Electronic device including modifiable output parameter

• US 9,706,321 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mesaros, Mark David, Salter, Timothy Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Con P
• Application Number:
  US13/335,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20130163768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,028 Days
• Field of Search: 381 56, 381104, 700 94, 455 902, 455 903, 455 73, 455401, 455400, 455567
• 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 configured to 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:

receiving notification of an incoming call;

prior to emitting an audio ringtone;

emitting a first sound from the electronic device, the first sound being an ultrasonic sound;

receiving a second sound at the electronic device, the second sound based at least in part on the first sound, wherein the second sound includes ambient noise and a reflected or attenuated sound based upon the first sound;

receiving a third sound, wherein the third sound includes only the ambient noise;

determining a differential sound, wherein the differential sound is a difference between the second sound and the third sound, and the differential sound represents the reflected or attenuated sound based upon 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 differential sound;

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

modifying a frequency and a duration of the audio ringtone in response to the comparison of the first sound and the differential sound and the output data from the at least one paired-device sensor; and

emitting the audio ringtone using the modified frequency and the modified duration.

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 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of the first sound includes a signal strength and the at least one characteristic of the differential sound includes a signal strength.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving of output data from at least one additional sensor comprises receiving output data from an ambient light sensor, and modifying the frequency and the duration of the audio ringtone is based upon the output data from the ambient light sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving of output data from at least one additional sensor from a holster sensor and modifying the frequency and the duration of the audio ringtone based upon the output data from the holster sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving of output data further comprises receiving data from a paired device and modifying the frequency and the duration of the audio ringtone is based upon the output data from the paired device.

8. 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;

receiving notification of an incoming call;

prior to emitting an audio ringtone;

trigger emission of a first sound by the at least one sound output device, the first sound being an ultrasonic sound;

receive data from the at least one sound receiving device indicative of a second sound, the second sound based at least in part on the first sound, wherein the second sound includes ambient noise and a reflected or attenuated sound based upon the first sound;

receive data from the at least one sound receiving device indicative of a third sound, wherein the third sound includes only the ambient noise;

determine a differential sound, wherein the differential sound is a difference between the second sound and the third sound, and the differential sound represents the reflected or attenuated sound based upon the first sound;

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

receive data from at least one paired-device sensor; and

modify a frequency and a duration of the audio ringtone in response to the comparison of the at least one characteristic of the first sound to a corresponding characteristic of the differential sound and the data received from the at least one paired-device sensor, wherein information of the frequency and the duration of the audio ringtone is transmitted to the at least one notification device; and

emit the audio ringtone using the modified frequency and the modified duration.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor module is further configured to detect presence a holster sensor and performing an additional detection of an ambient light sensor if the presence of the holster sensor is not detected.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor module is further configured to detect presence of a paired device and determining if the paired device is an output device.

11. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the at least one characteristic of the first sound includes a signal strength and the at least one characteristic of the differential sound includes a signal strength.

12. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the instructions further comprises receiving of output data from at least one additional sensor comprising receiving output data from a holster sensor and modifying the frequency and the duration of the audio ringtone based upon the output data from the holster sensor.

13. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the instructions further comprising receiving data from a paired device and modifying the frequency and the duration of the audio ringtone based upon the output data from the paired device.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause an electronic device to:

receiving notification of an incoming call;

prior to emitting an audio ringtone;

emit a first sound from the electronic device, the first sound being an ultrasonic sound;

receive a second sound at the electronic device, the second sound based at least in part on the first sound, wherein the second sound includes ambient noise and a reflected or attenuated sound based upon the first sound;

receive a third sound, wherein the third sound includes only the ambient noise;

determine a differential sound, wherein the differential sound is a difference between the second sound and the third sound, and the differential sound represents the reflected or attenuated sound based upon the first sound;

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

receive, at the processor, output data from at least one paired-device sensor; and

modify a frequency and a duration of the audio ringtone in response to the comparison of the first sound and the differential sound and the output data from the at least one paired-device sensor; and

emit the audio ringtone using the modified frequency and the modified duration.