Multi-Speaker Volume Offset Control Within Speaker Limits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems struggle to maintain consistent volume levels across multiple speakers of different manufacturers and models, and adjust volumes within their operational ranges while preserving relative offsets, leading to potential over or under-adjustment.

Innovation Solution

A system that calculates provisional volume levels by summing selected volume levels with speaker-specific offsets, ensuring these levels fall within the operational range of each speaker, and adjusts accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a single volume controller adjusts all speakers simultaneously, then volume adjustment is simple and fast, but it cannot account for different speaker operational ranges and manufacturers, leading to over or under-adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume adjustment simplicityVSAvoidvolume level consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the volume control system into speaker-specific segments, where each speaker has its own operational range parameters and offset settings. The volume controller processes each speaker individually based on its characteristics rather than applying a uniform adjustment to all speakers simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by allowing each speaker to have customized volume offsets and operational range settings specific to its manufacturer and model. This enables tailored volume adjustments for each speaker location and type while maintaining overall system coordination through the controller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If volume offsets are applied to maintain consistent volume relationships, then relative volume balance is improved, but speakers may exceed their operational ranges causing distortion or damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume relationship consistencyVSAvoidover-adjustment damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring each speaker's operational range and adjusting volume offsets accordingly. The system receives feedback about each speaker's capabilities and constraints, then dynamically adjusts the volume distribution to maintain consistent relationships without exceeding individual speaker limits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by making volume offsets adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The system can dynamically modify the volume distribution among speakers based on real-time conditions, speaker characteristics, and operational constraints, allowing flexible maintenance of volume relationships.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If different volume levels are set for each speaker individually, then speaker-specific optimization is achieved, but system complexity and control difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeaker-specific optimizationVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a centralized volume controller that handles multiple functions: it manages individual speaker optimization, maintains system-wide volume relationships, monitors operational ranges, and adjusts offsets dynamically. This single controller performs what would otherwise require multiple independent control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4388753B1System for controlling volume levels of a plurality of speakers and method therefor
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 DTS INC(US)
  • EP4388753B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4388753B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4388753B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system can control volume levels of a plurality of speakers. The system can receive a selected volume level and a plurality of volume offsets corresponding to the plurality of speakers. At least two volume offsets can be different from each other. The system can calculate provisional volume levels for the plurality of speakers. Each provisional volume level can be a sum of the selected volume level and the corresponding volume offset of the speaker. When the provisional volume level is within an operational range of volume levels for the speaker, the system can set a volume level of the speaker to equal the provisional volume level. When the provisional volume level is outside the operational range of volume levels, the system can set the volume level of the speaker to equal a value within the operational range of volume levels for the speaker.