Wireless Headphones With Offline Hearing Dose Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing noise-induced-hearing-loss (NIHL) prevention systems in portable devices are inadequate due to varying headphone sensitivities, frequency responses, shared use among different devices, autonomous operation, and the need for user-specific protection levels, leading to ineffective hearing dose monitoring and protection.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising wireless headphones and a computer with software that quantifies and records hearing dose, synchronizes records across devices, and takes remedial action when thresholds are exceeded, ensuring accurate and continuous protection regardless of device connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hearing dose monitoring is implemented in portable devices, then hearing protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing dose monitoring system is segmented into multiple functional components: a hearing dose calculator that computes dose based on audio output and headphone characteristics, a recorder that stores dose data, and a communication interface that transfers data between devices. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
A computer or external device serves as an intermediary between the portable audio player and the hearing dose monitoring system. The portable device communicates hearing dose data to the computer, which performs comprehensive monitoring, analysis, and storage. This intermediary approach reduces the processing burden on the portable device while maintaining monitoring effectiveness.
2Measurement precision
If hearing dose is recorded and stored, then hearing protection accuracy is improved, but loss of information risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different storage locations are assigned different functions: the portable device stores raw hearing dose data locally for immediate access and processing, while the computer maintains a comprehensive database for long-term storage and analysis. This local quality differentiation ensures that data is available where needed while reducing the risk of complete data loss through redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements backup mechanisms by storing hearing dose records in multiple locations (portable device memory and computer database) before any potential data loss can occur. This beforehand cushioning ensures that even if one storage location fails, the hearing dose information is preserved through redundant storage.
3Ease of operation
If wireless communication is used for data transfer, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of data transmission decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the portable device sends confirmation signals to the computer upon successful data transfer, and the computer acknowledges receipt of hearing dose records. This feedback loop ensures that wireless data transmission is reliable by verifying completion and allowing for error correction if necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes wireless communication protocols and data formats in advance before actual data transfer occurs. Pre-configured communication parameters and authentication mechanisms are set up beforehand, ensuring that when data transfer is needed, the connection is already optimized for reliable transmission without requiring complex real-time negotiation.
4Ease of operation
If autonomous operation is enabled in portable devices, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision of hearing dose decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The portable device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an audio player and as a hearing dose monitoring unit. It includes integrated components for measuring audio output, storing headphone characteristics, and calculating hearing dose, enabling autonomous operation while maintaining measurement precision through onboard processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable device creates a local copy of the hearing dose monitoring functionality, including the hearing dose calculator and data storage mechanisms. This copying of essential functions allows the portable device to operate autonomously while maintaining the ability to perform accurate hearing dose measurements without requiring constant external computing support.
Data Source
AI summary
A system including wireless headphones, a computer, and software stored on the computer, the computer configured to communicate wirelessly with the wireless headphones, wherein the wireless headphones are configured to provide audio output, to quantify hearing dose associated with the audio output, and to record the quantified hearing dose on the wireless headphones in a quantified hearing dose record during a first period when the wireless headphones are not in wireless communication with the computer; wherein the software is executable on the computer such that in response to the wireless headphones being in wireless communication with the computer following the first period, the software is executable to receive from the wireless headphones the quantified hearing dose record corresponding to the first period, and to store the received quantified hearing dose record in a hearing dose record on the computer. Related systems, headphones and computer program products are provided.