ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING MODIFIABLE OUTPUT PARAMETER

• US 20130163768A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: SALTER, Timothy Ryan, MESAROS, Mark David
• Granted Patent: US 9,706,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/042 with variable loudness of the ringing tone, e.g. variable envelope or amplitude of ring signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

A method and apparatus for executing a method for modifying an output parameter of an electronic device. The method and apparatus emits a first sound. The method and apparatus are further receive a second sound at the electronic device, the second sound based at least in part on the first sound. The processor of the electronic device compares at least one characteristic of the first sound to at least one corresponding characteristic of the second sound. The processor further receives output data from at least one sensor and modifies an output parameter of the electronic device in response to the comparison of the first sound and the second sound and the output data from the at least one sensor.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

emitting a first sound from the electronic device;

receiving a second sound at the electronic device, the second sound based at least in part on the first sound;

comparing, at a processor of the electronic device, at least one characteristic of the first sound to at least one corresponding characteristic of the second sound;

receiving, at the processor, output data from at least one sensor; and

modifying an output parameter of the electronic device in response to the comparison of the first sound and the second sound and the output data from the at least one sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting presence of a holster sensor and performing an additional detection of an ambient light sensor if the presence of the holster sensor is not detected.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising detecting presence of a paired device and determining if the paired device is an output device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the output parameter is a ring tone and at least one of frequency and amplitude of the ring tone is varied based upon the output of the holster sensor and detected presence of the paired device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second sound comprises at least a reflected or attenuated sound based upon the first sound.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second sound further comprises ambient noise.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of the first sound includes a signal strength and a signal quality and the at least one characteristic of the second sound includes a signal strength and a signal quality.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of output data from at least one additional sensor comprises receiving output data from an ambient light sensor and the modifying an output parameter is based upon the output data from the ambient light sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of output data from at least one additional sensor comprises receiving output data from a holster sensor and the modifying an output parameter is based upon the output data from the holster sensor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of output data further comprises receiving data from a paired device and the modifying an output parameter is based upon the output data from the paired device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the output parameter is at least one of a ring tone, vibrational signal, or a visual indicator.

12. An electronic device comprising:

at least one notification device;

at least one sound output device;

at least one sound receiving device;

at least one sensor;

a processor module communicatively coupled to the at least one notification device, the at least one sound output device, the at least one sound receiving device, and the at least one sensor and configured to execute instructions to;

triggering emission of a first sound by the at least one sound output device;

receive data from the sound receiving device indicative of a second sound, the second sound based at least in part on the first sound;

compare at least one characteristic of the first sound to a corresponding characteristic of the second sound;

receive data from the at least one sensor;

modify an output parameter in response to the comparison of the at least one characteristic of the first sound to a corresponding characteristic of the second sound and the data received from the at least one sensor, wherein the output parameter is transmitted to the at least one notification device.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the processor module is further configured to detecting presence a holster sensor and performing an additional detection of an ambient light sensor if the presence of the holster sensor is not detected.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising detecting presence of a paired device and determining if the paired device is an output device.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the output parameter is a ring tone and at least one of frequency or amplitude of the ring tone are varied based upon the output of the holster sensor and detected presence of the paired device.

16. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the second sound comprises at least a reflected or attenuated sound based upon the first sound.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the second sound further comprises ambient noise.

18. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the at least one characteristic of the first sound includes a signal strength and a signal quality and the at least one characteristic of the second sound includes a signal strength and a signal quality.

19. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the receiving of output data from at least one additional sensor comprises receiving output data from a holster sensor and the modifying an output parameter is based upon the output data from the holster sensor.

20. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the receiving of output data further comprises receiving data from a paired device and the modifying an output parameter is based upon the output data from the paired device.