System and method for altering settings on electronic devices based upon sensing stimuli

• US 7,884,714 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US11/620,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 704/231, 340/870.16, 340/505, 340/539.11, 340/565, 340/10.1, 340/870.09, 455/345, 700/84
• US Class Current: 340/539.22
• 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 method, comprising:

monitoring surrounding sounds by at least one sensor communicatively connected to a portable media player, wherein the portable media player is configured to play content;

recognizing a specific sound among the surrounding sounds by matching the specific sound to at least one of a plurality of reference sounds stored on a local database;

causing an identity of the specific sound to be displayed on the portable media player in response to monitoring the surrounding sounds and recognizing that the specific sound matches the at least one of the plurality of reference sounds in the local database;

triggering a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal; and

sending the RFID signal from the at least one sensor to the portable media player to alter settings of the portable media player while the portable media player is playing the audio content from a first setting to a second setting, in response to the specific sound matching the at least one of the plurality of reference sounds.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein recognizing the specific sound further comprises:

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

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

recording one or more new reference sounds to the local database;

updating the plurality of reference sounds in the local database with the one or more new reference sounds; and

displaying an identity of the one or more new reference sounds when the specific sound is matched to the local database.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identity of the specific sound is displayed in textual or graphical format on the portable media player.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein altering the settings of the portable media player comprises adjusting a volume control, muting the volume, or playing another sound.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein altering the settings of the portable media player comprises calling a dynamic link library (DLL).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the surrounding sounds are continuously monitored by the at least one sensor while the audio content is played, and wherein the identity of the specific sound is automatically displayed on the portable media player in response to the specific sound matching the at least one of the plurality of reference sounds in the local database.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein the identity of the specific sound is no longer displayed after a predetermined amount of time, and wherein the predetermined amount of time is adjustable on the portable media player.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the specific sound is recognized by the at least one sensor while the portable media player is playing the audio content.

12. The method according to claim 5, wherein the another sound comprises an alarm.

9. A portable media device, comprising:

at least one sensor connected to the portable media device, wherein the portable media device is configured to play audio associated content, and wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense surrounding sounds;

a local database located in the portable media device configured to store a plurality of reference sounds;

a processor configured to;

receive a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal comprising the surrounding sounds;

detect a specific sound from the RFID signal by matching the specific sound to at least one of the plurality of reference sounds; and

alter settings of the portable media device from a first setting to a second setting while the portable media device is playing the audio content, wherein the settings are altered in response to the specific sound matching the at least one of the plurality of reference sounds; and

a display unit configured to display an identity of the specific sound in textual or graphic form on the portable media device in response to the specific sound matching the at least one of the plurality of reference sounds in the local database, wherein the identify of the specific sound is displayed while the portable media device is playing the audio content.

10. The portable media device according to claim 9, wherein the portable media player comprises a digital music player.

13. The portable media device according to claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an earphone.

14. The portable media device according to claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to decipher the specific sound by a waveform analysis or voice activation.

15. The portable media device according to claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

alter the settings of the portable media player from the second setting to a third setting after a predetermined amount of time.

16. The portable media device according to claim 9, further comprising:

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.

17. The portable media device according to claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to alter the settings of the portable media player including adjusting a volume control, muting the volume, or playing another sound.

18. The portable media device according to claim 9, wherein the identity of the specific sound is automatically displayed on the portable media player in response to the specific sound matching the at least one of the plurality of reference sounds in the local database.

19. The portable media device according to claim 9, wherein the device is configured to add a new reference sound to the local database and to associate the new reference sound with a corresponding identity.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

storing a plurality of reference sounds on a local database;

monitoring surrounding sounds while a portable media player is reproducing audio content;

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

causing an identity of the specific sound to be displayed on the portable media player in response to the specific sound matching the at least one of the plurality of reference sounds in the local database while the portable media player is reproducing the audio content;

triggering a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal; and

sending the RFID signal to the portable media player to alter settings of the portable media player while the portable media player is reproducing the audio content from a first setting to a second setting, wherein the settings of the portable media player are altered when the specific sound matches the at least one of the plurality of reference sounds.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprises any of a CD-ROM, floppy disk, tape, flash memory, system memory, or a hard drive.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein altering the settings of the portable media player includes playing a specific song associated with the specific sound.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein altering the settings of the portable media player includes playing a specific video associated with the specific sound.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein altering the settings of the portable media player includes increasing a volume of the audio content being played on the portable media player, and wherein the second setting corresponds to a higher volume than the first setting.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the specific sound is recognized responsive to monitoring the surrounding sounds while the portable media player is reproducing the audio content.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the operations further comprise:

updating the plurality of reference sounds in the local database with one or more new reference sounds; and

displaying an identity of the one or more new reference sounds when the specific sound is matched to the local database.