Telecommunications-Terminal Mute Detection

• US 20100080382A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Stefanacci, Emil F., Petsche, Thomas Anthony, Patel, Bina, Dresher, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,848,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/421
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls

Abstract

The subject matter provides a method that enable detecting if a party engaged into a tele-conference call is attempting to engage into conversation while a microphone is in a mute mode. The method provides receiving of a signal. The signal is then analyzed to determining if a party is attempting to engage into conversation. If it is determined that the party is attempting to engage in the conversation then an alarm is transmitted indicating the mode of operation of the microphone. The transmitted alarm may be an audio alert or a visual alert.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a speech signal of a user of a microphone; and

transmitting an alarm when;

(i) the microphone is muted, and

(ii) the intonation of the speech signal indicates that the user is speaking into the microphone.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the alarm is audible.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the alarm is visual.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising un-muting the microphone.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a proximity signal from a proximity sensor associated with the microphone.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the alarm is transmitted when:

(i) the microphone is muted, and

(ii) the intonation of the speech signal indicates that the user is speaking into the microphone, and

(iii) the proximity signal indicates that the user is speaking into the microphone.

7. A method comprising:

receiving;

(i) a speech signal of a user of a microphone, and

(ii) a proximity signal from a proximity sensor associated with the microphone; and

transmitting an alarm when;

(i) an indication that the microphone is muted, and

(ii) the proximity signal indicates that the user is speaking into the microphone.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the alarm is audible.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the alarm is visual.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising un-muting the microphone.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the alarm is transmitted when:

(i) the microphone is muted, and

(ii) the proximity signal indicates that the user is speaking into the microphone, and

(iii) the intonation of the speech signal indicates that the user is speaking into the microphone.