ADJUSTABLE MOBILE PHONE SETTINGS BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• US 20130078976A1
• Filed: 09/27/2011
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Naftolin, Jordan
• Granted Patent: US 9,294,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/044 according to the level of ambient noise
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A mobile communication device automatically adapts to different environments based on the ambient audio it detects. Device message indicators (e.g., ringers, haptic feedback devices) are automatically adjusted based on ambient audio levels and possibly other environmental parameters so that they are less intrusive in quieter environments and, in noisier environments, more intrusive so that they are more able to gain the attention of the user.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting one or more message indicators employed by a mobile communication device to notify a user of a change in state or status, comprising:

detecting at least one environmental condition in an environment where the mobile communication device is located using a sensor available to the mobile communication device; and

when the detected environmental condition satisfies at least one prescribed criterion when a change in the state or status of the mobile communication device occurs, adjusting at least one characteristic of at least one of the message indicators based at least in part on the detected environmental condition.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the environmental condition includes ambient audio.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the environmental condition includes ambient light.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the state or status of the mobile communication device is changed upon receipt of an incoming message.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the at least one message indicator includes a ringer, display, and/or a haptic feedback mechanism.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the at least one characteristic when the detected environmental condition crosses a threshold level.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the at least one characteristic in a manner based at least in part on an analysis of at least one additional environmental condition that is detected.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising adjusting the threshold level in response to user input.

9. The method of claim 6 in which the threshold level includes one or more default threshold levels.

10. A mobile communication device, comprising:

RF circuitry for communicating over a wireless network;

at least one audio transducer for receiving audio data and converting it to an electrical signal;

a user interface through which a user can enter and receive information;

one or more message indicators configured to notify a user of an event or change in status, comprising; and

a processor operatively associated with the at least one memory unit, the RF circuitry, the user interface, the audio transducer and the message indicator, said processor being configured to adjust at least one characteristic of at least one of the message indicators based at least in part on audio data detected by the audio transducer.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 10 in which the processor adjusts the at least one characteristic based at least in part on the audio data detected by the audio transducer and an additional environmental condition that is detected.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 11 further comprising a sensor to detect the additional environmental condition.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 12 in which the additional environmental condition detected by the sensor is selected from the group consisting of ambient temperature, ambient light, a nature of the audio data, and acceleration.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 10 in which the processor is further configured to adjust the at least one characteristic of the one or more message indicators based at least in part on a volume level of the audio data detected by the audio transducer.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 10 in which the processor is configured to adjust the at least one characteristic when the environmental condition satisfies at least one prescribed condition when a change in state or status of the mobile communication device occurs.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 10 in which the at least one characteristic that is adjusted includes a volume level of a ringer, a brightness or color scheme of a display, and/or a vibration intensity of a haptic feedback mechanism.

17. One or more computer-readable storage media containing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors disposed in a mobile communication device, perform a method comprising the steps of:

determining when at least one environmental parameter of an environment in which the mobile communication device is located satisfies at least one predetermined criterion; and

in response to satisfaction of the at least one predetermined criterion, adjusting at least one characteristic of at least one message indicator configured to notify a user of an event associated with the mobile communication device.

18. The computer-readable storage media of claim 17 further comprising adjusting the at least one characteristic in a manner based at least in part on an analysis of at least one additional environmental parameter that is detected.

19. The computer-readable storage media of claim 18 further comprising detecting the at least one additional environmental parameter using a sensor included with the mobile communication device.

20. The computer-readable storage media of claim 17 further comprising adjusting the environmental parameter when a state or status of the mobile communication device changes.