U.S. patent application number 12/032756 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-17 for adaptive notification of an incoming call in a mobile phone.
Invention is credited to Marc Van Dyke, Joshua Zernovizky.
Application Number | 20080170683 12/032756 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36653265 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080170683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zernovizky; Joshua ; et
al. |
July 17, 2008 |
Adaptive notification of an incoming call in a mobile phone
Abstract
A device and method for handling announcement of an incoming
call in a telephone handset at least in part in accordance with a
measured ambient noise level is provided. In some embodiments, the
disclosed device includes an audio signaling mechanism such as a
ringer whose loudness is automatically adjusted in accordance with
a measured ambient noise levels. Alternatively or additionally, the
present invention provides an audio speaker for outputting received
voice communications, wherein the loudness of the speaker is
determined at least in part in accordance with a measured ambient
noise level. In some embodiments, the present invention provides
methods and devices for handling announcement of an incoming call
at least in part in accordance with electrical output from other
sensing circuits such as location sensing circuits and
environmental circuits. In some embodiments, a loudness of the
audio speaker for outputting received voice communications is
determined at least in part in accordance with electrical output
from other sensing circuits such as location sensing circuits and
environmental circuits.
Inventors: |
Zernovizky; Joshua; (Tel
Aviv, IL) ; Dyke; Marc Van; (Beit Shemesh,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Soquel Group, LLC
P.O. Box 691
Soquel
CA
95073
US
|
Family ID: |
36653265 |
Appl. No.: |
12/032756 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11094263 |
Mar 31, 2005 |
7333604 |
|
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12032756 |
|
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60642054 |
Jan 10, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/418 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 19/044 20130101;
H04M 2250/12 20130101; H04M 1/72454 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/418 |
International
Class: |
H04M 3/00 20060101
H04M003/00 |
Claims
1.-22. (canceled)
23. A telephone handset comprising: a) a location sensing mechanism
for generating an electrical signal in accordance with a sensed
location of the telephone handset; and b) an incoming call
signaling mechanism for handling announcement of a detected
incoming call in a manner determined at least in part in accordance
with said sensed electrical signal.
24. The telephone handset of claim 23 wherein said location sensing
mechanism is operative to sense said location upon detection of
said incoming call.
25. The telephone handset of claim 23 wherein said location sensing
mechanism is configured to periodically sense said location.
26. The telephone handset of claim 23 further comprising: c) a
housing, wherein said location sensing mechanism and said incoming
call signaling mechanism are located within said housing.
27.-29. (canceled)
30. A telephone handset comprising: a) an environmental sensing
mechanism for generating an electrical signal in accordance with
measured local environmental conditions; and b) an incoming call
signaling mechanism for handling announcement of a detected
incoming call in a manner determined at least in part in accordance
with said electrical signal.
31. The telephone handset of claim 30 wherein said environmental
sensing mechanism is operative to measure said local environment
conditions upon detection of said incoming call.
32. The telephone handset of claim 30 wherein said environmental
sensing mechanism is operative to periodically measure said local
environmental conditions.
33. The telephone handset of claim 30 wherein said measured local
environmental conditions include a presence of a substance.
34. The telephone handset of claim 33 wherein said substance is
selected from the group consisting of an odorous substance and
water vapor.
35. The telephone handset of claim 30 wherein said measured local
environmental conditions include at least one condition selected
from the group consisting of a local wind sped, a local relative
humidity, a local barometric pressure, a local dew point and a
local wind chill.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/642,054, filed Jan. 10,
2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to telephone handsets, and in
particular, to devices within telephone handsets for handling
announcement of incoming calls and for outputting a received voice
communication.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Mobile phones are ubiquitous devices used by an
ever-increasing body of users who exhibit tendencies to carry their
mobile phones with them wherever they go. Thus, it is not uncommon
for users to bring their mobile phones to many different
environments, including offices, restaurants, public
transportation, private vehicles, and even to lavatories.
[0004] One salient feature of mobile phones is a signaling
mechanism for handling announcement of incoming calls such as a
ringer or a vibration device. Proper social etiquette often
requires that users lower the volume setting of their phone ringer
when located in a quiet location such as a quiet office meeting
room. Conversely, users often prefer a louder volume setting in a
noisy setting such as a crowded train station, in order to ensure
that the ringing of the device is properly heard and that an
incoming call is not missed. Furthermore, in such noisy
environments users sometimes prefer an additional vibration signal
when an incoming call arrives.
