Word Count Discrepancy Detection in Communication Sessions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users in communication sessions, especially audio/video conferences, often struggle to determine if their spoken words are being heard by others due to complex network statistics, leading to uncertainty and potential issues going unnoticed until they ask others, which may not be heard if network problems exist.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the number of words spoken by a participant at both endpoints and notifies them of inconsistencies, allowing users to identify and address issues directly without relying on network statistics, by comparing the number of words spoken and received, and providing alerts or metrics to indicate missing words.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If network statistics are provided to users, then information about communication quality is available, but users cannot understand or use this information to determine network issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that translates complex network statistics into simple, understandable metrics. The server receives raw network data, processes it through analysis algorithms, and presents simplified quality indicators to users. This intermediary layer bridges the gap between technical network statistics and user comprehension, allowing users to understand communication quality without needing to interpret complex network parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms network quality assessment from using complex network parameters (bandwidth, packet loss, latency) to using simplified participant-centric parameters (number of words heard, comprehension accuracy). This parameter transformation makes the data meaningful to users by expressing network quality in terms of actual communication effectiveness rather than technical metrics.
2Reliability
If users ask other participants to verify audio quality, then they can get feedback, but the question may not be heard if network issues exist
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary monitoring of communication quality by continuously tracking word transmission and reception statistics throughout the session. Instead of waiting for users to manually verify audio quality, the system proactively monitors and detects issues before they become problematic, eliminating the need for users to ask verification questions that might fail due to the same network issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes an automated feedback mechanism where the server continuously provides quality metrics to participants based on monitored communication data. This feedback loop informs users about audio quality issues without requiring manual verification, and the feedback is delivered through reliable channels that are monitored by the server rather than depending on potentially problematic audio channels.
3Measurement precision
If word counting is performed at multiple endpoints, then communication quality can be accurately assessed, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the word counting functionality at the server level, where data from multiple endpoints is aggregated and processed centrally. Instead of each endpoint independently performing complex word counting and comparison, the server receives audio data from all participants, performs unified word counting and analysis, and distributes the results. This merging approach maintains measurement precision while reducing individual endpoint complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The server is designed to perform multiple functions: it manages communication sessions, processes audio data, performs word counting, analyzes quality metrics, and provides feedback to participants. By making the server a universal platform that handles all these functions, the patent avoids duplicating complex processing logic at each endpoint, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining accurate measurement capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
The technology disclosed herein enables user notification of word inconsistencies to indicate session quality. In a particular embodiment, a method includes, during a communication session between a first endpoint operated by a first participant and a second endpoint operated by a second participant, determining a first number of words spoken by the first participant during a period of time based on sound captured by the first endpoint for inclusion on the communication session. The method also includes determining a second number of the words spoken by the first participant during the period of time based on audio received at the second endpoint via the communication session. Upon determining that an inconsistency exists between the first number and the second number, the method includes notifying at least one of the first participant and the second participant about the inconsistency.