Patent Publication Number: US-2011054647-A1

Title: Network service for an audio interface unit

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Network service providers and device manufacturers are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience to consumers by, for example, providing compelling network services and devices for wireless links such as cellular transmissions. Most services involve the customer/user interacting with a device that has a visual display and a pad of multiple software or hardware keys to press, or both. By their nature, these devices require the user&#39;s eyes gaze on the device, at least for a short time, and one or more of the user&#39;s hands press the appropriate hard or soft keys. This can divert the user from other actions the user may be performing, such as operating equipment, driving, cooking, administering care to one or more persons, among thousands of other daily tasks. 
     SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Therefore, there is a need for delivering network services through an audio interface unit with little or no involvement of the user&#39;s eyes and hands. 
     According to one embodiment, a method comprises receiving first data and second data. The first data indicates a first set of one or more contents for presentation to a user. The second data indicates a second set of zero or more contents for presentation to the user. An audio stream is generated based on the first data and the second data. Presentation is initiated of the audio stream at a speaker in an audio device of the user. 
     According to another embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to receive first data and second data. The first data indicates a first set of one or more contents for presentation to a user. The second data indicates a second set of zero or more contents for presentation to the user. When executed by one or more processors, the instructions further cause the apparatus to generate an audio stream based on the first data and the second data. When executed by one or more processors, the instructions further cause the apparatus to initiate instructions for presentation of the audio stream at a speaker in an audio device of the user. 
     According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises means for receiving first data and second data. The first data indicates a first set of one or more contents for presentation to a user. The second data indicates a second set of zero or more contents for presentation to the user. The apparatus further has means for generating an audio stream based on the first data and the second data. The apparatus further has means for initiating presentation of the audio stream at a speaker in an audio device of the user. 
     According to another embodiment, a method comprises facilitating access to, including granting access rights for, a user interface configured to receive first data and second data. The first data indicates a first set of one or more contents for presentation to a user. The second data that indicates a second set of zero or more contents for presentation to the user. The method further comprises facilitating access to, including granting access rights for, an interface that allows an apparatus with a speaker to receive an audio stream generated based on the first data and the second data for presentation to the user. 
     According to another embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one memory including computer instructions. The at least one memory and computer instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive first data and second data. The first data indicates a first set of one or more contents for presentation to a user. The second data indicates a second set of zero or more contents for presentation to the user. The at least one memory and computer instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to generate an audio stream based on the first data and the second data. The at least one memory and computer instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to initiate instructions for presentation of the audio stream at a speaker in an audio device of the user. 
     Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by illustrating a number of particular embodiments and implementations, including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. The invention is also capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example system capable of providing network services through an audio interface unit, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of the components of an example audio interface unit, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a time sequence diagram that illustrates example input and audio output signals at an audio interface unit, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4A  is a flowchart of an example process for providing network services at an audio interface unit, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 4B  is a flowchart of an example process for providing network services at a personal audio agent in communication between a personal audio service and an audio interface unit, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5A  is a flowchart of an example process for providing network services at a personal audio service, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5B  is a flowchart of an example process for one step of the method of  FIG. 5A , according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 6A  is a diagram of components of a personal audio service module, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6B  is a diagram of an example user interface utilized in a portion of the process of  FIG. 5A , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6C  is a diagram of another example user interface utilized in a portion of the process of  FIG. 5A , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 7A  is a flowchart of an example process for responding to user audio input, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 7B-7F  are flowcharts of an example process for matching user sounds based on alert context, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of hardware that can be used to implement an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram of a chip set that can be used to implement an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram of a mobile terminal (e.g., handset) that can be used to implement an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS 
     A method and apparatus for providing network services through an audio interface unit are disclosed. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments of the invention. It is apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details or with an equivalent arrangement. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the embodiments of the invention. 
     Although various embodiments are described with respect to an audio interface unit with a full cellular communications engine and no keypad or visual display, it is contemplated that the approach described herein may be used with other wireless receivers and transceivers, including transceivers for Institute of Electrical &amp; Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards for carrying out wireless local area network (WLAN) computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 gigaHertz (GHz) frequency bands (1 GHz=10 9  cycles per second, also called Hertz), transceivers for IEEE 802.15 as a standardization of Bluetooth wireless specification for wireless personal area networks (WPAN), and receivers for radio signals, such as amplitude modulated (AM) signals and frequency modulated (FM) signals in various radio frequency bands, including broadcast radio bands, television audio bands, and satellite radio bands and in devices that include a keypad or a visual display or both. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example system  100  capable of providing network services through an audio interface unit, according to one embodiment. A typical network device, such as a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or laptop, demands a user&#39;s eyes or hands or both, and diverts the user from other actions the user may be performing, such as operating equipment, driving, cooking, administering care to one or more persons, or walking, among thousands of other actions associated with even routine daily tasks. 
     To address this problem, system  100  of  FIG. 1  introduces the capability for a user  190  to interact with a network without involving cables or diverting the user&#39;s eyes or hands from other tasks. Although user  190  is depicted for purposes of illustration, user  190  is not part of system  100 . The system  100  allows the user  190  to wear an unobtrusive audio interface unit  160  and interact with one or more network services (e.g., social network service  133 ) through one or more wireless links (e.g., wireless link  107   a , and wirelesses link  107   b , collectively referenced hereinafter as wireless links  107 ), by listening to audio as output of the system and speaking as input to the system. Listening and speaking to receive and give information is not only natural and easy, but also is usually performed hands free and eyes free. Thus, the user can enjoy one or more network services while still productively and safely performing other daily tasks. Because the connection to the network is wireless, the user is unconstrained by cables while performing these other tasks. In embodiments in which the audio interface unit is simple, it can be manufactured inexpensively and can be made to be unobtrusive. An unobtrusive audio interface unit can be worn constantly by a user (e.g., tucked in clothing), so that the user  190  is continually available via the audio interface unit  160 . This enables the easy and rapid delivery of a wide array of network services, as described in more detail below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the system  100  comprises an audio interface unit  160  and user equipment (UE)  101 , both having connectivity to a personal audio host  140  and thence to a network service, such as social network service  133 , via a communication network  105 . By way of example, the communication network  105  of system  100  includes one or more networks such as a data network (not shown), a wireless network (not shown), a telephony network (not shown), or any combination thereof. It is contemplated that the data network may be any local area network (LAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), wide area network (WAN), a public data network (e.g., the Internet), or any other suitable packet-switched network, such as a commercially owned, proprietary packet-switched network, e.g., a proprietary cable or fiber-optic network. In addition, the wireless network may be, for example, a cellular network and may employ various technologies including enhanced data rates for global evolution (EDGE), general packet radio service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications (GSM), Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS), universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), etc., as well as any other suitable wireless medium, e.g., microwave access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LIE) networks, code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), wireless fidelity (WiFi), satellite, mobile ad-hoc network (MANET), and the like. 
     The UE  101  is any type of mobile terminal, fixed terminal, or portable terminal including a mobile handset, station, unit, device, multimedia tablet, Internet node, communicator, desktop computer, laptop computer, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), or any combination thereof. It is also contemplated that the UE  101  can support any type of interface to the user (such as “wearable” circuitry, etc.). 
     The audio interface unit  160  is a much trimmed down piece of user equipment with primarily audio input from, and audio output to, user  190 . Example components of the audio interface unit  160  are described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 2A . It is also contemplated that the audio interface unit  160  comprises “wearable” circuitry. In the illustrated embodiments, a portable audio source/output  150 , such as a portable Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer 3 (MP3) player, as a local audio source is connected by audio cable  152  to the audio interface unit  160 . In some embodiments, the audio source/output  150  is an audio output device, such as asset of one or more speakers in the user&#39;s home or car or other facility. In some embodiments, both an auxiliary audio input and auxiliary audio output are connected to audio interface unit  160  by two or more separate audio cables  152   
     By way of example, the UE  101  and audio interface unit  160  communicate with each other and other components of the communication network  105  using well known, new or still developing protocols. In this context, a protocol includes a set of rules defining how the network nodes within the communication network  105  interact with each other based on information sent over the communication links. The protocols are effective at different layers of operation within each node, from generating and receiving physical signals of various types, to selecting a link for transferring those signals, to the format of information indicated by those signals, to identifying which software application executing on a computer system sends or receives the information. The conceptually different layers of protocols for exchanging information over a network are described in the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model. 
     Communications between the network nodes are typically effected by exchanging discrete packets of data. Each packet typically comprises (1) header information associated with a particular protocol, and (2) payload information that follows the header information and contains information that may be processed independently of that particular protocol. In some protocols, the packet includes (3) trailer information following the payload and indicating the end of the payload information. The header includes information such as the source of the packet, its destination, the length of the payload, and other properties used by the protocol. Often, the data in the payload for the particular protocol includes a header and payload for a different protocol associated with a different, higher layer of the OSI Reference Model. The header for a particular protocol typically indicates a type for the next protocol contained in its payload. The higher layer protocol is said to be encapsulated in the lower layer protocol. The headers included in a packet traversing multiple heterogeneous networks, such as the Internet, typically include a physical (layer 1) header, a data-link (layer 2) header, an internetwork (layer 3) header and a transport (layer 4) header, and various application headers (layer 5, layer 6 and layer 7) as defined by the OSI Reference Model. 
     Processes executing on various devices, such as audio interface unit  160  and personal audio host  140 , often communicate using the client-server model of network communications. The client-server model of computer process interaction is widely known and used. According to the client-server model, a client process sends a message including a request to a server process, and the server process responds by providing a service. The server process may also return a message with a response to the client process. Often the client process and server process execute on different computer devices, called hosts, and communicate via a network using one or more protocols for network communications. The term “server” is conventionally used to refer to the process that provides the service, or the host on which the process operates. Similarly, the term “client” is conventionally used to refer to the process that makes the request, or the host on which the process operates. As used herein, the terms “client” and “server” refer to the processes, rather than the hosts, unless otherwise clear from the context. In addition, the process performed by a server can be broken up to run as multiple processes on multiple hosts (sometimes called tiers) for reasons that include reliability, scalability, and redundancy, among others. A well known client process available on most nodes connected to a communications network is a World Wide Web client (called a “web browser,” or simply “browser”) that interacts through messages formatted according to the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) with any of a large number of servers called World Wide Web (WWW) servers that provide web pages. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the UE  101  includes a browser  109  for interacting with WWW servers included in the social network service module  133  on one or more social network server hosts  131  and other service modules on other hosts. The illustrated embodiment includes a personal audio service module  143  on personal audio host  140 . The personal audio service module  143  includes a Web server for interacting with browser  109  and also an audio server for interacting with a personal audio client  161  executing on the audio interface unit  160 . The personal audio service  143  is configured to deliver audio data to the audio interface unit  160 . In some embodiments, at least some of the audio data is based on data provided by other servers on the network, such as social network service  133 . In the illustrated embodiment, the personal audio service  143  is configured for a particular user  190  by Web pages delivered to browser  109 , for example to specify a particular audio interface unit  160  and what services are to be delivered as audio data to that unit. After configuration, user  190  input is received at personal audio service  143  from personal audio client  161  based on spoken words of user  190 , and selected network services content is delivered from the personal audio service  143  to user  190  through audio data sent to personal audio client  161 . 
     Many services are available to the user  190  of audio interface unit  160  through the personal audio service  143  via network  105 , including social network service  133  on one or more social network server hosts  131 . In the illustrated embodiment, the social network service  133  has access to database  135  that includes one or more data structures, such as user profiles data structure  137  that includes a contact book data structure  139 . Information about each user who subscribes to the social network service  133  is stored in the user profiles data structure  137 , and the telephone number, cell phone, number, email address or other network addresses, or some combination, of one or more persons whom the user contacts are stored in the contact book data structure  139 . 
     In some embodiments, the audio interface unit  160  connects directly to network  105  via wireless link  107   a  (e.g., via a cellular telephone engine or a WLAN interface to a network access point). In some embodiments, the audio interface unit  160  connects to network  105  indirectly, through UE  101  (e.g., a cell phone or laptop computer) via wireless link  107   b  (e.g., a WPAN interface to a cell phone or laptop). Network link  103  may be a wired or wireless link, or some combination. In some embodiments in which audio interface unit relies on wireless link  107   b , a personal audio agent process  145  executes on the UE  101  to transfer data packets between the audio interface unit  160  sent by personal audio client  161  and the personal audio service  143 , and to convert other data received at UE  101  to audio data for presentation to user  190  by personal audio client  161 . 
