METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN INTELLIGENT MUTE STATUS REMINDER FOR AN ACTIVE SPEAKER IN A CONFERENCE

• US 20130321156A1
• Filed: 05/29/2012
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Yanghua
• Granted Patent: US 8,878,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/78 Detection of presence or absence of voice signals switching of direction of transmission by voice frequency in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6008 in the transmitter circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes capturing samples of sound associated with an environment, and processing the samples of sound to determine whether the samples of sound likely include voice activity. The samples of sound are captured while a microphone is muted. When it is determined that the samples of sound likely include the voice activity, the method also includes providing a first notification arranged to indicate that voice activity is detected and that the microphone is muted.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

capturing samples of sound associated with an environment, wherein the samples of sound are captured while a microphone is muted during a call;

processing the samples of sound to determine whether the samples of sound likely include voice activity; and

when it is determined that the samples of sound likely include the voice activity, providing a first notification, the first notification being arranged to indicate that voice activity is detected and that the microphone is muted.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the microphone is associated with a device having phone capabilities, the device having a display, and wherein providing the first notification includes providing the first notification on the display.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the microphone is associated with a device having phone capabilities, the device including an audio playout arrangement, and wherein providing the first notification includes providing the first notification using the audio playout arrangement.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the device further includes a display, and wherein providing the first notification further includes providing the first notification on the display.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the samples of sound to determine whether the samples of sound likely include the voice activity includes determining at least one energy level associated with the samples of sound and determining whether the at least one energy level indicates the voice activity.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein processing the samples of sound further includes detecting noise included in the samples of sound and suppressing the noise included in the samples of sound.

7. The method of claim 1 further including:

determining, after providing the first notification, whether the microphone continues to be muted; and

when it is determined that the microphone continues to be muted, providing a second notification, the second notification being arranged to indicate that the voice activity is detected and that the microphone is muted.

8. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer program code, the computer program code, when executed, configured to:

capture samples of sound associated with an environment, wherein the samples of sound are captured while a microphone is muted during a call;

process the samples of sound to determine whether the samples of sound likely include voice activity; and

when it is determined that the samples of sound likely include the voice activity, provide a first notification, the first notification being arranged to indicate that voice activity is detected and that the microphone is muted.

9. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the microphone is associated with a device having phone capabilities, the device having a display, and wherein the computer program code configured to provide the first notification is further configured to provide the first notification on the display.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the microphone is associated with a device having phone capabilities, the device having an audio playout arrangement, and wherein the computer program code configured to provide the first notification is further configured to provide the first notification using the audio playout arrangement.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the device further includes a display, and wherein the computer program code configured to provide the first notification is further configured to provide the first notification on the display.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the computer program code configured to process the samples of sound to determine whether the sample of sound likely include the voice activity is further configured to determine at least one energy level associated with the samples of sound and to determine whether the at least one energy level indicates the voice activity.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the computer program code configured to process the samples of sound is further configured to detect noise included in the samples of sound and to suppress the noise included in the samples of sound.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the computer program code is further configured to:

determine, after providing the first notification, whether the microphone continues to be muted; and

when it is determined that the microphone continues to be muted, provide a second notification, the second notification being arranged to indicate that the voice activity is detected and that the microphone is muted.

15. An apparatus comprising:

means for capturing samples of sound associated with an environment, wherein the samples of sound are captured while a microphone is muted during a call;

means for processing the samples of sound to determine whether the samples of sound likely include voice activity; and

means for providing a first notification when it is determined that the samples of sound likely include the voice activity, the first notification being arranged to indicate that voice activity is detected and that the microphone is muted.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a communications interface, the communications interface being configured to allow the apparatus to communicate with a communications network to participate in a call;

a microphone arrangement, the microphone arrangement being configured to provide output with respect to the call;

a mute arrangement, the mute arrangement being configured to mute the microphone arrangement to prevent the microphone arrangement from at least temporarily providing the output with respect to the call, wherein the microphone arrangement is configured to capture samples of sound while the microphone arrangement is muted by the mute arrangement;

status reminder logic, the status reminder logic being configured to process the samples of sound to determine when the samples of sound are likely to contain voice activity when the microphone arrangement is muted by the mute arrangement; and

a notification arrangement, the notification arrangement being configured to provide a notification that voice activity is likely and that the microphone arrangement is muted by the mute arrangement when it is determined that the samples of sound are likely to contain voice activity.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the notification arrangement includes a display arrangement, and wherein the notification is a visual notification displayed using the display arrangement.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the notification arrangement includes an audio playout arrangement, and wherein the notification includes an audible notification provided using the audio playout arrangement.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the notification arrangement further includes a display arrangement, and wherein the notification further includes a visual notification displayed using the display arrangement.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the status reminder logic is configured to process the samples of sound to determine whether the samples of sound likely by determining at least one energy level associated with the samples of sound and determining whether the at least one energy level indicates the voice activity.