Voice Command Confirmation for Media Playback Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consuming media content in vehicles poses challenges due to limited attention for interacting with media playback devices while driving, noisy environments, and difficulties in accessing and playing media content, including limited flexibility and customization of media content, inconvenient connections to vehicle audio systems, and battery drainage of mobile devices.

Innovation Solution

A personal media streaming appliance (PMSA) designed for vehicle use, which communicates directly with a media content server via cellular networks, provides a simplified user interface, is easily mountable in vehicles, and includes noise-cancellation technology for improved voice interaction, allowing for easy control of media playback without distracting the driver.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If voice commands are used to control media playback device, then driver can keep eyes on road, but cognitive load is still significantly required and driver may become distracted when waiting for response

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by providing immediate audible confirmation that the voice command was received and is being processed. This preliminary feedback eliminates the driver's uncertainty and waiting time, allowing them to maintain focus on driving without cognitive load from wondering if the command was heard.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by playing back a portion of the received voice command or providing audible confirmation to the driver. This feedback loop immediately informs the driver that their command was successfully captured and is being executed, reducing distraction and cognitive load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If built-in streaming audio systems are equipped in cars, then media content access is improved, but limited user interfaces make such systems difficult to use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedia content accessVSAvoiduser interface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical and graphical user interfaces with voice-based acoustic interaction. Drivers can access media content, adjust settings, and control playback through natural speech commands, eliminating the need to interact with complicated buttons, knobs, or touchscreen interfaces while driving.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If mobile devices are used for media playback, then flexibility and personalization are improved, but battery drainage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedia content flexibilityVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the media playback functionality from mobile devices and integrates it directly into the vehicle's audio system. This allows drivers to access their personalized media content and controls through the car's existing power supply, eliminating battery drainage while maintaining flexibility and personalization through voice commands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4027235B1Command confirmation for a media playback device
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 SPOTIFY
  • EP4027235B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4027235B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4027235B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and system for operating a voice command interface configured to control a media playback device. The method comprises receiving at a media playback device, an instruction from a user, the instruction indicative of a user command requesting an outcome, determining whether the outcome will be recognizable by the user of the media playback device in a predetermined period of time after receiving the instruction; and upon determining that the outcome will not be recognizable by the user of the media playback device in the predetermined period of time, playing an audio cue before the predetermined period of time elapses.