Spatial Visual Indicator Pattern Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional visual indicators for hearing-impaired individuals or noisy environments are limited in their ability to effectively alert users to incoming communications, as they provide only one-dimensional notifications and lack flexibility in conveying information about the origin of calls.
Innovation Solution
A spatial visual indicator system that includes a storage device for multiple visual patterns, a communication network, and a user interface allowing users to create, share, and receive custom visual indicator patterns, enabling more flexible and attention-grabbing notifications based on incoming communication conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single light source visual indicator is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the information conveyed is limited to one-dimensional notifications
Solution Approach 1:
The visual indicator is segmented into multiple independently controllable light sources arranged in a spatial pattern. Each light source can be independently activated to convey different information about incoming calls, transforming a single-dimensional indicator into a multi-dimensional information display system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-point visual indicator to a spatially distributed array of light sources. This dimensional expansion allows the indicator to convey multiple pieces of information simultaneously through spatial arrangement, enabling differentiation of call sources, priorities, and types without increasing overall system complexity significantly.
2Reliability
If pre-programmed spatial visual indicator patterns are used, then the visual indication of call origin is improved, but the flexibility to conform to user preferences is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The visual indicator system transitions from static pre-programmed patterns to dynamic, user-configurable patterns. Users can customize the spatial activation patterns of light sources to match their personal preferences for indicating different call types, sources, or priorities, making the system adaptable to individual needs while maintaining reliable visual indication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates user feedback mechanisms allowing users to modify and reconfigure visual indicator patterns based on their preferences. This feedback loop enables continuous adaptation of the indicator system to user needs while maintaining its core function of accurately indicating call information.
3Loss of information
If conventional caller identification display is used, then calling party information is provided, but the visual alerting capability to draw attention is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions or light sources within the spatial indicator array are assigned different qualities or activation patterns corresponding to different call characteristics. This allows simultaneous conveyance of calling party information and enhanced visual alerting through localized variations in light activation that naturally draw human attention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes color variations in the spatial light indicator to convey different types of information about incoming calls. Different colors can indicate different call sources, priorities, or types, providing both information conveyance and strong visual alerting capability that naturally attracts user attention.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses, and devices for creating or sharing a visual indicator pattern for indicating a condition of an incoming communication. A storage device stores a plurality of visual indicator patterns for displaying on a spatial visual indicator. A user interface is configured to receive a command from a user. Responsive to the command, a user-created visual indicator pattern is stored on the storage device, or another visual indicator pattern is received from, or shared with, another user.