In-Vehicle Voice Call Mute Control for Noise and Status Signaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing voice call systems in vehicles struggle with background noise interference, leading to either excessive filtering of participant's voice or continuous data transmission when microphones are deactivated, and lack clear communication status indication to conference partners.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle system that includes a recording device to capture sound and images, a control device to manage a mute mode for the communication device, and input devices to activate/deactivate this mode, ensuring record signals are paused during mute and status signals are sent to conference partners.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If filter algorithms are used to reduce background noise, then background noise disturbance is reduced, but voice signals of the participant may be filtered out

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackground noise disturbanceVSAvoidvoice signal transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the problematic continuous data transmission during microphone deactivation by introducing a mute mode that selectively stops record signal transmission to conference partners while maintaining microphone functionality for local audio processing and status indication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the microphone is deactivated to stop background noise transmission, then background noise is reduced, but communication modules continue transmission of record signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackground noise transmissionVSAvoiddata stream transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic mute mode that allows the system to adaptively control data stream transmission based on real-time conditions. When mute mode is activated, the system dynamically stops record signal transmission to conference partners while maintaining microphone functionality, creating a flexible solution that responds to changing communication needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the microphone is deactivated, then background noise is reduced, but other users cannot recognize the microphone status

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackground noiseVSAvoidmicrophone status indication
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism through status signals that are sent to conference partners when mute mode is activated. This feedback loop allows other users to be informed of the microphone status without actually deactivating the microphone, resolving the information loss problem while maintaining audio functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4388732B1Vehicle configured to perform a voice call via a communication device and method
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 CARIAD SE
  • EP4388732B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4388732B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention is concerned with a vehicle (1) configured to perform a voice call via a communication device (2), wherein the vehicle (1) comprises a recording device, configured to record sound and/or images in a passenger cabin of the vehicle (1) and to generate respective record signals (6) during the voice call, the vehicle (1) comprises a control device (7) configured to transmit the record signals (6) to the communication device (2) during the voice call. The control device (7) is configured, upon reception of a predefined mute signal (18), to control the communication device (2), to activate a predefined mute mode of the voice call in the communication device, wherein the communication device (2) is configured to receive the record signals during the predefined voice call and to discard the record signals (6), when the predefined mute mode of the voice call is activated in the communication device (2).