Patent Publication Number: US-2006014569-A1

Title: Mobile communication device with adaptive audible user notification

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to mobile communication devices. In particular, the present invention relates to mobile communication devices that provide audible user notifications.  
      2. Background  
      Conventional mobile communication devices are typically capable of providing audible notifications to a user upon the occurrence of an event. For example, conventional mobile phones are configurable to ring upon receipt of an incoming call. A problem with such conventional devices is that it can be difficult to hear the notification when the user is in a noisy environment. For example, it may be difficult to hear a mobile telephone ring in a noisy room or moving vehicle. Likewise, if the communication device is stored inside an enclosure, the notification may be muffled and therefore difficult to hear. For example, it may be difficult to hear a mobile telephone ring if it is stored in a purse or a coat pocket. If the user cannot hear the notification, they may miss telephone calls or other events.  
      Current approaches for solving the above-described problems include providing the mobile communication device with (1) a vibrate mode, (2) a user-configurable notification loudness level, and/or (3) a ring mode in which the loudness is increased with each consecutive ring.  
      A problem with each of the aforementioned approaches is that they require the user to keep track of what environment the mobile communication device is in and to configure the device accordingly. Often, users forget to change the settings on their mobile communication device until after telephone calls or other events have been missed. Furthermore, changing settings on the mobile communication device can be cumbersome.  
      A further problem with the vibrate mode is that it requires the mobile communication device to be in physical contact with the user in order for the vibration of the device to be detected. For example, a vibrating mobile telephone in a coat pocket or purse may not be heard or felt in a noisy environment.  
      An additional problem with a ring mode in which the loudness is increased with each consecutive ring is that, once configured to use that mode, the mobile communication device will ring in that mode regardless of the environment in which it is located. For example, suppose that a user is in a quiet office with the mobile communication device within earshot on a desk, and for some reason does not wish to answer an incoming call. In that instance, the mobile communication device will nevertheless ring with increasing and unnecessary loudness.  
      What is needed then is a mobile communication device that improves upon and addresses the aforementioned shortcomings of conventional mobile communication devices.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed to a mobile communication device, such as a mobile telephone, that provides adaptive audible notifications to user. In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the mobile communication device is adapted to automatically obtain information concerning the environment in which the device is located, such as ambient noise level or whether the device is in an enclosure, and to select an appropriate user notification loudness level based on the obtained information.  
      In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the mobile communication device is adapted to provide a non-audible user notification in addition to or instead of an audible user notification based on the obtained information. The non-audible user notification may comprise a vibration-based user notification or a visible user notification, such as a notification graphic or LED display.  
      Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Such embodiments are presented herein for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES  
      The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant art(s) to make and use the invention.  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a mobile communication device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flowchart of a method for providing adaptive audible user notifications in a mobile communication device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate flowcharts of exemplary alternative methods for using ambient noise level detection to implement adaptive audible user notifications in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart of a method for providing adaptive audible user notifications in a mobile communication device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart of a method for determining whether a mobile communication device is within an enclosure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate flowcharts of exemplary alternative methods for using enclosure checking to implement adaptive audible user notifications in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
    
    
      The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like reference characters identify corresponding elements throughout. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The drawing in which an element first appears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      A. Mobile Communication Device in Accordance with an Embodiment of the Present Invention  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a mobile telephone  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. However, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to mobile telephones, but is generally applicable to any mobile communication device capable of providing audible user notifications, including but not limited to pagers, wireless e-mail devices (such as BlackBerry™ devices), personal digital assistants, Pocket PCs, tablet PCs, laptop computers, and the like.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , mobile telephone  100  includes a number of electrically interconnected components including an antenna  102 , a radio frequency (RF) section  104 , an analog baseband/voiceband coder/decoder (CODEC)  106 , a digital signal processor (DSP) and microprocessor  108 , a speaker  110 , a microphone  112 , a keyboard  114 , a display  116 , a flash memory/read only memory (ROM) and synchronous random access memory (SRAM)  118 , a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card  120 , a power management/DC-DC module  122 , a battery  124 , and a battery charger  126 .  
      Mobile telephone  100  is adapted for standard two-way wireless communication with a base station. The communication functionality of mobile telephone  100  may be thought of as including both a receive path and a transmit path. The receive path begins with the reception of RF signals by antenna  102 . Receiver  128  of RF section  104  filters and downconverts the received RF signals to analog baseband signals for decoding by CODEC  106 . To perform decoding functions, CODEC  106  filters, samples and digitizes the analog baseband signals for processing by the DSP portion of DSP/microcontroller  108 . The DSP is a highly customized processor designed to perform signal manipulation calculations at high speed. Digitized speech information decoded by CODEC  106  is played back to the user via speaker  110 .  
