Speakerphone control for mobile device

• US 9,332,104 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Louch, John O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US14/216,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20140199984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/418, 455/569.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• 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

Abstract

A speakerphone system integrated in a mobile device is automatically controlled based on the current state of the mobile device. In one implementation, the mobile device is controlled based on an orientation or position of the mobile device. In another implementation, the control of the speakerphone includes automatically controlling one or more graphical user interfaces associated with the speakerphone system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

recording a first movement pattern of a mobile phone in a learning mode, the first movement pattern of the mobile phone being recorded according to sensor data acquired by one or more sensors of the mobile phone during the learning mode;

after the recording of the first movement pattern in the learning mode, and during an automatic control mode, detecting a second movement pattern of the mobile phone;

comparing the first movement pattern and the second movement pattern;

determining a control action associated with the second movement pattern, based on a result of comparing the first movement pattern and the second movement pattern; and

automatically controlling an audio system associated with the mobile phone based on the control action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the second movement pattern includes receiving at least one sensor input related to acceleration, proximity, orientation, rotation, angle, connection to one or more hardware devices, gripping, time, distance, touch for user input, or volume levels.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input to activate or deactivate the automatic control of the audio system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting for user input to accept the determined control action associated with the second movement pattern.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the second movement pattern comprises:

obtaining information from a state machine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the speakerphone system, further comprises:

activating or deactivating the audio system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the speakerphone system, further comprises:

automatically adjusting a sensitivity of a microphone or speaker volume.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the audio system, further comprises:

generating or adjusting a graphical user interface of the mobile phone.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein generating or adjusting the graphical user interface, further comprises:

changing a brightness of a display presenting the graphical user interface.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein generating or adjusting the graphical user interface, further comprises:

resizing of elements displayed on the graphical user interface.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

an output device;

at least one sensor that produces first sensor data and second sensor data; and

processing circuitry that records a first movement pattern based on the first sensor data and a second movement pattern based on the second sensor data, wherein the processing circuitry compares the second movement pattern to the first movement pattern and automatically controls the output device based on the comparison.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the output device comprises a speaker.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the output device comprises a microphone.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the at least one sensor comprises a motion sensor.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the at least one sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 11 further comprising memory that stores information associated with the first movement pattern.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the processing circuitry compares the second movement pattern to the first movement pattern using the information associated with the first movement pattern stored in the memory.