Noise-Cancelling Speaker Alert Prioritization for Ambient Sounds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Noise-cancelling speakers and headphones struggle to selectively allow relevant ambient sounds, such as car horns or sirens, while minimizing interference with audio content like music or podcasts.
Innovation Solution
Systems and processes that identify ambient sounds, assign priority levels, and audibly provide relevant alerts through noise-cancelling speakers by using microphones, sensors, and control circuitry to suppress unwanted noise and time-shift alerts to minimize interference with audio content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If noise cancellation is applied to suppress all ambient sounds, then unwanted noise is reduced, but relevant alerts (car horns, sirens) are also suppressed and not heard by the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments ambient sounds into different categories (unwanted noise vs. relevant alerts) using audio fingerprinting and classification. The noise cancellation system selectively applies suppression only to identified noise categories while preserving alert sounds, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and alert detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary classification system that acts as a mediator between the noise cancellation mechanism and the audio output. This intermediary analyzes captured ambient sounds, identifies alerts versus noise, and selectively controls which sounds are suppressed and which are preserved, allowing both noise reduction and alert detection to coexist.
2Loss of information
If all ambient sounds are allowed through noise cancellation, then relevant alerts are heard, but unwanted noise also remains and interferes with audio content
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the ambient audio spectrum into distinct categories using audio fingerprinting technology. By classifying sounds as either 'alert' or 'noise' based on their acoustic characteristics, the system can selectively pass through alerts while blocking noise, achieving both goals simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality treatments to different portions of the ambient sound spectrum. Relevant alert frequencies are preserved with high fidelity while unwanted noise frequencies are suppressed, creating a locally optimized audio output that maintains alert detectability while reducing noise interference.
3Speed
If alerts are provided immediately when detected, then alert information is delivered quickly, but it interferes with music or podcast audio content
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the music or podcast audio content to identify upcoming quiet portions or lower-volume segments. By anticipating these moments in advance, the system can time-shift alert delivery to coincide with natural pauses in the audio content, ensuring quick alert delivery without interfering with the overall listening experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the timing of alert delivery based on the real-time characteristics of the audio content being played. The system continuously monitors audio volume and patterns, flexibly shifting alert timing to optimize both delivery speed and minimal interference with the user's audio experience.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for selectively providing audio alerts via a speaker device are disclosed herein. A system plays first audio content through a speaker. A microphone captures second audio content comprising an alert. Output of the second audio content through the speaker is suppressed by using noise cancellation. The system identifies the alert within the second audio content and determines a priority level of the alert. The system determines, based on the priority level, that the alert should be reproduced, and audibly reproduces the alert via the speaker, with the first audio content or instead of the first audio content.