Sleep Detection via Motion Comparison in Wearable Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in efficiently resuming playback of long-form audio content, such as podcasts and audio books, when they fall asleep, as existing technologies lack effective methods to detect and respond to a user's sleep state to control audio device functions.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that utilize sensors in wearable audio devices and separate audio gateways to detect movement and position, inserting a marker in the audio file when the user is likely asleep, allowing seamless resumption of playback, and optionally switching to white noise or powering down the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users continue playback of long-form audio content during sleep, then audio consumption is maintained, but user experience deteriorates due to inability to efficiently resume playback
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of sleep state during audio playback and automatically inserts a marker at the optimal resumption point before the user wakes up. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual scrubbing or guessing where to resume, allowing users to instantly continue from the correct position upon waking.
2Measurement precision
If motion sensors are used to detect sleep state, then sleep detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensors and comparison logic
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the audio gateway as an intermediary device that performs the complex sleep detection algorithms and marker insertion logic. The wearable audio device only needs to collect motion data and transmit it to the gateway, which then handles the sophisticated comparison of motion patterns between two devices and the intelligent decision-making for marker placement, thereby distributing complexity away from the wearable device.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If playback continues during sleep without intervention, then audio stream continuity is maintained, but user engagement deteriorates due to falling asleep during playback
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors motion data from both the wearable audio device and audio gateway during playback, providing real-time feedback about the user's state. When sleep is detected, the system automatically adjusts playback by inserting markers or switching content, creating a feedback loop that adapts playback to user state and maintains engagement without requiring manual user input.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to efficiently resume playback at the correct time and enhances the listening experience by detecting sleep states, improving user engagement with long-form audio content.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor for generating a first indicator about movement or a position of the wearable audio device over a period
Implementation Method 2
at least one transducer for playing back an audio file
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects include approaches for controlling audio playback based upon a detected user sleep state. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method of controlling playback of an audio file at a wearable audio device includes: receiving a first indicator about movement or a position of an audio gateway over a period; receiving a second indicator about movement or position of the wearable audio device over the period, wherein the wearable audio device is separate from the audio gateway; and in response to the first indicator deviating from the second indicator by less than a threshold for the period, inserting a marker in the audio file that enables a user to revert back to the playback at a time of the marker.