Wearable Sound Context Detection for Adaptive Notifications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable electronic devices determine context based on external sound alone, leading to reduced effectiveness of notification sounds and limited accuracy due to user inattention or reliance on incomplete data.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device integrates sound data from a wearable device with sensor data to determine user context, adjusting display notifications or wearable operations based on context, display state, and sound output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the wearable electronic device determines context based only on external sound, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of user context is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontext determination complexityVSAvoiduser context accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple data sources (sound data from wearable device, sensor data from mobile device including acceleration, proximity, and camera sensors) to determine user context. This merging of data from different sources improves measurement precision without significantly increasing device complexity, as the mobile device handles much of the processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a multi-functional approach where the wearable device captures sound data, the mobile device captures sensor data, and together they perform comprehensive context determination. This multi-functionality allows accurate context detection while distributing complexity across multiple devices with existing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If the wearable electronic device outputs notification sound only, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of user attention is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification system complexityVSAvoiduser attention effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system dynamically adapts its behavior based on determined user context. When the user is determined to be inactive or not paying attention, the system changes from simple sound notification to more effective methods such as displaying visual notifications on the mobile device screen, thereby improving reliability without requiring a complex static system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from sensor data (such as acceleration data indicating device usage state) to adjust notification delivery. By monitoring whether the user is actively using the device or in an inactive state, the system provides appropriate feedback-based adjustments to ensure notifications are effectively delivered through the most suitable channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the electronic device displays notification message based on incomplete context data, then the productivity is improved, but the measurement precision of context is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification delivery speedVSAvoidcontext determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary context determination using available sound and sensor data to enable rapid notification delivery, while continuously refining the context understanding as more data becomes available. This allows the system to act quickly based on initial assessment while improving precision over time without sacrificing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4206900B1Electronic device controlled on basis of sound data, and method for controlling electronic device on basis of sound data
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4206900B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4206900B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4206900B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device comprises a communication circuit, a display, at least one sensor, and at least one processor. The at least one processor can be configured to : obtain sound data relating to the surrounding environment from a wearable electronic device by means of the communication circuit; obtain sensor data by means of the at least one sensor; confirm whether or not the surrounding environment corresponds to one of a plurality of predetermined situations, on the basis of the sound data and the sensor data; and, in response to confirming that the surrounding environment corresponds to one of the plurality of predetermined situations, transmit a signal for controlling the wearable electronic device to the wearable electronic device by means of the communication circuit and/or display a notification message on the display, on the basis of the corresponding situation, the state of the display, and whether or not the wearable electronic device is outputting sound.