Apparatus and method to automatically adjust volume or control operation of an appliance

• US 20040203353A1
• Filed: 06/25/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Connor, Patrick L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,149,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

An apparatus includes a device adapted to detect one of receiving an incoming call or initiating an outgoing call. A transmitter is adapted to send a request signal in response to receiving the incoming call or initiating the outgoing call. The request signal may be used to adjust a volume setting or pause operation of an appliance.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a device adapted to detect one of receiving an incoming call or initiating an outgoing call; and

a transmitter adapted to send a request signal in response to receiving the incoming call or initiating the outgoing call, wherein the request signal causes adjustment of a volume setting or controls operation of an appliance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is a microprocessor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is a radio telephone.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is has a range between about 10 centimeters and about 10 meters.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a transmitter of a communication device and the request signal is transmitted at a selected power to propagate only a predetermined distance to the appliance.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit another request signal after a predetermined time period in response to the incoming call or the outgoing call continuing to be in progress.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit a resume signal after the incoming call or outgoing call is terminated.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a receiver associated with the appliance to receive the request signal and the resume signal.

9. A communication device, comprising:

a transmitter adapted to send radio signals;

a receiver adapted to receive radio signals;

a transceiver adapted to send a request signal in response to the communication device receiving an incoming call or initiating an outgoing call to adjust a volume setting or pause operation of an appliance; and

a controller adapted to control operation of the transmitter, the receiver and the short range transceiver.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the transceiver is adapted to repeatedly transmit another request signal at predetermined time intervals until the incoming call or outgoing call is terminated.

11. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the transceiver is adapted to transmit a resume signal after the incoming call or outgoing call is terminated.

12. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the controller is adapted to adjust an alert setting of the communication device to a selected setting in response to the communication device receiving a chosen signal.

13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the controller is adapted to maintain the selected setting in response to receiving another chosen signal within a predetermined time period.

14. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the controller is adapted to resume an original alert setting in response to an expiration of a predetermined time period and not receiving another chosen signal.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving an incoming call or initiating an outgoing call;

transmitting a request signal; and

adjusting a volume setting of an appliance to a selected setting or pausing operation of the appliance in response to the request signal.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising resuming an original volume setting or continuing operation after termination of the incoming call or the outgoing call.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein resuming the original volume setting or continuing operation comprises transmitting a resume signal after termination of the incoming or outgoing call.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising maintaining the selected setting or pausing operation in response to another request signal within a predetermined time period.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising resuming the original volume setting or continuing operation after a predetermined time period if another request signal is not received.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the request signal is transmitted by one of a transmitter of a communication device operating at a selected power or another transmitter separate from the transmitter of the communication device.

21. A method, comprising:

receiving a chosen signal; and

changing an alert setting of a communication device to a selected setting in response to the chosen signal.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising resuming an original alert setting of the communication device if the chosen signal is no longer being received or after a predetermined time period without receiving another chosen signal.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein changing an alert setting comprises automatically adjusting the alert setting to one of muting an audio alert of the communication device, enabling only a vibration alert or a visual alert, enabling only a combination visual alert and vibration alert, and reducing an audio alert to a selected decibel level.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting a status signal after a predetermined time period.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising maintaining the selected setting in response to receiving another chosen signal.

26. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

receiving an incoming call or initiating an outgoing call;

transmitting a request signal; and

adjusting a volume setting of an appliance to a selected setting or pausing operation of the appliance in response to the request signal.

27. The computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 26, further comprising maintaining the selected settings or pausing operation in response to another request signal within the predetermined time period.

28. The computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 26, further comprising resuming the original volume setting or continuing operation after a predetermined time period if another request signal is not received.

29. The computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 26, further comprising resuming an original volume setting or continuing operation after termination of the incoming call or the outgoing call.

30. The computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 29, wherein resuming the original volume setting or continuing operation comprises transmitting a resume signal after termination of the incoming or outgoing call.