Smart Speaker Noise Control via Dynamic Audio Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to dynamically and automatically adjust sound sources and environments to maintain sound transfer below a certain threshold from one space to another, due to dynamic sound volume, frequency, and environmental changes, making it difficult to prevent unwanted noise disturbance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of smart speakers with microphones in each room that analyze audio streams to detect and estimate sound transfer, allowing for dynamic and automatic adjustments to reduce noise levels by invoking actions such as volume reduction, equalization changes, or directional audio output to maintain sound below a user-configured threshold.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If sound volume is increased to improve audio quality in the source room, then audio quality is improved, but noise disturbance in adjacent rooms increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio qualityVSAvoidnoise disturbance

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different audio output characteristics to different spatial locations. Audio output is optimized for the source room while automatically reducing noise transmission to adjacent rooms, creating local quality differentiation between rooms through dynamic volume and equalization adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts audio settings in real-time based on detected sound transfer conditions. Volume, equalization, and other audio parameters are continuously modified according to the measured noise levels in adjacent rooms, transforming static audio output into a dynamic adaptive system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If volume is set based on opening scene to ensure adequate audio levels, then audio coverage is improved, but noise during loud scenes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio level consistencyVSAvoidnoise during loud scenes

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from noise detection in adjacent rooms to automatically adjust audio output settings. By continuously monitoring sound transfer and comparing it against threshold levels, the system provides real-time feedback control that modulates volume and equalization to maintain audio quality while preventing excessive noise transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes multiple audio parameters including volume level, equalization frequencies, and output characteristics based on the detected audio content and noise transfer conditions. This allows optimization of audio levels for different scene intensities while maintaining consistent audio coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If manual adjustment of sound sources is performed to reduce noise transfer, then noise control is improved, but system complexity and user burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise transferVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects noise transfer conditions and adjusts audio settings without requiring manual user intervention. The noise detection and adjustment processes are self-service functions that operate autonomously, eliminating the need for users to manually configure complex audio parameters while maintaining effective noise control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If sound transfer is measured at one time point to set volume, then measurement simplicity is improved, but accuracy of noise control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement simplicityVSAvoidnoise control accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously measures sound transfer and adjusts audio settings rather than performing single-point measurements. This continuous monitoring and adjustment process maintains accurate noise control by adapting to changing audio content and environmental conditions, transforming a discrete measurement task into a continuous control process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11405735B2System and method for dynamically adjusting settings of audio output devices to reduce noise in adjacent spaces

Publication Date: 2022.08.02 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A computer-implemented method, comprising detecting a first audio output in a first room, and detecting a portion of the first audio output in a second room, determining whether the portion of the first audio output in the second room meets a trigger requirement, and for the determining that the portion meets the trigger requirement, providing an action to reduce the portion of the first audio input in the second room.