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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
This invention describes a mobile phone with a means of measuring
a background sound level of an environment. When a user either initiates
or receives a phone call, sound levels before and during the call
are compared. Once it is decided that the voice is too loud based
on a predetermined criteria, the phone gives the user a feedback
indicating that the voice is too loud and potentially a disruption
to other people. Furthermore, the present invention provides a feedback
for a voice adjustment by utilizing a sidetone adaptive signal that
filters the user own speech directly to an earpiece.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A mobile phone, comprising: a sound level comparator, responsive
to a background sound level signal having a magnitude indicative
of a background sound level and to a voice sound level signal having
a magnitude indicative of a voice sound level, for providing a voice
level warning signal if the voice sound level in comparison with
the background sound level using a predetermined criterion is not
acceptable; and a warning voice level module, responsive to the
voice level warning signal, for providing a voice level warning,
wherein said sound level comparator is further configured to provide
a background sidetone adjustment signal to a sidetone amplifier
for providing an amplified sidetone adaptive signal.
2. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the voice level warning
is a visual warning.
3. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the voice level warning
is an audio warning.
4. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the voice level warning
is a tactile warning.
5. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising a sound level
meter, responsive to the background sound level and to the voice
sound level of the user, for providing the background sound level
signal and the voice sound level signal.
6. The mobile phone of claim 5, wherein the sound level meter comprises
a further microphone, configured to provide a background meter signal
having a magnitude indicative of the background sound level and
a voice sound signal having a magnitude indicative of the voice
sound level to the sound level meter.
7. The mobile phone of claim 5, further comprising a microphone,
for providing a background meter signal having a magnitude indicative
of the background sound level and a voice sound signal having a
magnitude indicative of the voice sound level to the sound level
meter.
8. The mobile phone of claim 5, further comprising an amplifier,
responsive to a microphone voice signal from the microphone, to
a background sound level adjustment signal from the sound level
comparator and to an amplifier adjustment signal, for providing
a further electronic sound signal and a sidetone adaptive signal
during a phone call.
9. The mobile phone of claim 8, further comprising a sidetone amplifier,
responsive to the sidetone adaptive signal, to said background sidetone
adjustment signal from the sound level comparator and to a further
voice adjustment on/off signal, configured to provide an amplified
sidetone adaptive signal.
10. The mobile phone of claim 9, further comprising an earpiece,
responsive to the amplified sidetone adaptive signal and to a voice
signal from a further device received through a normal mobile phone
communication channel, for providing a sidetone sound audio signal
and a voice sound audio signal from the further device.
11. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising a sound profile
switch, responsive to a sound profile command signal, for providing
an amplifier adjustment signal.
12. The mobile phone of claim 11, wherein the sound profile switch
further configured to provide a sidetone adjustment signal.
13. The mobile phone of claim 11, further comprising a ring adjustment
means, responsive to a ring adjustment signal from the sound profile
switch.
14. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising a voice adjustment
on/off switch, responsive to a voice adjustment on/off command signal,
for providing a further voice adjustment on/off signal to a sidetone
amplifier.
15. The mobile phone of claim 14, wherein the voice adjustment
on/off switch further configured to provide a voice adjustment on/off
signal to the sound level comparator.
16. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein both the voice sound level
signal and the background sound level signal are provided for a
selected acoustic frequency range, said frequency range chosen for
the best speech illegibility.
17. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the sound level comparator
is responsive to the background sound level signal before a phone
call and to the background sound level signal combined with the
voice level signal during the phone call.
18. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the sound level comparator
configured to provide a background sound level adjustment signal
to an amplifier.
19. The mobile phone of claim 18, wherein the sound level comparator
further configured to provide a background sidetone adjustment signal
to a sidetone amplifier.
20. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the sound level comparator
is responsive to a voice adjustment on/off signal from a voice adjustment
on/off switch.
21. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising a sound level
meter, responsive to the background sound level before a phone call
and to the background sound level combined with the voice sound
level during the phone call, for providing the background sound
level signal before the phone call and the background sound level
signal combined with the voice sound level signal during the phone
call.
22. A method for use in a mobile phone, comprising: comparing by
a sound level comparator a background sound level signal having
a magnitude indicative of a background sound level and to a voice
sound level signal having a magnitude indicative of a voice sound
level of the mobile phone and determining if the voice sound level
is acceptable in comparison with the background sound level using
a predetermined criterion; providing a voice level warning if the
comparison is not acceptable using the predetermined criterion;
and providing by the sound level comparator a background sidetone
adjustment signal to a sidetone amplifier for providing an amplified
sidetone adaptive signal.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising: measuring the background
sound level by the sound level meter and storing an average background
sound level signal by a sound level comparator, said averaging is
over the background sound level signal and a predetermined number
of the previously measured background sound level signals.