      In the transmit path, analog voice signals are received via microphone  112  and provided to CODEC  106 , which digitizes and encodes the voice signals in accordance with an appropriate encoding scheme. Encoding is carried out in part using the DSP portion of DSP/microcontroller  108 . CODEC  106  further samples and converts the encoded digital speech to analog baseband signals which are then fed to transmitter  130  of RF section  104 . Transmitter  130  filters, upconverts and amplifies the analog baseband signals for transmission via antenna  102 .  
      The user interface of mobile telephone  100  includes a keyboard  114  and display  116 . The microprocessor portion of DSP/microprocessor  108  performs all housekeeping chores for keyboard  114  and display  116 , deals with command and control signaling with the base station, and also coordinates the majority of the remaining functions within mobile telephone  100 .  
      The flash memory/ROM, SRAM memory chips  118  provide storage for the operating system of mobile telephone  100  as well as other customizable features, such as a telephone directory. SIM card  120  stores the user&#39;s subscriber identification number and other network information.  
      Power management/DC-DC module  122  regulates from battery  124  all of the voltages required to power the different sections of mobile telephone  100 . Battery charger  126  provides a means for recharging battery  124  using an external power source.  
      In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, mobile telephone  100  also includes functionality for providing adaptive audible user notifications. In a first embodiment, DSP/microprocessor  108  and microphone  112  are adapted to detect the ambient noise level in the environment surrounding mobile telephone  100  and to adjust the loudness of an audible user notification based on the ambient noise level. In a second embodiment, DSP/microprocessor  108 , speaker  110  and microphone  112  are adapted to determine whether mobile telephone  100  is within an enclosure and to adjust the loudness of an audible user notification based on this determination. As shown in  FIG. 1 , to carry out these functions, speaker  110  and microphone  112  may communicate with DSP/microprocessor  108  via CODEC  106 , or, in an alternative embodiment, via a corresponding direct connections  132  and  134  (shown as dashed lines).  
      In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, DSP/microprocessor  108  and microphone  112  are adapted to detect the ambient noise level in the environment surrounding mobile telephone  100  and to provide a non-audible user notification in addition to or instead of an audible user notification, based on the ambient noise level. The non-audible user notification may comprise, for example, a vibration-based user notification or a visible user notification such as a notification graphic or LED display provided by display  116 .  
      Each of the aforementioned embodiments will now be described in more detail.  
      B. Adaptive Audible User Notifications Using Ambient Noise Level Detection in Accordance with an Embodiment of the Present Invention  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flowchart  200  of a method for providing adaptive audible user notifications in a mobile communication device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The invention, however, is not limited to the description provided by the flowchart  200 . Rather, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) from the teachings provided herein that other functional flows are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Flowchart  200  will be described with continued reference to example mobile telephone  100  described above in reference to  FIG. 1 . The invention, however, is not limited to that embodiment.  
      The method of flowchart  200  is initiated at step  202 . At step  204 , mobile telephone  100  uses its microphone  112  to detect the ambient noise level of the environment in which mobile telephone  100  is currently located. At step  206 , DSP and/or microprocessor  108  within mobile telephone  100  analyzes the ambient noise level and adjusts the loudness of an audible user notification based on the ambient noise level. For example, the DSP and/or microprocessor  108  may adjust the ring loudness based on the ambient noise level. Thus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, as the ambient noise level around the telephone increases, the loudness of the ring is increased accordingly.  
      It should be noted that, although the description provided herein describes adjusting the loudness of an audible user notification based on the ambient noise level, it is possible that a current loudness setting is already appropriate for the ambient noise level. In this instance, an embodiment of the invention will not adjust the loudness level.  
      In one implementation, a variety of environments are tested to determine what ring loudness allows the phone to be heard at various ambient noise levels. A look-up table is then programmed into the mobile phone  100  correlating ambient noise levels to an appropriate ring loudness. The DSP and/or microprocessor  108  accesses the look-up table and uses the determined ambient noise level to select a corresponding ring loudness. The look-up table may be stored in flash memory/ROM, SRAM  118  or other suitable memory coupled to DSP/microprocessor  108 .  
