Method and apparatus for controlling a device

• US 8,723,699 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ivanov, Plamen A., Richards, Daniel L., Valentine, Mark F., Vuppu, Sandeep P.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US12/942,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20120112930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 455/556.1, 345/158, 345/173
• US Class Current: 341/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling a device is provided herein. During operation, a user'"'"'s headset is tapped upon in order to control a device. More particularly, a user'"'"'s headset (or the device itself) uses circuitry that allows the headset or the device to detect user taps (for example on either earpiece of the connected 3.5 mm jack stereo headset, or the housing of the headset). The taps serve as user inputs to control the device. Because a user can control a device simply by tapping upon a headset, the device can be accessed without necessitating the need to wake the device to access control functions (e.g., music control functions).

Claims

1. A method for controlling a device, the method comprising:

sending, by the device via a wire to a headset distinct from the device, a reference signal;

determining, by a tap detector on the device, from a modified form of the reference signal, that a tap signal is present in addition to the reference signal, the tap signal not resulting from a press of any hardware or software keys located on the headset;

based, at least in part, on the determined tap signal, deciphering, by the device, the tap signal; and

based, at least in part, on the deciphered tap signal, controlling, by the device, functionality of the device;

wherein the determining is based, at least in part, on comparing the sent reference signal to the modified form of the reference signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling functionality comprises:

determining how many taps were present in the tap signal; and

controlling a function of the device based on how many taps were present.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling functionality comprises:

determining how many taps were present in the tap signal;

determining whether a left or a right speaker was tapped; and

controlling a function of the device based on how many taps were present and on whether the left or the right speaker was tapped.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a mobile telephone, a portable music player, a laptop computer, or a notepad.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling comprises at least one of the following:

muting or un-muting a volume, increasing the volume, decreasing the volume, answering a phone call, hanging up a phone call, and placing a call to a particular number.

6. A device comprising:

an amplifier configured for sending, via a wire to a headset distinct from the device, a reference signal;

a tap detector configured for determining, from a modified form of the reference signal, that a tap signal is present in addition to the reference signal, wherein the tap signal does not result from a press of any hardware or software keys located on the headset; and

logic circuitry configured for deciphering, based at least in part of the determined tap signal, the tap signal and for controlling, based at least in part on the deciphering, functionality of the device;

wherein the determining is based, at least in part, on comparing the sent reference signal to the modified form of the reference signal.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the logic circuitry controls the functionality of the device by:

determining how many taps were present in the tap signal; and

controlling a function of the device based on how many taps were present.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the logic circuitry controls the functionality of the device by:

determining how many taps were present in the tap signal;

determining whether a left or a right speaker was tapped; and

controlling a function of the device based on how many taps were present and on whether the left or the right speaker was tapped.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the device comprises a mobile telephone, a portable music player, a laptop computer, or a notepad.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein controlling comprises at least one of the following:

muting or un-muting a volume, increasing the volume, decreasing the volume, answering a phone call, hanging up a phone call, and placing a call to a particular number.