24. The method of claim 22, further comprising: providing a background
sound level adjustment signal to an amplifier.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising: providing by said
amplifier a sidetone adaptive signal to the sidetone amplifier during
the phone call; providing said amplified sidetone adaptive signal
by said sidetone amplifier in response to said sidetone adaptive
signal and to said background sidetone adjustment signal; and providing,
by an earpiece in response to said amplified sidetone adaptive signal,
a sidetone sound audio signal for providing said sidetone feedback.
26. A mobile phone, comprising: means for comparing a background
sound level signal having a magnitude indicative of a background
sound level and to a voice sound level signal having a magnitude
indicative of a voice sound level and determining if the voice sound
level is acceptable in comparison with the background sound level
using a predetermined criterion; means for providing a voice level
warning to the user if the comparison is not acceptable using the
predetermined criterion; and means for providing a background sidetone
adjustment signal to a sidetone amplifier for providing an amplified
sidetone adaptive signal.
27. The mobile phone of claim 26, wherein said means for comparing
the background sound level and said means for providing the background
sidetone adjustment signal are comprised in a sound level comparator.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to improving mobile phone etiquette
and more specifically, to utilizing a means to detect the environment's
sound level, adapt a mobile phone for operation in that environment
and provide a feedback to a user if the voice level is inappropriate
for the social environment the user is in.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The primary function of a mobile phone is social: to enable the
phone owner to communicate with other people. At the same time,
though, using a mobile phone can be profoundly anti-social, especially
to people in the immediate vicinity of a phone user. In restaurants,
theatres and museums, on trains, or even standing in the supermarket
checkout queue, there is no escape from chirping and bleeping phones,
or from the sometimes seemingly inane conversations of their owners.
Furthermore, in certain social settings, it is not appropriate to
speak loudly when receiving or sending calls, for instance at a
funeral, in a movie theatre, a business meeting, or a library. However,
users do continue to allow their phones to ring audibly, and answer
them. Often this behavior is not acceptable to other people in the
vicinity. Mobile phone profiles are provided to allow users to set
the phone to a mode such as "Meeting" or "Silent",
where the ring will be attenuated or even silenced. However, having
accepted a call, the user may converse normally (even loudly), thereby
potentially offending other people in the vicinity.
Law enforcement and public campaigns can be effective when the
user is ignorant of the anti-social consequences of the phone call.
In reality, many people are already aware that a phone call in a
public space can disturb others and in most cases they try to conform
to a situation; the bigger problem is that the voice level increases
due to other reasons, and the user is unaware of it. As the user
tries to concentrate on the conversation with a person who does
not share the same environment, the volume of his/her voice often
becomes louder. It is particularly the case when the user is unfamiliar
with electronics or has a sense of unreliability in mobile phones
(as compared with fixed phones); they feel that their voice will
be heard better if they speak loud. As a whole, such a consideration
to "be heard on the other end" can be also cognitively
demanding, as it takes so much attention from the user. The user
can easily ignore the environment, environmental changes, and the
surrounding people. For instance, the caller might not notice that
the voice that was at an appropriate level on a station platform
may be suddenly found too loud when stepping into a train compartment.
The issue is raised often in an urban society where people are
densely populated and spending most of the time next to someone
else, mostly strangers. In Japan, where both social etiquette and
mobile phones are taken very seriously, train and metro companies
make an announcement in compartments to turn the silent mode on.
However, this type of solution is unenforceable and by far is not
enough to solve the problem. More comprehensive solutions are described
below.
Solution 1. Installation of a profile switcher: in Korea, the government
performed trials for two kinds of devices that can be installed
in places where silence is required: a device that blocks the network,
and another device that changes the phone profile to silent mode
automatically. The network-blocking device was found to be illegal,
therefore, the profile-switching device will most likely be the
device used. However, this solution is highly dependent on the infrastructure.
It requires a device that automatically changes the profile to the
corresponding mobile phones. If the user does not have a specified
mobile phone or goes out from the range of the device, the situation
cannot be fixed.
