System and Method for Altering Settings on Electronic Devices Based upon Sensing Stimuli

• US 20080167867A1
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cufer Asset Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Voorhuis PLC LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Merritt, Edward, Fein, Gene S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,884,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/231
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/00 Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups G10L15/00 - G10L21/00 muting semiconductor-based amplifiers when some special characteristics of a signal are sensed by a speech detector, e.g. sensing when no signal is present, H03G3/34
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system for altering settings on portable electronic devices based upon the surrounding sounds. The system and method create a series of improvements in electronic devices that enable a person to have a greater possibility to hear their name being called, important signals or emergency vehicles while using their electronic devices are in use by the instant user. An example embodiment (i) provides at least one sensor connected to a portable device, each sensor detecting surrounding sounds; (ii) recognizing a specific sound among the surrounding sounds by the at least one sensor by matching the specific sound to one of a plurality of reference sounds; and (iii) altering settings of the portable device from a first setting to a second setting, in a first event the specific sound matches with one of the plurality of reference sounds.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for automatically altering settings on portable devices, the method comprising:

providing at least one sensor connected to a portable device, each sensor detecting surrounding sounds;

recognizing a specific sound among the surrounding sounds by the at least one sensor by matching the specific sound to one of a plurality of reference sounds; and

altering settings of the portable device from a first setting to a second setting, in a first event the specific sound matches with one of the plurality of reference sounds.

2. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein recognizing a specific sound further comprises:

deciphering the specific sound by a waveform analysis or voice activation.

3. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein matching the specific sound further comprises:

triggering a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal; and

sending the RFID signal from the at least one sensor to the portable device to alter the portable device settings from the first setting to the second setting.

4. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 further includes:

displaying an indication of the specific sound on the portable device, in response to the first event;

updating the plurality of reference sounds to a storage database;

recording one or more new reference sounds to the storage database; and

altering settings of the portable device from the second setting to a third setting, in a second event.

5. The computer implemented method according to claim 4 wherein displaying the indication of the specific sound is in textual or graphical format on the portable device.

6. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein altering settings of the portable device include adjusting a volume control, muting the volume, and playing another sound as possible settings.

7. The computer implemented method according to claim 6 wherein altering settings of the portable device includes calling a dynamic link library (DLL).

8. The computer implemented method according to claim 4 wherein the first setting is the same as the third setting.

9. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the second event is a timing duration.

10. The computer implemented method according to claim 9 wherein the timing duration is adjustable on the portable device by an end user.

11. A computer system for automatically altering settings on portable devices comprising:

at least one receiver connected to a portable device, the at least one receiver configured to sense surrounding sounds;

a processor configured to detect a specific sound from the at least one receiver by matching the specific sound to one of a plurality of reference sounds; and

the processor configured to alter settings of the portable device from a first setting to a second setting, in a first event the specific sound matches with one of the plurality of reference sounds.

12. The computer system according to claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to decipher the specific sound by a waveform analysis or voice activation.

13. The computer system according to claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to:

trigger a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal, in response to the first event;

send the RFID signal to the portable device to alter the settings of the portable device from the first setting to the second setting; and

alter settings of the portable device from the second setting to a third setting, in a second event.

14. The computer system according to claim 11 further includes:

a display unit configured to display an indication of the specific sound in textual or graphical format on the portable device, in response to the first event;

a storage system to store the plurality of reference sounds; and

a device recorder to record one or more new reference sounds to the storage system.

15. The computer system according to claim 14 wherein the storage system is a non-volatile flash memory.

16. The computer system according to claim 11 wherein the processor is configured to alter settings of the portable device include adjusting a volume control, muting the volume, and playing another sound as possible settings.

17. The computer system according to claim 16 wherein the processor is configured to alter settings of the portable device includes calling a dynamic link library (DLL).

18. The computer system according to claim 13 wherein the first setting is the same as the third setting.

19. The computer system according to claim 11 wherein the second event is a timing duration, the timing is adjustable on the portable device by an end user.

20. A computer program product for automatically altering settings on portable devices, comprising;

a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to;

providing at least one sensor connected to a portable device, each sensor detecting surrounding sounds;

recognizing a specific sound among the surrounding sounds by the at least one sensor by matching the specific sound to one of a plurality of reference sounds; and

altering settings of the portable device from a first setting to a second setting, in a first event the specific sound matches with one of the plurality of reference sounds.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the computer useable medium is any of a CD-ROM, floppy disk, tape, flash memory, system memory, and a hard drive.