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate flowcharts of exemplary alternative methods for using ambient noise level detection to implement adaptive audible user notifications in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In particular, the flowchart of  FIG. 3  illustrates a method in which the ambient noise level is detected and the loudness of the audible user notification is adjusted periodically while  FIG. 4  illustrates a method in which the ambient noise level is detected and the loudness of the audible user notification is adjusted only when an event occurs.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the method of flowchart  300  is initiated at step  302 . At step  304 , mobile telephone  100  uses its microphone  112  to detect the ambient noise level of the environment in which mobile telephone  100  is currently located. At step  306 , DSP and/or microprocessor  108  within mobile telephone  100  analyzes the ambient noise level and adjusts the loudness of an audible user notification based on the ambient noise level.  
      At decision step  308 , mobile telephone  100  determines if an event has occurred. For example, mobile telephone  100  may determine if a telephone call has been received. If no event has occurred, then after a predetermined amount of time steps  304  and  306  are repeated to readjust the loudness of the audible user notification to correspond to the noise level of the environment in which mobile telephone  100  is currently located. Thus, the loudness level of the audible user notification is periodically adjusted to account for changing ambient noise conditions. When an event occurs, mobile telephone  100  provides the user with an audible user notification at the most recently adjusted loudness level.  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , the method of flowchart  400  is initiated at step  402 . At decision step  404 , mobile telephone  100  determines if an event has occurred. For example, mobile telephone  100  may determine if a telephone call has been received. If no event has occurred, then mobile telephone  100  continues to wait for an event to occur, as illustrated by the “no” path extending from decision step  404 .  
      As shown at step  406 , if an event has occurred, then mobile telephone  100  uses its microphone  112  to detect the ambient noise level of the environment in which mobile telephone  100  is currently located. At step  408 , DSP and/or microprocessor  108  within mobile telephone  100  analyzes the ambient noise level and adjusts the loudness of an audible user notification based on the ambient noise level. At step  410 , mobile telephone  100  provides the user with an audible user notification at the adjusted loudness level. Thus, in accordance with this embodiment, the loudness level of the audible user notification is adjusted only when an event occurs.  
      In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, mobile telephone  100  uses its microphone  112  to detect the ambient noise level of the environment in which mobile telephone  100  is currently located. The DSP and/or microprocessor  108  within mobile telephone  100  then analyzes the ambient noise level and, if the ambient noise level is determined to be above a predefined level, configures mobile telephone  100  to provide a non-audible user notification. The non-audible user notification may comprise, for example, a vibration-based user notification or a visible user notification such as a notification graphic or LED display provided by display  116 .  
      The non-audible user notification may be provided instead of or in addition to a standard audible user notification or in addition to an adaptive audible user notification, the generation of which has been described in detail elsewhere herein. By also providing adaptive non-audible user notifications, an embodiment of the present invention provides additional feedback to ensure that a user does not miss events occurring on mobile telephone  100 , or on any mobile communication device. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, when a user of mobile telephone  100  enters a noisy environment, mobile telephone  100  will automatically configure itself to provide a louder ring and to also vibrate upon the occurrence of a user event to account for the ambient noise level.  
      C. Adaptive Audible User Notifications Using Enclosure Checking in Accordance with an Embodiment of the Present Invention  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart  500  of a method for providing adaptive audible user notifications in a mobile communication device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The invention, however, is not limited to the description provided by the flowchart  500 . Rather, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) from the teachings provided herein that other functional flows are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Flowchart  500  will be described with continued reference to example mobile telephone  100  described above in reference to  FIG. 1 . The invention, however, is not limited to that embodiment.  
      The method of flowchart  500  is initiated at step  502 . At step  504 , mobile telephone  100  determines if it is within an enclosure. At step  506 , DSP and/or microprocessor  108  within mobile telephone  100  adjusts the loudness of an audible user notification based on the determination of whether the device is within an enclosure. For example, DSP and/or microprocessor  108  may adjust the ring loudness based on the determination of whether it is within an enclosure. Thus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, if the device is confined within an enclosure such as a purse or a coat pocket, the loudness of the ring is increased accordingly.  
      It should be noted that, although the description provided herein describes adjusting the loudness of an audible user notification based on a determination of whether mobile telephone  100  is within an enclosure, it is possible that a current loudness setting is already appropriate for the environment in which mobile telephone  100  is located. In this instance, an embodiment of the invention will not adjust the loudness level.  
