Patent ID: 8243961

Claim:
A method comprising: determining a first orientation of a mobile computing device, wherein the mobile computing device comprises a first microphone-speaker system and a second microphone-speaker system that each provide microphone and speaker capabilities, wherein determining the first orientation of the mobile computing device comprises: obtaining physical orientation information from a physical orientation detection sensor of the mobile computing device; determining a physical orientation of the mobile computing device based on the physical orientation information obtained from the physical orientation detection sensor; enabling the first microphone-speaker system to operate as a microphone, wherein enabling the first microphone-speaker system to operate as a microphone allows the mobile computing device to process audio input received from the first microphone-speaker system, and disallows the first microphone-speaker system to provide audio output; enabling the second microphone-speaker system to operate as a microphone, wherein enabling the second microphone-speaker system to operate as a microphone allows the mobile computing device to process audio input received from the second microphone-speaker system, and disallows the second microphone-speaker system to provide audio output; detecting, by the first microphone-speaker system enabled to operate as a microphone, a first voice volume level; detecting, by the second microphone-speaker system enabled to operate as a microphone, a second voice volume level; comparing the first voice volume level and the second voice volume level; determining an orientation of the mobile computing device with respect to a user based on the comparison of the first voice volume level and the second voice volume level; determining, based on the physical orientation information obtained from the physical orientation detection sensor, that the determined physical orientation of the mobile computing device is less reliable than the determined orientation of the mobile computing device with respect to the user; and determining the first orientation of the mobile computing device based on the determined orientation of the mobile computing device with respect to the user; and enabling, by the mobile computing device, the first microphone-speaker system to operate as a speaker device responsive to and based on the determined first orientation, wherein enabling the first microphone-speaker system to operate as a speaker device allows the first microphone-speaker system to provide audio output and disallows the mobile computing device to process audio input received from the first microphone-speaker system.