device, a target volume level for the playback device based on a difference between the determined loudness level of the first media content and the reference loudness level; and (iv) while the playback device presents second media content from a second source in place of the first media content, adjusting, by the playback device, a volume of the playback device toward the target volume level.