[0005] Towards this end, most phone handsets include mechanisms for
adjusting a loudness of a ringer. Some devices provide user
interfaces for defining multiple signaling profiles, where each
profile specifies a behavior that the ringing device and/or the
vibrating device are to exhibit upon detection by the phone handset
of an incoming call. A user of these devices can manually select
the appropriate signaling profile in accordance with his or her
immediate physical environment.
[0006] One commonly used profile is the "meeting" profile, whereby
an incoming call is announced such that a user is informed without
interfering with the meeting. Additional common profiles include
"normal", and "outside" (extremely high volume).
[0007] Unfortunately, as users carry their mobile devices from one
physical environment to another, they often forget or neglect to
manually activate the appropriate signaling profile for signaling
incoming calls. This can lead to undesirable consequences, such as
missed incoming calls in noisy environments or embarrassing
situations wherein a mobile phone generates a loud noise in quiet
environment.
[0008] There is an apparent need for telephone handsets that
appropriately handle announcement of incoming calls without
requiring users to manually attend to device settings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The aforementioned needs are satisfied by several aspects of
the present invention.
[0010] It is now disclosed for the first time a telephone handset
for transmitting a voice communication. The presently disclosed
telephone handset includes a noise sensing mechanism for generating
an electrical signal in accordance with a measured ambient noise
level, and an incoming call signaling mechanism for handling
announcement of a detected incoming call in a manner determined at
least in part in accordance with the electrical signal.
[0011] According to some embodiments, the incoming call signaling
mechanism includes an audio signaling mechanism whose loudness is
adjusted in accordance with the electrical signal.
[0012] According to some embodiments, the incoming call signaling
mechanism includes a vibration mechanism whose amplitude is
adjusted in accordance with the electrical signal.
[0013] According to some embodiments, the noise sensing mechanism
is operative to measure the ambient noise level upon detection of
the incoming call.
[0014] According to some embodiments, the noise sensing mechanism
is configured to periodically measure the ambient noise level.
[0015] According to some embodiments, the noise sensing mechanism
is also used to receive the voice communication.
[0016] According to some embodiments, the incoming call signaling
mechanism handles announcement of the detected incoming call in
part according to a user preference selectable from a plurality of
user preferences. Thus, according to some embodiments the telephone
handset further includes a user interface for selecting a user
preference.
[0017] According to some embodiments, the user interface allows for
the selection of a mode whereupon a specific, predefined user
preference is selected at least in part in accordance with the
detected electrical signal indicative of the local ambient noise
level. In a particular embodiment, the device is operative so that
according a first selected user preference, a second user
preference is selected in accordance with the electrical signal.
Once the second user preference is automatically selected, the call
signaling mechanism handles announcement of the detected incoming
call in accordance with the automatically selected second user
preference.
[0018] According to some embodiments, the presently disclosed
telephone handset includes an override mechanism for overriding at
least part of the mechanism whereby the incoming call signaling
mechanism handles announcement of incoming calls in accordance with
the electrical signal indicative of the measured ambient noise
level.
[0019] According to some embodiments, the user interface provides a
"complete override" user preference, whereby the incoming call
signaling mechanism handles announcement of incoming calls in a
manner that is insensitive to said measured ambient noise
level.
[0020] According to some embodiments, the incoming call signaling
mechanism includes a plurality of incoming call signaling devices.
In a particular embodiment, at least one incoming call signaling
device is operative to handle announcement of incoming calls only
upon selection of a user preference to signal according to the
measured ambient noise level.
[0021] According to some embodiments, the call signaling mechanism
handles announcement in accordance with a plurality of signaling
configurations. In a particular embodiment, only a subset of
signaling configurations are specifiable using the user
interface.
[0022] According to some embodiments, the incoming call signaling
mechanism includes a ring-tone mechanism for the handling of
announcement of the incoming phone call. In a particular
embodiment, the ring-tone mechanism is operative to select a
specific ring-tone at least in part in accordance with the
electrical signal.
[0023] It is now disclosed for the first time a method of handling
announcement of an incoming call in a telephone handset system. The
currently disclosed method includes generating an electrical signal
in accordance with an electrically measured ambient noise level,
detecting the incoming call, and handling announcement of the
incoming call in a manner determined at least in part by the
electrical signal.
