Unified Audio Interface for Activity-Based Experience Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of audio output devices face challenges in conveniently managing and customizing their audio experiences due to the complexity of existing interfaces and the multitude of available technologies, audio content, and services.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that provide a user interface on a user device connected to an audio output device, allowing users to manage their audio experience by selecting from a set of activities, each invoking a set of behaviors that customize the audio experience, including sound management capabilities, audio content, geolocation services, and voice assistant services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users access multiple audio technologies, content, and services through separate interfaces, then they can utilize diverse audio features, but the interface complexity and user effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple audio technologies, content sources, and services into a single unified interface. The audio output device integrates controls for noise cancelling, audio content selection, geolocation services, and voice assistants into one cohesive user interface, eliminating the need for users to navigate separate interfaces for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface is designed as a universal platform that provides access to multiple audio functions and services through a single interface. The interface can invoke various behaviors including sound management, audio content playback, location-based audio services, and voice assistant interactions, making the interface multi-functional rather than specialized for single tasks.
2Ease of operation
If users manually adjust audio settings throughout the day, then they can optimize audio experience for different activities, but the time and effort required for adjustments increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-configured activities that are prepared in advance with specific audio settings optimized for particular situations. When users select an activity, the system already has the appropriate noise cancelling levels, audio content playlists, and service configurations ready to be invoked immediately, eliminating the need for users to manually adjust each setting from scratch.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface provides dynamic activity-based customization where audio settings automatically adapt based on the selected activity. The system transitions between different configured states (behaviors) corresponding to different activities, allowing users to optimize audio experience for various situations without manual adjustment of individual parameters.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users toggle through multiple interfaces to manage audio features, then they can control specific functions, but the operational simplicity and convenience decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments audio management into distinct activities, where each activity represents a specific functional context (e.g., music playback, noise cancelling, voice assistant). Users select activities rather than navigating through hierarchical interfaces, and each activity encapsulates a specific set of related functions, making the system both versatile and simple to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified interface acts as an intermediary layer between the user and the complex audio system. Instead of users directly interacting with individual audio technologies and services, the interface mediates by providing high-level activity selections that automatically invoke the appropriate underlying behaviors, simplifying operation while maintaining full functional control.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for providing a customized audio experience to a user of an audio output device are provided. A user interface is provided on a user device communicatively coupled to the audio output device, the user interface capable of accepting user input for managing the audio experience for the user. A set of activities is provided via the user interface, wherein each activity in the set invokes a set of behaviors configured for the activity for providing the customized audio experience to the user, wherein each behavior in the set customizes the audio experience for the user. A capability is provided via the user interface for the user to launch an activity from the set for invoking the set of behaviors configured for the activity to receive the customized audio experience.