Techniques for controlling speaker volume of a portable communications device
First Claim
1. A method for controlling speaker volume of a speaker of a portable communications device, the method comprising:
- continuously receiving an environmental signal from an environmental microphone of the portable communications device;
identifying a level of environmental noise based on the environmental signal; and
adjusting the speaker volume of the speaker of the portable communications device based on the identified level of environmental noise;
wherein the portable communications device is a wireless phone device;
the step of continuously receiving the environmental signal from the environmental microphone of the portable communications device includes obtaining, as the environmental signal from the environmental microphone, an electronic signal indicative of environmental noise in the vicinity of the wireless phone device;
the step of identifying the level of environmental noise based on the environmental signal includes measuring the volume of the environmental noise represented by the environmental signal from the environmental microphone;
wherein the wireless phone device is a cellular telephone having, as the speaker, a cellular telephone speaker to output an audio signal into an ear of a user;
the step of adjusting the speaker volume includes automatically modifying a strength of the audio signal to enable the user to hear the audio signal when the ear of the user is adjacent the cellular telephone speaker;
wherein the cellular telephone further includes a voice microphone which is different than the environmental microphone;
receiving voice input from the user through the voice microphone of the cellular telephone, and conveying the voice input to another communications device which is external to the cellular telephone;
the step of identifying the level of environmental noise includes identifying the level of environmental noise as a measured noise level; and
the step of automatically modifying the strength of the audio signal includes;
outputting the audio signal, via the speaker, at a preset value above the measured noise level; and
holding the strength of the audio signal outputted by the speaker to be greater than the measured noise level by the preset value, the strength of the audio signal remaining in locked step above the measured noise level as the volume of the environmental noise changes with time.
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Abstract
A technique is directed to controlling speaker volume of a speaker of a portable communications device (e.g., a cellular telephone, a cordless hand phone, a combination of a cellular phone and a hands-free ear piece, etc.). The technique involves receiving an environmental signal from an environmental microphone of the portable communications device. The technique further involves identifying a level of environmental noise based on the environmental signal, and adjusting the speaker volume of the speaker of the portable communications device (e.g., ringer volume, voice output volume, etc.) based on the identified level of environmental noise. Such operation enables a user to accommodate a variety of settings without burdening the user with ongoing manual volume control of the portable communications device.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for controlling speaker volume of a speaker of a portable communications device, the method comprising:
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continuously receiving an environmental signal from an environmental microphone of the portable communications device; identifying a level of environmental noise based on the environmental signal; and adjusting the speaker volume of the speaker of the portable communications device based on the identified level of environmental noise; wherein the portable communications device is a wireless phone device; the step of continuously receiving the environmental signal from the environmental microphone of the portable communications device includes obtaining, as the environmental signal from the environmental microphone, an electronic signal indicative of environmental noise in the vicinity of the wireless phone device; the step of identifying the level of environmental noise based on the environmental signal includes measuring the volume of the environmental noise represented by the environmental signal from the environmental microphone; wherein the wireless phone device is a cellular telephone having, as the speaker, a cellular telephone speaker to output an audio signal into an ear of a user; the step of adjusting the speaker volume includes automatically modifying a strength of the audio signal to enable the user to hear the audio signal when the ear of the user is adjacent the cellular telephone speaker; wherein the cellular telephone further includes a voice microphone which is different than the environmental microphone; receiving voice input from the user through the voice microphone of the cellular telephone, and conveying the voice input to another communications device which is external to the cellular telephone; the step of identifying the level of environmental noise includes identifying the level of environmental noise as a measured noise level; and the step of automatically modifying the strength of the audio signal includes;
outputting the audio signal, via the speaker, at a preset value above the measured noise level; andholding the strength of the audio signal outputted by the speaker to be greater than the measured noise level by the preset value, the strength of the audio signal remaining in locked step above the measured noise level as the volume of the environmental noise changes with time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9, 11)
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5. A portable communications device, comprising:
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a housing; an environmental microphone supported by the housing; a speaker supported by the housing; and a controller coupled to the environmental microphone and to the speaker, the controller being configured to; continuously receive an environmental signal from the environmental microphone, identify a level of environmental noise based on the environmental signal, and adjust a speaker volume of the speaker based on the identified level of environmental noise; wherein the portable communications device is a wireless phone device; the controller, when receiving the environmental signal from the environmental microphone of the portable communications device, is configured to obtain, as the environmental signal from the environmental microphone, an electronic signal indicative of environmental noise in the vicinity of the wireless phone device; the controller, when identifying the level of environmental noise based on the environmental signal, is configured to measure the volume of the environmental noise represented by the environmental signal from the environmental microphone; the wireless phone device is a cellular telephone having, as the speaker, a cellular telephone speaker constructed and arranged to output an audio signal into an ear of a user; the controller, when adjusting the speaker volume, is configured to automatically modify a strength of the audio signal to enable the user to hear the audio signal when the ear of the user is adjacent the cellular telephone speaker; the portable communications device further comprises a voice microphone supported by the housing, the voice microphone being different than the environmental microphone, the controller being configured to (i) receive voice input from the user through the voice microphone and (ii) convey the voice input to another communications device which is external to the cellular telephone; the controller, when identifying the level of environmental noise is configured to identify the level of environmental noise as a measured noise level; and the controller, when automatically modifying the strength of the audio signal, is configured to output the audio signal, via the speaker, at a preset value above the measured noise level; and hold the strength of the audio signal output by the speaker above the measured noise level by the preset value, the strength of the audio signal remaining in locked step above the measured noise level the volume of the environmental noise changes with time. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 10, 12)
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Specification