[0024] According to some embodiments, the currently disclosed
method is automatic, independent of user input.
[0025] According to some embodiments, the handling announcement
includes producing a sound whose loudness is in accordance with the
electrical signal.
[0026] According to some embodiments, the handling announcement
includes producing a mechanical vibration whose intensity is in
accordance with the electrical signal.
[0027] It is now disclosed for the first time a telephone handset
for receiving a transmitted voice communication. The presently
disclosed handset includes a noise sensing mechanism for generating
an electrical signal in accordance with a measured ambient noise
level, and an audio speaker for outputting the received voice
communication, wherein a loudness of the audio speaker is
determined at least in part in accordance with the electrical
signal.
[0028] According to some embodiments, the noise sensing mechanism
is operative to measure the ambient noise level upon detection of
the incoming call.
[0029] According to some embodiments, the noise sensing mechanism
is configured to periodically measure the ambient noise level.
[0030] According to some embodiments, the loudness is determined in
part according to a user preference selectable from a plurality of
user preferences. Thus, according to some embodiments the telephone
handset further includes a user interface for selecting a user
preference.
[0031] According to some embodiments, the audio speaker is
operative to output the received voice communication at a plurality
of loudness values, and only a subset of loudness values are
specifiable using said user interface.
[0032] It is now disclosed for the first time a method of
outputting a transmitted voice communication in a telephone handset
system including an audio speaker. The disclosed method includes
generating an electrical signal in accordance with an electrically
measured ambient noise level, receiving the transmitted voice
communication, and outputting with the audio speaker the
transmitted voice communication, wherein a loudness of the output
is determined at least in part in accordance with the electrical
signal.
[0033] It is now disclosed for the first time a telephone handset
including a location sensing mechanism for generating an electrical
signal in accordance with a sensed location of the telephone
handset, and an incoming call signaling mechanism for handling
announcement of a detected incoming call in a manner determined at
least in part in accordance with the sensed electrical signal.
[0034] According to some embodiments, the location sensing
mechanism is operative to sense the location of the telephone
handset upon detection of the incoming call.
[0035] According to some embodiments, the location sensing
mechanism is configured to periodically sense the location of the
telephone
[0036] According to some embodiments, the telephone handset further
includes a housing, and both the location sensing mechanism and the
incoming call signaling mechanism are located within said
housing.
[0037] It is now disclosed for the first time a method of handling
announcement of an incoming call in a telephone handset system. The
currently disclosed method includes generating an electrical signal
in accordance with an electrically measured sensed location of the
telephone handset, detecting the incoming call, and handling
announcement of the incoming call in a manner determined at least
in part by the electrical signal.
[0038] According to some embodiments, the currently disclosed
method is automatic, independent of user input.
[0039] According to some embodiments, the handling announcement
includes producing a sound whose loudness is in accordance with the
electrical signal.
[0040] According to some embodiments, the handling announcement
includes producing a mechanical vibration whose intensity is in
accordance with the electrical signal.
[0041] It is now disclosed for the first time a telephone handset
including an environmental sensing mechanism for generating an
electrical signal in accordance with measured local environmental
conditions, and an incoming call signaling mechanism for handling
announcement of a detected incoming call in a manner determined at
least in part in accordance with the electrical signal.
[0042] According to some embodiments, the environmental sensing
mechanism is operative to measure the local environmental
conditions upon detection of the incoming call.
[0043] According to some embodiments, the environmental sensing
mechanism is configured to periodically measure the local
environmental conditions.
[0044] According to some embodiments, measured local environmental
conditions includes a presence of a substance.
[0045] Exemplary substances that can be detected by the
environmental sensing mechanism include but are not limited to
odorous substances and water vapor.
[0046] In some embodiments, the environmental sensing mechanism is
operative to measure at least one condition selected from the group
consisting of a local wind speed, a local relative humidity, a
local barometric pressure, a local dew point, and a local
windchill.
[0047] These and further embodiments will be apparent from the
detailed description and examples that follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0048] FIG. 1 provides a block diagram of telephone handsets
wherein a signaling circuit handles announcement of an incoming
call at least in part in accordance with a measured ambient noise
level.
[0049] FIG. 2 provides a block diagram of telephone handsets
wherein a signaling circuit handles announcement of an incoming
call at least in part in accordance with an electrical signal from
a sensing circuit.
