Automatic audio intensity adjustment

• US 20060073819A1
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Lowles, Robert James
• Application Number:
  US10/956,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20060073819A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• 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

Abstract

The volume, or audio intensity, of audio output from a mobile communication device may be selected based on a detected state of the environment of the mobile communication device.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

an audio output device;

a sensor system for detecting a state of an environment of said communication device from among at least two states; and

an adjustment system for selecting an intensity of output for said audio output device based on said state detected by said sensor.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein said state detected by said sensor system relates to presence of a magnetic field.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2 wherein said sensor system comprises a Hall Effect sensor.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 2 wherein said sensor system comprises a reed switch.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein said audio output device is a hands-free speaker.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein said sensor system comprises a microphone.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 6 wherein said state detected by said sensor system relates to level of ambient noise.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein said sensor system comprises a light sensor.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 8 wherein said light sensor is a photodiode.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 9 wherein said state detected by said sensor system relates to intensity of light received at said photodiode.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein said sensor system comprises a controller and an environment sensor.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 1 further comprising a communication subsystem for wireless communication with a base station of a communications network.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 12 wherein said wireless communication uses an electromagnetic communication medium.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13 wherein said electromagnetic communication medium is restricted to radio frequencies.

15. A method of automatically adjusting intensity of output for an audio output device of a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

determining a state of an environment of said mobile communication device; and

based on said determining, selecting an intensity of output for said audio output, device.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising activating said audio output device with said selected intensity.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising receiving an instruction to activate said audio output device and where said detecting is responsive to said receiving.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said selecting comprises selecting from amongst at least two intensity levels.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising detecting a level of an aspect of an environment of said mobile communication device, wherein said determining is responsive to said detecting.

20. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by processor in a mobile communication device including an audio output device, cause said processor to:

determine a state of an environment of said mobile communication device; and

select an intensity of output for said audio output device based on said state.

21. A mobile communication device comprising:

an audio output device;

a sensor system for detecting a level of an aspect of an environment of said communication device; and

an adjustment system for selecting an intensity of output for said audio output device based on said level detected by said sensor.

22. A method of setting an intensity of output for an audio output device of a mobile communication device comprising:

detecting a level of an aspect of an environment of said communication device; and

selecting an intensity of output for said audio output device based on said level detected by said sensor.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising interpreting said level detected by said sensor to determine a state of said environment from among at least two states.

24. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by processor in a mobile communication device including an audio output device, cause said processor to:

detect a level of an aspect of an environment of said mobile communication device; and

select an intensity of output for said audio output device based on said detected level.