Abstract:
A technique is directed to controlling speaker volume of a speaker of a portable communications device (e.g., a cellular telephone, a cordless hand phone, a combination of a cellular phone and a hands-free ear piece, etc.). The technique involves receiving an environmental signal from an environmental microphone of the portable communications device. The technique further involves identifying a level of environmental noise based on the environmental signal, and adjusting the speaker volume of the speaker of the portable communications device (e.g., ringer volume, voice output volume, etc.) based on the identified level of environmental noise. Such operation enables a user to accommodate a variety of settings without burdening the user with ongoing manual volume control of the portable communications device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Cellular telephones (or simply cell phones) enable people to communicate in a wireless manner with each other over a variety of distances and within a variety of locales. In particular, cell phones are capable of operation where ever cellular coverage is available. 
     A conventional cell phone includes, among other things, a voice microphone for receiving audio input from a user, and a speaker for providing audio output to the user. In response to a call, the cell phone typically outputs a ring tone until the cell phone is either (i) answered by the user (e.g., the user opens the cell phone) or (ii) turned off by the user (e.g., the user manually presses a button on the cell phone to shut off the cell phone because the user does not wish to answer the call). 
     In some settings, a conventional cell phone poses a potential nuisance due to the disruption created by loud speaker output (e.g., a loud ring tone or loud voice output). Accordingly, the operation of conventional cell phones is often prohibited in certain noise-sensitive settings such as public libraries, meeting/presentation areas, and movie theaters to name a few. 
     For cell phone users to be accommodating in such noise-sensitive locations, cell phone users often turn of their cell phones off completely. As a result, incoming calls do not cause the cell phone to output a ring tone that could potentially interrupt bystanders. 
     Alternatively, cell phone users can manually set their cell phones to a softer volume setting. As a result, the users may still be able to detect incoming calls and answer them without annoying those in the vicinity. 
     SUMMARY 
     Unfortunately, there are deficiencies to the above-described conventional cell phones. For example, when users completely turn off their conventional cell phones to accommodate noise-sensitive locations, the users deprive themselves of the ability to receive incoming calls (e.g., perhaps an emergency call). Additionally, when users manually set their conventional cell phones to a softer volume setting, the users may forget to turn the volume settings back up and thus not hear their cell phones ring once the users return to louder environments (e.g., outdoors, shopping areas, parties, etc.) thus posing the risk of the users missing incoming calls. Furthermore, even if the users are able to successfully detect incoming calls, the audio output may be inappropriate for the particular user location (e.g., the voice output may be too loud thus being offensive to other people, or too soft thus increasing the risk of miscommunication). 
     In contrast to the above-described conventional cell phones, embodiments of the invention are directed to techniques for controlling speaker volume of a speaker of a portable communications device such as a cellular telephone based on environmental noise. For example, ringer volume is capable of being automatically adjusted in accordance with ambient noise conditions (e.g., the ringer volume can be automatically increased for loud environments, the ringer volume can be automatically decreased for quiet environments). As another example, once calls have been answered, voice output volume is capable of being automatically adjusted in accordance with ambient noise conditions (e.g., voice output volume can be automatically increased for loud environments, voice output volume can be automatically decreased for quiet environments). Such automated operation alleviates the need for users to manually set the volume controls of their cell phones each time the users move to different noise environments. 
     One embodiment is directed to a method for controlling speaker volume of a speaker of a portable communications device (e.g., a cellular telephone, a cordless hand phone, a combination of a cellular phone and a hands-free ear piece, etc.). The method includes the step of receiving an environmental signal from an environmental microphone of the portable communications device. The method further includes the steps of identifying a level of environmental noise based on the environmental signal, and adjusting the speaker volume of the speaker of the portable communications device (e.g., ringer volume, voice output volume, etc.) based on the identified level of environmental noise. Such operation enables a user to accommodate a variety of settings without burdening the user with ongoing manual volume control of the portable communications device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a general diagram of a communications system having a portable communications device which is capable of automatically controlling speaker volume of a speaker based on environmental noise. 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed diagram of the portable communications device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a chart illustrating volume control operation of the portable communications device of  FIG. 2  in accordance with a first operating mode. 
