System and method for adjusting hands-free phone

• US 20070165834A1
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Redman, Brian, Ahmadian-Yazdi, Reza
• Granted Patent: US 9,100,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/395
• 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 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/085 using digital techniques H04M9/082 takes precedence

Abstract

A communications device having a user configurable speakerphone feature is provided. A user may be provided with a plurality of selectable settings for configuring the operation of a microphone or the processing of speech. For example, a user may select settings to filter ambient noise for a cleaner sound or increase a microphone'"'"'s sensitivity in a conference call environment. In one embodiment, the user may select a setting that changes a microphone level or microphone operating range. When the microphone detects speech, the speech may be processed in accordance with user selected processing settings. For example, a user may select settings to specify a gain control, a frequency response, or an activity threshold. Thus, a user may configure a speakerphone to improve sound quality on the receiving end.

Claims

1. A method for operating a communications device, the communications device having a speakerphone, the method comprising:

providing a user with a plurality of settings for configuring the speakerphone feature;

receiving a user selection of one of the settings; and

applying the at least one selected setting to the communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of settings include at least one of a microphone setting or a processing setting.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting speech in accordance with at least one microphone setting, wherein the at least one microphone setting includes at least one of an operating range or a microphone level.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

processing the detected speech in accordance with at least one processing setting, wherein the at least one processing setting includes at least one of a gain control, a frequency response, or an activity threshold.

5. A communications device having a configurable speakerphone feature, the communications device comprising:

a user interface for providing a user with a plurality of settings for configuring the speakerphone feature;

an input means for receiving a user selection of at least one of the settings; and

at least one processor that applies the at least one selected setting to the communications device.

6. The communications device of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of settings include at least one of a microphone setting or a processing setting.

7. The communications device of claim 6, further comprising:

a speech detection means for detecting speech in accordance with at least one microphone setting, wherein the at least one microphone setting includes at least one of an operating range or a microphone level.

8. The communications device of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one processing means for processing the detected speech in accordance with at least one processing setting, wherein the at least one processing setting includes at least one of a gain control, a frequency response, or an activity threshold.

9. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for configuring a speakerphone feature in a communications device, the computer-executable instructions configured to:

provide a user with a plurality of settings for configuring the speakerphone feature;

receive a user selection of one of the settings; and

apply the at least one selected setting to the communications device.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of settings include at least one of a microphone setting or a processing setting.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to:

detect speech in accordance with at least one microphone setting, wherein the at least one microphone setting includes at least one of an operating range or a microphone level.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to:

process the detected speech in accordance with at least one processing setting, wherein the at least one processing setting includes at least one of a gain control, a frequency response, or an activity threshold.