Adaptive notification of an incoming call in a mobile phone

• US 20060153358A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Zernovizky, Joshua, Van Dyke, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 7,333,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/392.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/044 according to the level of ambient noise
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

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.

Claims

1. ) A telephone handset for transmitting a voice communication comprising:

a) a noise sensing mechanism for generating an electrical signal in accordance with a measured ambient noise level; 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.

2. ) The telephone handset of claim 1 wherein said incoming call signaling mechanism includes an audio signaling mechanism whose loudness is adjusted in accordance with said electrical signal.

3. ) The telephone handset of claim 1 wherein said incoming call signaling mechanism includes a vibration mechanism whose amplitude is adjusted in accordance with said electrical signal.

4. ) The telephone handset of claim 1 wherein said noise sensing mechanism is operative to measure said ambient noise level upon detection of a said incoming call.

5. ) The telephone handset of claim 1 wherein said noise sensing mechanism is configured to periodically measure said ambient noise level.

6. ) The telephone handset of claim 1, wherein said noise sensing mechanism is also used to receive the voice communication.

7. ) The telephone handset of claim 1, wherein said incoming call signaling mechanism handles announcement of said detected incoming call in part according to a user preference selectable from a plurality of user preferences, the telephone handset further comprising

c) a user interface for selecting a said user preference.

8. ) The telephone handset of claim 7 wherein according to a first selected said user preference a second said user preference is selected in accordance with said electrical signal, and said call signaling mechanism handles announcement of said detected incoming call in accordance with said second user preference.

9. ) The telephone handset of claim 7, further comprising:

d) an override mechanism configurable to override said determining in accordance with said electrical signal.

10. ) The telephone handset of claim 9, wherein according to a said user preference said override mechanism is operative such that said incoming call signaling mechanism always handles announcement of said incoming calls in a manner that is insensitive to said measured ambient noise level.

11. ) The telephone handset of claim 7, wherein said incoming call signaling mechanism includes a plurality of incoming call signaling devices, and at least one said incoming call signaling device is operative to handle announcement of said incoming calls only upon selection of a said user preference to signal according to said ambient noise level.

12. ) The telephone handset of claim 7, wherein said call signaling mechanism handles announcement in accordance with a plurality of signaling configurations, and only a subset of said signaling configurations are specifiable using said user interface.

13. ) The telephone handset of claim 1 wherein said incoming call signaling mechanism includes a ring-tone mechanism for said handling of announcement of said incoming phone call, and said ring-tone mechanism is operative to select a specific ring-tone at least in part in accordance with said electrical signal.

14. ) A method of handling announcement of an incoming call in a telephone handset system, the method comprising:

a) generating an electrical signal in accordance with an electrically measured ambient noise level;

b) detecting the incoming call; and

c) handling announcement of the incoming call in a manner determined at least in part by said electrical signal.

15. ) The method of claim 14 wherein said handling announcement includes producing a sound whose loudness is in accordance with said electrical signal.

16. ) The method of claim 14 wherein said handling announcement includes producing a mechanical vibration whose intensity is in accordance with said electrical signal.

17. ) A telephone handset for receiving a transmitted voice communication, the handset comprising:

a) a noise sensing mechanism for generating an electrical signal in accordance with a measured ambient noise level; and

b) an audio speaker for outputting the received voice communication, wherein a loudness of said audio speaker is determined at least in part in accordance with said electrical signal.

18. ) The telephone handset of claim 17 wherein said noise sensing mechanism is operative to measure said ambient noise level upon detection of an incoming call.

19. ) The telephone handset of claim 17 wherein said noise sensing mechanism is configured to periodically measure said ambient noise level.

20. ) The telephone handset of claim 17, wherein said loudness is determined in part according to a user preference selectable from a plurality of user preferences, the telephone handset further comprising

c) a user interface for selecting a said user preference.

21. ) The telephone handset of claim 20, wherein said audio speaker is operative at a plurality of loudness values, and only a subset of said loudness values are specifiable using said user interface.

22. ) A method of outputting a transmitted voice communication in a telephone handset system including an audio speaker, the method comprising:

a) generating an electrical signal in accordance with an electrically measured ambient noise level;

b) receiving the transmitted voice communication; and

c) outputting with the audio speaker the transmitted voice communication, wherein a loudness of said output is determined at least in part in accordance with said electrical signal.

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 a 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. ) A method of handling announcement of an incoming call in a telephone handset system, the method comprising:

a) generating an electrical signal in accordance with an electrically measured sensed location of the telephone handset;

b) detecting the incoming call; and

c) handling announcement of the incoming call in a manner determined at least in part by said electrical signal.

28. ) The method of claim 27 wherein said handling announcement includes producing a sound whose loudness is in accordance with said electrical signal. .

29. ) The method of claim 27 wherein said handling announcement includes producing a mechanical vibration whose intensity is in accordance with said electrical signal.

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 measured said local environmental conditions upon detection of a said incoming call.

32. ) The telephone handset of claim 30 wherein said environmental sensing mechanism is operative to periodically measured said local environmental conditions.

33. ) The telephone handset of claim 30 wherein said measured local environmental conditions includes 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 speed, a local relative humidity, a local barometric pressure, a local dew point, and a local windchill.