Methods, devices, and computer program products for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting

• US 20080102902A1
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Epley, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/044 according to the level of ambient noise

Abstract

Methods, devices, and computer program products for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting. The methods comprise receiving ambient noise, converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal, detecting a parameter of the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise, sensing an incoming call or message, and controlling the volume of an audible alert in response to the detected parameter of the electrical signal.

Claims

1. A method for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting, the method comprising:

receiving ambient noise,

converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal,

detecting a parameter of the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise,

sensing an incoming call or message, and

controlling the volume of an audible alert in response to the detected parameter of the electrical signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting a parameter of the electrical signal comprises detecting at least one of an average, peak, or cumulative level for the electrical signal across a predetermined or finite time interval.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting a parameter of the electrical signal comprises continuously or repeatedly integrating the electrical signal.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the integrating is performed using a weighting function.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting a parameter of the electrical signal comprises one or more of calculating a running average of the amplitude of the electrical signal, storing samples of the electrical signal that are above a predetermined threshold, detecting the envelope of the electrical signal, detecting the amplitude of the electrical signal, or acquiring samples of the electrical signal to generate a sequence of digitized samples.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising accepting a user preference specifying one or more of:

a default, maximum, or minimum volume level for the audible alert, or a desired ring tone or melody from a menu of audible alerts.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeatedly or continuously detecting a parameter of the electrical signal, which is indicative of ambient noise and dynamically controlling the volume of the audible alert substantially in real time in response to the detected parameter.

8. A computer program product comprising a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method of providing ambient noise sensitive alerting, the method comprising:

receiving ambient noise,

converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal,

detecting a parameter of the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise,

sensing an incoming call or message, and

controlling the volume of an audible alert in response to the detected parameter of the electrical signal.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising instructions for detecting a parameter of the electrical signal by detecting at least one of an average, peak, or cumulative level for the electrical signal across a predetermined or finite time interval.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising instructions for detecting a parameter of the electrical signal by continuously or repeatedly integrating the electrical signal.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the integrating is performed using a weighting function.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising instructions for detecting a parameter of the electrical signal by performing one or more of:

calculating a running average of the amplitude of the electrical signal, storing samples of the electrical signal that are above a predetermined threshold, detecting the envelope of the electrical signal, detecting the amplitude of the electrical signal, or acquiring samples of the electrical signal to generate a sequence of digitized samples.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising instructions for accepting at least one of:

a user preference specifying one or more of a default, maximum, or minimum volume level for the audible alert, or a user preference specifying a desired ring tone or melody from a menu of audible alerts.

14. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising instructions for repeatedly or continuously detecting a parameter of the electrical signal, which is indicative of ambient noise and dynamically controlling the volume of the audible alert substantially in real time in response to the detected parameter.

15. A device for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting, the device including:

a microphone for receiving ambient noise and converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal,

an ambient noise level detection mechanism for detecting a parameter of the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise,

an incoming call sensing mechanism for sensing of an incoming call or message, and

an audio signal generator operatively coupled to a loudspeaker for providing an audible alert, wherein the incoming call sensing circuitry controls the volume of the audible alert in response to the detected parameter of the electrical signal.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the ambient noise level detection mechanism detects a parameter of the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise by detecting at least one of an average, peak, or cumulative level for the electrical signal across a predetermined or finite time interval.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the ambient noise level detection mechanism detects a parameter of the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise by continuously or repeatedly integrating the electrical signal.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the integrating is performed using a weighting function.

19. The device of claim 15 wherein the ambient noise level detection mechanism detects a parameter of the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise by performing one or more of:

calculating a running average of the amplitude of the electrical signal, storing samples of the electrical signal that are above a predetermined threshold, detecting the envelope of the electrical signal, detecting the amplitude of the electrical signal, or acquiring samples of the electrical signal to generate a sequence of digitized samples.

20. The device of claim 15 further comprising an input mechanism for accepting a user preference specifying one or more of:

a default, maximum, or minimum volume level for the audible alert, or a desired ring tone or melody from a menu of audible alerts.