Method and apparatus for call control using motion and position information

• US 20090060170A1
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Livingood, Rod D., Michaelis, Paul Roller, Warta, Ralph, Gannon, Ciaran, Forbes, Alexander Quentin, Coughlan, Marc William Joseph, Runcie, Peter Donald
• Granted Patent: US 8,532,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/433.20
• 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 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

A method and apparatus perform call control by obtaining initial biometric information of ears of a user of a handheld audio device; detecting a change in the biometric information of the ears of the user; determining a position and motion of the handheld audio device by analyzing the detected change in biometric information; and performing call control based on the determined position and motion. Further, the method and apparatus perform a first call control operation in response to the determined motion and position if the handheld audio device is communicating with a first endpoint and a second call control operation if communicating with a second endpoint. In addition, the method and apparatus change an internal call control operation of a handheld audio device by determining motion and a position of the handheld audio device. Also, the method and apparatus control internal operations of an endpoint by determining motion and position of the handheld audio device without terminating communication with the handheld audio device wherein the endpoint is one of a voice messaging system, conferencing system, or telephone operator.

Claims

1. A method for call control, comprising:

obtaining initial biometric information of ears of a user of a handheld audio device;

detecting a change in the biometric information of the ears of the user;

determining a position of the handheld audio device by analyzing the detected change in biometric information; and

performing call control based on the determined position.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises determining motion of the handheld audio device by analyzing the detected change in biometric information;

and

the performing further performing call control based on the determined motion.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the obtaining and detecting comprise performing visual operations.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the performing visual operations comprises gathering visual information of an ear;

and

comparing the gathered visual information with visual information stored in a database.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the obtaining and detecting comprise performing sonic operations.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the performing sonic operations comprises gathering sonic information from an ear canal of the ear;

and

comparing the gathered sonic information with sonic information stored in a database.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein gathering comprises transmitting ultrasonic signals into the ear canal;

and

analyzing reflected signals resulting from the transmitted ultrasonic signals for physical characteristics of the ear canal.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the call control is at least one of controlling a call from another handheld audio device, a voice messaging system, a conference call, or an operator.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprises changing in response to determined position an operation to change the internal call control operations of the handheld audio device.

10. The method of claim 2 further comprises transmitting a message to the endpoint by the handheld audio device in response to the determined motion and position wherein the message requests an internal operation be performed by the endpoint without terminating communication with the handheld audio device wherein the endpoint is one of a voice messaging system, conferencing system, telephone operator, or other automated system.

11. A method for call control, comprising:

determining motion of a handheld audio device;

determining a position of the handheld audio device;

performing a first call control operation in response to the determined motion and position if the handheld audio device is communicating with a first one of a plurality of endpoints; and

performing a second call control operation in response to the determined motion and position if the handheld audio device is communicating with a second one of a plurality of endpoints.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of endpoints comprises at least two of another handheld audio device, a voice messaging system, a conference call, or an operator.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the determining motion and determining position comprise performing visual operations.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the performing visual operations comprises gathering visual information of an ear;

and

comparing the gathered visual information with visual information stored in a database.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the determining motion and determining the position comprise performing sonic operations.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the performing sonic operations comprises gathering sonic information from an ear canal of the ear;

and

comparing the gathered sonic information with sonic information stored in a database.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein gathering comprises transmitting ultrasonic signals into the ear canal;

and

analyzing reflected signals resulting from the transmitted ultrasonic signals for physical characteristics of the ear canal.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the determining motion and determining the position comprise obtaining information from a gyroscope.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the determining motion and determining position comprises obtaining information from an accelerometer.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the obtaining further comprises obtaining information from a position detector.

21. A method for placing a call on hold, comprising:

determining motion of a handheld audio device;

determining a position of the handheld audio device; and

performing an operation to place the call on hold with respect to the handheld audio device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the determining motion and determining the position comprise obtaining information from a gyroscope.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the determining motion and determining position comprises obtaining information from an accelerometer.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the obtaining further comprises obtaining information from a position detector.

25. A method for placing a first call on hold and answering a second call, comprising:

determining motion of a handheld audio device;

determining a position of the handheld audio device; and

performing an operation to place the first call on hold and to answer the second call with respect to the handheld audio device.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the determining motion and determining the position comprise obtaining information from a gyroscope.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the determining motion and determining position comprises obtaining information from an accelerometer.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the obtaining further comprises obtaining information from a position detector.

