Utterance Sound Source Control for Context-Aware Home Appliance Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home appliances with utterance capabilities use the same sound source for notifications regardless of the appliance's situation or user context, leading to discomfort and reduced convenience.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling an utterance device that sets sound source characteristics based on device type, performance, location, distance to the user, and user information to provide a suitable sound source for easy hearing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the same sound source is used for all home appliances regardless of device type or user context, then the system is simple and easy to implement, but the user comfort and convenience are reduced due to inappropriate sound sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by customizing sound source characteristics (volume, pitch, timbre) according to specific device types and their operational contexts. Different home appliances use differentiated sound source settings tailored to their function, location, and user proximity, rather than a universal sound source. This resolves the contradiction by improving user comfort through localized sound optimization while maintaining manageable system complexity through rule-based adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts sound source characteristics based on real-time conditions including device operating state, user distance, and environmental context. The sound source is not static but adapts its parameters according to the specific situation, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and comfort by introducing controlled dynamics that automatically respond to contextual changes without requiring complex user intervention.
2Reliability
If sound source characteristics are customized for each device type, location, and user context, then user comfort and hearing ease are improved, but the system complexity and control requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by adjusting sound source characteristics (volume, pitch, timbre) based on device type, operating state, user distance, and environmental factors. This resolves the contradiction by improving utterance effectiveness through parameter optimization while keeping the control system manageable through automated parameter selection based on pre-defined rules and device metadata rather than complex user configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically selecting and adjusting sound source parameters based on device information and contextual data without requiring manual user configuration. The device or control system autonomously determines appropriate sound characteristics based on its type, location, and detected user context, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by eliminating the need for complex user-side control while maintaining high utterance effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single sound source is used across all devices, then the implementation is straightforward and cost-effective, but the suitability for different device situations and user needs is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a single sound source system that can adapt to multiple device types and contexts through parameter adjustment rather than requiring separate sound sources for each device. The same sound source infrastructure serves multiple functions across different home appliances, resolving the contradiction by improving adaptability through flexible parameter control while avoiding the complexity of maintaining separate sound source systems for each device.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling an utterance device, a server (10), an utterance device (20), and a program control the utterance device (20). The server (10) receives utterance source information from an information source device (40), and set the utterance device (20) based on the utterance source information. Then, the server (10) provides an utterance sound source that has a sound source characteristic according to the utterance device (20) to the utterance device (20), and causes the utterance device (20) to utter using the utterance sound source.