Solution 2. Social Mobiles (SoMo) Concept (IDEO): IDEO has designed
a prototype "social mobile" which has the intent of modifying
the user's behavior to make it less disruptive. The concept, called
SoMo1, gives its user a mild electric shock, depending on how loud
the person at the other end is speaking. This encourages both parties
to speak more quietly; otherwise the mild tingling becomes an unpleasant
jolt. Although the SoMo1 concept does consider the caller's voice
level, it is only effective between callers on the phone. The concept
does not consider how the other people around the caller find the
voice level.
Solution 3. Mobile phone profiles are provided to allow users to
set the phone to a mode such as "Meeting" or "Silent",
where the ring will be attenuated or even silenced. However, having
accepted a call, the user may converse normally (even loudly), thereby
potentially offending other people in the vicinity.
None of the solutions described above are adequate. It is desirable
to find an alternative solution, which will not require additional
infrastructure and which will give the user a chance to notice their
misbehavior by themselves before they are pointed out by a third
party. Such a solution is disclosed in the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a voice adaptation
in mobile phones used in socially sensitive environment.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a mobile
phone comprises a sound level comparator, responsive to a background
sound level signal having a magnitude indicative of a background
sound level and to a voice sound level signal having a magnitude
indicative of a voice sound level of a user of the mobile phone,
for providing a voice level warning signal if the voice sound level
in comparison with the background sound level based on a predetermined
criteria is not acceptable; and a warning voice level means, responsive
to the voice level warning signal, for providing a voice level warning
perceptible to the user.
In further accord with the first aspect of the invention the voice
level warning may be a visual warning, an audio warning, a tactile
warning or any combination thereof.
Still according to the first aspect of the invention, the mobile
phone further comprises a sound level meter, responsive to the background
sound level and to the voice sound level of the user, for providing
the background sound level signal and the voice sound level signal.
According still further to the first aspect of the invention, the
sound level meter comprises a further microphone, for providing
a background meter signal having a magnitude indicative of the background
sound level and a voice sound signal having a magnitude indicative
of the voice sound level of the user to the sound level meter.
Still further according to the first aspect of the invention, the
mobile phone having the sound level meter, further comprises a microphone,
for providing a background meter signal having a magnitude indicative
of the background sound level and a voice sound signal having a
magnitude indicative of the voice sound level of the user to the
sound level meter.
Further still according to the first aspect of the invention, the
mobile phone having the sound level meter, further comprises an
amplifier, responsive to a microphone voice signal from the microphone,
to a background sound level adjustment signal from the sound level
comparator and to an amplifier adjustment signal, for providing
a further electronic sound signal and a sidetone adaptive signal
during a phone call.
In further accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the
mobile phone having the amplifier, further comprises a sidetone
amplifier, responsive to the sidetone adaptive signal, to a background
sidetone adjustment signal from the sound level comparator and to
a further voice adjustment on/off signal, for providing an amplified
sidetone adaptive signal.
Yet further still according to the first aspect of the invention,
the mobile phone having the sidetone amplifier, further comprises
an earpiece, responsive to the amplified sidetone adaptive signal
and to a voice signal from a further user received through a normal
mobile phone communication channel, for providing a sidetone sound
audio signal and a voice sound audio signal from the further user
to the user.
According further to the first aspect of the invention, the mobile
phone further comprises a sound profile switch, responsive to a
sound profile command signal from the user, for providing an amplifier
adjustment signal.
According still further to the first aspect of the invention, the
mobile phone further comprises a sound profile switch, responsive
to a sound profile command signal from the user, for providing an
amplifier adjustment signal and a sidetone adjustment signal.
According yet further to the first aspect of the invention, the
mobile phone having a sound profile switch, further comprises a
ring adjustment means, responsive to the ring adjustment signal
from the sound profile switch.
Further still according to the first aspect of the invention, the
mobile phone further comprises a voice adjustment on/off switch,
responsive to a voice adjustment on/off command signal, for providing
a voice adjustment on/off signal to the sound level comparator and/or
a further voice adjustment on/off signal to a sidetone amplifier.
Yet still further according to the first aspect of the invention,
both the voice sound level signal and the background sound level
signal are provided for a selected acoustic frequency range, said
frequency range chosen for the best speech illegibility.
Still further according to the first aspect of the invention, the
sound level comparator is responsive to the background sound level
signal before the phone call and to the background sound level signal
combined with the voice level signal during the phone call responded
to or initiated by the user.
Yet further still according to the first aspect of the invention,
the mobile phone further comprises a sound level meter, responsive
to the background sound level before a phone call and to the background
sound level combined with the voice sound level during the phone
call, for providing the background sound level signal before the
phone call and the background sound level signal combined with the
voice sound level signal during the phone call.
