Set-Top Box Audio Ducking for Mobile Notification Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
People often miss audible notifications from their mobile devices due to high volume levels of television or music, making it difficult to hear ringing or alerts.
Innovation Solution
A device silencing manager on a set-top box detects audible notifications from mobile devices and adjusts the television volume to ensure the notification can be heard, using microphone pickup or electronic notifications over a short-range wireless network to send commands to reduce or mute the TV volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the television volume is kept high for entertainment, then the audio output quality is improved, but the audible notification from mobile devices cannot be heard
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of mobile device notifications before the user can hear them, using the microphone to capture ringtone sounds or receiving electronic notifications in advance. This allows the system to prepare for volume adjustment before the notification becomes critical, ensuring reliable detection while maintaining high TV volume levels during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the audio environment through the microphone and receives feedback about mobile device notifications. When a notification is detected, the system provides feedback by adjusting the TV volume down and then restoring it after the notification period, creating a closed-loop control system that balances entertainment audio output with notification reliability.
2Reliability
If the television volume is reduced to hear notifications, then the notification can be heard, but the entertainment experience is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies periodic volume adjustment only when notifications are detected, rather than maintaining a permanently reduced volume. The TV volume is temporarily decreased during notification periods and then restored to the original high level for entertainment, creating a periodic on-demand adjustment that maintains both notification reliability and entertainment quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the TV volume based on real-time detection of notification conditions. Rather than a static volume setting, the volume level changes dynamically - high during entertainment periods and temporarily reduced during notification periods - allowing the system to adapt to different operational states and maintain optimal performance for both purposes.
3Reliability
If the system automatically adjusts TV volume for notifications, then notification reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing microphone and audio processing capabilities of the set-top box to detect notifications, rather than requiring separate dedicated detection hardware. The same audio pathway used for TV output is leveraged for notification detection, and the existing volume control mechanisms are repurposed for automatic adjustment, allowing the system to serve itself without adding significant complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The microphone and audio processing system performs multiple functions - both monitoring for notification detection and controlling the TV audio output. The volume control mechanism serves dual purposes of entertainment audio level management and notification facilitation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while improving notification reliability.
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
Effectively allows users to hear important notifications by temporarily reducing the TV volume, ensuring they are not missed, while also providing options for user interaction to ignore or restore the original volume.
Implementation Method 1
The device silencing manager may detect the audible notification occurring by the sound waves of the audible notification from the mobile device picked up by a microphone of the receiving device
Data Source
AI summary
A user's set top box detects the ringing of a telephone, mobile device or other type of audible notification of an incoming call or message and, in response, sends a command causing a current audio level of the television programming or other media currently being played to decrease such that the audible notification can be heard by the user. A device silencing manager on the set top box may detect the audible notification occurring by the sound waves of the audible notification from the mobile device picked up by a microphone of the receiving device. Additionally or alternatively, a device silencing manager on the set top box may wirelessly receive, either directly or indirectly from the mobile device, an electronic notification of the audible notification.