29. A method for changing an internal call control operations of a handheld audio device, comprising:

determining motion of the handheld audio device;

determining a position of the handheld audio device; and

performing in response to determined motion and position an operation to change the internal call control operations of the handheld audio device.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the determining motion and determining the position comprise obtaining information from a gyroscope.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the determining motion and determining position comprises obtaining information from an accelerometer.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the obtaining further comprises obtaining information from a position detector.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the internal call control operations of the handheld audio device are changed to that of utilizing the speaker phone function of the handheld audio device.

34. A method for controlling internal operations of an endpoint, comprising:

determining motion of a handheld audio device;

determining a position of the handheld audio device; and

transmitting a message to the endpoint by the handheld audio device in response to the determined motion and determined position wherein the message requests an internal operation be performed by the endpoint without terminating communication with the handheld audio device wherein the endpoint is one of a voice messaging system, conferencing system, or telephone operator.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the determining motion and determining the position comprise obtaining information from a gyroscope.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the determining motion and determining position comprises obtaining information from an accelerometer.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the obtaining further comprises obtaining information from a position detector.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the endpoint is a voice messaging system and the internal operation of the voice messaging system is at least one of deleting a message, saving a message, skipping a message, or responding to a message.

39. The method of claim 34 wherein the endpoint is a conferencing system and the internal operation of the conferencing system is at least one of re-joining a main conference or joining a sub-conference.

40. The method of claim 34 wherein the endpoint is a telephone operator and the requested telephone operator operation is recalling the telephone operator.

41. A handheld audio device, comprising:

a computer for obtaining initial biometric information of ears of the user of the handheld device;

the computer further detecting a change in the biometric information of the ears;

the computer further determining a position of the handheld audio device by analyzing the detected change in biometric information; and

the computer further performing call control based on the determined position.

42. The handheld audio device of claim 41 further comprises:

the computer further determining motion of the handheld audio device by analyzing the detected change in biometric information; and

the computer further performing call control based on the determined motion.

43. The handheld audio device of claim 42 further comprises:

a ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting sonic signals into at least an ear canal of the ear of the user or a head of the user;

a ultrasonic receiver for receiving reflected ultrasonic signals resulting from the transmitted ultrasonic signals from at least the ear canal or the head; and

the computer further processing the reflected ultrasonic signals to determined motion and position of the handheld audio device.

44. The handheld device of claim 42 further comprises:

an imaging module for obtaining digital images of at least an ear or head of the user; and

the computer further processing the obtaining digital images to determine the motion and position of the handheld audio device.

45. A computer-readable medium for call control, comprising computer-executable instructions configured for:

computer-executable instructions for obtaining initial biometric information of ears of a user of a handheld audio device;

computer-executable instructions for detecting a change in biometric information of the ears of the user;

computer-executable instructions for determining a position of the handheld audio device by analyzing the detected change in biometric information; and

computer-executable instructions for performing call control based on the determined position.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 45 further comprises computer-executable instructions for determining motion of the handheld audio device by analyzing the detected change in biometric information;

and

the computer-executable instructions for performing further performing call control based on the determined motion.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 45 wherein the computer-executable instructions for obtaining and detecting comprise computer-executable instructions for performing visual operations.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 47 wherein the computer-executable instructions for performing visual operations comprise computer-executable instructions for gathering visual information of an ear;

and

computer-executable instructions for comparing the gathered visual information with visual information stored in a database.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 45 wherein the computer-executable instructions for obtaining and detecting comprise computer-executable instructions for performing sonic operations.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 49 wherein the computer-executable instructions for performing sonic operations comprise computer-executable instructions for gathering sonic information from an ear canal of the ear;

and

computer-executable instructions for comparing the gathered sonic information with sonic information stored in a database.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 wherein computer-executable instructions for gathering comprise computer-executable instructions for transmitting ultrasonic signals into the ear canal;

and

computer-executable instructions for analyzing reflected signals resulting from the transmitted ultrasonic signals for physical characteristics of the ear canal.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 45 wherein the call control is at least one of controlling a call from another telephone, a voice messaging system, a conference call, or an operator.