         FIG. 4  is a chart illustrating volume control operation of the portable communications device of  FIG. 2  in accordance with a second operating mode. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating operation of the portable communications device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the invention are directed to techniques for controlling speaker volume of a speaker of a portable communications device (e.g., a walkie-talkie, a two-way portable radio, a cellular telephone, a cordless hand phone, a combination of a cellular phone and a hands-free ear piece, etc.) based on environmental noise. For example, ringer volume from the device is capable of being automatically adjusted in accordance with ambient noise conditions (e.g., the ringer volume can be automatically increased for loud environments, the ringer volume can be automatically decreased for quiet environments). As another example, once calls have been answered, voice output volume from the device is capable of being automatically adjusted in accordance with ambient noise conditions (e.g., voice output volume can be automatically increased for loud environments, voice output volume can be automatically decreased for quiet environments). In the context of portable phones, such automated operation alleviates the need for users to manually set the volume controls of their portable phones each time the users move to different noise environments (e.g., from a noise-sensitive environment to a noisy environment and back again). 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a communications system  10  having a portable communications device which is capable of automatically controlling speaker volume of a speaker based on environmental noise. The communications system  10  includes a portable communications device  12  which resides in a first environment  14 , and another communications device  16  which resides in a second environment  18 . As will be explained in further detail shortly, circuitry  20  within the portable communications device  12  automatically sets the volume of an audio signal  22  based on an identified level of environmental noise (i.e., noise around the device  12 ). 
     The devices  12 ,  16  communicate through a reliable communications medium  24  (shown generally as a cloud  24 ). That is, the devices  12 ,  16  exchange signals  26  carrying, among other things, voice data  28  to enable users of the devices  12 ,  16  to conveniently carry on a conversation. In certain arrangements, the communications medium  24  includes a variety of information transport mechanisms such as cordless telephone technology, cellular telephony technology, other RF media, plain old telephone service (POTS), combinations thereof, etc. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the portable communications device  12  receives ambient noise  30  and voice input  32 , and provides the audio signal  22  (e.g., a ringing sound or ring tone, voice output from the user of the other device  16 , etc.). 
     In certain arrangements, the portable communications device  12  is a personal, remote apparatus that is capable of being carried by a user  34  across a substantially wide range of locations that vary in noise sensitivity. For example, in some arrangements, the portable communications device  12  is a hand-held portion of a cordless phone assembly which can be moved in a portable manner between a loud kitchen and quiet home office of a house. In other arrangements, the portable communications device  12  is a cell phone (perhaps with a hands-free ear attachment) which can be moved from a noisy and crowded commuter environment, to a quiet work/office environment, to a loud shopping mall and so on. Advantageously, the portable communications device  12  automatically adjusts its speaker output to accommodate the noise level of the surroundings (i.e., the existing noise conditions within the environment  14 ) so as not to disturb other people  36  in the vicinity thus removing the burden of the user  34  having to manually modify speaker volume as the user  34  moves from one noise sensitivity situation to the next. 
     In some arrangements, the other communications device  16  of the system  10  is configured to similarly output an audio signal based on an identified level of environmental noise (i.e., the other communications device  16  operates in a manner similar to that of the portable communications device  12 ). In other arrangements, the other communications device  16  is a conventional telephone, e.g., a standard copper-line telephone, a tradition cordless phone, a regular cell phone, etc. Accordingly, the portable communications device  12  is well-suited for exchanging communications with both similar portable communications apparatus as well as legacy apparatus. Further details will now be provided with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram  50  of the portable communications device  12 . The portable communications device  12  includes a housing  52 , an environmental microphone  54 , a voice microphone  56 , a speaker  58 , and a controller  60 . The housing  52  is configured to provide support, positioning and protection for the environmental microphone  54 , the voice microphone  56 , the speaker  58 , and the controller  60 . 
     In the arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 , the housing  52  (e.g., a frame or support assembly) defines a first end  62  and a second end  64  which is opposite the first end  62 . Additionally, the housing  52  defines a user side  66  and an outer side  68  which is opposite the user side  66  (see the dashed/dotted line  70  in  FIG. 2 ). The environmental microphone  54  and the speaker  58  are disposed adjacent the first end  62  while the voice microphone  56  is disposed adjacent the second end  64 . Furthermore, the speaker  58  and the voice microphone  56  are disposed on the user side  66  while the environmental microphone  54  is disposed on the outer side  68 . 