[0050] FIG. 3 provides a block diagram of telephone handsets
wherein an audio speaker outputs a received voice communication
with a loudness determined at least in part in accordance with a
measured ambient noise level.
[0051] FIG. 4 provides a block diagram of telephone handsets
wherein an audio speaker outputs a received voice communication
with a loudness determined at least in part in accordance with an
electrical signal from a sensing circuit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0052] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 provides a block
diagram of an exemplary telephone handset 100A or transceiver
device such as a cellular telephone, a PDA phone, a portable
telephone, or a conventional telephone. The telephone handset 100A
or transceiver device is operative to transmit and receive voice
communications. The telephone handset 100A includes a noise sensing
mechanism 104 such as a microphone or piezoelectric sensor, an
incoming call detector 124, and at least one signaling circuit 150
for announcing a detected incoming call.
[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the telephone handset includes a
device control 130A operative to instruct at least one signaling
circuit 150 to handle announcement of the incoming call in
accordance with a signaling profile. In different embodiments, the
device control 130A is implemented as electronic circuitry,
software, or a combination thereof. Exemplary signaling circuits
include audio signaling devices 152 such as an electronic ringer,
and vibration devices 154.
[0054] Each signaling profile is composed of at least one signaling
configuration, and each signaling configuration provides an
instruction to at least one signaling circuit 150 describing how to
handle announcement of an incoming call. Thus, each signaling
profile provides one or more of instructions to the signaling
circuits 150.
[0055] One simple example of a signaling configuration is a ringer
loudness. Other examples of signaling configurations include but
are not limited to specific ring-tones for announcing the incoming
call, an intensity of a vibration mechanism, or instructions
specifying how to signal the call using a combination of signaling
devices. Thus, one specific example of a signaling profile is a set
of instructions to announce an incoming call using a specific
ringtone at a designated loudness.
[0056] It is noted that in some embodiments, signaling
configurations and signaling profiles are stored in memory (not
shown) of the device, though this is not a specific requirement of
the present invention. Alternatively or additionally, the device
provides a mechanism for deriving signaling configurations and
signaling profiles.
[0057] The noise sensing mechanism 104 measures the ambient noise
level and produces an electrical signal indicative of measured
noise level. In some embodiments, the noise sensing circuit 104
includes an A/D converter. The device control 130A detects the
electric signal outputted from the noise sensing mechanism 104 as
well as output from the incoming call detector 124.
[0058] Upon receiving an indication of an incoming call from the
incoming call detector 124, the device control 130A instructs at
least one signaling circuit 150 to handle announcement of the call
in accordance with a signaling profile selected in accordance with
the electrical signal outputted from the noise sensing circuit 104.
Thus, the mechanism whereby the signaling circuit 150 handles
announcement of the incoming call at least in part in accordance
with a measured ambient noise level is operative automatically,
independent of user intervention.
[0059] In some embodiments, the noise sensing mechanism 104
includes the microphone used by the telephone handset for receiving
voice communications to be transmitted by the device.
[0060] In an exemplary embodiment, the device control 130A
instructs the audio signaling circuit 152 to signal the incoming
call with a loudness that increases as the measured ambient noise
level increases. In some embodiments, the loudness is zero for
certain ambient noise levels, and the audio signaling circuit 152
does not announce the incoming call.
[0061] Alternately or additionally, the device control 130A
instructs the vibration mechanism 154 to vibrate with an amplitude
that increases as the measured ambient noise level increases. In
some embodiments, the amplitude is exactly zero for certain ambient
noise levels, and the vibration mechanism 154 does not vibrate to
announce the incoming call.
[0062] In some embodiments, the noise sensing circuit 104 measures
the ambient noise level at periodic time intervals in accordance
with output from an optional timer 126.
[0063] In some embodiments, the noise sensing circuit 104 measures
the ambient noise level upon receiving instructions from the device
control 130A. In a particular embodiment, this feature is
implemented such that upon detection of an incoming call by the
incoming call detector 124, the device control 130A instructs the
noise sensing circuit 104 to measure the ambient noise level.
[0064] Optionally, the telephone handset 100A includes a user
interface 120A for receiving user preferences or user preference
profiles. In some embodiments, a signaling profile instructing the
signaling circuit 150 how to handle announcement of a specific
incoming call is derived and/or retrieved from memory in part in
accordance with user preferences received through user interface
120A.
