Method and apparatus for configuring a handheld audio device using ear biometrics

• US 8,229,145 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Coughlan, Marc William Joseph, Forbes, Alexander Quentin, Gannon, Ciaran, Michaelis, Paul Roller, Runcie, Peter Donald, Warta, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Parker, Kenneth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lin, John
• Application Number:
  US11/899,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20090060240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,784 Days
• Field of Search: 381/314, 381/315, 381/56, 381/57, 381/60, 379/52, 600/559
• US Class Current: 381/314
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6016 in the receiver circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72478 for hearing-impaired users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A method and apparatus configure a handheld audio device to communicate audio information by identifying an ear being used with the handheld audio device and by configuring the handheld audio device in response to the ear identification to communicate audio information to the ear. The identification may use sonic or visual techniques to identify the ear.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a handheld audio device to communicate audio information, comprising:

initially obtaining sets of visual or sonic parameters with each set defining a ear of a user;

initially storing the obtained visual or sonic parameters in a database for the user;

detecting use of the handheld audio device by the user;

testing the ear of the user being used with the handheld audio device for visual or sonic parameters in response to the detected ear;

determining which ear of the user is the ear being used with the handheld audio device by comparing the visual or sonic parameters obtained by the testing of the steps of visual or sonic parameters stored in the database for the user to identify the ear of the user being used with the handheld audio device; and

configuring the handheld audio device in response to the ear identification to communicate audio information to the identified ear of the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuring comprises adjusting a volume of the acoustic signal representing the audio information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuring comprises adjusting a spectral content of the audio information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuring comprises adjusting an electro-magnetic field communicating the audio information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the adjusting comprises controlling strength of the electro-magnetic field communicating the audio information.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the adjusting comprises aiming the electro-magnetic field.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the aiming comprises selecting one of a plurality of inductive coils to produce the electro-magnetic field.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the handheld audio device is at least one of a mobile telephone, a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a two-way radio, or a personal digital assistant.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for configuring a handheld audio device to communicate audio information, comprising computer executable instructions configured for:

initially obtaining sets of visual or sonic parameters with each set defining a ear of a user;

initially storing the obtained visual or sonic parameters in a database for the user;

detecting use of the handheld audio device by the user;

testing the ear of the user being used with the handheld audio device for visual or is sonic parameters in response to the detected ear;

determining which ear of the user is the ear being used with the handheld audio device by comparing the visual or sonic parameters obtained by the testing of the steps of visual or sonic parameters stored in the database for the user to identify the ear of the user being used with the handheld audio device; and

configuring the handheld audio device in response to the ear identification to communicate audio information to the identified ear of the user.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the configuring comprise adjusting a volume of the acoustic signal representing the audio information.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the configuring comprise adjusting a spectral content of the audio information.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the configuring comprise adjusting an electro-magnetic field communicating the audio 5 information.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the adjusting comprise controlling strength of the electro-magnetic field communicating the audio information.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the adjusting comprise aiming the electro-magnetic field.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the aiming comprise for selecting one of a plurality of inductive coils to produce the electro-magnetic field.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the handheld audio device is at least one of a mobile telephone, a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a two-way radio, or a personal digital assistant.