METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY MUTING HEADPHONES

• US 20080089530A1
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kalyanaraman, Raghuraman, Bostick, James Edward, Hansen, Brian Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 7,986,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/342 Muting when some special characteristic of the signal is sensed which distinguishes it from noise, e.g. using speech detector H03G3/344, H03G3/345 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

The illustrative embodiments provide a method and system for automatically muting a headphone. The headphone detects a sound external to the headphone. A volume threshold and a frequency threshold are received, wherein the volume threshold and the frequency threshold define a sound of interest. A determination is made as to whether the sound external to the headphone is the sound of interest. Responsive to a determination that the sound external to the headphone is the sound of interest, a signal is transmitted to automatically mute an active state of the headphone.

Claims

1. A method for automatically muting a headphone, the method comprising:

detecting a sound external to the headphone;

receiving a volume threshold and a frequency threshold, wherein the volume threshold and the frequency threshold define a sound of interest;

determining whether the sound external to the headphone is the sound of interest; and

responsive to a determination that the sound external to the headphone is the sound of interest, transmitting a signal to automatically mute an active state of the headphone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the active state of the headphone is one of an audio player transmitting a sound signal or an active noise cancellation feature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume threshold and the frequency threshold are adjustable.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume threshold and the frequency threshold are set using a configuration device, wherein the configuration device is a data processing system or a mechanical control.

5. A headphone comprising:

a microphone to detect a sound external to the headphone;

a configuration device connected to the headphone, wherein the configuration device sets a volume threshold and a frequency threshold, wherein the volume threshold and the frequency threshold define a sound of interest; and

an automuting device connected to the microphone and the configuration device, wherein the automuting device determines whether the sound external to the headphone is a sound of interest, and wherein the automuting device transmits a signal to automatically mute an active state of the headphone in response to determining the sound external to the headphone is the sound of interest.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the active state of the headphone is one of an audio player transmitting a sound signal or an active noise cancellation feature.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the volume threshold and the frequency threshold are adjustable.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the configuration device is a data processing system or a mechanical control.