[0065] In some embodiments, the user interface 120A provides an
optional override mode, and upon activation of the override mode
the device control 130A instructs at least one signaling circuit
150 to handle announcement of incoming calls only in accordance
with received user preferences in a manner that is insensitive to
the ambient noise level.
[0066] In some embodiments, the user interface 120A provides for
selection of a "combination" mode. According to these combination
modes, a signaling profile is derived and/or retrieved from memory
in accordance with both a selected user preference or preference
profile as well as the electrical output of the noise sensing
mechanism 104. One example is where a specific ring-tone is
selected in accordance with the calling party, while the loudness
of the ring-tone is determined by the ambient noise measured by the
noise sensing mechanism 104. In another example, the loudness of
the audio signaling mechanism 152 is determined both by a loudness
user preference as well as the ambient noise level as measured by
the noise sensing mechanism 104.
[0067] In some embodiments, certain signaling configurations cannot
be specified through user interface 120A, and are provided at least
in part in accordance with the ambient noise measured by the noise
sensing mechanism 104. One example is loudness of an audio
signaling circuit 152 such as a ringer. In some embodiments, the
user interface 120A allows the user to select a loudness from a
plurality of discrete loudness settings. In some embodiments, the
user interface 120A provides a limited number of loudness settings,
such as at most 10, so as not to overburden the user with a
multiplicity of options. Thus, according to this example, certain
intermediate values of ringer loudness level levels, not
specifiable through the user interface, are now provided in
accordance with a measured ambient noise level. It is noted that
this adaptive mechanism thus works in smaller steps, yielding a
smoother operation. Instead of having only a few possible signaling
configurations for loudness of a ringing device, the phone can now
effectively in certain embodiments provide many more loudness
settings, only slightly differing from each other in accordance
with subtle changes in the ambient noise level. In a particular
embodiment, the device provides an infinite number of ringer
loudness values in accordance with an analog signal received from
noise sensing circuit 104.
[0068] In some embodiments, the control device 130A is configurable
to instruct the signaling circuit 150 to handle announcement of the
incoming call in accordance with a specific user profile selected
from the plurality of pre-defined user profiles. The selection of
the specific user profile is carried out at least in part in
accordance with the ambient noise level as measured by the noise
sensing mechanism 104.
[0069] In one example, each pre-defined user profile specifies a
different ring tone. According to this example, the device control
130A instructs the audio signaling mechanism 152 to announce
detected incoming calls according to one specific ring tone
selected in accordance with the measured ambient noise as indicated
by the output of the noise sensing mechanism 104.
[0070] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of telephone handsets that provide
Other Sensing Circuits 102. Device control 130B instructs at least
one signaling circuit 150 to handle announcement of the call in
accordance with a signaling profile selected in accordance with the
electrical signal outputted from one or more of the other sensing
circuits 102. Upon detection of an incoming call with the incoming
call detector 124, the signaling circuit 150 handles announcement
of the call according to the selected signaling profile.
[0071] Thus, the mechanism whereby the signaling circuit 150
handles announcement of the incoming call at least in part in
accordance with a measured output from at least one of the other
signaling circuits 102 is operative automatically, independent of
user intervention.
[0072] In some embodiments, the other sensing circuit 102 is
operative to effect a measurement at periodic time intervals in
accordance with output from an optional timer 126.
[0073] In some embodiments, the other sensing circuit 102 is
operative to effect a measurement upon detection of an incoming
call.
[0074] One exemplary signaling circuit 102 is a location sensing
circuit 106 such as a GPS sensor or a device that senses location
by triangulation from base stations. In one example, when the
device senses that a user is located in a train station, a
signaling profile for a loud ringing and a strong vibration
indication of an incoming call is automatically selected by the
device control 130B at least in part in accordance with an
electrical signal received from the location sensing circuit 106.
In another example, a telephone handset 100B belonging to an
attorney is programmed so that the device control 130B
automatically selects a signaling profile for quiet ringing when
the location sensing circuit 106 indicates that the telephone
handset 100B is located in the vicinity of a courthouse.
[0075] One exemplary signaling circuit 102 is a motion sensing
circuit 106 such as the motion sensing circuit provided in certain
GPS devices. In one example, a signaling profile for a loud ringing
and a strong vibration is automatically selected by the device
control 130B when the motion sensing circuit 108 indicates that the
device is traveling in a fast moving car.
