System and method of acoustically safe automatic handsfree volume adjustment

• US 20050026568A1
• Filed: 10/28/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Inventors: Hawker, Larry E., Toews, Dan J.A., Kyowski, Timothy H.
• Application Number:
  US10/695,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20050026568A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone

Abstract

A system and method of acoustically safe automatic handsfree volume adjustment on mobile communication devices is provided. When the device is selected to operate in handsfree mode, the system automatically defaults to an acoustically safe volume profile such that the device does not cause hearing damage.

Claims

1. A method of processing a voice communication on a mobile device, comprising:

storing a plurality of volume profiles, at least one of the volume profiles defining a safe volume profile;

defining a plurality of mobile device operational modes;

associating at least one of the mobile device operational modes with the safe volume profile;

selecting one of the mobile device operational modes to obtain a first selected mobile device operational mode;

determining if the first selected mobile device operational mode is associated with the safe volume profile; and

upon determining that the first selected mobile device operational mode is associated with the safe volume profile, operating the mobile device in the first selected mobile device operational mode according to the safe volume profile.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining a first volume level in the safe volume profile.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising disabling adjustment of the volume level from the first volume level for an initial time period during operation of the mobile device in the first selected mobile device operational mode.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mobile device operational mode associated with the safe volume profile is a handsfree mode.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

defining a maximum safe volume in the safe volume profile; and

preventing adjustment of the volume level from the first volume level to a volume level that exceeds the maximum safe volume.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising conforming the safe volume profile to an operational standard.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of associating at least one of the mobile device operational modes with the safe volume profile comprises associating a handsfree operational mode with the safe volume profile.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the operational standard relates to a non-handsfree operational mode.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a cordless telephone handset.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular telephone.

11. A method of processing a voice communication at a mobile device, comprising:

storing a safe volume profile at the mobile device;

answering an incoming call with the mobile device;

selecting one of a plurality of operational modes to obtain a first selected operational mode to operate the mobile device;

determining if the first selected operational mode is associated with the safe volume profile; and

upon determining that the first selected operational mode is associated with the safe volume profile, operating the mobile device in the first selected operational mode according to the safe volume profile.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising defining a first volume level in the safe volume profile.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising disabling adjustment of the volume level from the first volume level for an initial time period during operation of the mobile device in the first selected operational mode.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the operational mode associated with the safe volume profile is a handsfree mode.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

upon determining that the first selected operational mode is associated with the safe volume profile;

operating the mobile device in the first selected operational mode according to a regular volume profile;

monitoring the mobile device for a change from the first operational mode to a second operational mode;

upon monitoring a change from the first operational mode to a second operational mode, determining if the second operational mode is associated with the safe volume profile; and

upon determining that the second selected operational mode is associated with the safe volume profile, operating the mobile device in the second selected operational mode according to the safe volume profile.

16. Mobile device operational instructions stored in a computer readable medium, the mobile device operational instruction operable to be executed by a mobile device and upon such execution cause the mobile device to:

store a plurality of volume profiles, at least one of the volume profiles defining a safe volume profile;

define a plurality of mobile device operational modes;

associate at least one of the mobile device operational modes with the safe volume profile;

select one of the mobile device operational modes to obtain a first selected mobile device operational mode;

determine if the first selected mobile device operational mode is associated with the safe volume profile; and

upon determining that the first selected mobile device operational mode is associated with the safe volume profile, operate the mobile device in the first selected mobile device operational mode in accordance with the safe volume profile.

17. A mobile device operable to execute voice communication operations, comprising:

means for storing a plurality of volume profiles, at least one of the volume profiles defining a safe volume profile, for defining a plurality of mobile device operational modes, and for associating at least one of the mobile device operational modes with the safe volume profile;

means for selecting one of the mobile device operational modes to obtain a first selected mobile device operational mode;

means for determining if the first selected mobile device operational mode is associated with the safe volume profile; and

means for operating the mobile device in the first selected mobile device operational mode according to the safe volume profile upon determining that the first selected mobile device operational mode is associated with the safe volume profile.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, further comprising:

means for defining a first volume level in the safe volume profile; and

means for disabling adjustment of the volume level from the first volume level for an initial time period during operation of the mobile device in the first selected mobile device operational mode.

19. A mobile device operable to execute voice communication operations, comprising:

a processing subsystem; and

a memory subsystem, the memory subsystem storing processing subsystem operational instructions operable to be executed by the processing subsystem and upon such execution cause the mobile device to;

store a safe volume profile;

define a plurality of mobile device operational modes;

associate at least one of the mobile device operational modes with the safe volume profile;

monitor if one of the mobile device operational modes has been selected;

upon monitoring that one of the mobile device operational modes has been selected, determine if the selected mobile device operational mode is associated with the safe volume profile; and

upon determining that the selected mobile device operational mode is associated with the safe volume profile, operate the mobile device in the selected mobile device operational mode in accordance with the safe volume profile.

20. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the operational instructions stored in the memory subsystem further cause the mobile device to define a first volume level in the safe volume profile.

21. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the operational instructions stored in the memory subsystem further cause the mobile device to disable adjustment of the volume level from the first volume level for an initial time period during operation of the mobile device in the selected mobile device operational mode.

22. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the mobile device operational mode associated with the safe volume profile is a handsfree mode.

23. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the mobile device comprises a cordless telephone handset.

24. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular telephone.