     It should be understood that the voice microphone  56  is configured to take voice input  32  from the user for eventual conveyance to the other device  16 . The environmental microphone  54  preferably does not participate in this conveyance of voice input but instead gathers input from the environment for control of the audio output  22  from the device  12 . With the environmental microphone  54  being preferably disposed on the side  68  of the housing  52  opposite the voice microphone  56 , the environmental microphone  54  is well-positioned to detect sound which is different than the user&#39;s voice. 
     During operation, the controller  60  of the portable communications device  12  is configured to receive an environmental signal  72  from the environmental microphone  54  and, identify a level of environmental noise  30  (also see  FIG. 1 ) based on the environmental signal  72 . Accordingly, the environmental signal  72  indicates an amount of ambient noise in a vicinity  74  of the portable communications device  12 . 
     The controller  60  is configured to then provide an output  76  (e.g., a control signal or the adjusted speaker signal itself) which results in an adjusted speaker volume based on the identified level of environmental noise. Accordingly, the speaker  58  is capable of outputting the audio signal  22  with a volume that is appropriate for the current environmental noise level. In the context of ringer volume, the controller  60  is configured to set the ring volume high enough so that the user is able to detect that the device  12  has received an incoming call, but not loud enough to annoy bystanders. In the context of voice output (e.g., from an opening receiving walkie-talkie, after a phone call has been answered, etc.), the controller  60  is configured to set the speaker volume strength high enough for convenient perception by the user&#39;s ear when the user&#39;s ear is at a location  78  adjacent the speaker  58  but not loud enough to be easily detectable by bystanders in the immediate vicinity. Further details will now be provided with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  is a chart  100  illustrating volume control operation of the portable communications device  12  in accordance with a first operating mode. In accordance with this operating mode, the controller  60  ( FIG. 2 ) receives the environmental signal  72  and identifies the level of environmental noise by categorizing the level of environmental noise into one of multiple predefined levels A, B, C, . . . . The number of predefined levels may vary (e.g., two, three, etc.). 
     By way of example, suppose that the initial environmental noise level is “MODERATE”, i.e., the amount of identified noise is initially between thresholds C and D. At this level, the portable communications device  12  is configured to provide the audio signal  22  at a MODERATE volume so that the audio signal  22  can be heard by the user but at a level that is not disruptive to bystanders. 
     Next, suppose that the environmental noise level drops from “MODERATE” to “LOW”, i.e., the amount of identified noise drops below the threshold C and is now between thresholds B and C. At this level, the portable communications device  12  is configured to provide the audio signal  22  at a LOW volume so that the audio signal  22  can be heard by the user but at a level that is still not disruptive to bystanders. That is, the controller  60  is configured to lower the strength of the audio signal  22  when the amount of the ambient noise falls below the threshold C into the LOW volume level. 
     Similarly, suppose that the environmental noise level changes from “LOW” to “HIGH”, i.e., the amount of identified noise increases above the threshold D and is now between thresholds D and E. At this level, the portable communications device  12  is configured to provide the audio signal  22  at a HIGH volume so that the audio signal  22  can still be heard by the user but at a level that is remains comfortable to bystanders. In this situation, the controller  60  is configured to raise the strength of the audio signal  22  when the amount of the ambient noise rises above the threshold D into the HIGH volume level. An alternative to the operation mode illustrated in  FIG. 3  will now be provided with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 4  is a chart  200  illustrating volume control operation of the portable communications device  12  in accordance with a second operating mode. In accordance with this second operating mode, the controller  60  ( FIG. 2 ) receives the environmental signal  72  and identifies the level of environmental noise as a measurement, i.e., measured amount “M”. The controller  60  then sets the power of the audio signal  22  to be at a predetermined amount (i.e., an automatic volume setting) relative to the measured amount “M”. 
