Vehicle Audio Volume Indication via Mobile Device Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging for users to determine the actual volume level of audio content played through a vehicle sound system when both the vehicle and connected devices have separate volume settings, making it difficult to adjust the overall sound level effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system that connects a vehicle sound system to a mobile device over both data and audio connections, allowing the vehicle to request an audio indication from the mobile device, which is then reproduced at the vehicle's volume to inform the user of the overall loudness of audio being played back.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate volume settings are provided for the vehicle system and mobile device, then each device can independently control its volume, but the user cannot accurately determine the overall volume level of audio content
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle system requests an audio indication from the mobile device and reproduces it at the vehicle volume level to provide feedback about the overall loudness. This feedback mechanism allows the user to understand the combined volume effect without requiring complex calculations or additional displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio indication serves as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between the separate volume controls of the mobile device and vehicle system. By playing back a sample audio signal at the vehicle's volume setting, it mediates the information transfer about the overall volume level.
2Measurement precision
If the vehicle system displays volume information from the mobile device, then the user can see the volume level, but the actual perceived volume cannot be accurately indicated without playing audio
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces visual display mechanisms with acoustic feedback. Instead of showing volume levels through graphical interfaces, the system plays an audio indication that acoustically represents the overall volume level, making the information directly perceivable through hearing.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle system uses its own audio output to provide volume information. By reproducing the audio indication at the current vehicle volume setting, the system self-services the information delivery function, eliminating the need for separate visual indicators or additional processing.
3Loss of information
If the vehicle system calculates and displays the combined volume level, then accurate volume information is provided, but complex calculations and additional processing are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the volume information indication from the mobile device and handles only the reproduction of this pre-provided information. The complex task of determining and calculating the combined volume level is performed by the mobile device, not the vehicle system, simplifying the vehicle's processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio indication acts as an intermediary that carries the volume information without requiring the vehicle system to perform complex calculations. The mobile device prepares this intermediary signal, and the vehicle system simply reproduces it, avoiding the complexity of real-time volume computation.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system may be connected to a mobile device over a data connection and an audio connection, and configured to, responsive to a vehicle volume change, request over the data connection that the mobile device provide an audio indication at device volume over the audio connection, and reproduce the audio indication by the vehicle system, at vehicle volume, to indicate a loudness for audio played back from the mobile device. The mobile device may be connected to the vehicle system over the data connection and the audio connection, and configured to receive the request over the data connection that the mobile device provide the audio indication over the audio connection, and provide the audio indication at device volume to allow the vehicle system to reproduce the audio indication at the overall volume of sound played back from the mobile device through the vehicle system.