     Although various hosts and processes and data structures are depicted in  FIG. 1  and arranged in a particular way for purposes of illustration, in other embodiments, more or fewer hosts, processes and data structures are involved, or one or more of them, or portions thereof, are arranged in a different way. 
       FIG. 2A  is a diagram of the components of an example audio interface unit  200 , according to one embodiment. Audio interface unit  200  is a particular embodiment of the audio interface unit  160  depicted in  FIG. 1 . By way of example, the audio interface unit  200  includes one or more components for providing network services using audio input from and audio output to a user. It is contemplated that the functions of these components may be combined in one or more components, such as one or more chip sets depicted below and described with reference to  FIG. 9 , or performed by other components of equivalent functionality. In some embodiments, one or more of these components, or portions thereof, are omitted, or one or more additional components are included, or some combination of these changes is made. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the audio interface unit  200  includes circuitry housing  210 , stereo headset cables  222   a  and  222   b  (collectively referenced hereinafter as stereo cables  222 ), stereo speakers  220   a  and  220   b  configured to be worn in the ear of the user with in-ear detector (collectively referenced hereinafter as stereo earbud speakers  220 ), controller  230 , and audio input cable  244 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the stereo earbuds  220  include in-ear detectors that can detect whether the earbuds are positioned within an ear of a user. Any in-ear detectors known in the art may be used, including detectors based on motion sensors, heart-pulse sensors, light sensors, or temperature sensors, or some combination, among others. In some embodiments the earbuds do not include in-ear detectors. In some embodiments, one or both earbuds  220  include a microphone, such as microphone  236   a , to pick up spoken sounds from the user. In some embodiments, stereo cables  222  and earbuds  220  are replaced by a single cable and earbud for a monaural audio interface. 
     The controller  230  includes an activation button  232  and a volume control element  234 . In some embodiments, the controller  230  includes a microphone  236   b  instead of or in addition to the microphone  236   a  in one or more earbuds  220  or microphone  236   c  in circuitry housing  210 . In some embodiments, the controller  230  is integrated with the circuitry housing  210 . 
     The activation button  232  is depressed by the user when the user wants sounds made by the user to be processed by the audio interface unit  200 . Depressing the activation button to speak is effectively the same as turning the microphone on, wherever the microphone is located. In some embodiments, the button is depressed for the entire time the user wants the user&#39;s sounds to be processed; and is released when processing of those sounds is to cease. In some embodiments, the activation button  232  is depressed once to activate the microphone and a second time to turn it off. Some audio feedback is used in some of these embodiments to allow the user to know which action resulted from depressing the activation button  232 . 
     In some embodiment with an in-ear detector and a microphone  236   a  in the earbud  220   b , the activation button  232  is omitted and the microphone is activated when the earbud is out and the sound level at the microphone  236   a  in the earbud  220   b  is above some threshold that is easily obtained when held to the user&#39;s lips while the user is speaking and which rules out background noise in the vicinity of the user. 
     An advantage of having the user depress the activation button  232  or take the earbud with microphone  236   a  out and hold that earbud near the user&#39;s mouth is that persons in sight of the user are notified that the user is busy speaking and, thus, is not to be disturbed. 
     In some embodiments, the user does not need to depress the activation button  232  or hold an earbud with microphone  236   a ; instead the microphone is always active but ignores all sounds until the user speaks a particular word or phrase, such as “Mike On,” that indicates the following sounds are to be processed by the unit  200 , and speaks a different word or phrase, such as “Mike Off,” that indicates the following sounds are not to be processed by the unit  200 . Some audio feedback is available to determine if the microphone is being processed or not, such as responding to a spoken word or phrase, such as “Mike,” with the current state “Mike on” or “Mike off.” An advantage of the spoken activation of the microphone is that the unit  200  can be operated completely hands-free so as not to interfere with any other task the user might be performing. 
     In some embodiments, the activation button doubles as a power-on/power-off switch, e.g., as indicated by a single depression to turn the unit on when the unit is off and by a quick succession of multiple depressions to turn off a unit that is on. In some embodiments, a separate power-on/power-off button (not shown) is included, e.g., on circuitry housing  210 . 
     The volume control  234  is a toggle button or wheel used to increase or decrease the volume of sound in the earbuds  220 . Any volume control known in the art may be used. In some embodiments the volume is controlled by the spoken word, while the sounds from the microphone are being processed, such as “Volume up” and “Volume down” and the volume control  234  is omitted. However, since volume of earbud speakers is changed infrequently, using a volume control  234  on occasion usually does not interfere with hands-free operation while performing another task. 
     The circuitry housing  210  includes wireless transceiver  212 , a radio receiver  214 , a text-audio processor  216 , an audio mixer module  218 , and an on-board media player  219 . In some embodiments, the circuitry housing  210  includes a microphone  236   c.    
     The wireless transceiver  212  is any combined electromagnetic (em) wave transmitter and receiver known in the art that can be used to communicate with a network, such as network  105 . An example transceiver includes multiple components of the mobile terminal depicted in  FIG. 10  and described in more detail below with reference to that figure. In some embodiments, the audio interface unit  160  is passive when in wireless mode, and only a wireless receiver is included. 
     In some embodiments, wireless transceiver  212  is a full cellular engine as used to communicate with cellular base stations miles away. In some embodiments, wireless transceiver  212  is a WLAN interface for communicating with a network access point (e.g., “hot spot”) hundreds of feet away. In some embodiments, wireless transceiver  212  is a WPAN interface for communicating with a network device, such as a cell phone or laptop computer, with a relatively short distance (e.g., a few feet away). In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver  212  includes multiple transceivers, such as several of those transceivers described above. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the audio interface unit includes several components for providing audio content to be played in earbuds  220 , including radio receiver  214 , on-board media player  219 , and audio input cable  244 . The radio receiver  214  provides audio content from broadcast radio or television or police band or other bands, alone or in some combination. On-board media player  219 , such as a player for data formatted according to Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer 3 (MP3), provides audio from data files stored in memory (such as memory  905  on chipset  900  described below with reference to  FIG. 9 ). These data files may be acquired from a remote source through a WPAN or WLAN or cellular interface in wireless transceiver  212 . Audio input cable  244  includes audio jack  242  that can be connected to a local audio source, such as a separate local MP3 player. In such embodiments, the audio interface unit  200  is essentially a multi-functional headset for listening to the local audio source along with other functions. In some embodiments, the audio input cable  244  is omitted. In some embodiments, the circuitry housing  210  includes a female jack  245  into which is plugged a separate audio output device, such as a set of one or more speakers in the user&#39;s home or car or other facility. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the circuitry housing  210  includes a text-audio processor  216  for converting text to audio (speech) or audio to text or both. Thus content delivered as text, such as via wireless transceiver  212 , can be converted to audio for playing through earbuds  220 . Similarly, the user&#39;s spoken words received from one or more microphones  236   a ,  236   b ,  236   c  (collectively referenced hereinafter as microphones  236 ) can be converted to text for transmission through wireless transceiver  212  to a network service. In some embodiments, the text-audio processor  216  is omitted and text-audio conversion is performed at a remote device and only audio data is exchanged through wireless transceiver  212 . In some embodiments, the text-audio processor  216  is simplified for converting only a few key commands from speech to text or text to speech or both. By using a limited set of key commands of distinctly different sounds, a simple text-audio processor  216  can perform quickly with few errors and little power consumption. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the circuitry housing  210  includes an audio mixer module  218 , implemented in hardware or software, for directing audio from one or more sources to one or more earbuds  220 . For example, in some embodiments, left and right stereo content are delivered to different earbuds when both are determined to be in the user&#39;s ears. However, if only one earbud is in an ear of the user, both left and right stereo content are delivered to the one earbud that is in the user&#39;s ear. Similarly, in some embodiments, when audio data is received through wireless transceiver  212  while local content is being played, the audio mixer module  218  causes the local content to be interrupted and the audio data from the wireless transceiver to be played instead. In some embodiments, if both earbuds are in place in the user&#39;s ears, the local content is mixed into one earbud and the audio data from the wireless transceiver  212  is output to the other earbud. In some embodiments, the selection to interrupt or mix the audio sources is based on spoken words of the user or preferences set when the audio interface unit is configured, as described in more detail below. 
       FIG. 3  is a time sequence diagram that illustrates example input and audio output signals at an audio interface unit, according to an embodiment. Specifically,  FIG. 3  represents an example user experience for a user of the audio interface unit  160 . Time increases to the right for an example time interval as indicated by dashed arrow  350 . Contemporaneous signals at various components of the audio interface unit are displaced vertically and represented on four time lines depicted as four corresponding solid arrows below arrow  350 . An asserted signal is represented by a rectangle above the corresponding time line; the position and length of the rectangle indicates the time and duration, respectively, of an asserted signal. Depicted are microphone signal  360 , activation button signal  370 , left earbud signal  380 , and right earbud signal  390 . 
     For purposes of illustration, it is assumed that the microphone is activated by depressing the activation button  232  while the unit is to process the incoming sounds; and the activation button is released when sounds picked up by the microphone are not to be processed. It is further assumed for purposes of illustration that both earbuds are in place in the corresponding ears of the user. It is further assumed for purposes of illustration that the user had previously subscribed, using browser  109  on UE  101  to interact with the personal audio service  143 , for telephone call forwarding to the audio interface unit  160  and internet newsfeed to the unit  160 . 
     At the beginning of the interval, the microphone is activated as indicated by the button signal portion  371 , and the user speaks a command picked up as microphone signal portion  361  that indicates to play an audio source, e.g., “play FM radio,” or “play local source,” or “play stored track X” (where X is a number or name identifier for the local audio file of interest), or “play internet newsfeed.” For purposes of illustration, it is assumed that the user has asked to play a stereo source, such as stored track X. 
     In response to the spoken command in microphone signal  361 , the audio interface unit  160  outputs the stereo source to the two earbuds as left earbud signal  381  and right earbud signal  391  that cause left and right earbuds to play left source and right source respectively. 
     When a telephone call is received (e.g., is forwarded from a cell phone or land line to the personal audio service  143 ) for the user, an alert sound is issued at the audio interface unit  160 , e.g., as left earbud signal portion  382  indicating a telephone call alert. For example, in various embodiments, the personal audio service  143  receives the call and encodes an alert sound in one or more data packets and sends the data packets to personal audio client  161  through wireless link  107   a  or indirectly through personal audio agent  145  over wireless link  107   b . The client  161  causes the alert to be mixed in to the left or right earbud signals, or both. In some embodiments, personal audio service  143  just sends data indicating an incoming call; and the personal audio client  161  causes the audio interface unit  160  to generate the alert sound internally as call alert signal portion  382 . In some embodiments, the stereo source is interrupted by the audio mixer module  218  so that the alert signal portion  382  can be easily noticed by the user. In the illustrated embodiment, the audio mixer module  218  is configured to mix the left and right source and continued to present them in the right earbud as right earbud signal portion  392 , while the call alert signal in left earbud signal portion  382  is presented alone to the left earbud. This way, the user&#39;s enjoyment of the stereo source is less interrupted, in case the user prefers the source to the telephone call. 
     The call alert left ear signal portion  382  initiates an alert context time window of opportunity indicated by time interval  352  in which microphone signals (or activation button signals) are interpreted in the context of the call alert. Only sounds that are associated with actions appropriate for responding to a call alert are tested for by the audio-text processor  216  or the remote personal audio service  143 , such as “answer,” “ignore,” “identify.” Having this limited context-sensitive vocabulary greatly simplifies the processing, thus reducing computational resource demands on the audio interface unit  200  or remote host  140 , or both, and reducing error rates. In some embodiments, the activation button signal can be used, without the microphone signal, to represent one of the responses, indicated for example by the number or duration of depressions of the button, or by timing a depression during or shortly after a prompt is presented as voice in the earbuds). In some of these embodiments, no speech input is required to use the audio interface unit. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the user responds by activating the microphone as indicated by activation button signal portion  372  and speaks a command to ignore the call, represented as microphone signal portion  362  indicating an ignore command. As a result, the call is not put through to the audio interface unit  160 . It is assumed for purposes of illustration that the caller leaves a message with the user&#39;s voice mail system. Also as a result of the ignore command, the response to the call alert is concluded and the left and right sources for the stereo source are returned to the corresponding earbuds, as left earbud signal portion  383  and right earbud signal portion  393 , respectively. 
