Wearing State Based Device Operation

• US 20130238340A1
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Walsh, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,117,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/260
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/04 Details of speech synthesis systems, e.g. synthesiser structure or memory management
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for wearing state device operation are disclosed. In one example, a headset includes a sensor for detecting a headset donned state or a headset doffed state. The headset operation is modified based on whether the headset is donned or doffed.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a processor;

a speaker;

a donned or doffed detector configured to identify an electronic device donned state or an electronic device doffed state;

a text to speech application comprising instructions which when executed by the processor cause the electronic device to convert a text based message to audio speech; and

a text based message notification application comprising instructions which when executed by the processor cause the electronic device to output message playback options at the speaker responsive to an identified electronic device donned state.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device donned state is a headset worn on a user ear.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the text based message notification application outputs a new message summary responsive to transition from an electronic device doffed state to an electronic device donned state.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the text based message comprises an electronic mail message, a text message, or an instant message.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the text based message notification application retrieves new text based messages from an electronic device memory for conversion and audio playback, the new text based messages stored in memory prior to the electronic device transitioning from an electronic device doffed state to an electronic device donned state.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the text based message notification application retrieves new text based messages from a computing device upon receiving a user request to play back a new text based message.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the text-to-speech application is disabled when the electronic device is in the electronic device doffed state.

8. A method for text based message notification at a headset comprising:

receiving a notification message from a computing device of a new text based message;

identifying a transition from a headset doffed state to a headset donned state;

outputting text based message playback options at a headset speaker responsive to an identified headset donned state;

receiving a user selection to hear a text based message; and

converting the text based message to audio speech at the headset and outputting the audio speech at a headset speaker.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising retrieving the text based message from a computing device following receiving a user selection to hear a text based message.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein further comprising retrieving the text based message from a headset memory following receiving a user selection to hear a text based message.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising outputting a message summary at the headset speaker comprising the number of new messages responsive to identifying the transition from a headset doffed state to a headset donned state.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the text based message comprises an electronic mail, text message, or instant message.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying a transition from a headset donned state to a headset doffed state; and

suspending operation of a text-to-speech application responsive to identifying the transition from a headset donned state to a headset doffed state.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying a transition from a headset donned state to a headset doffed state; and

outputting an indication of a new text based message utilizing a headset vibrate motor or a headset speakerphone while the headset is in the headset doffed state.

15. A headset comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a processor;

an in-the-ear speaker;

a donned or doffed detector configured to identify a headset donned state or a headset doffed state; and

a device operation application comprising instructions which when executed by the processor cause the headset to selectively enable or disable headset functionality responsive to identification of the headset donned state or the headset doffed state.

16. The headset of claim 15, wherein the device operation application is configured to disable a headset text-to-speech application responsive to identification of a headset doffed state.

17. The headset of claim 15, wherein the device operation application is configured to disable outputting of an audio file or outputting of a data string convertible to audio by a text-to-speech application responsive to identification of a headset doffed state, wherein the audio file or data string is stored in a headset memory.

18. The headset of claim 15, further comprising:

a text-to-speech application comprising instructions which when executed by the processor cause the headset to convert a text based message to audio speech; and

a loudspeaker operable as a speakerphone, wherein the device operation application routes playback of audible speech associated with a text based message to the in-the-ear speaker when the headset is in a donned state and routes playback of audio audible speech associated with a text based message to the loudspeaker when the headset is in a doffed state.

19. The headset of claim 15, further comprising:

a vibrate motor configured to alert a user of an incoming new text based message or an incoming voice call, wherein the device operation application routes alerts to the vibrate motor when the headset is in a doffed state.

20. A method for headset operation comprising:

detecting a headset donned state or a headset doffed state; and

selectively enabling or disabling a headset component or functionality responsive to identification of the headset donned state or the headset doffed state.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein selectively enabling or disabling a headset component or functionality responsive to identification of the headset donned state or the headset doffed state comprises disabling a text-to-speech application responsive to identification of a headset doffed state.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein selectively enabling or disabling a headset component or functionality responsive to identification of the headset donned state or the headset doffed state comprises routing an incoming call or message alert to a headset speaker operating as a speakerphone responsive to identification of a headset doffed state.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein selectively enabling or disabling a headset component or functionality responsive to identification of the headset donned state or the headset doffed state comprises powering down a headset transceiver responsive to identification of a headset doffed state.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein disabling a headset component or functionality increases a headset standby time.