53. A computer-readable medium for call control, comprising computer-executable instructions configured for:

computer-executable instructions for determining motion of a handheld audio device;

computer-executable instructions for determining a position of the handheld audio device;

computer-executable instructions for performing a first call control operation in response to the determined motion and position if the handheld audio device is communicating with a first one of a plurality of endpoints; and

computer-executable instructions for performing a second call control operation in response to the determined motion and position if the handheld audio device is communicating with a second one of a plurality of endpoints.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 53 wherein the plurality of endpoints comprises at least two of another telephone, a voice messaging system, a conference call, or an operator.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 53 wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining motion and determining position-comprise computer-executable instructions for performing visual operations.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 55 wherein the computer-executable instructions for performing visual operations comprise computer-executable instructions for gathering visual information of an ear;

and

computer-executable instructions for comparing the gathered visual information with visual information stored in a database.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 53 wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining motion and determining the position comprise computer-executable instructions for performing sonic operations.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 57 wherein the computer-executable instructions for performing sonic operations comprise computer-executable instructions for gathering sonic information from an ear canal of the ear;

and

computer-executable instructions for comparing the gathered sonic information with sonic information stored in a database.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 58 wherein computer-executable instructions for gathering comprise computer-executable instructions for transmitting ultrasonic signals into the ear canal;

and

computer-executable instructions for analyzing reflected signals resulting from the transmitted ultrasonic signals for physical characteristics of the ear canal.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 53 wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining motion and determining the position comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from a gyroscope.

61. The computer-readable medium of claim 53 wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining motion and determining position comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from an accelerometer.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 61 wherein the computer-executable instructions for obtaining further comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from a position detector.

63. A computer-readable medium for placing a call on hold, comprising computer-executable instructions configured for:

computer-executable instructions for determining motion of a handheld audio device;

computer-executable instructions for determining a position of the handheld audio device; and

computer-executable instructions for performing an operation to place the call on hold with respect to the handheld audio device.

64. The computer-readable medium of claim 63 wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining motion and determining the position comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from a gyroscope.

65. The computer-readable medium of claim 63 wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining motion and determining position comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from an accelerometer.

66. The computer-readable medium of claim 65 wherein the computer-executable instructions for obtaining further comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from a position detector.

67. A computer-readable medium for placing a first call on hold and answering a second call, comprising computer-executable instructions configured for:

computer-executable instructions for determining motion of a handheld audio device;

computer-executable instructions for determining a position of the handheld audio device; and

computer-executable instructions for performing an operation to place the first call on hold and to answer the second call with respect to the handheld audio device.

68. The computer-readable medium of claim 67 wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining motion and determining the position comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from a gyroscope.

69. The computer-readable medium of claim 67 wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining motion and determining position comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from an accelerometer.

70. The computer-readable medium of claim 69 wherein the computer-executable instructions for obtaining further comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from a position detector.

71. A computer-readable medium for changing a internal call control operations of a handheld audio device, comprising computer-executable instructions configured for:

computer-executable instructions for determining motion of the handheld audio device;

computer-executable instructions for determining a position of the handheld audio device; and

computer-executable instructions for performing in response to determined motion and position an operation to change the internal call control operations of the handheld audio device.

72. The computer-readable medium of claim 71 wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining motion and determining the position comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from a gyroscope.

73. The computer-readable medium of claim 71 wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining motion and determining position comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from an accelerometer.

74. The computer-readable medium of claim 73 wherein the computer-executable instructions for obtaining further comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from a position detector.

75. The computer-readable medium of claim 71 wherein the internal call control operations of the handheld audio device are changed to that of utilizing the speaker phone function of the handheld audio device.

76. A computer-readable medium for controlling internal operations of an endpoint, comprising computer-executable instructions configured for:

computer-executable instructions for determining motion of a handheld audio device;

computer-executable instructions for determining a position of the handheld audio device; and

computer-executable instructions for transmitting a message to the endpoint by the handheld audio device in response to the determined motion and determined position wherein the message requests an internal operation be performed by the endpoint without terminating communication with the handheld audio device wherein the endpoint is at least one of a voice messaging system, a conferencing system, or a telephone operator.

77. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining motion and determining the position comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from a gyroscope.

78. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining motion and determining position comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from an accelerometer.

79. The computer-readable medium of claim 78 wherein the computer-executable instructions for obtaining further comprise computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from a position detector.

80. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the endpoint is a voice messaging system and the internal operation of the voice messaging system is at least one of deleting a message, saving a message, skipping a message, or responding to a message.

81. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the endpoint is a conferencing system and the internal operation of the conferencing system is at least one of re-joining a main conference or joining a sub-conference.

82. The computer-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the endpoint is a telephone operator and the requested telephone operator operation is recalling the telephone operator.