     At a later time, the user decides to listen to the user&#39;s voicemail. The user activates the microphone as indicated by activation button signal portion  373  and speaks a command to play voicemail, represented as microphone signal portion  363  indicating a play voicemail command. As a result, audio data representing the user&#39;s voicemail is forwarded to the audio interface unit. In some embodiments, the text-audio processor  216  interprets the microphone signal portion  363  as the play voicemail command and sends a message to the personal audio service  143  to provide the voicemail data. In other embodiments, the microphone signal portion  363  is simply encoded as data, placed in one or more data packets, and forwarded to the personal audio service  143  that does the interpretation. 
     In either case, audio data is received from the voicemail system through the personal audio service  143  at the personal audio client  161  as data packets of encoded audio data, as a result of the microphone signal portion  363  indicating the play voicemail command spoken by the user. The audio mixer module  218  causes the audio represented by the audio data to be presented in one or more earbuds. In the illustrated embodiment, the voicemail audio signal is presented as left earbud signal portion  384  indicating the voicemail audio and the right earbud signal is interrupted. In some embodiments, the stereo source is paused (i.e., time shifted) until the voicemail audio is completed. In some embodiments, the stereo source that would have been played in this interval is simply lost. 
     When the voicemail signal is complete, the audio mixer module  218  restarts the left and right sources of the stereo source as left earbud signal portion  385  and right earbud signal portion  394 , respectively. 
     Thus, as depicted in  FIG. 3 , a variety of network services, such as media playing, internet newsfeeds, telephone calls and voicemail are delivered to a user through the unobtrusive, frequently worn, audio interface unit  200 . In other embodiments, other alerts and audio sources are involved. Other audio sources include internet newsfeeds (including sports or entertainment news), web content (often converted from text to speech), streaming audio, broadcast radio, and custom audio channels designed by one or more users, among others. Other alerts include breaking news alerts, text and voice message arrival, social network status change, and user-set alarms and appointment reminders, among others. 
     In some embodiments, the audio interface unit includes a data communications bus, such as bus  901  of chipset  900  as depicted in  FIG. 9 , and a processor, such as processor  903  in chipset  900 , or other logic encoded in tangible media as described with reference to  FIG. 8 . The tangible media is configured either in hardware or with software instructions in memory, such as memory  905  on chipset  900 , to determine, based on spoken sounds of a user of the apparatus received at a microphone in communication with the tangible media through the data communications bus, whether to present audio data received from a different apparatus. The processor is also configured to initiate presentation of the received audio data at a speaker in communication with the tangible media through the data communications bus, if it is determined to present the received audio data. 
       FIG. 4A  is a flowchart of an example process  400  for providing network services at an audio interface unit, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the personal audio client  161  on the audio interface unit  160  performs the process  400  and is implemented in, for instance, a chip set including a processor and a memory as shown  FIG. 9  or logic encoded in tangible media. In some embodiments, the steps of  FIG. 4  are represented as a state machine and implemented in whole or in part in hardware. Although steps in  FIG. 4  and subsequent flow charts  FIG. 4B ,  FIG. 5A ,  FIG. 5B  and  FIG. 7A  through  FIG. 7F  are shown in a particular order for purposes of illustration, in other embodiments, one or more steps may be performed in a different order or overlapping in time, in series or in parallel, or one or more steps may be omitted or added, or changed in some combination of ways. 
     In step  403 , stored preferences and alert conditions are retrieved from persistent memory on the audio interface unit  160 . Preferences include values for parameters that describe optional functionality for the unit  160 , such as how to mix different simultaneous audio sources, which earbud to use for alerts when both are available, how to respond to one or more earbuds not in an ear, what words to use for different actions, what words to use in different alert contexts, what network address to use for the personal audio service  143 , names for different audio sources, names for different contacts. Parameters for alert conditions indicate what sounds to use for breaking news, social network contact status changes, text message, phone calls, voice messages, reminders, and different priorities for different alerts. In some embodiments, the audio interface unit  160  does not include persistent memory for these preferences and step  403  is omitted. 
     In step  405 , a query message is sent to the personal audio service  143  for changes in preferences and alert conditions. In some embodiments, the audio interface unit  160  does not include persistent memory for these preferences and step  405  includes obtaining all current values for preferences and alert conditions. 
     In step  407 , it is determined which earbuds are in place in the user&#39;s ears. For example, in-ear detectors are interrogated to determine if each earbud is in place in a user&#39;s ear. 
     In step  409  a branch point is reached based on the number of earbuds detected to be in place in a user&#39;s ear. If no earbud is in place in the user&#39;s ear, then the audio interface unit is in offline mode, and a message is sent to the personal audio service  143  that the particular audio interface unit  160  is in offline mode. 
     In step  413 , it is determined if an alert conditions is satisfied, e.g., a breaking news alert is received at the audio interface unit  160 . In some embodiments, the user initiates the alert, e.g., by stating the word “play,” which is it is desirable to follow, in some embodiments, by some identifier for the content to be played. If so, then in step  415  it is determined whether the audio interface unit is in offline mode. If so, then in step  417  instead of presenting the alert at an earbud, the alert is filtered and, if the alert passes the filter, the filtered alert is stored. The stored alerts are presented to the user when the user next inserts an earbud, as describe below with reference to step  425 . Alerts are filtered to remove alerts that are not meaningfully presented later, such as an alert that it is 5 PM or an alert that a particular expected event or broadcast program is starting. Control then passes back to step  407  to determine which earbuds are currently in an ear of the user. In some embodiments, alerts and other audio content are determined by the remote personal audio service  143 ; and step  413 , step  415  and step  417  are omitted. 
     If it is determined in step  409  that one earbud is in place in the user&#39;s ear, then the audio interface unit is in alert mode, capable of receiving alerts; and a message is sent, in step  419 , to the personal audio service  143  that the particular audio interface  160  unit is in alert mode. 
     If it is determined in step  409  that two earbuds are in place in the user&#39;s ears, then the audio interface unit is in media mode, capable of listening to stereo media or both media and alerts simultaneously; and a message is sent to the personal audio service  143  that the particular audio interface  160  unit is in media mode (step  421 ). 
     In step  423 , it is determined whether there are stored alerts. If so, then in step  425  the stored alerts are presented in one or more earbuds in place in the user&#39;s ear. In some embodiments, alerts and other audio content are determined by the remote personal audio service  143 ; and step  423  and step  425  are omitted. 
     In step  427 , it is determined whether there is an activation button or microphone signal or both. If so, then in step  429  an action to take is determined and the action is performed based on the signal and the alert or media mode of the audio interface unit. For example, a particular audio source is played, or a particular alert is responded to based on the spoken word of the user, or a phone call to a particular contact is initiated. In some embodiments, the action is determined at the text-audio processor  216 , or performed by the audio interface unit  160 , or both. In some embodiments the button or microphone signal is transmitted to the personal audio service  143 , and the action is determined and performed there. In some embodiments the action is determined at the text-audio processor  216 ; and that action is indicated in data sent to the personal audio service  143 , where the action is performed. 
     In step  431 , it is determined whether there is an audio source to play, such as broadcast radio program, a local audio source, a stream of data packets with audio codec, e.g., from a news feed, or text to speech conversion of web page content. If so, then in step  433 , the audio source is presented at one or more in-ear earbuds by the audio mixer module  218 . 
     In step  413 , as described above, it is determined whether alert conditions are satisfied, e.g., whether an alert is received from the personal audio service  143 . If so, and if the audio interface unit  160  is not in offline mode as determined in step  415 , then in step  435  an audio alert is presented in one or more in-ear earbuds. For example the audio mixer module  218  interrupts the audio source to present the alert in one or both in-ear earbuds. In some embodiments, the user initiates the alert, e.g., by stating the word “play,” which is it is desirable to follow, in some embodiments, by some identifier for the content to be played. In some of these embodiments, step  435  is omitted. In step  437 , the user is prompted for input in response for the alert; and the alert context time window of opportunity is initiated. Control passes to step  427  to process any user spoken response to the alert, e.g., received as microphone and activation button signals. In some embodiments, the prompts include an audio invitation to say one or more of the limited vocabulary commands associated with the alert. In some embodiments, the user is assumed to know the limited vocabulary responses, and step  437  is omitted. 
     In some embodiments, the alerts (and any prompts) are included in the audio data received from the remote personal audio service  143  through the wireless transceiver  212  and played in step  433 ; so steps  413 ,  415 ,  435  and  437  are omitted. 
     If it is determined in step  413  that there is not an alert condition, or if step  413  is omitted, then control passes to step  439 . In step  439 , it is determined whether there is a change in the in-ear earbuds (e.g., an in-ear earbud is removed or an out of ear earbud is placed in the user&#39;s ear). If so, the process continues at step  407 . If not, then in step  441  it is determined whether the user is done with the device, e.g., by speaking the phrase “unit off,” or “Done.” If so, then the process ends. Otherwise, the process continues at step  427 , described above. 
     Thus, the audio interface unit  160  is capable of presenting network service data as audio in one or more earbuds and responding based on user sounds spoken into a microphone. In the illustrated embodiment, the audio interface unit  160  determines, based on data received from an in-ear detector in communication with a data communications bus, whether the earbud speaker is in place in an ear of the user. If the speaker is determined not in place in the ear of the user, then the audio interface unit  160  terminates presentation of the received audio data at the speaker. 
     The audio interface unit  160 , in some embodiments, determines whether to present the audio data by sending data indicating the spoken word to a remote service and receiving, from the remote service, data indicating whether to initiate presentation of the audio data. In some embodiments, the data indicating whether to initiate presentation of the audio data is the audio data to be presented, itself. In some embodiments, the determination whether to present the audio data further comprises converting the spoken word to text in a speech to text module of the text-audio processor and determining whether to initiate presentation of the audio data based on the text. In some embodiments, the initiation of the presentation of the received audio data at the speaker further comprises converting audio data received as text from the different apparatus to speech in a text to speech module of the text-audio processor. 
     In some embodiments, a memory in communication with a data communications bus includes data indicating a limited vocabulary of text for the speech to text module, wherein the limited vocabulary represents a limited set of verbal commands to which the apparatus responds. In some embodiments, the apparatus is small enough to be hidden in an article of clothing worn by the user. In some embodiments, a single button indicates a context sensitive user response to the presentation of the received audio data at the speaker. 
       FIG. 4B  is a flowchart of an example process  450  for providing network services at a personal audio agent in communication between a personal audio service  143  and an audio interface unit  160 , according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the personal audio agent process  145  on UE  101  performs the process  450  and is implemented in, for instance, a chip set including a processor and a memory as shown  FIG. 9  or one or more components of a general purpose computer as shown in  FIG. 8 , such as logic encoded in tangible media, or in a mobile terminal as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     In step  453 , the audio interface units in range over wireless link  107   b  are determined. In the illustrated embodiment, it is determined that the audio interface unit  160  is in range over wireless link  107   b . In step  455 , a connection is established with the personal audio client  161  on the audio interface unit  160  in range. 
     In step  457 , it is determined whether a message is received for a personal audio service (e.g., service  143 ) from a personal audio client (e.g., client  161 ). If so then in step  459  the message is forwarded to the personal audio service (e.g., service  143 ). 
     In step  461 , it is determined whether a phone call is received for a user of the audio interface unit in range. For example, if the user has not indicated to the personal audio service  143  to direct all phone calls to the service, and the audio interface unit does not have a full cellular engine, then it is possible that the user receives a cellular telephone call on UE  101 . That call is recognized by the personal audio agent in step  461 . 
     If such a call is received, then in step  463 , a phone call alert is forwarded to the personal audio client on the audio interface unit to be presented in one or more in-ear earbuds. In some embodiments, in which the audio interface unit includes a full cellular engine, or in which all calls are forwarded to the personal audio service  143 , step  461  and step  463  are omitted. 
