Acoustic Shock Prevention Apparatus

1 . A method comprising:

determining a change of state in an apparatus within a first time period, wherein a first state operates with a first audio output having a first average sound pressure level and a second state operates with a second audio output having a higher average sound pressure level; and

processing the second audio output signal such that the second audio output sound pressure level is acoustically continuous with respect to the first average sound pressure level immediately following the change of state.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein processing the second audio output signal comprises at least one of:

muting the second audio output for a muting time period; and

ramping the second audio output for an audio ramp time period.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein ramping the second audio output for an audio ramp time period comprises at least one of:

linear ramping; and

non-linear ramping.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein determining a change of state in an apparatus comprises:

determining an ending of the first state, wherein the first state is a member of a first group of states; and

determining a start of the second state, wherein the second state is a member of a second group of states.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein each member of the first group of states operate with the first audio output generated by an earpiece transducer.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the first group of states comprise at least:

telecommunication earpiece audio playback.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein each member of the second group of states operate with the second audio output generated by an integrated handsfree transducer.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the second group of states comprises:

integrated handsfree speaker alert tone playback;

integrated handsfree speaker music playback;

integrated handsfree speaker frequency modulation (FM) radio playback;

integrated handsfree speaker amplitute modulation (AM) radio playback;

integrated handsfree speaker digital (DRM, DAB) radio playback;

integrated handsfree speaker navigation command playback; and

integrated handsfree speaker video playback.

9 . The method as claimed claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the maximum value of the higher average sound pressure level is greater than a threshold value; and wherein processing the second audio output signal further comprises limiting the maximum value of the higher average sound pressure value to the threshold value.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second state further operates with a third audio output located physically separate from the first audio output; and p 1 processing the third audio output signal such that the third audio output sound pressure level is unchanged.

11 . An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory and the computer program code is configured to, with the at least one processor, causes the apparatus at least to:

determine a change of state in the apparatus within a first time period, wherein a first state operates with a first audio output having a first average sound pressure level and a second state operates with a second audio output having a higher average sound pressure level; and

processing the second audio output signal such that the second audio output sound pressure level is acoustically continuous with respect to the first average sound pressure level immediately following the change of state.

12 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein causing the apparatus to process the second audio output signal cause causes the apparatus to at least one of:

mute the second audio output for a muting time period; and

ramp the second audio output for an audio ramp time period.

13 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein causing the apparatus to ramp the second audio output for an audio ramp time period causes the apparatus to at least one of:

linear ramping; and

non-linear ramping.

14 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein causing the apparatus to determine a change of state causes the apparatus at least to:

determine an ending of the first state, wherein the first state is a member of a first group of states; and

determine a start of the second state, wherein the second state is a member of a second group of states.

15 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein each member of the first group of states operate with the first audio output generated by an earpiece transducer.

16 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the first group of states comprise at least:

telecommunication earpiece audio playback.

17 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein each member of the second group of states operate with the second audio output generated by an integrated handsfree transducer.

18 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the second group of states comprises:

integrated handsfree speaker alert tone playback;

integrated handsfree speaker music playback;

integrated handsfree speaker frequency modulation (FM) radio playback;

integrated handsfree speaker amplitute modulation (AM) radio playback;

integrated handsfree speaker digital (DRM, DAB) radio playback;

integrated handsfree speaker navigation command playback; and

integrated handsfree speaker video playback.

19 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , further caused to:

determine the maximum value of the higher average sound pressure level is greater than a threshold value; and wherein causing the apparatus to process the second audio output signal further causes the apparatus to limit the maximum value of the higher average sound pressure value to the threshold value.

20 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the second state further operates with a third audio output located physically separate from the first audio output; and

the apparatus is further caused to process the third audio output signal such that the third audio output sound pressure level is unchanged.