Replay Device Automatic Sentence Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing voice-replaying devices require manual setting of replay startpoints, leading to inconvenience when users want to replay specific sentences or sections of music, as they often miss the desired time point, resulting in incomplete sentence playback during repeated listening.

Innovation Solution

A replay device with automatic sentence segmentation that analyzes soundwave signals to determine segmentation points, allowing the device to automatically set the replay startpoint to the beginning of each sentence by tracing backward to the nearest segmentation point when the replay function is activated.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual setting of replay startpoint is used, then user can set exact time point, but user operation complexity increases and user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereplay startpoint accuracyVSAvoiduser operation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects sentence boundaries and sets replay startpoints without user intervention. The soundwave analysis module autonomously identifies segmentation points and the replay control module automatically configures replay parameters, eliminating manual operation while maintaining precision through algorithmic sentence boundary detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The soundwave analysis module performs preliminary analysis of the soundwave signal to pre-identify segmentation points before replay is requested. This preliminary segmentation enables the replay function to immediately access pre-computed sentence boundaries, providing both automatic convenience and precise startpoint selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If fixed time period backward tracing is used to set replay startpoint, then automatic setting is achieved, but replay startpoint accuracy deteriorates due to variable sentence lengths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic replay settingVSAvoidreplay startpoint accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from fixed time-period backward tracing to dynamic sentence-length-based segmentation. The soundwave analysis module adaptively identifies segmentation points based on actual sentence boundaries in the audio signal, allowing the replay startpoint to dynamically adjust to variable sentence lengths while maintaining automatic operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter basis for replay startpoint selection from fixed time intervals to variable sentence boundary positions. By analyzing soundwave characteristics to detect segmentation points, the system adjusts the replay startpoint parameter to align with actual linguistic boundaries rather than arbitrary time markers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If replay function traces certain time period backwards to set replay startpoint, then manual operation is eliminated, but complete sentence playback cannot be guaranteed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual operation reductionVSAvoidcomplete sentence playback assurance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces mechanical time-based backward tracing with acoustic signal analysis for segmentation point detection. By substituting the mechanical approach of fixed time-period reversal with acoustic analysis of soundwave characteristics, the system reliably identifies sentence boundaries to ensure complete sentence playback while maintaining automatic operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The soundwave analysis module provides feedback about detected segmentation points to the replay control module. This feedback mechanism ensures that replay operations are based on accurately detected sentence boundaries, guaranteeing complete sentence playback through continuous monitoring and adjustment based on acoustic signal characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS7936884B2Replay device and method with automatic sentence segmentation

Publication Date: 2011.05.03 MICRO STAR INTERNATIONAL CO LTD

AI summary

A replay device and method thereof with automatic sentence segmentation is provided. A soundwave analysis module receives a soundwave signal and analyzes the soundwave signal to determine plural segmentation points. A replay actuation module receives a replay command and sets a replay endpoint on the soundwave signal. A replay access module sets the nearest segmentation point prior to the replay endpoint as a replay startpoint. A replay module plays the soundwave signal from the replay startpoint to the replay endpoint.