     In step  465  it is determined whether audio data for an audio channel is received in one or more data packets from a personal audio service (e.g., service  143 ) for a personal audio client (e.g., client  161 ) on an in-range audio interface unit. If so, then in step  467  the audio channel data is forwarded to the personal audio client (e.g., client  161 ). 
     In step  469 , it is determined whether the process is done, e.g., by the audio interface unit (e.g., unit  160 ) moving out of range, or by receiving an end of session message from the personal audio service (e.g., service  143 ), or by receiving an offline message from the personal audio client (e.g., client  161 ). If so, then the process ends. If not, then step  457  and following steps are repeated. 
       FIG. 5A  is a flowchart of an example process  500  for providing network services at a personal audio service, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the personal audio service  143  on the host  140  performs the process  500  and is implemented in, for instance, a chip set including a processor and a memory as shown  FIG. 9  or one or more components of a general purpose computer as shown in  FIG. 8 , including logic encoded in tangible media. In certain embodiments, some or all the steps in  FIG. 5A , or portions thereof, are performed on the audio interface unit  160  or on UE  101 , or some combination. 
       FIG. 6A  is a diagram of components of a personal audio service module  630 , according to an embodiment. The module  630  includes a web user interface  635 , a time-based input module  632 , an event cache  634 , an organization module  636 , and a delivery module  638 . The personal audio service module  630  interacts with the personal audio client  161 , a web browser (such as browser  109 ), and network services  639  (such as social network service  133 ) on the same or different hosts connected to network  105 . 
     The web user interface module  635  interacts with the web browser (e.g., browser  109 ) to allow the user to specify what content and notifications (also called alerts herein) to present through the personal audio client as output of a speaker (e.g., one or more earbuds  220 ) and under what conditions. Thus web user interface  635  facilitates access to, including granting access rights for, a user interface configured to receive first data that indicates a first set of one or more sources of content for presentation to a user, and to receive second data that indicates a second set of zero or more time-sensitive alerts for presentation to the user. Details about the functions provided by web user interface  635  are more fully described below with reference to steps  503  through  513  of  FIG. 5A  and in  FIG. 5B . In brief, the web user interface module  635  is a web accessible component of the personal audio service where the user can: (1) manage services and feeds for the user&#39;s own channel of audio; (2) set rules to filter and prioritize content delivery; and (3) visualize the information flow. The data provided through web user interface  635  is used to control the data acquired by the time-based input module  632 ; and the way that data is arranged in time by organization module  636 . 
     The time-based input module  632 , acquires the content used to populate one or more channels defined by the user. Sources of content for presentation include one or more of voice calls, short message service (SMS) text messages (including TWITTER™), instant messaging (IM) text messages, electronic mail text messages, Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, status or other communications of different users who are associated with the user in a social network service (such as social networks that indicate what a friend associated with the user is doing and where a friend is located), broadcast programs, world wide web pages on the internet, streaming media, music, television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, games, or other applications shared across a network, including any news, radio, communications, calendar events, transportation (e.g., traffic advisory, next scheduled bus), television show, and sports score update, among others. This content is acquired by one or more modules included in the time-based input module such as an RSS aggregator module  632   a , an application programming interface (API) module  632   b  for one or more network applications, and a received calls module  632   c  for calls forwarded to the personal audio service  630 , e.g., from one or more land lines, pagers, cell phones etc. associated with the user. 
     The RSS aggregation module  632   a  regularly collects any kind of time based content, e.g., email, twitter, speaking clock, news, calendar, traffic, calls, SMS, radio schedules, radio broadcasts, in addition to anything that can be encoded in RSS feeds. The received calls module  632   c  enables cellular communications, such as voice and data following the GSM/3G protocol to be exchanged with the audio interface unit through the personal audio client  161 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the time-based input module  632  also includes a received sounds module  632   d  for sounds detected at a microphone  236  on an audio interface unit  160  and passed to the personal audio service module  630  by the personal audio client  161 . 
     Some of the time-based input is classified as a time-sensitive alert or notification that allows the user to respond optionally, e.g., a notification of an incoming voice call that the user can choose to take immediately or bounce to a voicemail service. The time-sensitive alerts includes at least one of a notification of an incoming voice call, a notification of incoming text (SMS, IM, email, TWITTER™), a notification of incoming invitation to listen to an audio stream of a different user, a notification of breaking news, a notification of a busy voice call, a notification of a change in a status of a different user who is associated with the user in a social network service, a notification of a broadcast program, notification of an internet prompt, a reminder set previously by the user, or a request to authenticate the user, among others. 
     The event cache  634  stores the received content temporarily for a time that is appropriate to the particular content by default or based on user input to the web user interface module  635  or some combination. Some events associated with received content, such as time and type and name of content, or data flagged by a user, are stored permanently in an event log by the event cache module  634 , either by default or based on user input to the web user interface module  635 , or time-based input by the user through received sounds module  632   d , or some combination. In some embodiments, the event log is searchable, with or without a permanent index. In some embodiments, temporarily cached content is also searchable. Searching is performed in response to a verbal command from the user delivered through received sounds module  632   d , as described in more detail below, with reference to  FIG. 7E . 
     The organization module  636  filters and prioritizes and schedules delivery of the content and alerts based on defaults or values provided by the user through the web user interface  635 , or some combination. The organization module  636  uses rules-based processing to filter and prioritize content, e.g., don&#39;t interrupt user with any news content between 8 AM and LOAM, or block calls from a particular number. The organization module  636  decides the relative importance of content and when to deliver it. If there are multiple instances of the same kind of content, e.g., 15 emails, then these are grouped together and delivered appropriately. The organized content is passed onto the delivery module  638 . 
     The delivery module  638  takes content and optimizes it for difference devices and services. In the illustrated embodiment, the delivery module  638  includes a voice to text module  698   a , an API  638   b  for external network applications, a text to voice module  638   c , and a cellular delivery module  638   d . API module  638   b  delivers some content or sounds received in module  632   d  to an application program or server or client somewhere on the network, as encoded audio or text in data packets exchanged using any known network protocol. For example, in some embodiments, the API module  638   b  is configured to deliver text or audio or both to a web browser, as indicated by the dotted arrow to browser  109 . In some embodiments, the API delivers an icon to be presented in a different network application, e.g., a social network application; and, module  638   b  responds to selection of the icon with or to one or more choices to deliver audio from the user&#39;s audio channel or deliver text, such as transcribed voice or the user&#39;s recorded log of channel events. For some applications or clients (e.g., for user input to network services  639 , e.g., in response to a prompt from an internet service) voice content or microphone sounds received in module  632   d  are first converted to text in the voice to text module  638   a . The voice to text module  638   a  also provides additional services like: call transcriptions, voice mail transcriptions, and note to self, among others. Cellular delivery module  638   d  delivers some content or sounds received in module  632   d  to a cellular terminal, as audio using a cellular telephone protocol, such as GSM/3G. For some applications, text content is first converted to voice in the text to voice module  638   c , e.g., for delivery to the audio interface unit  160  through the personal audio client  161 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 5A , in step  503 , a logon request is received from user equipment (UE). For example an HTTP request is received from browser  109  on UE  101  based on input provided by user  190 . In some embodiments, step  503  includes authenticating a user as a subscriber or registering a user as a new subscriber, as is well known in the art. In step  505 , a user interface, such as a web page, is generated for the user to specify audio preferences and alert conditions to be used for an audio interface unit of the user (e.g., audio interface unit  160  of user  190 ). In step  507 , the interface is sent to the user equipment. 
       FIG. 6B  is a diagram of an example user interface  600  utilized in a portion of the process of  FIG. 5 , according to an embodiment. The example user interface  600  is referred to as the “Hello” page to indicate that the interface is for setting up audio sessions, alerts and responses, such as the common spoken greeting and response “Hello.” In the illustrated embodiment, the Hello page  600  is sent from web user interface module  635  to the browser  109  on UE  101  during step  507 . 
     The Hello page  600  includes options for the user to select from a variety of network services that can be delivered to the user&#39;s audio interface unit  160 . For example, the left panel  610  indicates the user may select from several personal audio service options listed as “Hello channel,” “Calls,” “Messages,” “Notes,” “Marked,” and “Service Notes.” These options refer to actions taken entirely by the personal audio service  143  on behalf of a particular user. In addition, the user can indicate other network entities to communicate with through personal audio service  143  and the audio interface unit  160 , such as “Contacts,” “Services,” and “Devices.” These options refer to actions taken by third party entities other than the personal audio service  143  and personal audio client  161 . Contacts involve others who may communicate with the user through phone calls, emails, text messages and other protocols that do not necessarily involve an audio interface unit  160 . Services are provided by service providers on the internet and one or more phone networks, including a cellular telephone network. Devices involve personal area network devices that could serve as the audio interface unit  160  or with which the audio interface unit  160  could potentially communicate via the Bluetooth protocol. The user navigates the items of the Hello page to determine what services to obtain from the personal audio service  143  and how the personal audio service  143  is to interact with these other entities to deliver audio to the device serving as the audio interface unit  160 . 
     Any audio and text data may be channeled to and from the audio interface unit  160  by the personal audio service  143  and the personal audio client  161 . Text provided by services is converted by the personal audio service  143  to audio (speech). In the illustrated embodiment, the third party services that can be selected to be channeled through the personal audio service  143  to the audio interface unit  160  are indicated by lines  622   a  through  622   k  and include voice calls  622   a , voice messaging  622   b , reminders  622   c , note taking  622   d , news alerts  622   e , search engines  622   f , bulk short message service (SMS) protocol messaging  622   g  such as TWITTER™, social network services  622   h  such as FACEBOOK™, playlist services  622   i  such as LASTFM™, sports feed services  622   j  such as ESPN GAMEPLAN™, and cooking services  622   k . In the illustrated embodiment, the user has selected some of these services by marking an associated checkbox  623  (indicted by the x in the box to the left of the name of the third party service). When one of the third party services is highlighted, any sub-options are also presented. For example, the voice calling service  622   a  includes sub-options  626  for selecting a directory as a source of phone numbers to call, as well as options  628  to select favorites, add a directory and upgrade service. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 5A , in step  509 , it is determined whether a response has been received from a user, e.g., whether an HTTP message is received indicating one or more services or sub-options have been selected. If so, then in step  511  the audio preferences and alert conditions for the user are updated based on the response. For example, in step  511  a unique identifier for the audio interface unit  160  is indicated in a user response and associated with a registered user. In step  513 , it is determined if the interaction with the user is done, e.g., the user has logged off or the session has timed out. If not, control passes back to step  505  and following to generate and send an updated interface, such as an updated web page. If a response is not received then, in step  513 , it is determined if the interaction is done, e.g., the session has timed out. 
     The Hello channel option presents a web page that displays the event log for a particular channel defined by the user.  FIG. 6C  is a diagram of another example user interface  640  utilized in a portion of the process of  FIG. 5A , according to an embodiment. Page  640  depicts the event log for one of the user&#39;s channels, as indicated by the “Hello channel” option highlighted in panel  610 . The page  640  shows today&#39;s date in field  641 , and various events in fields  642   a  through  642   m  from most recent to oldest (today&#39;s entries shaded), along with corresponding times in column  643 , type of event in column  644 . Options column  645  allows the user to view more about the event, to mark the event for easy access or to delete the event from the log. In the illustrated embodiment, the events include a reminder to watch program A  642   a , a reminder to pick up person A  642   b , a call to person B  642   c , a weekly meeting  642   d , a lunch with person C  642   e , a manually selected entry  642   f , a call with person D  642   g , a game between team A and Team B  642   h , a previous reminder to record the game  642   i , lunch with person E  642   j , a message from person F  642   k , a tweet from person G  6421 , and an email from person H  642   m.    
       FIG. 5B  is a flowchart of an example process  530  for one step of the method of  FIG. 5A , according to one embodiment. Process  530  is a particular embodiment of step  511  to update audio preferences and alert conditions based on user input. 
