Automatic Volume Control Using External Noise-Only Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of handheld terminals, such as mobile phones and tablets, often need to manually adjust playback volume frequently due to changing environments, which can be inconvenient and less accurate due to interference from the device's own sound.

Innovation Solution

An automatic volume adjustment method that acquires noise signals outside the terminal when it is not outputting sound, determines noise energy, and adjusts the playback volume accordingly, eliminating interference from the device's own sound and ensuring adjustments are based solely on external noise levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the terminal outputs loudspeaker sound during volume adjustment, then the user can hear the playback content, but the device's own sound interferes with the noise detection accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise detection accuracyVSAvoiduser listening experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs noise signal acquisition during intervals when the terminal does not output loudspeaker sound, before the actual playback begins. This preliminary noise detection ensures accurate baseline noise levels are captured without interference from playback sound, and this baseline is then used for subsequent volume adjustments during playback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system periodically acquires noise signals during intervals between playback operations. By utilizing the periodic gaps in loudspeaker output, the system continuously updates noise level measurements without requiring the loudspeaker to be off entirely, thus maintaining both accurate noise detection and continuous playback capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the user manually adjusts playback volume frequently due to environment changes, then the user can adapt to different noise levels, but the operation becomes inconvenient and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation to environment changesVSAvoidtime for manual adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors environmental noise levels through the noise signal acquiring module and uses this feedback to automatically adjust playback volume. The noise energy determination module processes the acquired noise signals to calculate current noise levels, and the volume adjusting module responds by modifying playback volume accordingly, creating a closed-loop feedback system that adapts to environmental changes without user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The volume adjustment system operates autonomously by automatically detecting environmental noise levels and adjusting playback volume without requiring user input. The terminal serves itself by integrating noise detection, noise energy calculation, and volume adjustment functions into a self-regulating system that adapts to changing environments independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If the system adjusts volume based on mixed signals including device sound, then the adjustment process is simpler, but the accuracy of noise-based volume adjustment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal processing simplicityVSAvoidexternal noise measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the external noise components from the acoustic environment by acquiring noise signals during intervals when the terminal does not output loudspeaker sound. This extraction process separates external noise from device-generated sound, ensuring that only relevant environmental noise is used for volume adjustment decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary noise signal acquisition during intervals when the terminal is not playing audio, capturing pure external noise before playback begins. This preliminary action establishes an accurate baseline of external noise levels without contamination from device sound, which is then used for subsequent volume adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4135304B1Automatic volume adjustment method and apparatus, and medium and device
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 DOUYIN VISION CO LTD
  • EP4135304B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4135304B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4135304B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an automatic volume adjustment method and apparatus, a medium, and a device, which belong to the field of computer technologies, and can adjust the playback volume of audio or video. The automatic volume adjustment method includes: acquiring, in a case that a terminal does not output loudspeaker sound, a noise signal outside the terminal; determining noise energy based on the noise signal; and adjusting playback volume of audio or video on the terminal based on the noise energy.