According to a second aspect of the invention, a method for use
in a mobile phone comprises the steps of: comparing a background
sound level signal having a magnitude indicative of a background
sound level and to a voice sound level signal having a magnitude
indicative of a voice sound level of a user of the mobile phone
and determining if the voice sound level is acceptable in comparison
with the background sound level based on a predetermined criteria;
and providing a voice level warning to the user if the comparison
is not acceptable based on the predetermined criteria.
According further to the second aspect of the invention, the method
further comprises the step of measuring the background sound level
by the sound level meter and storing an average background sound
level signal by a sound level comparator, said averaging is over
the background sound level signal and a predetermined number of
the previously measured background sound level signals.
Further according to the second aspect of the invention, the method
further comprises the step of providing a background sound level
adjustment signal to an amplifier and a background sidetone adjustment
signal to a sidetone amplifier by the sound level comparator.
Still further according to the second aspect of the invention,
the method further comprises the steps of: coupling a sidetone adaptive
signal to an earpiece during the phone call; and providing a sidetone
sound audio signal to the user.
Further still in accordance with the second aspect of the invention,
the method further comprises the steps of: coupling a sidetone adaptive
signal to an earpiece during the phone call; and providing a sidetone
sound audio signal to the user by providing a sidetone adaptive
signal to the earpiece from the amplifier through the sidetone amplifier.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present
invention, reference is made to the following detailed description
taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing major features of a mobile
phone, according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating mobile phone performance, according
to the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The present invention utilizes a mobile phone enhanced with a means
of checking a sound level of an environment, such as a sound level
meter. The system periodically checks the sound level in the user's
environment. When a user either initiates or receives a phone call,
sound levels before and/or during the call are compared. Once the
sound level meter detects the voice being too loud, the phone gives
the user feedback indicating that the voice is too loud and potentially
a disruption to the others. Furthermore, the present invention provides
feedback for a user's voice adjustment by utilizing a sidetone adaptive
signal that filters the user's own speech directly to an earpiece:
if the sidetone is too loud, the user will speak more quietly, if
it is too quiet, the user will speak more loudly.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing major features of a mobile
phone 10, according to the present invention. A sound level meter
(SLM) 16 measures a background sound level periodically with a predetermined
time interval and a voice sound level during a phone call initiated
or received by a user 12 of the mobile phone 10, providing a background
sound level signal and a voice sound level signal on a line 17 to
a sound level comparator 22. The sound level meter 16 can utilize
a microphone 14 to provide an input signal on a line 15, i.e. a
background meter signal having a magnitude indicative of the background
sound level 8 and a voice sound meter signal having a magnitude
indicative of a voice sound level 9 of the user 12, for generating
the background sound level signal and the voice sound level signal
and forwarding these signals on the line 17 to the sound level comparator
22. Alternatively, the sound level meter 16 can utilize an input
signal from a further microphone 16a responsive to the background
sound level and to the voice sound level of the user 12. It is preferred,
according to the present invention, that if the further microphone
16a is used, then the distance between the further microphone 16a
and an origin of a voice (e.g. user's mouth) should be approximately
the same as the distance between the microphone 14 and the origin
of the voice of the user 12. Preferably, both the voice sound level
signal and the background sound level signal are provided for a
selected acoustic frequency range, which should be chosen for the
best speech intelligibility.
The sound level comparator 22 receives the background sound level
signal (BSLS) on the line 17 from the sound level meter 16, calculates
and stores the average BSLS based on the received BSLS and on a
predetermined number of the previously received and stored BSLSs.
According to the present invention, the BSLSs can be received by
the sound level comparator 22 preferably before the phone call,
which does not exclude other options, such as receiving BSLS during
dialing or ringing or even during the call. After receiving the
subsequent BSLS, the average BSLS stored in the sound level comparator
22 is updated. The sound level comparator 22 evaluates the BSLS
using a predetermined background criteria and forwards a background
sound level adjustment signal (BSLAS) on a line 23 to an amplifier
20 based on that evaluation. The BSLAS changes the gain of the amplifier
20, which processes a microphone voice signal provided on a line
23a by the microphone 14 having a magnitude indicative of a voice
sound level originated by the user 12. Changing the gain of the
amplifier 20 based on the background sound level is an important
concept of this invention for providing a voice level adjustment:
for example, by increasing the gain of the amplifier 20, the user
12, having a phone conversation with a further user through a normal
mobile phone communication channel, can speak in a quiet voice and
still be heard by the further user. Similarly, based on the predetermined
background criteria, the sound level comparator 22 provides a background
sidetone adjustment signal 23b to a sidetone amplifier 26, which
is discussed in detail below.
