Methods, devices, and computer program products for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting

• US 8,410,914 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2012
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Epley, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US13/596,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20120322510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 217 Days
• Field of Search: 340/392.3, 340/7.6, 340/7.58, 340/10.1, 340/7.1, 455/567, 455/550.1, 455/67.6, 455/41.2, 381/57
• US Class Current: 340/392.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/044 according to the level of ambient noise

Abstract

Methods, devices, and computer program products for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting. The methods comprise receiving ambient noise, converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal, detecting a parameter of the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise, sensing an incoming call or message, and controlling the volume of an audible alert in response to the detected parameter of the electrical signal.

Claims

1. A method for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting, the method comprising:

receiving ambient noise via a microphone;

converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal;

detecting a parameter of the electrical signal, the parameter indicative of the ambient noise, wherein detecting the parameter of the electrical signal comprises (i) detecting peak level and cumulative level for the electrical signal across a predetermined time interval, (ii) calculating a running average of an amplitude of the electrical signal, storing samples of the electrical signal that are above a predetermined threshold, detecting an envelope of the electrical signal, detecting the amplitude of the electrical signal, and acquiring samples of the electrical signal to generate a sequence of digitized samples, and (iii) integrating the electrical signal using a weighting function that emphasizes recently acquired portions of the electrical signal and deemphasizes portions of the electrical signal that were not recently acquired;

accepting a user preference specifying a default volume level and minimum volume level for an audible alert and a desired ring tone from a menu of audible alerts;

sensing an incoming communication;

controlling volume of the audible alert of the incoming communication in response to the parameter of the electrical signal, the controlling the volume including automatically adjusting the volume of the audible alert in response to the parameter using the default volume level as an initialization point and the minimum volume level as a minimum limit; and

repeatedly detecting the parameter of the electrical signal and dynamically controlling the volume of the audible alert in response to the parameter.

2. A computer program product comprising a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method of providing ambient noise sensitive alerting, the method comprising:

receiving ambient noise via a microphone;

converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal;

detecting a parameter of the electrical signal, the parameter indicative of the ambient noise, wherein detecting the parameter of the electrical signal comprises (i) detecting peak level and cumulative level for the electrical signal across a predetermined time interval, (ii) calculating a running average of an amplitude of the electrical signal, storing samples of the electrical signal that are above a predetermined threshold, detecting an envelope of the electrical signal, detecting the amplitude of the electrical signal, and acquiring samples of the electrical signal to generate a sequence of digitized samples, and (iii) integrating the electrical signal using a weighting function that emphasizes recently acquired portions of the electrical signal and deemphasizes portions of the electrical signal that were not recently acquired;

accepting a user preference specifying a default volume level, maximum volume level, and minimum volume level for an audible alert and a desired ring tone from a menu of audible alerts;

sensing an incoming communication;

controlling volume of the audible alert of the incoming communication in response to the parameter of the electrical signal, the controlling the volume including automatically adjusting the volume of the audible alert in response to the parameter using the default volume level as an initialization point and the minimum volume level as a minimum limit; and

repeatedly detecting the parameter of the electrical signal and dynamically controlling the volume of the audible alert in response to the parameter.

3. A device for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting, the device including:

a microphone for receiving ambient noise and converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal,

an ambient noise level detection mechanism for detecting a parameter of the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise,

an incoming call sensing circuitry for sensing of an incoming call or message, and

an audio signal generator operatively coupled to a loudspeaker for providing an audible alert;

wherein the incoming call sensing circuitry controls the volume of the audible alert by;

detecting a parameter of the electrical signal, the parameter indicative of the ambient noise, wherein detecting the parameter of the electrical signal comprises (i) detecting peak level and cumulative level for the electrical signal across a predetermined time interval, (ii) calculating a running average of an amplitude of the electrical signal, storing samples of the electrical signal that are above a predetermined threshold, detecting an envelope of the electrical signal, detecting the amplitude of the electrical signal, and acquiring samples of the electrical signal to generate a sequence of digitized samples, and (iii) integrating the electrical signal using a weighting function that emphasizes recently acquired portions of the electrical signal and deemphasizes portions of the electrical signal that were not recently acquired;

accepting a user preference specifying a default volume level, maximum volume level, and minimum volume level for an audible alert and a desired ring tone from a menu of audible alerts;

controlling volume of the audible alert of the incoming communication in response to the parameter of the electrical signal, the controlling the volume including automatically adjusting the volume of the audible alert in response to the parameter using the default volume level as an initialization point and the minimum volume level as a minimum limit; and

repeatedly detecting the parameter of the electrical signal and dynamically controlling the volume of the audible alert in response to the parameter.