Method and Electronic Device for Individualizing Ringtones

• US 20160036967A1
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Agrawal, Amit Kumar, Rout, Satyabrata
• Granted Patent: US 9,426,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

A first electronic device (“first device”) identifies a second electronic device (“second device”) that is within hearing range of the first device. The first device determines whether a ringtone of the first device conflicts with a ringtone of the second device (e.g., the first and second devices have the same incoming text message ringtone). If the first device determines that there is a conflict (e.g., the active ringtones of the two devices have the same file name or the audio files of the ringtones have the same digital signature or identifier) then the first device appends an individualized alert to its ringtone, either in advance of playing the ringtone or in real time as the ringtone is being played.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by a first electronic device, a second electronic device to be within hearing range of the first electronic device;

determining whether a ringtone of the second electronic device conflicts with a ringtone of the first electronic device;

if the first electronic device determines that the ringtone of the second electronic device conflicts with the ringtone of the first electronic device, selecting, by the first electronic device, an individualized ringtone, wherein the individualized ringtone comprises an individualized alert appended to at least the ringtone of the first electronic device; and

in response to receiving a call while the first electronic device is within hearing range of the second electronic device, outputting the individualized ringtone to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein designating the second electronic device to be within hearing range of the first electronic device comprises determining that the second electronic device is within a predetermined distance of the first electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the second electronic device to be within hearing range of first electronic device comprises:

determining the speaker volume of at least one of the first and second electronic devices;

determining the distance between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and

identifying the second electronic device based on determined speaker volume and on the determined distance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the second electronic device to be within hearing range of first electronic device comprises:

determining the speaker volume of at least one of the first and second electronic devices;

determining a strength of a signal passed between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and

identifying the second electronic device based on the determined speaker volume and on the determined signal strength.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein appending an individualized alert comprises appending the individualized alert at the beginning of the ringtone of the first electronic device, inserting the individualized alert within the ringtone of the first electronic device, or appending the individualized alert to the end of the ringtone of the first electronic device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein appending an individualized alert to the ringtone of the first electronic device comprises converting text that individually identifies the user of the first electronic device into speech and emitting the speech from a speaker of the first electronic device along with the ringtone of the first electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a first item of identifying information of the first electronic device is the same as that of the second electronic device;

determining that a second item of identifying information of the first electronic device is different from that of the second electronic device; and

basing the individualized alert on the second item of identifying information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a ringtone on the second electronic device conflicts with a ringtone of the first electronic device comprises:

establishing a communication link with the second electronic device; and

querying the second electronic device regarding the second electronic device'"'"'s active ringtones.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a ringtone on the second electronic device conflicts with a ringtone of the first electronic device comprises:

establishing a communication link with a server via a public network; and

querying the server regarding the second electronic device'"'"'s active ringtones.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the first electronic device is no longer within hearing range of the second electronic device; and

based on the determination, ceasing to append the individualized alert to the ringtone.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the ringtone individualized on the first electronic device is selected from a group consisting of an incoming call ringtone, an incoming message alert, a device status notification, a social media alert, and a spoken notification.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a ringtone of the second electronic device conflicts with a ringtone of the first electronic device comprises determining whether the second electronic device is set to a default ringtone.

13. A method, on a first electronic device, for individualizing a ringtone, the method comprising:

identifying, the first electronic device of a user, a second electronic device to be within hearing range of the first electronic device;

determining, by the first electronic device, whether a ringtone of the second electronic device conflicts with a ringtone of the first electronic device;

receiving an incoming call or a message on the first electronic device;

if the ringtone of the second electronic device is determined not to conflict with a ringtone of the first electronic device, emitting the ringtone on the first electronic device; and

if the ringtone of the second electronic device is determined to conflict with a ringtone of the first electronic device, sending, by the first electronic device and to a companion device of the user that is paired to the first electronic device, an alert instead of emitting the ringtone.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein identifying the second electronic device to be within hearing range of the first electronic device comprises determining that the second electronic device is within a predetermined distance of the first electronic device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein identifying the second electronic device to be within hearing range of first electronic device comprises:

determining the speaker volume of at least one of the first and second electronic devices;

determining the distance between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and

identifying the second electronic device based on determined speaker volume and on the determined distance.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein identifying the second electronic device to be within hearing range of the first electronic device comprises:

determining the speaker volume of at least one of the first and second electronic devices;

determining a strength of a signal passed between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and

identifying the second electronic device to be within hearing range based on the determined speaker volume and on the determined signal strength.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein determining whether a ringtone on the second electronic device conflicts with a ringtone of the first electronic device comprises:

establishing a communication link with the second electronic device; and

querying the second electronic device regarding the second electronic device'"'"'s active ringtones.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein determining whether a ringtone on the second electronic device conflicts with a ringtone of the first electronic device comprises:

establishing a communication link with a server via a public network; and

querying the server regarding the second electronic device'"'"'s active ringtones.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining that the first electronic device is no longer within hearing range of the second electronic device; and

based on the determination, ceasing to send the alert to the companion device.

20. A first electronic device comprising:

a speaker;

a processor configured to;

identify a second electronic device to be within hearing range of the first electronic device;

determine whether a ringtone of the second electronic device conflicts with a ringtone of the first electronic device;

if the first electronic devices determines the ringtone of the second electronic device conflicts with the ringtone of the first electronic device, select an individualized ringtone, wherein the individualized ringtone comprises an individualized alert appended to at least the ringtone of the first electronic device; and

in response to receiving a call while the first electronic device is within a hearing range of the second electronic device, output the individualized ringtone to the user.