Set-Top Box Audio Silencing for Missed Mobile Notifications
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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 increased to enjoy audio content, then the audio quality of television programming is improved, but the ability to hear mobile device notifications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the audio environment through microphone input and electronic notifications to detect when a mobile device is ringing. When a notification is detected, the system provides feedback by automatically adjusting the television volume down and later restoring it, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the television's own microphone and processing capabilities to detect notifications and control its own volume output. The set-top box monitors its audio environment and autonomously makes volume adjustments without requiring external devices or manual intervention.
2Reliability
If the television volume is decreased to hear notifications, then the ability to hear mobile device notifications is improved, but the audio quality of television programming deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically monitors for notifications through continuous microphone input and electronic notification channels. Volume adjustments are made temporarily and periodically - decreasing when a notification is detected and increasing after the notification period expires, creating a rhythmic on-demand volume control pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The television volume is made dynamic rather than static, automatically adjusting between high and low states based on detected notification conditions. The system transitions between different volume states in response to environmental cues, making the audio output adaptable to current needs.
3Reliability
If manual volume adjustment is used to hear notifications, then the ability to hear notifications is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the volume adjustment task automatically without requiring user action. The set-top box detects notifications and autonomously controls the television volume, eliminating the need for manual intervention while ensuring notifications are heard.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary detection mechanism (microphone and electronic notification monitoring) that bridges the gap between the user and the notification. Instead of requiring direct user action to lower volume, the intermediary system detects the ringing and triggers the volume change automatically.
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, and can also control other devices with audible activity.
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.