     In step  533 , the user is prompted for and responses are received from the user for data that indicates expressions to be used to indicate allowed actions. The actions are fixed by the module; but the expressions used to indicate those actions may be set by the user to account for different cultures and languages. Example allowed actions, described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 7B  through  FIG. 7F , include ANSWER, IGNORE, RECORD, NOTE, TRANSCRIBE, INVITE, ACCEPT, SEND, CALL, TEXT, EMAIL, STATUS, MORE, START, PAUSE, STOP, REPEAT, TUNE-IN, SLOW, MIKE, among others. For purposes of illustration, it is assumed herein that the expressions are the same as the associated actions. In some embodiments, synonyms for the terms defined in this step are learned by the personal audio service  630 , as described in more detail below. Any method may be used to receive this data. For example, in various embodiments, the data is included as a default value in software instructions, is received as manual input from a user or service administrator on the local or a remote node, is retrieved from a local file or database, or is sent from a different node on the network, either in response to a query or unsolicited, or the data is received using some combination of these methods. 
     In step  535 , the user is prompted for or data is received or both, for data that indicates one or more devices the user employs to get or send audio data, or both. Again, any method may be used to receive this data. For example, during step  535  the user provides a unique identifier for the audio interface unit (e.g., unit  160 ) or cell phone (e.g., UE  101 ), such as a serial number or media access control (MAC) number, that the user will employ to access the personal audio service  143 . 
     In step  537 , the user is prompted for or data is received or both, for data that indicates a channel identifier. Again, any method may be used to receive this data. This data is used to distinguish between multiple channels that a user may define. For example, the user may indicate a channel ID of “Music” or “news” or “One” or “Two.” In steps  539  through  551 , data is received that indicates what constitutes example content and alerts for the channel identified in step  537 . In step  553 , it is determined whether there is another channel to be defined. If so, control passes back to step  537  and following for the next channel. If not, then process  530  (for step  511 ) is finished. 
     In step  539 , the user is prompted for or data is received or both, for data that indicates voice call handling, priority and alert tones. The data received in this step indicates, for example, which phone numbers associated with the user are to be routed through the personal audio service, and at what time intervals, a source of contact names and phone numbers, phone number of contacts to block, phone numbers of contacts to give expedited treatment, and different tones for contacts in the regular and expedited categories, and different tones for incoming calls and voice messages, among other properties for handling voice calls. 
     In step  541 , the user is prompted for or data is received or both, for data that indicates text-based message handling, priority and alert tones. The data received in this step indicates, for example, which text-based messages are to be passed through the personal audio service and the user&#39;s network address for those messages, such as SMS messages, TWITTER™, instant messaging for one or more instant messaging accounts, emails for one or more email accounts, and at what time intervals. This data also indicates a source of contact names and addresses, addresses of contacts to block, addresses of contacts to give expedited treatment, and different tones for contacts in the regular and expedited categories, and different tones for different kinds of text-based messaging. 
     In step  543 , the user is prompted for or data is received or both, for data that indicates one or more other network services, such as RSS feeds on traffic, weather, news, politics, entertainment, and other network services such as navigation, media steaming, and social networks. The data also indicates time intervals, if any, for featuring one or more of the network services, e.g., news before noon, entertainment after noon, social network in the evening. 
     In step  545 , the user is prompted for or data is received or both, for data that indicates how to deliver alerts, e.g., alerts in only one ear if two earbuds are in place, leaving any other audio in the other ear. This allows the user to apply the natural ability for ignoring some conversations in the user&#39;s vicinity to ignore the alert and continue to enjoy the audio program. Other alternatives include, for example, alerts in one or both in-ear earbuds and pause the audio or skip the audio during the interval the alert is in effect, alerts for voice ahead of alerts for text-messages, and clustering rather than individual alerts for the same type of notification, e.g., “15 new emails” instead of “email from person A at 10 AM, email from person B at 10.35 AM, . . . ”. 
     In step  547 , the user is prompted for or data is received or both, for data that indicates manually entered reminders form the user, e.g., wake up at 6:45 AM, game starts in half hour at 7:15 PM, game starts at 7:45 PM, and make restaurant reservation 5:05 PM.” 
     In step  549 , the user is prompted for or data is received or both, for data that indicates what speech to transcribe to text (limited by what is legal in the user&#39;s local jurisdiction), e.g., user&#39;s side of voice calls, both sides of voice calls, other person side of voice calls from work numbers, and all sounds form user&#39;s microphone for a particular time interval. 
     In step  551 , the user is prompted for or data is received or both, for data that indicates what audio or text to publish for other users to access and what alerts, if any, to include. Thus, a user can publish the channel identified in step  537  (e.g., the “Music” channel) for use by other users of the system (e.g., all the user&#39;s friends on a social network). Similarly, the user can publish the text generated from voice calls with work phone numbers for access by one or more other specified colleagues at work. 
     The above steps are based on interactions between the personal user service  143  and a browser on a conventional device with visual display and keyboard of multiple keys, such as browser  109  on UE  101 . The following steps, in contrast, are based on interactions between the personal user service  143  and a personal audio client  161  on an audio interface unit  160  or other device serving as such, which responds to user input including voice commands. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 5A , in step  531  it is determined whether the audio interface unit is offline. For example, if no message has been received from the unit for an extended time, indicating the unit may be powered off, then it is determined in step  531  that the audio interface unit  160  is offline. As another example, a message is received from the personal audio client  161  that the unit is offline based on the message sent in step  411 , because no earbud speaker was detected in position in either of the user&#39;s ears. 
     If it is determined in step  513  that the audio interface unit  160  is offline, then, in step  533  it is determined whether there is an alert condition. If not, then step  531  is repeated. If so, then, in step  535 , data indicating filtered alerts are stored. As described above, with reference to step  417 , alerts that have no meaning when delayed are filtered out; and the filtered alerts are those that still have meaning at a later time. The filtered alerts are stored for delayed delivery. Control passes back to step  531 . 
     If it is determined in step  531  that the audio interface unit  160  is online, then in step  515  the personal audio service  143  requests or otherwise receives data indicated by the user&#39;s audio preferences and alert conditions. For example, the personal audio service  143  sends requests that indicate phone calls for the user&#39;s cell phone or land line or both are to be forwarded to the personal audio service  143  to be processed. Similarly, the personal audio service  143  requests any Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, such as an internet news feed, indicated by the user in responses received in step  509 . In an illustrated embodiment, step  515  is performed by the time-based input module  632 . 
     In step  517 , one or more audio channels are constructed for the user based on the audio preferences and received data. For example, the user may have defined via responses in step  509  a first channel for music from a particular playlist in the user&#39;s profile on the social network. Similarly, the user may have defined via responses in step  509  a second channel for an RSS feed from a particular news feed, e.g., sports, with interruptions for breaking news from another news source, e.g., world politics, and interruption for regular weather updates on the half hour, and to publish this channel so that other contacts of the user on the social network can also select the same channel to be presented at their devices, including their audio interface devices. In step  517 , for this example, audio streams for both audio channels are constructed. In an illustrated embodiment, step  517  is performed by caching content and logging events by event cache module  634   
     In step  519 , it is determined whether any alert conditions are satisfied, based on the alert conditions defined in one or more user responses during step  509 . If so, then in step  521  the alerts are added to one or more channels depending on the channel definitions given by the user in response received in step  509 . For example, if there are any stored filtered alerts from step  535  that have not yet been delivered, these alerts are added to one or more of the channels. For example, if the user has defined the first channel such that it should be interrupted in one ear only by any alerts, with a higher priority for alerts related to changes in status of contacts in a social network than to breaking news alerts and a highest priority for alerts for incoming voice calls, the stored and new alerts are presented in that order on the first channel. Similarly, the user may have defined a different priority of alerts for the second channel, and the stored and new alerts are added to the second channel with that different priority. In some embodiments, alerts are not added to a published channel delivered to another user unless the user defining the channel indicates those alerts are to be published also. In an illustrated embodiment, steps  519  and  521  are performed by organization module  636 . 
     After any alerts are added, or if there are no alerts, then control passes to step  523 . In step  523 , the audio from the selected channel with any embedded alerts are sent to the personal audio client  161  over a wireless link to be presented in one or more earbuds in place in a user&#39;s ear. For example, the audio is encoded as data and delivered in one or more data packets to the personal audio client  161  on audio interface unit  160  of user  190 . In some embodiments, the data packets with the audio data travel through wireless link  107   a  directly from a cell phone network, or a wide area network (WAN), or wireless local area network (WLAN). In some embodiments, the data packets with the audio data travel indirectly through personal audio agent process  145  on UE  101  and thence through wireless link  107   b  in a wireless personal area network (WPLAN) to personal audio client  161 . In an illustrated embodiment, step  523  is performed by delivery module  638 . 
     In step  525 , it is determined if a user response message is received from the personal audio client  161  of user  190 . In an illustrated embodiment, step  525  is performed by received sounds module  632   d . If so, in step  527  an action is determined based on the response received and the action is performed. In some embodiments, the response received from the personal audio client is text converted from spoken sounds by the text-audio processor of the personal audio client. In some embodiments, the response received from the personal audio client  161  is coded audio that represents the actual sounds picked up the microphone of the audio interface unit  160  and placed in the response message and sent by the personal audio client  161 . In an illustrated embodiment, step  527  is performed by organization module  636  or delivery module  638 , or some combination. 
     The action determined and performed in step  527  is based on the user response in the message received. Thus, if the response indicates the user spoke the word “voicemail”, then the voicemail is contacted to obtain any voice messages, which are then encoded in messages and sent to the personal audio client  161  for presentation in one or more in-ear earbuds of the user. Similarly, if the response indicates the user spoke the word “Channel Two”, then this is determined in step  527  and in step  523 , when next executed, the second channel is sent to the personal audio client  161  instead of the first channel. 
     In step  529 , it is determined if the personal audio service is done with the current user, e.g., the user has gone offline by turning off the audio interface unit  160  or removing all earbuds. If not, control passes back to step  515  and following steps to request and receive the data indicated by the user. 
       FIG. 7A  is a flowchart of an example process  700  for responding to user audio input, according to one embodiment. By way of example, process  700  is a particular embodiment of step  527  of process  500  of  FIG. 5A  to respond to user audio input through a microphone (e.g., microphones  236 ). 
     In step  703  data is received that indicates the current alert and time that the alert was issued. For example, in some embodiments this data is retrieved from memory where the information is stored during step  521 . In step  705 , the user audio is received, e.g., as encoded audio in one or more data packets. 
     In step  707 , it is determined whether the user audio was spoken within a time window of opportunity associated with the alert, e.g. within 3 seconds of the time the user received the tone and any message associated with the alert, or within 5 seconds of the user uttering a word that set a window of opportunity for responding to a limited vocabulary. In some embodiments, the duration of the window of opportunity is set by the user in interactions with the web user interface  635 . If so, then the user audio is interpreted in the context of a limited vocabulary of allowed actions following that particular kind of alert, as described below with respect to steps  709  through  721 . If not, then the user audio is interpreted in a broader context, e.g., with a larger vocabulary of allowed actions, as described below with respect to steps  723  through  737 . 
     In step  709 , the sound made by the user is learned in the context of the current alert, e.g., the sound is recorded in association with the current alert. In some embodiments, step  709  includes determining the number of times the user made a similar sound, and if the number exceeds a threshold and the sound does not convert to a word in the limited vocabulary then determining if the sound corresponds to a synonym for one of the words of the limited vocabulary. This determination may be made in any manner, e.g., by checking a thesaurus database, or by generating voice that asks the user to identify which allowed action the sound corresponds to, or by recording the user response to a prompt issued in step  715  when a match is not obtained. Thus the process  700  learns user preferences for synonyms for the limited vocabulary representing the allowed actions. Thus, the system learns what kind of new vocabulary is desirable; can know how the user usually answers to certain friends; and that way can interpret and learn the words based on communication practices within a social networking context for the user or the friend. So with step  709  together with step  533 , instead of using a pre-set vocabulary, the user can record the user&#39;s own voice commands. In some embodiments, step  709  is omitted. 
     In step  711 , the sound is compared to the limited vocabulary representing the allowed actions for the current alert, e.g., by converting to text and comparing the text to the stored terms (derived from step  533 ) for the allowed actions. In step  713 , it is determined if there is a match. If not, then in step  715  the user is prompted to indicate an allowed action by sending audio to the user that presents voice derived from the text for one or more of the allowed actions and the start of the window of opportunity for the alert is re-set. A new response from the user is then received, eventually, in step  705 . If there is a match determined in step  713 , then in step  717  the personal audio service acts on the alert based on the match. Example alerts, limited vocabularies for matches and resulting actions are described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 7B  through  FIG. 7D . In step  719 , it is determined whether conditions are satisfied for storing the action in the permanent log. If not, control passes back to step  703 , described above. If so, then in step  721  the action is also recorded in the permanent log. 
