Patent ID: 8798277

Claim:
One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, cause an auditory communications device to perform a method of indicating that a speaker's voice will not be communicated, the method comprising: determining that the auditory communications device is in a mute status, which prevents a user of the auditory communications device from being heard when attempting to speak through the auditory communications device; presenting a first indication of the mute status in response to the determining that the auditory communications device is in the mute status; determining that the user is attempting to provide input to the auditory communications device by determining that the user is within a first threshold proximity of a designated component of the auditory communications device; presenting a second indication of the mute status in response to the determining that the user is attempting to provide input to the auditory communications device by determining that the user is within the first threshold proximity of the designated component of the auditory communications device; determining that the user meets a threshold volume of voice input and is within a second threshold proximity that is less than the first threshold proximity of the designated component of the auditory communications device; and presenting a third indication of the mute status in response to the determining that the user meets the threshold volume of voice input and is within the second threshold proximity of the designated component.