Notifying a user of external audio

• US 10,212,263 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2017
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Peterson, Nathan J., Crowe, John Scott, Cudak, Gary David, Lee-Baron, Jennifer, Rose, Amy Leigh, Young, Bryan Loyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Laekemariam, Yosef K
• Application Number:
  US15/406,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20180205812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 381 26, 381 74, 381 81, 381 91, 381 92, 381104, 381122, 381123
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/48 specially adapted for particular use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6008 in the transmitter circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/41 using speaker recognition speaker recognition per se G10L17/00

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, systems, and program products are disclosed for delaying notification delivery based on user activity. A method includes detecting, by a processor, an external sound using a microphone, determining that the external sound comprises a message that is of interest to the user, and notifying the user of the message in response to determining that the message is of interest to the user.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a microphone;

a processor;

a memory that stores code executable by the processor to;

detect an external sound using the microphone;

determine that the external sound comprises a message that is of interest to the user by determining whether the message includes one or more keywords associated with one or more of a location and a calendar event for the user; and

notify the user of the message in response to determining that the message is of interest to the user by outputting the message through a private listening device that the user is using to listen to a different audio source, the different audio source being interrupted by the outputted message.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to record the message in response to determining the message is of interest to the user, the recorded message being output to the private listening device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to:

transcribe the message; and

electronically present the transcribed message to the user.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to interrupt one or more active applications prior to notifying the user of the message.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to interrupt the one or more applications by one or more of pausing the one or more applications, reducing a volume level associated with the one or more applications, and turning off a display.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to notify the user of the message by generating one or more of a vibration and an alarm.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to:

determine the user'"'"'s location; and

determine that the user'"'"'s location is related to the message to determine that the message is of interest to the user.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to:

check the user'"'"'s calendar for one or more events; and

determine that the one or more events are related to the message to determine that the message is of interest to the user.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external sound is selected from the group consisting of an announcement over a public address system, a person'"'"'s voice, and music.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external sound comprises a predefined sound, the predefined sound associated with a specific message, the predefined sound used to lookup the specific message.

11. A method comprising:

detecting, by a processor, an external sound using a microphone;

determining that the external sound comprises a message that is of interest to the user by determining whether the message includes one or more keywords associated with one or more of a location and a calendar event for the user; and

notifying the user of the message in response to determining that the message is of interest to the user by outputting the message through a private listening device that the user is using to listen to a different audio source, the different audio source being interrupted by the outputted message.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising recording the message in response to determining the message is of interest to the user, the recorded message being output to the private listening device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transcribing the message; and

electronically presenting the transcribed message to the user.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising interrupting one or more active applications prior to notifying the user of the message.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining the user'"'"'s location; and

determining that the user'"'"'s location is related to the external sound to determine that the message is of interest to the user.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

checking the user'"'"'s calendar for one or more events; and

determining that the one or more events are related to the message to determine that the message is of interest to the user.

17. A program product comprising a computer readable storage medium that stores code executable by a processor, the executable code comprising code to perform:

detecting an external sound using a microphone;

determining that the external sound comprises a message that is of interest to the user by determining whether the message includes one or more keywords associated with one or more of a location and a calendar event for the user; and

notifying the user of the message in response to determining that the message is of interest to the user by outputting the message through a private listening device that the user is using to listen to a different audio source, the different audio source being interrupted by the outputted message.