     If it is determined, in step  707 , that the user audio was not spoken within a time window of opportunity associated with the alert, then the audio is interpreted in a broader context. In step  723 , the sound made by the user is learned in the context of the current presented audio, e.g., the sound is recorded in association with silence or a media stream or a broadcast sporting event. In some embodiments, step  723  includes determining the number of times the user made a similar sound, and if the number exceeds a threshold and the sound does not convert to a word in the broader vocabulary then determining if the sound corresponds to a synonym for one of the words of the broader vocabulary. This determination may be made in any manner, e.g., by checking a thesaurus database, or by generating voice that asks the user to identify which allowed action the sound corresponds to. Thus the process  700  learns user preferences for synonyms for the broader vocabulary representing the allowed actions for silence or a presented audio stream. In some embodiments, step  723  is omitted. 
     In step  725 , the sound is compared to the broader vocabulary representing the allowed actions not associated with an alert, e.g., by converting to text and comparing the text to the stored terms (derived from step  533 ) for the allowed actions, or by comparing the user audio with stored voiceprints of the limited vocabulary. In step  727 , it is determined if there is a match. If not, then in step  729  the user is prompted to indicate an allowed action by sending audio to the user that presents voice derived from the text for one or more of the allowed actions. A new response from the user is then received, eventually, in step  705 . If there is a match determined in step  727 , then in step  731  the personal audio service acts based on the match. Example limited vocabularies for matches and resulting actions are described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 7E  for general actions and  FIG. 7F  for actions related to currently presented audio. In step  733 , it is determined whether conditions are satisfied for storing the action in the permanent log. If not, then in step  737  it is determined if conditions are satisfied for terminating the process. If conditions are satisfied for storing the action, then in step  735  the action is also recorded in the permanent log. If it is determined, in step  737 , that conditions are satisfied for terminating the process, then the process ends. Otherwise control passes back to step  703 , described above. 
       FIGS. 7B to 7F  are flowcharts of an example process for matching user sounds based on alert context, according to one embodiment. Example alerts, limited vocabularies for matches and resulting actions are described with reference to  FIG. 7B  through  FIG. 7D . As shown in  FIG. 7B , control passes from step  709  to step  741 , where it is determined whether the current alert (e.g., as retrieved from memory in step  703 ) represents an incoming voice call. If not, control passes to step  744  or one or more of the following steps  747 ,  751 ,  754 ,  757 ,  761 ,  764 ,  767  and  771  until the correct step for the current alert is found. If the current alert is not one of these, then an error has occurred; and, in the illustrated embodiment, control returns to step  703  to retrieve the correct current alert, if any. After processing user audio in the context of an alert, the contents or subject of an alert can be stored or flagged or transcribed or otherwise processed using any of the broader terms. For example a flag command, described below, can be issued after the window of opportunity for an alert and is understood to flag the just processed alert and response. 
     If it is determined in step  741  that the current alert represents an incoming voice call, then the user audio received in step  705  is compared to the example limited vocabulary of ANSWER, ID, IGNORE, DELETE, JOIN until a match is found in steps  742   a ,  742   b ,  742   c ,  742   d ,  742   e , respectively. If the user audio does not match any of these, then control passes to step  715  to prompt the user, as described above. If the user audio matches ANSWER, then in step  743   a  the user is connected to the call, e.g., using the received calls module  632   c  and cellular module  638   d . If the user audio matches ID, then in step  743   b  the caller identification is converted to voice and presentation to the user is initiated by sending to the personal audio client  161  to be presented to the user in one or both earbuds. If the user audio matches IGNORE, then in step  743   c  the alerts to the user stop until the call is diverted to a voicemail system associated with the user&#39;s phone number or associated with the personal audio service  143 . If the user audio matches DELETE, then in step  743   d  the caller is disconnected without the opportunity to leave a voice message. If the user audio matches JOIN, then in step  743   e  the caller is added to a current call between the user and some third party. In some embodiments, the user audio is matched to an expression indicating an ADD action (not shown) to add the caller to the contact list if not already included or with some missing information/details. In some embodiments, the start of the window of opportunity is re-set in step  742   b  to allow the user time to indicate one of the other responses after learning the identification of the caller. After each of these steps, control passes to step  719  to determine whether to record the action, as described above. 
     If it is determined in step  744  that the current alert represents an incoming voice text (such as SMS, TWITTER, IM, email), then the user audio received in step  705  is compared to the example limited vocabulary of PLAY, ID, SAVE, DELETE, REPLY until a match is found in steps  745   a ,  745   b ,  745   c ,  745   d ,  745   e , respectively. If the user audio does not match any of these, then control passes to step  715  to prompt the user, as described above. If the user audio matches PLAY, then in step  746   a  the text is converted to speech and presentation to the user is initiated. In some embodiments, the window of opportunity is re-set to allow the user to save, delete or reply after hearing the text. If the user audio matches ID, then in step  746   b  the sender identifier (e.g., user ID or email address) is converted to speech and presentation to the user is initiated. In some embodiments, the window of opportunity is re-set to allow the user to play, save, delete or reply after hearing the sender ID. If the user audio matches SAVE, then in step  746   c  the text is left in the message service (e.g., SMS service, TWITTER service, IM service or email service); and if the user audio matches DELETE, then in step  746   d  the text is deleted from the message service. If the user audio matches REPLY, then in step  746   e  the next sounds received from the user through the microphone are transcribed to text (e.g., using the voice to text module  638   a ) and sent to the user as a reply in the same message service. In some embodiments, step  746  includes processing further user audio to determine whether the reply should be copied to another contact, or via a different communication service (e.g., voice call, IM chat, email) from the one that delivered the text, or some combination. After each of these steps, control passes to step  719  to determine whether to record the action, as described above. 
     If it is determined in step  747  that the current alert represents an incoming invitation to listen to the audio channel (including a voice call) of another, then the user audio received in step  705  is compared to the example limited vocabulary of ACCEPT, IGNORE until a match is found in steps  748   a ,  748   b , respectively. If the user audio does not match any of these, then control passes to step  715  to prompt the user, as described above. If the user audio matches ACCEPT, then in step  749   a  the user joins the audio channel of another and presentation to the user of the audio channel from the other user is initiated. If the user audio matches IGNORE, then in step  749   b  the current audio channel being presented to the user is continued. After each of these steps, control passes to step  719  to determine whether to record the action, as described above. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7C , if it is determined in step  751  that the current alert represents a breaking news alert, then the user audio received in step  705  is compared to the example limited vocabulary of STOP, REPLAY, MORE until a match is found in steps  752   a ,  752   b ,  752   c , respectively. If the user audio does not match any of these, then control passes to step  715  to prompt the user, as described above. It is assumed for purposes of illustration that the breaking news alert includes initiating presentation to the user of a headline describing the news event. If the news feed is text, then presentation of the headline includes converting text to voice for presentation to the user. If the user audio matches STOP, then in step  753   a  presentation of the headline is ended. If the user audio matches REPLAY, then in step  753   b  presentation of the headline is initiated again. If the user audio matches MORE, then in step  753   c  presentation to the user of the next paragraph of the news story is initiated. In some embodiments, the window of opportunity is re-set in steps  753   b  and  753   c  to allow the user to hear still more. After each of these steps, control passes to step  719  to determine whether to record the action, as described above. 
     If it is determined in step  754  that the current alert represents a busy signal on a call attempted by the user, then the user audio received in step  705  is compared to the example limited vocabulary of LISTEN, INTERRUPT until a match is found in steps  755   a ,  755   b , respectively. If the user audio does not match any of these, then control passes to step  715  to prompt the user, as described above. If the user audio matches LISTEN, then in step  756   a  the presentation to the user of the voice call of the called party is initiated. In some embodiments, the audio is muted or muffled so that the user can only discern the tone and participants without understanding the words. In certain embodiments, the window of opportunity is re-set to allow the user to interrupt anytime while listening to the muted or muffled call. If the user audio matches INTERRUPT, then in step  756   b  the user is joined to the call if the called party allows interrupts or, in some embodiments, an alert is presented to the called party indicating the user wishes to join the call. 
     Alternatively, in other embodiments (not shown), STOP is included in the limited vocabulary to allow the user to stop the busy signal and terminate the call attempt. After each of these steps, control passes to step  719  to determine whether to record the action, as described above. 
     If it is determined in step  757  that the current alert represents a new social status of another person (called a “friend”) associated with the user in a social network, then the user audio received in step  705  is compared to the example limited vocabulary of PLAY, STOP, REPLY until a match is found in steps  758   a ,  758   b ,  758   c , respectively. If the user audio does not match any of these, then control passes to step  715  to prompt the user, as described above. If the user audio matches PLAY, then in step  759   a  the social status update is converted to voice (e.g., speech) and presentation to the user is initiated. If the user audio matches STOP, then in step  759   b  the social status change is not played or, if presentation has already begun, presentation is terminated. If the user audio matches REPLY, then in step  759   c  the next sounds received from the user through the microphone are transcribed to text and sent to the user as a reply or comment in the same social network service. In some embodiments, the window of opportunity is re-set in step  759   a  to allow the user to reply after hearing the new social status. After each of these steps, control passes to step  719  to determine whether to record the action, as described above. 
     If it is determined in step  761  that the current alert represents a broadcast program (or events therein such as a start, a return from commercial, a goal scored), then the user audio received in step  705  is compared to the example limited vocabulary of IGNORE, DISMISS, TUNE IN until a match is found in steps  762   a ,  762   b ,  762   c , respectively. If the user audio does not match any of these, then control passes to step  715  to prompt the user, as described above. If the user audio matches IGNORE, then in step  763   a  presentation to the user of the current audio channel continues. If the user audio matches DISMISS, then in step  763   b  further alerts for this broadcast program (including events therein) are not presented to the user. If the user audio matches TUNE IN, then in step  763   c  presentation to the user of an audio portion of the broadcast program is initiated. After each of these steps, control passes to step  719  to determine whether to record the action, as described above. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7D , if it is determined in step  764  that the current alert represents an internet prompt (e.g., to input data to a web page), then the user audio received in step  705  is compared to the example limited vocabulary of PLAY, ANSWER, DISMISS until a match is found in steps  765   a ,  765   b ,  765   c , respectively. If the user audio does not match any of these, then control passes to step  715  to prompt the user, as described above. If the user audio matches PLAY, then in step  766   a  the prompt from the internet service (and any context determined to be useful, such as the domain name and page heading) is converted to voice and presentation to the user of the voice is initiated. If the user audio matches ANSWER, then in step  766   b  the user&#39;s voice received at a microphone is converted to text and sending the text to the internet service is initiated. If the user audio matches DISMISS, then in step  766   c , interaction with the internet service is ended, e.g., a web page is closed. In some embodiments, the time window of opportunity is re-set in step  766   a  to allow the user to play the prompt again or answer after playing the prompt. After each of these steps, control passes to step  719  to determine whether to record the action, as described above. 
     If it is determined in step  767  that the current alert represents an authentication challenge, then the user audio received in step  705  is compared to the example limited vocabulary of ANSWER, DISMISS until a match is found in steps  768   a ,  768   b , respectively. If the user audio does not match any of these, then control passes to step  715  to prompt the user, as described above. If the user audio matches ANSWER, then in step  769   a  the user&#39;s voice received at a microphone is processed, e.g., to match to a voiceprint on file, or converted to text to compare to an account or password on file, or some combination. Control passes to step  719  to determine whether to record the action, as described above. If the user audio matches DISMISS, then in step  769   b , interaction with personal audio service is ended. Thus, in various embodiments, authentication can come from having a dedicated device (e.g. regular phone) or can be set up on the fly (e.g., the user speaks out the user&#39;s phone number to identify the user&#39;s account and then a password). Over time a ‘voice profile’ can be built of the user and the user&#39;s word usage-enabling, for example, authentication to occur with a simple login, e.g. speaking the user&#39;s phone number. 