During the phone call, the sound level comparator 22 receives a
combined signal on the line 17 of the voice sound level signal (VSLS)
and the BSLS from the sound level meter 16. The sound level comparator
22 evaluates if the voice sound level is acceptable in comparison
with the background sound level based on a predetermined criteria.
Various criteria for the comparison can be used by the sound level
comparator 22. For example, the background portion of the combined
VSLS and BSLS can be eliminated by subtracting the average BSLS
stored in the sound level comparator 22 from the combined signal,
and then comparing a resulting difference with the average BSLS
using a predetermined criteria. If the criteria is not satisfied
the sound level comparator 22 provides a voice level warning signal
(VLWS) on a line 24a to a warning voice level means 24.
The warning voice level means 24 provides a voice level warning
(VLW) signal on a line 24b perceptible to the user 12 based on the
received VLWS. A type of the voice level warning signal can be audio,
tactile, visual or any combination thereof. The VLW can contain
qualitative information. For example, the VLW can be made in different
levels, such as precaution (voice is increasing), warning (voice
may be loud), and alert (voice is clearly too loud). The VLW can
also contain quantitative information (e.g., voice is loud by a
certain measurable amount). Audio feedback can be optimal as it
can have direct feedback to the user's handset speaker.
Another important feature of the present invention is a method
for providing feedback for subjectively adjusting the user voice
level by utilizing a sidetone adaptive signal 25 that filters the
user's own speech directly to an earpiece 18 during the phone call.
The fundamental difference with prior art utilizing a sidetone signal
is that the sidetone adaptive signal 25 is adjusted based on the
background sound level 8 and a position of a sound profile switch
30 whereas prior art does not teach that adjustment feature. The
adjustment can be implemented by providing the background sidetone
adjustment signal 23b (as discussed above) and a sidetone adjustment
signal 30b (as discussed below) to the sidetone amplifier 26. If
the sidetone adaptive signal 25 is provided by the amplifier 20
as discussed below, a further adjustment of the sidetone adaptive
signal 25 can be facilitated by providing the background amplifier
adjustment signal 23 (as discussed above) and an amplifier adjustment
signal 30a (as discussed below) to the amplifier 20. Thus, the overall
concept is to couple the adaptive sidetone adaptive signal to the
earpiece 18. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. One preferred
way described here is to amplify a sidetone adaptive signal provided
by the amplifier 20. The sidetone amplifier 26 amplifies the sidetone
adaptive signal provided on a line 25 from the amplifier 20. The
sidetone amplifier 26 amplifies the sidetone adaptive signal and
forwards the amplified sidetone adaptive signal on a line 27 to
the earpiece 18. The earpiece 18 provides both a sidetone sound
audio signal (SSAS) and a voice sound audio signal (VSAS) from the
further user on a line 29 to the user 12. The VSAS from the further
user is generated by the earpiece 18 in response to a voice sound
signal (VSS) from the further user during a phone call, said VSS
is provided through a normal mobile phone communication channel.
Then if the SSAS is too loud so that the user 12 hears his/her own
voice excessively and/or it is too loud compared to the VSAS of
the further user, the user 12 will speak more quietly, if the SSAS
is too quite so that the user 12 cannot or can hardly hear his/her
own voice and/or it is too quite compared to the VSAS of the further
user, the user 12 will speak more loudly.
The important feature disclosed in the present invention is a gain
adjustment of the sidetone amplifier 26 as a function of the background
sound level using a background sidetone adjustment signal 23b from
the sound level comparator 22, which is implemented using the same
predetermined criteria as for the BSLAS on the line 23, described
above. Changing the gain of the sidetone amplifier 26 based on the
background sound level is an important concept of this invention
for providing a sidetone adjustment: for example, increasing the
gain of the amplifier 26 will make the sidetone adaptive signal
perceptible by the user 12 louder. The sidetone adaptive level also
can be changed by responding to an external signal. The application
can be that the user 12 goes to an art gallery, where a local signal
at the entrance and exit (such as Bluetooth or WLAN) can inform
the phone to switch to a higher sidetone level on entering (e.g.,
by adjusting the gain of the amplifiers 26 and/or 20), and switch
back on exiting. This switch can be implemented as a part of a sound
profile switch 30, operation of which is described below in detail.