      The flowchart  600  of  FIG. 6  illustrates one method for determining whether mobile telephone  100  is within an enclosure, although the invention is not limited to this technique.  
      As shown in  FIG. 6 , the method of flowchart  600  is initiated at step  602 . At step  604 , mobile telephone  100  transmits a test tone through speaker  110 . At step  606 , mobile telephone  100  uses microphone  112  to receive a sound return corresponding to the test tone. At step  608 , DSP and/or microprocessor  108  within mobile telephone  100  analyzes the timing and/or strength of the sound return to estimate a distance that the sound has traveled. As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the relevant art(s), any of a variety of well-known techniques for measuring distance using the timing and/or strength of a sound return may be used.  
      At step  610 , DSP and/or microprocessor  108  compares the measured distance to a predefined distance to determine whether mobile telephone  100  is within an enclosure. For example, in an embodiment, DSP and/or microprocessor  108  determines that mobile telephone  100  is within an enclosure if the measured distance is less than a certain predefined distance.  
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate flowcharts of exemplary alternative methods for using enclosure checking to implement adaptive audible user notifications in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In particular,  FIG. 7  illustrates a method in which enclosure checking is performed and the loudness of the audible user notification is adjusted periodically while  FIG. 8  illustrates a method in which enclosure checking is performed and the loudness of the audible user notification is adjusted only when an event occurs.  
      As shown in  FIG. 7 , the method of flowchart  700  is initiated at step  702 . At step  704 , mobile telephone  100  determines if it is within an enclosure. This may be performed, for example, by transmitting a test tone and measuring a distance based on the timing and/or strength of a sound return corresponding to the test tone as discussed above in reference to  FIG. 6 . At step  706 , DSP and/or microprocessor  108  adjusts the loudness of an audible user notification based on the determination of whether mobile telephone  100  is within an enclosure.  
      At decision step  708 , mobile telephone  100  determines if an event has occurred. For example, mobile telephone  100  may determine if a telephone call has been received. If no event has occurred, then after a predetermined amount of time steps  704  and  706  are repeated to readjust the loudness of the audible user notification to correspond to the environment in which mobile telephone  100  is currently located. Thus, the loudness level of the audible user notification is periodically adjusted to account for changes to the location of the device, such as insertion into or removal from an enclosure. When an event occurs, mobile telephone  100  provides the user with an audible user notification at the most recently adjusted loudness level.  
      As shown in  FIG. 8 , the method of flowchart  800  is initiated at step  802 . At decision step  804 , mobile telephone  100  determines if an event has occurred. For example, mobile telephone  100  may determine if a telephone call has been received. If no event has occurred, then mobile telephone  100  continues to wait for an event to occur, as illustrated by the “no” path extending from decision step  804 .  
      As shown at step  806 , if an event has occurred, then mobile telephone  100  determines if it is within an enclosure. This may be performed, for example, by transmitting a test tone and measuring a distance based on the timing and/or strength of a sound return corresponding to the test tone as discussed above in reference to  FIG. 6 . At step  808 , DSP and/or microprocessor  108  within mobile telephone  100  adjusts the loudness of an audible user notification based on the determination of whether mobile telephone  100  is within an enclosure. At step  810 , mobile telephone  100  provides the user with an audible user notification at the adjusted loudness level. Thus, in accordance with this embodiment, the loudness level of the audible user notification is adjusted only when an event occurs.  
      In an alternate embodiment of the method shown in flowchart  800 , the first ring of the audible user notification is also used as the test tone. Thus, in accordance with this embodiment, the steps of enclosure checking and loudness adjustment are performed contemporaneously with providing the audible user notification, such that the loudness level of the audible user notification may increase or decrease as the notification is being provided to the user.  
     D. CONCLUSION  
      While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. For example, although embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to mobile telephones, the present invention is not limited to mobile telephones but is generally applicable to any mobile communication device capable of providing audible user notifications, including but not limited to pagers, wireless e-mail devices (such as BlackBerry™ devices), personal digital assistants, Pocket PCs, tablet PCs, laptop computers, and the like.  
      Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to any particular type of audible user notification, such as the ring notification typically associated within an incoming telephone call, but is broad enough to encompass any notification capable of being heard by a user. Additionally, the present invention is not limited to a particular type of event, such as an incoming phone call, but is broad enough to encompass any type of event about which a user may wish to be notified, including but not limited to incoming pages, e-mails, news alerts, instant messages, and the like.  
      Thus, it will be understood by those skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.