Apple Patent Involves Audio-Adjust Sensor

Yet another Apple patent filing has been spotted on the Internet, this time involving an audio sensor to auto-adjust iPhone ringtones. While not exactly mind-blowing, Apple insists the invention be called theirs. So, here's the plan.

Now, more than ever, devices such as TV sets, computers and mobile phones are being used in a variety of environments, Apple has learned. As such, at least in the case of mobile phones, the user is confronted with a major issue (not that major really, but let's say it is for the sake of the argument): the ringtone volume. Pretty much everyone owning a cell phone can agree that it's annoying to hear a loud ringtone going off in a room full of people that are quiet – a library, for example. In the same context, it's even more annoying not to hear your phone ringing when you're on a train that's constantly making noise. Well, Apple has looked at the situation and thinks it has come up with a solution. Check it out!

"For instance, a user who adjusts the volume of a mobile phone ring tone for a loud environment may later move to a quieter environment, where the loud ring will be disruptive," the filing explains.

But Apple isn't planning to slap sound sensors on the iPhone alone (or future phones it may develop), but on its laptop computers, too.

"Similarly, powering up a laptop computer in a quiet lecture hall or home may result in an inappropriately loud and disruptive boot sound. Alternatively, a volume level which is optimized for a quiet environment may not be detectable if the associated device is moved to a louder environment, which can result in a missed audio signal," Apple explains.

The patent filing goes to mention that “for a device playing music, the system may take samples from the sound sensor between songs, or between words in a song, to determine the ambient noise in a surrounding room.” Apple continues to stress that the system may detect whether the room is loud or not and, if it is, “it may raise the device output volume.” On the other hand, in a quiet room, “the system may lower the device output volume," Apple says.

Is this the invention of the century or what?