Selective Sound Playback Adjustment for Multi-Speaker Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio interface devices face interference issues during sound playback operations, particularly when users interact with voice-activated systems, as background playback sounds from multi-speaker systems can hinder the device's ability to recognize user speech and provide clear output.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that involve detecting user-device interactions and selectively adjusting sound playback operations in multi-speaker systems based on the user's position, using techniques such as beamforming and speaker deactivation to create a 'silent' zone around the user, thereby reducing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If sound playback is maintained at full volume in a multi-speaker system, then audio output quality is improved, but interference with user speech recognition and audio interface device operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the audio playback by speaker zones, identifying and isolating speakers located in the user interaction zone from those in the listening zone. This allows selective adjustment of sound playback per speaker rather than system-wide volume reduction, maintaining audio output quality for listeners while eliminating interference for the user interacting with the audio interface device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different sound playback characteristics to different spatial locations. Speakers in the listening zone maintain full volume for audio output quality, while speakers in the user interaction zone reduce or eliminate playback to prevent interference with speech recognition. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying quality adjustments only where necessary.
2Measurement precision
If sound playback is reduced to eliminate interference, then user speech recognition is improved, but overall audio output quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the speaker array into functional zones (listening zone vs. interaction zone) and applies speech recognition optimization only to speakers in the interaction zone. This allows the system to improve speech recognition accuracy by reducing playback from specific speakers while maintaining full audio output quality from speakers in the listening zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies speech recognition optimization locally to the user interaction zone rather than globally across all speakers. Speakers directed toward the interaction zone reduce or eliminate playback during user speech, while speakers directed toward the listening zone maintain full output quality. This localized approach resolves the contradiction by preserving audio quality where it matters for listeners.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If selective speaker adjustment is implemented, then interference reduction is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments speakers into controllable groups based on their spatial relationship to the user interaction zone. This segmentation enables simplified control logic where speakers are assigned to either the listening zone or interaction zone, with automatic adjustment rules applied to each group. The segmentation approach reduces complexity compared to individual speaker control while achieving effective interference reduction.
4Measurement precision
If user position-based adjustment is applied, then speech recognition accuracy is improved, but processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies processing resources locally to determine user position and identify the interaction zone, then uses this information to control only the relevant subset of speakers. This localized processing approach reduces overall energy consumption compared to system-wide adjustments while maintaining speech recognition accuracy by focusing computational effort on the critical user interaction area.
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
The solution effectively improves user experience by reducing audio interference between sound playback and user speech, allowing for clearer recognition of user commands and better audio output, without impacting other users' listening experiences.
Implementation Method 1
using techniques such as beamforming and speaker deactivation to create a 'silent' zone around the user
Implementation Method 2
selectively adjusting the sound playback operation to reduce a playback sound of the multi-speaker audio playback system based on a position of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A device for managing sound playback includes one or more processors configured to receive an indication of a user-device interaction between a user and an audio interface device during a sound playback operation of a multi-speaker audio playback system. The sound playback operation associated with the plurality of users. The one or more processors are also configured to, based on receiving the indication of the user-device interaction, initiate a selective adjustment of the sound playback operation to reduce a playback sound of the multi-speaker audio playback system based on a position of the user. The selective adjustment of the sound playback operation adjusts an audio property of the multi-speaker audio playback system for the first user and refrains from adjusting the audio property of the multi-speaker audio playback system for a second user of the plurality of users