     If it is determined in step  771  that the current alert represents a manual reminder previously entered by the user at the web user interface  635 , then the user audio received in step  705  is compared to the example limited vocabulary of DELAY, DISMISS until a match is found in steps  772   a ,  772   b , respectively. If the user audio does not match any of these, then control passes to step  715  to prompt the user, as described above. If the user audio matches DELAY, then in step  773   a  the reminder is repeated at a later time, e.g., half an hour later. If the user audio matches DISMISS, then in step  773   b , the reminder is removed and not repeated. After each of these steps, control passes to step  719  to determine whether to record the action, as described above. 
     Example limited vocabularies for matches and resulting actions are described in process  780  with reference to  FIG. 7E  for general actions not in the context of an alert, and  FIG. 7F  for actions related to currently presented audio but not in the context of an alert. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7E , after step  723 , the user audio received in step  705  is compared to the example broader but still limited vocabulary for general actions. General actions that can be taken any time, whether there is audio already being presented to the user are compared to the user, e.g., for CALL, TEXT, EMAIL, RECORD, NOTE, TRANSCRIBE, SEARCH, STATUS, INTERNET, CHANNEL, MIKE until a match is found in steps  781   a ,  781   b ,  781   c ,  781   d ,  781   e ,  781   f ,  781   g ,  781   h ,  781   i ,  781   j ,  781   k , respectively. If the user audio does not match any of these, then control passes to step  785  to check actions allowed for audio currently presented to the user. If there is no currently presented audio, then control passes to step  729  to prompt the user for an allowed action, as described above. After a match is found, the appropriate action is performed, often based on further user audio specifying one or more additional parameters that determine the action to be performed, as described below. In some embodiments, one or more parameters are indicated by data indicating that the activation button  232  has been depressed. After each of these steps, control passes to step  733  to determine whether to record the action, as described above. 
     In other embodiments, other actions are indicated in similar fashion. For example, in some embodiments the broader terms that can be matched and corresponding actions, whether or not there is current audio being presented, include STORE, PLAY and SEND. STORE is used for storing marked or found sections of the audio channel. PLAY is used to cause marked or found sections of the audio channel to be presented as audio, e.g., in the earbuds of the user. SEND is used to send the marked or found sections of audio or text transcribed therefrom to another person, e.g., a person on the user&#39;s contact list. 
     If the user audio matches CALL, then in step  783   a  a voice call is made (including a call to voicemail). For example, the user audio includes a contact name (including VOICEMAIL) or phone number that is converted to text and used to place the call. If the user audio matches TEXT, then in step  783   b  a text message is sent, e.g., by SMS, TWITTER or IM. For example, the user audio includes a contact name or phone number that is converted to text and used to send the message. Further user audio is converted to text and used as the body of the text message. If the user audio matches EMAIL, then in step  783   c  an email message is sent. For example, the user audio includes an email address that is converted to text and used to send the email message. Further user audio is converted to text and used as the body of the email message. 
     If the user audio matches RECORD, then in step  783   d  further user audio is recorded as encoded audio and saved. If the user audio matches NOTE, then in step  783   e  further user audio is converted to text and saved. If the user audio matches TRANSCRIBE, then in step  783   f  other encoded audio, such as a voicemail message, is converted to text and saved. Further user audio is used to identify the encoded audio source to convert to text. Thus, spoken content or utterances by the user can be transcribed and made available to the user immediately after a call—e.g., sent to the user&#39;s inbox, or the inbox of the other person on the line, or both. If the user audio matches SEARCH, then in step  783   g  the permanent log is searched for a particular search term. Further user audio is used to identify the search term. 
     If the user audio matches STATUS, then in step  783   h  the status of the user on a social network is updated or the status of a friend of the user on the social network is checked. Further user audio is used to identify the social network, generate the text for the status update or identify the friend whose status is to be checked. The updated status is converted from text to voice and presentation to the user of the resulting audio is initiated. 
     If the user audio matches INTERNET, then in step  783   i  another internet service is accessed. Further user audio is used to identify the universal resource identifier (URI) of the service. The text provided by the service (e.g., in a web page) is converted from text to voice and presentation to the user of the resulting audio is initiated. 
     If the user audio matches CHANNEL, then in step  783   j  presentation to the user of a user defined channel is initiated. Further user audio is used to identify the channel (e.g., One or Music). 
     If the user audio matches MIKE, then in step  783   k  data indicating the status or operation of the microphone is generated. Further user audio is used to change the status to ON or to OFF. Otherwise, presentation to the user of the current status of the microphone is initiated. In some embodiments, the user audio to change status is converted to text that is converted to a command to the personal audio client  161  to operate the microphone on the audio interface unit  160 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7F , in step  785  it is determined whether there is current audio being presented to the user, e.g., on the audio interface unit  160 . If not, then control passes to step  729  to prompt the user for user audio indicating an allowed action. 
     If it is determined in step  785  that audio is being presented currently to the user, then the user audio received in step  705  is compared to the example broader but still limited vocabulary for actions with current audio. Actions that can be taken any time there is audio already being presented to the user are compared e.g., for STOP, PAUSE, REWIND, PLAY, FAST, SLOW, REAL, INVITE, FLAG, INDEX until a match is found in steps  786   a ,  786   b ,  786   c ,  786   d ,  786   e ,  786   f ,  786   g ,  786   h ,  786   i ,  786   j , respectively. If the user audio does not match any of these, then control passes to step  729  to prompt the user for an allowed action, as described above. After a match is found, the appropriate action is performed, often based on further user audio specifying one or more additional parameters that determined the action to be performed, as described below. After each of these steps, control passes to step  733  to determine whether to record the action in the permanent log, as described above. 
     If the user audio matches STOP, then in step  787   a  the currently presented audio is stopped. If the user audio matches PAUSE, then in step  787   b  the currently presented audio is paused to be resumed without loss. Thus if the current audio is a broadcast, the broadcast is recorded for play when the user so indicates. If the user audio matches REWIND, then in step  787   c  the cache of the currently presented audio is rewound (e.g., up to the portion temporarily cached if the audio source is not in permanent storage). If the user audio matches PLAY, then in step  787   d  presentation of the current audio is initiated from its current (paused or rewound or fast forwarded) position. 
     If the user audio matches FAST, then in step  787   e  the currently presented audio is initiated for presentation in fast mode (e.g., audible or silent, with or without frequency correction). If the user audio matches SLOW, then in step  787   f  the currently presented audio is initiated for presentation is slow mode (e.g., audible with or without frequency correction). If the user audio matches REAL, then in step  787   g  the currently presented audio is initiated for presentation in real time (e.g., real time of a broadcast and actual speed). 
     If the user audio matches INVITE, then in step  787   h  an invitation is sent to a contact of the user to listen in on the currently presented audio. Further audio is processed to determine which one or more contacts are to be invited. If that user is on line, then not only is the audio shared (if accepted) but the two users can add their voices to the same audio channel, and thus exchange comments (e.g., “Great game, huh!”). 
     If the user audio matches FLAG, then in step  787   i  the current audio is marked for extra processing, e.g., to convert to text or to capture a name, phone number or address. At least a portion of temporarily cached audio is saved permanently when it is flagged, to capture audio just presented as well as audio about to be presented. Thus flagging stores data that indicates a portion of the audio stream close in time to a time when the user audio is received. Further user audio is used to determine how to name or process the audio clip. If the user audio matches INDEX, then in step  787   j  the current audio is indexed for searching, e.g., audio is converted to text and one or more text terms are added to a search index. In some embodiments, the same audio is flagged for storage and then indexed. 
     The processes described herein for providing network services at an audio interface unit may be advantageously implemented via software, hardware (e.g., general processor, Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chip, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), etc.), firmware or a combination thereof. Such exemplary hardware for performing the described functions is detailed below. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a computer system  800  upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented. Computer system  800  is programmed (e.g., via computer program code or instructions) to provide network services through an audio interface unit as described herein and includes a communication mechanism such as a bus  810  for passing information between other internal and external components of the computer system  800 . Information (also called data) is represented as a physical expression of a measurable phenomenon, typically electric voltages, but including, in other embodiments, such phenomena as magnetic, electromagnetic, pressure, chemical, biological, molecular, atomic, sub-atomic and quantum interactions. For example, north and south magnetic fields, or a zero and non-zero electric voltage, represent two states (0, 1) of a binary digit (bit). Other phenomena can represent digits of a higher base. A superposition of multiple simultaneous quantum states before measurement represents a quantum bit (qubit). A sequence of one or more digits constitutes digital data that is used to represent a number or code for a character. In some embodiments, information called analog data is represented by a near continuum of measurable values within a particular range. Computer system  800 , or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing one or more steps of providing network services through an audio interface unit. 
     A bus  810  includes one or more parallel conductors of information so that information is transferred quickly among devices coupled to the bus  810 . One or more processors  802  for processing information are coupled with the bus  810 . 
     A processor  802  performs a set of operations on information as specified by computer program code related to providing network services through an audio interface unit. The computer program code is a set of instructions or statements providing instructions for the operation of the processor and/or the computer system to perform specified functions. The code, for example, may be written in a computer programming language that is compiled into a native instruction set of the processor. The code may also be written directly using the native instruction set (e.g., machine language). The set of operations include bringing information in from the bus  810  and placing information on the bus  810 . The set of operations also typically include comparing two or more units of information, shifting positions of units of information, and combining two or more units of information, such as by addition or multiplication or logical operations like OR, exclusive OR (XOR), and AND. Each operation of the set of operations that can be performed by the processor is represented to the processor by information called instructions, such as an operation code of one or more digits. A sequence of operations to be executed by the processor  802 , such as a sequence of operation codes, constitute processor instructions, also called computer system instructions or, simply, computer instructions. Processors may be implemented as mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical, chemical or quantum components, among others, alone or in combination. 
     Computer system  800  also includes a memory  804  coupled to bus  810 . The memory  804 , such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, stores information including processor instructions for at least some steps for providing network services through an audio interface unit. Dynamic memory allows information stored therein to be changed by the computer system  800 . RAM allows a unit of information stored at a location called a memory address to be stored and retrieved independently of information at neighboring addresses. The memory  804  is also used by the processor  802  to store temporary values during execution of processor instructions. The computer system  800  also includes a read only memory (ROM)  806  or other static storage device coupled to the bus  810  for storing static information, including instructions, that is not changed by the computer system  800 . Some memory is composed of volatile storage that loses the information stored thereon when power is lost. Also coupled to bus  810  is a non-volatile (persistent) storage device  808 , such as a magnetic disk, optical disk or flash card, for storing information, including instructions, that persists even when the computer system  800  is turned off or otherwise loses power. 
     Information, including instructions for at least some steps for providing network services through an audio interface unit is provided to the bus  810  for use by the processor from an external input device  812 , such as a keyboard containing alphanumeric keys operated by a human user, or a sensor. A sensor detects conditions in its vicinity and transforms those detections into physical expression compatible with the measurable phenomenon used to represent information in computer system  800 . Other external devices coupled to bus  810 , used primarily for interacting with humans, include a display device  814 , such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD), or plasma screen or printer for presenting text or images, and a pointing device  816 , such as a mouse or a trackball or cursor direction keys, or motion sensor, for controlling a position of a small cursor image presented on the display  814  and issuing commands associated with graphical elements presented on the display  814 . In some embodiments, for example, in embodiments in which the computer system  800  performs all functions automatically without human input, one or more of external input device  812 , display device  814  and pointing device  816  is omitted. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, special purpose hardware, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)  820 , is coupled to bus  810 . The special purpose hardware is configured to perform operations not performed by processor  802  quickly enough for special purposes. Examples of application specific ICs include graphics accelerator cards for generating images for display  814 , cryptographic boards for encrypting and decrypting messages sent over a network, speech recognition, and interfaces to special external devices, such as robotic arms and medical scanning equipment that repeatedly perform some complex sequence of operations that are more efficiently implemented in hardware. 
