Selective Audio Mute Control for User-Requested Sound Playback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Audio systems, such as those on notebook computers, often fail to mute automatically after user interactions like VoIP calls, leading to unwanted sounds that can disrupt environments, such as meetings, due to user forgetfulness.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a selective mute setting that determines whether to play or suppress audio requests based on user actions, using a smart mute component that checks if the sound request corresponds to user-initiated actions before allowing audio output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the system plays all audio requests automatically, then the audio output is complete and uninterrupted, but unwanted sounds may disrupt environments such as meetings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunwanted audio disruptionsVSAvoiduser need to remember to mute

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting when a user has finished using an audio application and proactively mutes the audio output before the user needs to. This prevents unwanted sounds before they can occur, rather than requiring the user to manually mute after finishing their task.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system serves itself by automatically monitoring application states and managing audio output without requiring user intervention. The system detects when applications are closed or minimized and autonomously mutes or unmutes audio, making the system self-regulating regarding audio output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the system automatically mutes audio after applications are closed, then unwanted sounds are prevented, but legitimate user-requested sounds may be suppressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunwanted audio disruptionsVSAvoidaudio playback reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different quality treatments to different audio requests based on their origin. User-initiated audio requests are allowed to play through while automatic system sounds are blocked. This local differentiation ensures that legitimate user sounds are not suppressed while unwanted automatic sounds are prevented.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback by monitoring user interactions and application states to dynamically adjust audio output. When detecting user activity patterns that indicate intentional audio requests, the system allows playback. When detecting application closure patterns indicating finished usage, the system mutes output, creating a responsive feedback loop.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8345891B2Intelligent selective system mute

Publication Date: 2013.01.01 LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH

AI summary

An approach is provided that receives a sound request from a requesting process. A selective mute setting is identified that corresponds to user enablement actions. If the selective mute setting is disabled the sound request is played at an audio output in response. However, if the selective mute setting being enabled, then steps are performed to determine whether to play the sound request. These steps include determining whether the sound request corresponds to one or more user sound request actions. If it is determined that the sound request corresponds to at least one of the user sound request actions then the sound request is audibly played at the audio output. However, if the sound request does not correspond to at least one of the user sound request actions, then the audio request is suppressed and not played at the audio output.