Ring-tone Assignment via Acoustic Proximity Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In office environments, it is challenging to distinguish between ringing phones due to the same default ring tones being assigned to phones in close proximity, even when users attempt to change them, as the number of unique ring tones increases, making it difficult to ensure they sound different.
Innovation Solution
A method where a limited pool of distinct ring tones is automatically assigned to phones by having them generate and detect audio signals, using a graph-coloring algorithm to ensure physical separation of similar tones, allowing phones to hear and report on the loudness of each other's signals, thus assigning unique tones based on proximity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large number of unique ring tones are generated for phones, then the distinguishability of ringing phones improves, but the complexity of ensuring uniqueness and managing the ring tone pool increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system assigns ring tones based on the local acoustic environment and proximity of phones. Phones that can hear each other's ring tones are assigned different tones, while phones that cannot hear each other may share the same tone. This localized approach ensures distinguishability where needed without requiring unique tones for all phones.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring tone assignment process is automated and does not require administrator intervention. The system automatically detects which phones can hear each other by having them generate and listen for audio signals, then autonomously assigns ring tones based on this detection, eliminating the need for manual configuration.
2Ease of manufacture
If default ring tones are assigned to phones in an office environment, then the setup process is simplified, but the ability to distinguish between ringing phones deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the acoustic environment and phone proximity before assigning ring tones. By having phones generate audio signals and detect which phones hear them, the system builds a proximity map that guides the subsequent ring tone assignment, ensuring distinguishability is built-in from the start.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from audio detection to guide ring tone assignment. Phones report which ring tones they hear from other phones, and this feedback is used to adjust the assignment, ensuring that phones in close proximity receive different ring tones while maintaining ease of automated provisioning.
3Measurement precision
If administrators manually assign ring tones to phones, then precision can be controlled, but the time required for provisioning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ring tone assignment is performed automatically by the system without requiring administrator intervention. The automated detection and assignment process eliminates manual configuration time while maintaining precise assignment based on actual acoustic proximity, resolving the contradiction between precision and time.
4Device complexity
If phones use the same default ring tone, then the system configuration is simplified, but the difficulty of detecting which phone is ringing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local differentiation of ring tones based on the specific acoustic environment and phone proximity. Rather than using a uniform default tone for all phones, the system adapts the ring tone assignment to the local conditions, ensuring that phones close enough to hear each other use different tones, thus solving the detection difficulty while maintaining simple automated configuration.
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
This solution allows for optimal assignment of distinct ring tones to co-located phones without administrative intervention, enhancing the ability to identify whose phone is ringing, especially in open-seating and cubicle environments, without requiring knowledge of phone locations or acoustic environments.
Implementation Method 1
each phone in turn generates an audio-signal (for example, a chirp) while all of the other phones in the group listen for the audio signal
Data Source
AI summary
A controller ensures that ring-tones of a relatively-small pool of distinct ring-tones are individually assigned to telephones of a group of telephones in such a way as to maximize the physical separation of telephones with the same or similar ring-tones. One telephone after another generates an audio signal, such as a chirp or a ring-tone, while the other telephones listen for the audio signal and report results of their listening to the controller. The controller uses the results to assign ring-tones to the telephones. A graph-coloring algorithm may be used to make the assignments.