Controlling operation of a media device based upon whether a presentation device is currently being worn by a user

• US 9,942,642 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sanders, Christopher John
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee, Md S
• Application Number:
  US14/612,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20150208158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 3792011, 379430, 455 413, 381333
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/08 by using devices external to the driving mechanisms, e.g. coin-freed switch coin actuated mechanisms G07F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H

Abstract

A mechanism is provided for automatically controlling the operation of a media device based upon whether a portable presentation device coupled to the media device is currently being worn by a user. A portable presentation device may be any device that is meant to be worn by a user that is capable of presenting media content to the user (e.g. earphones, headphones, goggles or faceplates with video/audio capability, etc.). With this mechanism, a user can affect the operation of the media device by simply putting on or taking off the portable presentation device. The user does not need to manually manipulate the controls of the media device. By automatically controlling the operation of the media device in this manner, use of the media device and the portable presentation device as a unit is made much simpler and more convenient.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic device, comprising:

with a media presentation mechanism in the electronic device, presenting media content to the user, wherein the media content includes audio content and video content;

with circuitry in the electronic device, determining a position of the electronic device relative to the user'"'"'s body based on sensor data from a sensor in the electronic device;

in response to determining that the electronic device is partially worn by the user, automatically performing a first adjustment to the media content presented to the user; and

in response to determining that the electronic device is not worn by the user, automatically performing a second adjustment to the media content presented to the user.

2. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

with wireless communications circuitry in the electronic device, receiving the media content from an external electronic device.

3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a proximity sensor, the method further comprising:

with the proximity sensor, gathering the sensor data indicating a proximity of the user'"'"'s body to the electronic device.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor, the method further comprising:

with the temperature sensor, gathering the sensor data indicating a temperature of the user'"'"'s body.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor, the method further comprising:

with the pressure sensor, gathering the sensor data indicating whether the electronic device is pressed against the user'"'"'s body.

6. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a pair of earphones, wherein the media presentation mechanism comprises speakers within the pair of earphones, wherein presenting the media content to the user comprises presenting the audio content at a first volume level, wherein determining that the electronic device is partially worn by the user comprises determining that the user is wearing only one earphone of the pair of earphones, and wherein automatically performing a first adjustment to the media content presented to the user comprises:

presenting the audio content to the user at a second volume level that is lower than the first volume level.

7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the media presentation mechanism comprises a display and wherein presenting the media content to the user comprises presenting the video content to the user using the display.

8. The method defined in claim 1 wherein automatically performing the second adjustment to the media content presented to the user comprises automatically halting the presentation of the media content in response to determining that the electronic device is not on the user'"'"'s body.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a display that provides visual content to a user;

a speaker that provides audio content to the user;

a sensor that gathers sensor data indicating a position of the electronic device relative to the user'"'"'s body; and

circuitry that controls operation of the speaker and the display based on the sensor data indicating the position of the electronic device relative to the user'"'"'s body, performs a first adjustment to the operation of the speaker when the electronic device is partially worn by the user, and performs a second adjustment to the operation of the speaker when the electronic device is not worn by the user.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the circuitry adjusts the audio content based on the sensor data indicating the position of the electronic device relative to the user'"'"'s body.