Method for Generating Audible Location Alarm from Ear Level Device

• US 20110294541A1
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Original Assignee: Sound Id
• Inventors: Zheng, Judy Jiehua, Ramani, Meena
• Granted Patent: US 8,532,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

An audible location alarm is generated from an ear-level device of a type comprising a memory, a microphone and a speaker, each coupled to a processor. Communication is established between the ear-level device and a companion device, the companion device having an interface, a display associated with the user interface, and an audible location alarm program stored therein. The audible location alarm program is initiated. An audible location alarm signal is transmitted to the ear-level device, thereby providing instruction to the ear-level device to broadcast an audible location alarm through the speaker of the ear level device until detection of an end event.

Claims

1. A method for generating an audible location alarm from an ear-level device of a type comprising a memory, a microphone and a speaker, each coupled to a processor, the method comprising:

establishing communication between the ear-level device and a companion device, the companion device comprising a user interface, a display associated with the user interface, and an audible location alarm program stored in the companion device;

initiating the audible location alarm program; and

transmitting an audible location alarm signal to the ear-level device, thereby providing instruction to the ear-level device to broadcast an audible location alarm through the speaker of the ear level device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the audible location alarm signal transmitting step is an increasing volume audible location alarm transmitting step so that the audible location alarm broadcast by the ear-level device increases in volume over time.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the audible location alarm signal transmitting step comprises an incrementally variable volume audible location alarm transmitting step so that the audible location alarm broadcast by the ear-level device incrementally increases in volume in a stepwise fashion.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the audible location alarm signal transmitting step comprises a continuous increase in volume over time.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the audible location alarm signal transmitting step is a constant volume audible location alarm transmitting step so that the volume of the audible location alarm broadcast by the ear-level device remains generally constant over time.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication establishing step is carried out with a mobile phone as the companion device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication establishing step is carried out with a chosen one of a mobile phone, digital music player or computer as the companion device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the audible location alarm signal transmitting step is carried out by transmitting a variable volume audio stream for broadcast by the ear level device.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an audible location alarm identifier on the display; and

initiating the audible location alarm program by selecting the audible location alarm identifier.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a loud noise warning on the display; and

choosing to proceed with or cancel the audio location alarm signal transmitting step.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein after the audible location alarm program initiating step and prior to the audible location alarm signal transmitting step:

provide on the display an audible location alarm cancel identifier and an audible location alarm proceed identifier; and

either

select the audible location alarm cancel identifier thereby at least temporarily preventing performance of the audible location alarm signal transmitting step;

or

select the audible location alarm proceed identifier followed by the audible location alarm signal transmitting step.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the ear level device and the companion device is carried out by wireless communication.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the audible location alarm program initiating step comprises the user touching a touch screen type of display of the companion device.

14. A method for generating an audible location alarm from an ear-level device of a type comprising a memory, a microphone and a speaker, each coupled to a processor, the method comprising:

establishing communication between the ear-level device and a companion device, the companion device comprising a user interface, a display associated with the user interface, and an audible location alarm program stored in the companion device;

initiating the audible location alarm program by selecting a first, ear-level device application icon on the display causing the audible location alarm screen to be displayed on the display;

selecting a second, tools icon causing a tools screen to be displayed on the display;

selecting a third, find me icon causing the audible location alarm program to become active and the display of an audio alarm warning screen on the display;

selecting a cancel icon or a proceed icon;

if the cancel icon is selected, return to the second, tools icon selecting step; and

if the proceed icon is selected, transmitting an audible location alarm signal to the ear-level device by the companion device for a length of time, thereby providing instruction to the ear-level device to broadcast an audible location alarm through the speaker of the ear level device.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the audible location alarm signal transmitted is an increasing volume audible location alarm signal so that the audible location alarm broadcast by the ear-level device increases in volume over time.