     In some arrangements, the controller  60  simply sets the strength of the audio signal  22  to be a particular distance  202  from the measured amount “M” thus enabling the strength of the audio signal  22  to remain in locked step with the amount of environmental noise. In other arrangements, the controller  60  is configured to employ a rule-based scheme to provide a non-linear response. In all of these arrangements, the controller  60  reliably controls output of the audio signal  22  so that the user is capable of conveniently hearing the audio signal  22  but also so that the audio signal  22  is not an annoyance to bystanders. Further details will now be provided with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart  300  illustrating operation of the controller  60  of the portable communications device  12  when controlling the speaker volume of the speaker  58  ( FIG. 2 ). In step  302 , the controller  60  receives the environmental signal  72  from the environmental microphone  54 . The environmental signal  72  is indicative of the amount of ambient noise  30  in the vicinity  74  of the device  12 . 
     In step  304 , the controller  60  identifies the amount of environmental noise based on the environmental signal  72 . In some arrangements, the controller  60  categorizes the amount into one of multiple categories (e.g., see  FIG. 3 ). In other arrangements, the controller  60  generates a precise measurement “M” (e.g., see  FIG. 4 ). Other arrangements are suitable for use as well. 
     In step  306 , the controller  60  adjusts the speaker volume of the speaker  58  based on the identified level of environmental noise. In the arrangements that categorize the level of environmental noise, the controller  60  sets the strength of the audio signal  22  based on this categorization. In the arrangements that generate a measurement “M”, the controller  60  sets the strength of the audio signal  22  directly based on the particular measurement “M” (e.g., linearly, non-linearly, and so on). Accordingly, users of the devices  12  do not need to manually change the volume settings of the devices  12 . Rather, the user can rely on the devices  12  themselves to automatically adjust their volume outputs based on the levels of environmental noise. 
     As described above, embodiments of the invention are directed to techniques for controlling speaker volume of a speaker  58  of a portable communications device  12  based on environmental noise. For example, ringer volume from the device  12  is capable of being automatically adjusted in accordance with ambient noise conditions. Similarly, once calls have been answered, voice output volume from the device  12  is capable of being automatically adjusted in accordance with ambient noise conditions. In the context of portable phones, such automated operation alleviates the need for users to manually set the volume controls of their portable phones each time the users move to different noise environments (e.g., from a noise-sensitive environment to a noisy environment and back again). 
     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     For example, the angled geometry of the housing  52  was provided in  FIG. 2  by way of example only. Other geometries and configurations are suitable for use as well. For instance, in other arrangements, the housing  52  has a flip-phone configuration, a monolithic flat configuration, a pocket-PC configuration, a multi-part configuration (e.g., a base station and headset), among many others. 
     As another example, the device  12  was described above as having a speaker  58  (e.g., see  FIG. 2 ). It should be understood that the device  12  is capable of having a set of speakers  58  (e.g., one or more ringer speakers  58  and one or more ear speakers  58 . In these various arrangements, the controller  60  is capable of adjusting both ringer volume from the ringer speakers  58  and voice output volume from the ear speakers  58 . 
     Additionally, it should be understood that, in response to a received call, the output of the speaker  58  is not necessarily a ring. To the contrary, the output can be a variety of sounds, bell sounds, chimes, musical rings, sound effects, and the like. In these arrangements, the volume is reliably controlled to prevent the output from posing a nuisance to bystanders. 
     Furthermore, the communications device  12  was described above as being a portable phone. Nevertheless, the above-described aspects are capable of being applied to old fashion telephones. For instance, the volume of such a phone is capable of being increased in a noisy room (e.g., a conventional family room setting when a loud television is on). Alternatively, the volume is capable of being decreased in a quiet room (e.g., in a bedroom in the middle of the night when people other than the answerer do not wish to be disturbed). 
     Additionally, it should be understood that the environmental microphone  54  and the voice microphone  56  were described above as being separate microphones. In other arrangements, the environmental microphone  54  and the voice microphone  56  are formed by a single microphone. That is, this single microphone is capable of collecting both environmental noise and a user&#39;s voice. When controller  60  controls the ringer volume, the user is not yet speaking into the single microphone so the controller  60  can simply adjust the ringer volume based on the input from the single microphone. However, once the device  12  is engaged in a call and the user is speaking into the single microphone, the controller  60  (i) filters out the user&#39;s voice from the total input into the single microphone in order to quantify the amount of environmental noise, and then (ii) controls the volume from the set of speakers  58  based on the amount of environmental noise. Such enhancements and modifications are intended to belong to various embodiments of the invention.