     Computer system  800  also includes one or more instances of a communications interface  870  coupled to bus  810 . Communication interface  870  provides a one-way or two-way communication coupling to a variety of external devices that operate with their own processors, such as printers, scanners and external disks. In general the coupling is with a network link  878  that is connected to a local network  880  to which a variety of external devices with their own processors are connected. For example, communication interface  870  may be a parallel port or a serial port or a universal serial bus (USB) port on a personal computer. In some embodiments, communications interface  870  is an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a digital subscriber line (DSL) card or a telephone modem that provides an information communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. In some embodiments, a communication interface  870  is a cable modem that converts signals on bus  810  into signals for a communication connection over a coaxial cable or into optical signals for a communication connection over a fiber optic cable. As another example, communications interface  870  may be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN, such as Ethernet. Wireless links may also be implemented. For wireless links, the communications interface  870  sends or receives or both sends and receives electrical, acoustic or electromagnetic signals, including infrared and optical signals, that carry information streams, such as digital data. For example, in wireless handheld devices, such as mobile telephones like cell phones, the communications interface  870  includes a radio band electromagnetic transmitter and receiver called a radio transceiver. In certain embodiments, the communications interface  870  enables connection to the communication network  105  for providing network services directly to an audio interface unit  160  or indirectly through the UE  101 . 
     The term computer-readable medium is used herein to refer to any medium that participates in providing information to processor  802 , including instructions for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device  808 . Volatile media include, for example, dynamic memory  804 . Transmission media include, for example, coaxial cables, copper wire, fiber optic cables, and carrier waves that travel through space without wires or cables, such as acoustic waves and electromagnetic waves, including radio, optical and infrared waves. Signals include man-made transient variations in amplitude, frequency, phase, polarization or other physical properties transmitted through the transmission media. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, optical mark sheets, any other physical medium with patterns of holes or other optically recognizable indicia, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read. The term computer-readable storage medium is used herein to refer to any computer-readable medium except transmission media. 
     Logic encoded in one or more tangible media includes one or both of processor instructions on a computer-readable storage media and special purpose hardware, such as ASIC  820 . 
     Network link  878  typically provides information communication using transmission media through one or more networks to other devices that use or process the information. For example, network link  878  may provide a connection through local network  880  to a host computer  882  or to equipment  884  operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). ISP equipment  884  in turn provides data communication services through the public, world-wide packet-switching communication network of networks now commonly referred to as the Internet  890 . A computer called a server host  892  connected to the Internet hosts a process that provides a service in response to information received over the Internet. For example, server host  892  hosts a process that provides information representing video data for presentation at display  814 . 
     At least some embodiments of the invention are related to the use of computer system  800  for implementing some or all of the techniques described herein. According to one embodiment of the invention, those techniques are performed by computer system  800  in response to processor  802  executing one or more sequences of one or more processor instructions contained in memory  804 . Such instructions, also called computer instructions, software and program code, may be read into memory  804  from another computer-readable medium such as storage device  808  or network link  878 . Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in memory  804  causes processor  802  to perform one or more of the method steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hardware, such as ASIC  820 , may be used in place of or in combination with software to implement the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software, unless otherwise explicitly stated herein. 
     The signals transmitted over network link  878  and other networks through communications interface  870 , carry information to and from computer system  800 . Computer system  800  can send and receive information, including program code, through the networks  880 ,  890  among others, through network link  878  and communications interface  870 . In an example using the Internet  890 , a server host  892  transmits program code for a particular application, requested by a message sent from computer  800 , through Internet  890 , ISP equipment  884 , local network  880  and communications interface  870 . The received code may be executed by processor  802  as it is received, or may be stored in memory  804  or in storage device  808  or other non-volatile storage for later execution, or both. In this manner, computer system  800  may obtain application program code in the form of signals on a carrier wave. 
     Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequence of instructions or data or both to processor  802  for execution. For example, instructions and data may initially be carried on a magnetic disk of a remote computer such as host  882 . The remote computer loads the instructions and data into its dynamic memory and sends the instructions and data over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to the computer system  800  receives the instructions and data on a telephone line and uses an infra-red transmitter to convert the instructions and data to a signal on an infra-red carrier wave serving as the network link  878 . An infrared detector serving as communications interface  870  receives the instructions and data carried in the infrared signal and places information representing the instructions and data onto bus  810 . Bus  810  carries the information to memory  804  from which processor  802  retrieves and executes the instructions using some of the data sent with the instructions. The instructions and data received in memory  804  may optionally be stored on storage device  808 , either before or after execution by the processor  802 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a chip set  900  upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented. Chip set  900  is programmed to provide network services through an audio interface unit as described herein and includes, for instance, the processor and memory components described with respect to  FIG. 8  incorporated in one or more physical packages (e.g., chips). By way of example, a physical package includes an arrangement of one or more materials, components, and/or wires on a structural assembly (e.g., a baseboard) to provide one or more characteristics such as physical strength, conservation of size, and/or limitation of electrical interaction. It is contemplated that in certain embodiments the chip set can be implemented in a single chip. Chip set  900 , or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing one or more steps of providing network services through an audio interface unit. 
     In one embodiment, the chip set  900  includes a communication mechanism such as a bus  901  for passing information among the components of the chip set  900 . A processor  903  has connectivity to the bus  901  to execute instructions and process information stored in, for example, a memory  905 . The processor  903  may include one or more processing cores with each core configured to perform independently. A multi-core processor enables multiprocessing within a single physical package. Examples of a multi-core processor include two, four, eight, or greater numbers of processing cores. Alternatively or in addition, the processor  903  may include one or more microprocessors configured in tandem via the bus  901  to enable independent execution of instructions, pipelining, and multithreading. The processor  903  may also be accompanied with one or more specialized components to perform certain processing functions and tasks such as one or more digital signal processors (DSP)  907 , or one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC)  909 . A DSP  907  typically is configured to process real-world signals (e.g., sound) in real time independently of the processor  903 . Similarly, an ASIC  909  can be configured to performed specialized functions not easily performed by a general purposed processor. Other specialized components to aid in performing the inventive functions described herein include one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) (not shown), one or more controllers (not shown), or one or more other special-purpose computer chips. 
     The processor  903  and accompanying components have connectivity to the memory  905  via the bus  901 . The memory  905  includes both dynamic memory (e.g., RAM, magnetic disk, writable optical disk, etc.) and static memory (e.g., ROM, CD-ROM, etc.) for storing executable instructions that when executed perform one or more of the inventive steps described herein to provide network services through an audio interface unit The memory  905  also stores the data associated with or generated by the execution of the inventive steps. 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram of exemplary components of a mobile terminal (e.g., handset) for communications, which is capable of operating in the system of  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, mobile terminal  1000 , or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing one or more steps of providing network services through an audio interface unit. Generally, a radio receiver is often defined in terms of front-end and back-end characteristics. The front-end of the receiver encompasses all of the Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry whereas the back-end encompasses all of the base-band processing circuitry. As used in this application, the term “circuitry” refers to both: (1) hardware-only implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry), and (2) to combinations of circuitry and software (and/or firmware) (such as to a combination of processor(s), including digital signal processor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions). This definition of “circuitry” applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term “circuitry” would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) and its (or their) accompanying software/or firmware. The term “circuitry” would also cover, for example, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit in a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in a cellular network device or other network devices. 
     Pertinent internal components of the telephone include a Main Control Unit (MCU)  1003 , a Digital Signal Processor (DSP)  1005 , and a receiver/transmitter unit including a microphone gain control unit and a speaker gain control unit. A main display unit  1007  provides a display to the user in support of various applications and mobile terminal functions that perform or support the steps of configuring the server for the audio interface unit. The display unit  1007  includes display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile terminal (e.g., mobile telephone). Additionally, the display unit  1007  and display circuitry are configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile terminal. An audio function circuitry  1009  includes a microphone  1011  and microphone amplifier that amplifies the speech signal output from the microphone  1011 . The amplified speech signal output from the microphone  1011  is fed to a coder/decoder (CODEC)  1013 . 
     A radio section  1015  amplifies power and converts frequency in order to communicate with a base station, which is included in a mobile communication system, via antenna  1017 . The power amplifier (PA)  1019  and the transmitter/modulation circuitry are operationally responsive to the MCU  1003 , with an output from the PA  1019  coupled to the duplexer  1021  or circulator or antenna switch, as known in the art. The PA  1019  also couples to a battery interface and power control unit  1020 . 
     In use, a user of mobile terminal  1001  speaks into the microphone  1011  and his or her voice along with any detected background noise is converted into an analog voltage. The analog voltage is then converted into a digital signal through the Analog to Digital Converter (ADC)  1023 . The control unit  1003  routes the digital signal into the DSP  1005  for processing therein, such as speech encoding, channel encoding, encrypting, and interleaving. In one embodiment, the processed voice signals are encoded, by units not separately shown, using a cellular transmission protocol such as global evolution (EDGE), general packet radio service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications (GSM), Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS), universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), etc., as well as any other suitable wireless medium, e.g., microwave access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LIE) networks, code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), wireless fidelity (WiFi), satellite, and the like. 
     The encoded signals are then routed to an equalizer  1025  for compensation of any frequency-dependent impairments that occur during transmission though the air such as phase and amplitude distortion. After equalizing the bit stream, the modulator  1027  combines the signal with a RF signal generated in the RF interface  1029 . The modulator  1027  generates a sine wave by way of frequency or phase modulation. In order to prepare the signal for transmission, an up-converter  1031  combines the sine wave output from the modulator  1027  with another sine wave generated by a synthesizer  1033  to achieve the desired frequency of transmission. The signal is then sent through a PA  1019  to increase the signal to an appropriate power level. In practical systems, the PA  1019  acts as a variable gain amplifier whose gain is controlled by the DSP  1005  from information received from a network base station. The signal is then filtered within the duplexer  1021  and optionally sent to an antenna coupler  1035  to match impedances to provide maximum power transfer. Finally, the signal is transmitted via antenna  1017  to a local base station. An automatic gain control (AGC) can be supplied to control the gain of the final stages of the receiver. The signals may be forwarded from there to a remote telephone which may be another cellular telephone, other mobile phone or a land-line connected to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), or other telephony networks. 
     Voice signals transmitted to the mobile terminal  1001  are received via antenna  1017  and immediately amplified by a low noise amplifier (LNA)  1037 . A down-converter  1039  lowers the carrier frequency while the demodulator  1041  strips away the RF leaving only a digital bit stream. The signal then goes through the equalizer  1025  and is processed by the DSP  1005 . A Digital to Analog Converter (DAC)  1043  converts the signal and the resulting output is transmitted to the user through the speaker  1045 , all under control of a Main Control Unit (MCU)  1003 —which can be implemented as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) (not shown). 
     The MCU  1003  receives various signals including input signals from the keyboard  1047 . The keyboard  1047  and/or the MCU  1003  in combination with other user input components (e.g., the microphone  1011 ) comprise a user interface circuitry for managing user input. The MCU  1003  runs a user interface software to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile terminal  1001  to support providing network services through an audio interface unit The MCU  1003  also delivers a display command and a switch command to the display  1007  and to the speech output switching controller, respectively. Further, the MCU  1003  exchanges information with the DSP  1005  and can access an optionally incorporated SIM card  1049  and a memory  1051 . In addition, the MCU  1003  executes various control functions required of the terminal. The DSP  1005  may, depending upon the implementation, perform any of a variety of conventional digital processing functions on the voice signals. Additionally, DSP  1005  determines the background noise level of the local environment from the signals detected by microphone  1011  and sets the gain of microphone  1011  to a level selected to compensate for the natural tendency of the user of the mobile terminal  1001 . 
     The CODEC  1013  includes the ADC  1023  and DAC  1043 . The memory  1051  stores various data including call incoming tone data and is capable of storing other data including music data received via, e.g., the global Internet. The software module could reside in RAM memory, flash memory, registers, or any other form of writable storage medium known in the art. The memory device  1051  may be, but not limited to, a single memory, CD, DVD, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, optical storage, or any other non-volatile storage medium capable of storing digital data. 
     An optionally incorporated SIM card  1049  carries, for instance, important information, such as the cellular phone number, the carrier supplying service, subscription details, and security information. The SIM card  1049  serves primarily to identify the mobile terminal  1001  on a radio network. The card  1049  also contains a memory for storing a personal telephone number registry, text messages, and user specific mobile terminal settings. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with a number of embodiments and implementations, the invention is not so limited but covers various obvious modifications and equivalent arrangements, which fall within the purview of the appended claims. Although features of the invention are expressed in certain combinations among the claims, it is contemplated that these features can be arranged in any combination and order.