[0076] One exemplary signaling circuit is a light sensing circuit
110 such as those provided in telephone handsets with digital
cameras. In one example, a signaling profile for a quiet ringing is
automatically selected by the device control 130B when the light
sensing circuit 110 indicates that the device is in a dark room
such as a dark bedroom or a movie theater.
[0077] One exemplary signaling circuit is an image sensing circuit
112 such as those provided in telephone handsets with digital
cameras. In one example, it is desired to have quiet ringing in a
certain room characterized by specific visual features. According
to this example, a signaling profile for a quiet ringing is
automatically selected by the device control 130B when the image
sensing circuit 112 outputs an electrical signal indicating that
the specific visual features have been detected.
[0078] One exemplary signaling circuit is an environmental sensing
circuit 114 for measuring local environmental conditions such as
the presence of a substance. In one example, a loud ringer is
desired in outdoor conditions, while a quieter ringer is preferred
in indoor conditions. The environmental sensing circuit 114 is thus
operative to measure at least one of a local wind speed, a local
relative humidity, a local barometric pressure, a local dew point,
and a local windchill, and to output an electrical signal
indicative of a least one of these parameters. The control device
130B selects the appropriate signaling profile at least in part in
accordance with the electrical signal outputted by the
environmental sensing circuit.
[0079] In another example, the presence of a substance such as
water vapor is indicative of whether or not the device is outdoors,
and the environmental sensing circuit 114 is operative to measure
the presence of water vapor.
[0080] In another example, it is desired to turn down the volume of
the ringer or even to mute the ringer device while a user is
located in a lavatory characterized by odors. Electronic devices
for detecting the presence of odors are well known in the art, and
the skilled practitioner is directed, for example, to US Published
Patent Applications 2002/0116982 and 2002/0116983. According to
this example, the environmental sensing circuit 114 includes a
mechanism for detecting the presence of an odorous substance.
[0081] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of telephone handsets that provide
a mechanism for automatically adjusting a loudness of an audio
speaker 162 for outputting a received voice communication in
accordance with an electrically measured ambient noise level. This
mechanism is operative independent of user intervention.
[0082] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the transmitted voice
communication is received by the circuit for receiving voice
communications 160. In some embodiments, this circuit for receiving
voice communication 160 includes a radio receiver device.
[0083] In a noisy local environment, it is often desired to
increase the loudness of the audio speaker 162 for outputting
received transmitted voice communications to help ensure that the
user can properly hear the voice communications. Embodiments of the
present invention described in FIG. 3 free the user from the burden
of manually adjusting the volume of the audio speaker in these
situations. In embodiments wherein the ambient noise level is
measured upon detection of the incoming call or earlier, the volume
of the audio speaker 162 can be appropriately adjusted before a
telephone conversation even begins.
[0084] Optionally, the telephone handset 100C includes a timer, and
the ambient noise level is measured periodically.
[0085] Optionally, the telephone includes a user interface 120C
allows the user to select a loudness of audio speaker 162 from a
plurality of discrete loudness settings. In some embodiments, the
user interface 120C provides a limited number of loudness settings,
such as at most 10, so as not to overburden the user with a
multiplicity of options. Thus, according to this example, certain
intermediate values of audio speaker 162 loudness, not specifiable
through the user interface, are now provided in accordance with a
measured ambient noise level. It is noted that this adaptive
mechanism thus works in smaller steps, yielding a smoother
operation. In a particular embodiment, the device provides an
infinite number of audio speaker 162 loudness values in accordance
with an analog signal received from noise sensing circuit 104.
[0086] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of telephone handset 100D provided
by certain embodiments of the present invention wherein a loudness
of the audio speaker 162 is automatically adjusted at least in part
in accordance with an electrical signal outputted from Other
Sensing Circuits 102.
[0087] In the description and claims of the present application,
each of the verbs, "comprise" "include" and "have", and conjugates
thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the
verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components,
elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.
[0088] The present invention has been described using detailed
descriptions of embodiments thereof that are provided by way of
example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The described embodiments comprise different features, not all of
which are required in all embodiments of the invention. Some
embodiments of the present invention utilize only some of the
features or possible combinations of the features. Variations of
embodiments of the present invention that are described and
embodiments of the present invention comprising different
combinations of features noted in the described embodiments will
occur to persons of the art. The scope of the invention is limited
only by the following claims.
* * * * *