System and method to provide an alert using microphone activation

• US 10,079,030 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2016
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kasilya Sudarsan, Vishnu Vardhan, Chitikela, Raja, Sahu, Debesh Kumar, Sarayavalasa, Chaitanya
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoque, Nafiz E
• Application Number:
  US15/232,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20180047414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/15 the extracted parameters being formant information
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/21 the extracted parameters being power information
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/51 for comparison or discrimination
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/07 Use of position data from wide-area or local-area positioning systems in hearing devices, e.g. program or information selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 : using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 : by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof

Abstract

A device may be configured to alert a user while the user is listening to audio over headphones. For example, the device may be configured to alert the user of the device, such as by reducing the volume of an audio signal output through the headphones and/or by providing a visual alert to the user on a display of the device. The device may compare a volume level of an outputted audio signal to a threshold. The device may activate a microphone based on the comparison of the volume level to the threshold. When the microphone is activated, the device may provide an alert to a user based on a determination that a received audio signal includes a portion that corresponds to a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A method of processing an audio signal by a device, the method comprising:

comparing a volume level to a threshold, the volume level associated with output of a first audio signal by the device;

receiving a third audio signal;

comparing a second volume level associated with the third audio signal to a second threshold; and

activating a microphone communicatively coupled to the device based on the comparison of the volume level to the threshold and based on the comparison of the second volume to the second threshold,

wherein when the microphone is activated;

receiving, through the microphone, a second audio signal when the device is outputting the first audio signal;

determining that the second audio signal includes a first portion that corresponds to a predetermined value; and

providing an alert to a user of the device based on the determination that the second audio signal includes the first portion that corresponds to the predetermined value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

beginning a timer based on the comparison of the second volume level to the second threshold; and

comparing a third volume level associated with the third audio signal to the second threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of audio signals, including the second audio signal, through a plurality of microphones communicatively coupled to the device; and

selecting the second audio signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a location of the device,

wherein the activation of the microphone is further based on the determined location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert includes one of a visual alert, an audio alert, or a vibration alert.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein providing the audio alert comprises one of reducing the volume level associated with outputting the first audio signal or stopping output of the first audio signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein providing the alert further comprises:

playing at least a second portion of the second audio signal through headphones communicatively coupled to the device after stopping or reducing output of the first audio signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second portion includes the first portion, and the method further comprises:

buffering the second portion of the second audio signal when determining that the second audio signal includes the first portion that corresponds to the predetermined value.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a waveform associated with the first audio signal;

comparing a plurality of segments of the waveform to another threshold; and

deactivating the microphone based on the comparison of the plurality of segments of the waveform to the other threshold.

10. An apparatus for processing an audio signal, the apparatus comprising:

means for comparing a volume level to a threshold, the volume level associated with output of a first audio signal by the apparatus;

means for receiving a third audio signal;

means for comparing a second volume level associated with the third audio signal to a second threshold; and

means for activating a microphone communicatively coupled to the apparatus based on the comparison of the volume level to the threshold and based on the comparison of the second volume to the second threshold;

means for receiving, through the activated microphone, a second audio signal when the apparatus is outputting the first audio signal;

means for determining that the second audio signal includes a first portion that corresponds to a predetermined value; and

means for providing an alert to a user of the apparatus based on the determination that the second audio signal includes the first portion that corresponds to the predetermined value.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

means for beginning a timer based on the comparison of the second volume level to the second threshold; and

means for comparing a third volume level associated with the third audio signal to the second threshold.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for receiving the second audio signal is further configured to:

receive a plurality of audio signals, including the second audio signal, through a plurality of microphones communicatively coupled to the apparatus; and

select the second audio signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for activating the microphone is configured to determine a location of the apparatus, and wherein the activation of the microphone is further based on the determined location.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the alert includes one of a visual alert, an audio alert, or a vibration alert.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for providing the alert is configured to reduce a volume level associated with outputting the first audio signal or stop output of the first audio signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for providing the alert is configured to play at least a second portion of the second audio signal through headphones communicatively coupled to the apparatus after stopping or reducing output of the first audio signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second portion includes the first portion, and the means for providing the alert is further configured to buffer the second portion of the second audio signal when determining that the second audio signal includes the first portion that corresponds to the predetermined value.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for activating a microphone is configured to:

determine a waveform associated with the first audio signal;

compare a plurality of segments of the waveform to another threshold; and

deactivate the microphone based on the comparison of the plurality of segments of the waveform to the other threshold.

19. An apparatus for processing an audio signal, the apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

compare a volume level to a threshold, the volume level associated with output of a first audio signal by the apparatus;

receive a third audio signal;

compare a second volume level associated with the third audio signal to a second threshold;

activating a microphone communicatively coupled to the apparatus based on the comparison of the volume level to the threshold and based on the comparison of the second volume to the second threshold; and

when the microphone is activated;

receive, through the microphone, a second audio signal when the apparatus is outputting the first audio signal;

determine that the second audio signal includes a first portion that corresponds to a predetermined value; and

provide an alert to a user of the apparatus based on the determination that the second audio signal includes the first portion that corresponds to the predetermined value.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

begin a timer based on the comparison of the second volume level to the second threshold; and

compare a third volume level associated with the third audio signal to the second threshold.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive a plurality of audio signals, including the second audio signal, through a plurality of microphones communicatively coupled to the apparatus; and

select the second audio signal.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a location of the apparatus,

wherein the activation of the microphone is further based on the determined location.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the alert includes one of a visual alert, an audio alert, or a vibration alert.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide the audio alert by reducing a volume level associated with outputting the first audio signal or stopping output of the first audio signal.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide the audio alert by playing at least a second portion of the second audio signal through headphones communicatively coupled to the apparatus after stopping or reducing output of the first audio signal.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

determine a waveform associated with the first audio signal;

compare a plurality of segments of the waveform to another threshold; and

deactivate the microphone based on the comparison of the plurality of segments of the waveform to the other threshold.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code, comprising code to:

compare a volume level to a threshold, the volume level associated with output of a first audio signal by a device;

receive a third audio signal;

compare a second volume level associated with the third audio signal to a second threshold;

activate a microphone communicatively coupled to the device based on the comparison of the volume level to the threshold and based on the comparison of the second volume to the second threshold; and

when the microphone is activated;

receive, through the microphone, a second audio signal when the device is outputting the first audio signal;

determine that the second audio signal includes a first portion that corresponds to a predetermined value; and

provide an alert to a user of the device based on the determination that the second audio signal includes the first portion that corresponds to the predetermined value.