IP Library Granted Patent US 10,530,927
Granted Patent B2
US 10,530,927 · App. 14/276,614 · Granted Jan 7, 2020

Muted device notification

Inventors: Russell Speight VanBlon (Raleigh, NC); Arnold S. Weksler (Raleigh, NC); John Carl Mese (Cary, NC); Nathan J. Peterson (Cary, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
H04M3/4285G10L17/22H04R29/001G10L17/00G10L25/78H04M1/6008H04M1/72519H04M3/428
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,530,927
App. No.
14/276,614
Granted
Jan 7, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embodiment provides a method, including: detecting, at a device, a primary speaker is providing audio input; detecting, at the device, a voice data link providing audio of the primary speaker to another speaker is muted; and providing a notification to the primary speaker that the voice data link is muted. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims (46)

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, at a device, that a primary speaker is providing audio input;

detecting, at the device, a voice data link providing audio of the primary speaker to another speaker is muted;

selecting, based on a preferred notification modality of the primary speaker, a notification from a plurality of notifications;

providing the notification to the primary speaker that the voice data link is muted; and

continuously modulating, after the providing and responsive to identifying that the audio input continues to be detected while the voice data link is muted, an aspect of the notification until the voice data link is unmuted.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the primary speaker is providing audio input comprises detecting audio at a microphone of the device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the primary speaker is providing audio input comprises identifying the primary speaker using a biometric identification.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the biometric identification includes use of image data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification is selected from the group consisting of a visual notification, an audible notification, and a haptic notification.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising committing an action, responsive to said detecting the voice data link is muted, selected from the group of:

prompting the primary speaker to un-mute the voice data link; and

automatically un-muting the voice data link.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification is modulated according to time associated with the providing of audio input by the primary speaker.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification is modulated according to amplitude associated with the level of noise in a local environment.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification is specific to the primary speaker.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a short range wireless paired input device;

wherein the notification is selected according to the short range wireless paired input device.

11. A device, comprising:

an output element;

an input element;

a processor operatively coupled to the input element and the output element; and

a memory that stores instructions executable by the processor to:

detect that a primary speaker is providing audio input;

detect a voice data link providing audio of the primary speaker to another speaker is muted;

select, based on a preferred notification modality of the primary speaker, a notification from a plurality of notifications;

provide the notification via the output element to the primary speaker that the voice data link is muted; and

continuously modulate, after the providing and responsive to identifying that the audio input continues to be detected while the voice data link is muted, an aspect of the notification until the voice data link is unmuted.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the input element comprises a microphone and wherein to detect the primary speaker is providing audio input comprises detecting audio at the microphone.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein to detect the primary speaker is providing audio input comprises identifying the primary speaker using a biometric identification.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the input element comprises a camera and wherein the biometric identification includes use of image data.

15. The device of claim 11 , wherein the notification is selected from the group consisting of a visual notification, an audible notification, and a haptic notification.

16. The device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to commit an action, responsive to said detecting the voice data link is muted, selected from the group of:

prompting the primary speaker to un-mute the voice data link; and

automatically un-muting the voice data link.

17. The device of claim 11 , wherein the notification is modulated according to time associated with the providing of audio input by the primary speaker.

18. The device of claim 11 , wherein the notification is modulated according to amplitude associated with the level of noise in a local environment.

19. The device of claim 11 , wherein the notification is specific to the primary speaker.

20. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable storage device having program executable code embodied therewith, the code being executable by a processor and comprising:

code that detects, at a device, that a primary speaker is providing audio input;

code that detects, at the device, a voice data link providing audio of the primary speaker to another speaker is muted;

code that selects, based on a preferred notification modality of the primary speaker, a notification from a plurality of notifications;

code that provides a notification to the primary speaker that the voice data link is muted; and

code that continuously modulates, after the providing and responsive to identifying that the audio input continues to be detected while the voice data link is muted, an aspect of the notification over until the voice data link is unmuted.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2021
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LTD
Reel/Frame 055939/0434 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2014
From: VANBLON, RUSSELL SPEIGHT; WEKSLER, ARNOLD S.; MESE, JOHN CARL; PETERSON, NATHAN J.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 032881/0509 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150334497A1 · Nov 19, 2015