There are other important features shown in FIG. 1. These features
include a voice adjustment on/off switch 28 and the sound profile
switch. 30. The voice adjustment on/off switch 28 can be used to
activate or deactivate the voice adjustment system described in
this invention. For example, if the user is at home or somewhere
private where there is no need to be concerned with the environment,
the voice adjustment on/off switch 28 can be switched to an "off"
position using a voice adjustment command signal on a line 28a from
the user 12. This may be actuated by a mechanical switch, a voice,
an icon, etc. Then the voice adjustment on/off switch 28 provides
the voice adjustment off signal on a line 28b to the sound level
comparator 22 and the further voice adjustment off signal on a line
28c to the sidetone amplifier 26. Another option is to deactivate
only a sidetone feature (deactivate the sidetone amplifier 26),
so the voice adjustment on/off switch 28 can have two "off"
positions: one position deactivating only the sidetone feature,
and the other position deactivating both features (deactivating
the sound level comparator 22 and the sidetone amplifier 26).
Another important feature is associated with the sound profile
switch 30. Depending on the environment, the user 12 can provide
a sound profile command signal on a line 31 to adjust, activate
or deactivate a number of parameters. One adjustment signal on a
line 32a can be applied to a ring adjustment means 32 to control
the sound level of the ring (e.g., adjust the amplitude, activate
or deactivate). Other important adjustment signals on lines 30a
and 30b can be used for setting the gain of the amplifier 20 and
the gain of the sidetone amplifier 26, respectively, appropriate
for a particular environment. For example, if the user 12 sets the
phone to a "silent" mode, the system can assume that the
user is in a place where one needs some consideration to the sound,
and the gains of the amplifier 20 and the sidetone amplifier 26
are adjusted appropriately to facilitate more sensitive transmission,
so that the user 12 can speak in a more quiet voice. The command
signal on the line 31 may take a form of a multi-position switch
mechanically actuated, it could be a voice or an icon command, or
a continuous gain adjustment can be provided to the amplifiers 20
and 26 on the lines 30a and 30b, respectively, using, for example,
a continuously adjusted potentiometer incorporated within the sound
profile switch 30.
FIG. 2 shows a flow chart illustrating a mobile phone performance.
In a method according to the present invention, in one possible
scenario, in a first step 40, the sound level meter (SLM) 16 (FIG.
1) measures the background sound and provides the background sound
level signal (BSLS) to the sound level comparator (SLC) 22 (FIG.
1). In a next step 42, the sound level comparator 22 calculates
and stores the average BSLS based on the received and predetermined
number of the previously measured BSLSs. In a next step 44, the
sound level comparator 22 provides the background sound level adjustment
signal (BSLAS) to an amplifier 20 based on the predetermined background
criteria. In a next step 45, it is ascertained whether the user
12 has received or initiated the phone call. As long as that is
not the case, the process returns to step 40. If the user 12 has
received or initiated a phone call, the process continues to steps
46 and 52, which initiate two sequences taking place in parallel.
In a step 46, the sound level meter 16 provides VSLS combined with
BSLS to the sound level comparator 24. In a next step 48, the sound
level comparator 22 compares VSLS with BSLS based on the predetermined
criteria. In a next step 49, it is ascertained whether the comparison
performed in step 48 is acceptable. As long as that is the case,
the process returns to step 46. Otherwise, in a next step 50, the
sound level comparator 22 provides the voice level warning signal
(VLWS) to the warning voice level means (WVLM) 24, which provides
the voice level warning (VLW) to the user 12. In a next step 56,
the user 12 adjusts the voice level based on the voice level warning.
In a step 52, the amplifier 20 (FIG. 1) provides the sidetone adaptive
signal to the sidetone amplifier 26 (FIG. 1), which is sent to the
earpiece 18 after further amplification by the sidetone amplifier
26. In a next step 54, the earpiece 18 provides to the user 12 the
sidetone sound and the voice sound from the further user. In a next
step 55, it is ascertained whether the sidetone sound is too loud
or too quiet. As long as that is not the case, the process returns
to step 54. Otherwise, in a step 56, the user 12 adjusts his/her
voice level. In a final step 58, it is ascertained whether the phone
call is still on. As long as that is the case, the process returns
to steps 46 and 52. Otherwise, the process returns to step 40. FIG.
2 illustrates one scenario among others, which can be used for implementing
the present invention. |