Playback Volume Control Using a Representative Volume Level
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media playback systems with maximum volume features often result in a suboptimal user experience due to volume adjustments being misinterpreted or ignored when exceeding the maximum volume level, leading to discrepancies between user requests and actual volume settings.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a maximum volume state variable and a representative volume level calculation within playback devices, allowing them to adjust volume levels differently from user requests while maintaining a consistent user interface representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the playback device enforces a strict maximum volume level, then harmful factors (excessive volume) are reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates because user requests are misinterpreted or ignored
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a representative volume level as an intermediary between the actual volume level and the user interface. This mediator translates user requests into appropriate actual volume adjustments while maintaining accurate feedback display, resolving the conflict between enforcing volume limits and responding to user requests.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the user interface directly control the actual volume level, the patent inverts the relationship by having the user interface control a representative volume level, which then determines the actual volume level. This inversion allows the system to enforce maximum volume limits while maintaining responsive user interaction.
2Measurement precision
If the system displays the actual volume level, then measurement precision is high, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the display becomes unresponsive when volume exceeds maximum level
Solution Approach 1:
The representative volume level serves as a mediator between the user interface and the actual volume level. The user interface displays and controls the representative volume level, which accurately reflects the actual volume level while remaining responsive to user requests even when the actual volume is at or near the maximum level.
3Ease of operation
If the playback device adjusts volume directly according to user requests, then ease of operation is improved, but harmful factors increase when requests exceed the maximum volume level
Solution Approach 1:
The representative volume level acts as an intermediary that receives user requests and translates them into safe actual volume adjustments. This mediator ensures that user requests are always responsive and accurate, while the system enforcement of maximum volume limits prevents harmful excessive volume levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system preemptively prevents excessive volume by calculating the actual volume level from the representative volume level and the maximum volume level, rather than allowing user requests to directly set the volume. This preliminary calculation prevents harmful volume levels before they can occur.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device (i) receives a first request for a playback device to operate at a maximum volume, (ii) determines that the playback device is currently operating in accordance with a current maximum volume setting of the playback device that is less than a loudest volume at which the playback device is capable of outputting sound, (iii) based on the first request and the determination, presents, via a user interface of the computing device, a notification that includes instructions for changing the current maximum volume setting of the playback device, (iv) receives a second request to increase the current maximum volume setting of the playback device, and (v) based on the second request, causes the playback device to operate in accordance with the increased maximum volume setting.