Selector Input Device for Automatic Audio Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current consumer electronic devices require cumbersome processes to capture and share audio and video content, necessitating unlocking, locating applications, capturing media, and selecting recipients, which is inefficient for quick communication.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a selector input device that allows users to capture and automatically transmit audio signals to preferred contacts without unlocking the device, using a housing with a microphone and communication interface, and a selector input device for rapid audio signal capture and transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional consumer electronic devices are used to capture and share audio content, then the device can perform the function of capturing and transmitting audio signals, but the process requires multiple steps including unlocking, locating applications, capturing media, and selecting recipients which increases the time and complexity of operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of audio message transmissionVSAvoidtime required for device unlocking and application location

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the device to automatically unlock and launch the messaging application when the selector input device is activated. The recipient contact is pre-selected and associated with the selector device, so no additional selection steps are needed during actual use. This eliminates the time-consuming steps of manually unlocking, finding the app, and selecting recipients, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If traditional multi-step process is used for audio message transmission, then the device can ensure proper functionality and recipient selection, but the ease of operation is reduced due to cumbersome steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of audio message sending processVSAvoidnumber of operational steps required

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate operations (unlocking, launching application, selecting recipient, capturing audio, transmitting message) into a single action by associating the selector input device with all these functions. The selector device serves as a consolidation point that triggers the entire audio message transmission sequence, reducing the number of steps from multiple sequential actions to a single intuitive interaction, thus improving ease of operation while managing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs self-service by automatically unlocking itself and launching the messaging application without requiring manual user intervention for these preliminary steps. The system handles the complex coordination of multiple functions autonomously in response to the selector device activation, freeing the user from cumbersome operations while maintaining proper functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If a selector input device is added to enable rapid audio capture and transmission, then the ease of operation and speed improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of audio signal captureVSAvoidadditional components required

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The selector input device is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both an input mechanism for initiating audio capture and as a trigger for automatic device unlocking and application launching. By making the selector device universal and integrating multiple functions into it, the patent avoids adding separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Facilitates quick and efficient audio communication by reducing the steps required to capture and share audio messages, allowing users to send audio signals directly to preferred contacts with minimal device interaction.

Implementation Method 1

a microphone to capture an audio signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrophone transduction:

Data Source

PatentUS11825276B2Selector input device to transmit audio signals

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 SNAP INC

AI summary

An apparatus with a selector input device to transmit an audio signal comprises a microphone, a communication interface, and a selector input device. The apparatus can also comprise a processor and a memory having instructions stored thereon, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising detecting an activation of the selector input device. In response to detecting the activation, the processor captures the audio signal via the microphone and transmits the audio signal via the communication interface to a first client device. Other embodiments are described herein.