Method for autonomously monitoring and reporting sound pressure level (SPL) exposure for a user of a communication device

• US 20080159547A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schuler, Francesca, Kale, Kaustubh R., Hong, Di-An, Lacal, Jose C., Jonnalagadda, Krishna D., Khawand, Alif, Ramadas, Padmaja
• Granted Patent: US 7,983,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/14 Measuring mean amplitude; Measuring mean power; Measuring time integral of power
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• 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

A method for monitoring and reporting sound pressure level exposure for a user of a first communication device (104) is implemented in one embodiment when the device measures a sound pressure level (SPL) of the surrounding environment. The device stores at least the SPL measurement in a memory, producing an SPL exposure record, and displays a visual representation of the SPL exposure record on a display screen (212). In another embodiment, the SPL is measured by a second communication device (102) and combined with a known SPL for an output audio transducer (306) of the second device, producing a user sound exposure level. The user sound exposure level is transmitted to the first communication device. The user is notified when the user sound exposure level exceeds a predetermined threshold. A server (112) may also be used to track SPLs over time and recommend corrective action when exposure limits are exceeded.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring and reporting sound pressure level exposure for a user of a communication device, the method comprising:

measuring a sound pressure level of an environment surrounding the communication device to produce a measurement;

storing at least the measurement in a memory of the communication device to produce a record; and

displaying a visual representation of the record on a display screen of the communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual representation of the record comprises at least one of an instantaneous sound pressure level, an average sound pressure level, and a cumulative sound pressure level.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the measurement to a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold being calculated as a function of allowable sound pressure level versus time; and

alerting the user in the event that the measurement exceeds the predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the function is customized for the user of the communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the communication device is engaged in a phone call; and

delaying the step of measuring until a time after the phone call is completed.

6. A method for monitoring and reporting sound pressure level exposure for a user of a first communication device, the method comprising:

measuring a sound pressure level of an environment surrounding the first portable communication device at a predetermined time interval to produce a measurement;

combining the measurement with a known sound pressure level for at least one output audio transducer of the first communication device to produce a user sound exposure level;

storing the user sound exposure level in a memory of the first communication device to produce a record; and

transmitting the record to a second communication device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of measuring a sound pressure level comprises measuring the sound pressure level using at least one of a microphone located internal to the first communication device, a microphone located internal to the second communication device, a multi-directional microphone located on the first communication device, a multi-directional microphone located on the second communication device, a directional microphone located on the first communication device, and a directional microphone located on the second communication device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second communication device is a wireless telephone and the first communication device is a wireless audio device for use in cooperation with the second communication device.

9. A method for monitoring and reporting sound pressure level exposure for a user of a first communication device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a second communication device, a record representing sound pressure level exposure at the first communication device as measured by the first communication device, the record including at least;

a user sound exposure level calculated as a weighted sum of a sound pressure level of an environment surrounding the first communication device and a known sound pressure level for at least one output audio transducer of the first communication device;

storing the record in a memory of the second communication device; and

displaying a visual representation of the record on a display screen of the second communication device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

comparing the user sound exposure level to a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold being calculated as a function of allowable sound pressure level versus time; and

alerting a user of the first communication device in the event that the user sound exposure level exceeds the predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the function is customized for the user of the first communication device.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting a message to the first communication device, the message instructing the first communication device to automatically reduce a volume level of the output audio transducer such that the user sound exposure level is reduced to a level below the predetermined threshold.

13. A method for monitoring and reporting sound pressure level exposure for at least one user of at least one communication device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a server, at least one record representing sound pressure level exposure as measured at the at least one communication device, each record including at least a measurement of a user sound exposure level for a corresponding user;

storing each record in a memory accessible by the server; and

displaying a visual representation of at least one record on a display screen of at least one of the at least one communication devices and a remote terminal.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

comparing the user sound exposure level for a particular user of the at least one communication device to a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold being established based on an allowable sound pressure level versus time function for the particular user; and

sending an alert to at least one of the at least one communication device and a remote terminal in the event that the user sound exposure level exceeds the predetermined threshold.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the function is customized for the particular user.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the function is dependent upon a type of preventive hearing device worn by the particular user.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the function is determined based on an audiogram for the particular user.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sending a message to the at least one communication device, the message including corrective action to be taken by the particular user to prevent hearing loss based on predefined limits.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the message includes information regarding a location that has a lower user sound exposure level than the user sound exposure level measured at the at least one communication device.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the record further comprises at least one of a date, a time, a user identifier, and a communication device identifier, the communication device identifier identifying at least the communication device.