The present invention relates to signal processing technology, and, more particularly, to methods, electronic devices, and computer program products for generating an alert signal for an electronic device.
A user of an electronic device, such as a mobile phone, may wish to choose the sounds that are used for alerts, such as alarms and ringtones, from any supported audio format. For example, many mobile phone devices allow a user to choose a specific ringtone for each phone number stored in his/her phonebook. It may also be desirable to be able to mix in these alerts with other audio functions of the phone, such as voice calls or the playing of music or other audio files. For example, a user may be currently on a phone call and receive a second incoming call. If the alert audio is mixed with the voice audio, then the user may be able to tell who is calling without having to remove the phone from his/her ear to examine the caller identification/number, which may allow the user to avoid missing any of his/her current conversation.
Unfortunately, mixing two or more audio streams may result in a significant processing burden for a mobile phone device because music decoders often use large amounts of processor instruction cycles per second (MIPs) and memory. Moreover, the mixing of an audio alert signal with other audio signals, such as music or a voice conversation is not an available feature on many conventional mobile phones as these phones do not support real-time audio decoding for more than one audio stream at a time. Instead, these mobile phone devices substitute simple tones for the more complex audio alert selected by the user. These replacement tones are generally not unique to the individuals in a user's phone book so the user is not provided with his/her desired personalized sounds to identify a calling party.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, an alert file is stored on an electronic device is operated by determining if an audio format of the alert file is in a first category including at least one high complexity audio format or is in a second category including at least one low complexity audio format, converting the audio format of the alert file to one of the at least one low complexity audio format if the audio format of the alert file is in the first category, and saving the alert file with the converted audio format on the electronic device.
In other embodiments, the method further includes receiving a user selection of the alert file before determining if the audio format of the alert file is in the first category or the second category.
In still other embodiments, the first category includes MPEG Audio Layer Three format (MP3), Advanced Audio Coding format (AAC), High-Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding format (HE-AAC), and/or Windows Media Audio format (WMA).
In still other embodiments, the second category includes Pulse Code Modulation format (PCM) and/or Waveform Audio format (WAV).
In still other embodiments, the converted audio format is the PCM format and a PCM sampling rate is based on an amount of free memory on the electronic device and/or a desired audio quality.
In still other embodiments, the method further includes deleting the alert file with the audio format (e.g., original, high complexity format) from the electronic device.
In still other embodiments, the method further includes generating the alert file with the audio format from the alert file with the converted audio format (e.g., low complexity format).
In still other embodiments, the electronic device is a mobile terminal.
In still other embodiments, a computer program product includes computer-readable program code embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer readable program code being configured to carry out the following: determining if an audio format of the alert file is in a first category including at least one high complexity audio format or is in a second category including at least one low complexity audio format, converting the audio format of the alert file to one of the at least one low complexity audio format if the audio format of the alert file is in the first category, and saving the alert file with the converted audio format on the electronic device.
In further embodiments of the present invention, an electronic device includes an alert file manager that is configured to determine if an audio format of the alert file is in a first category including at least one high complexity audio format or is in a second category including at least one low complexity audio format, to convert the audio format of the alert file to one of the at least one low complexity audio formats if the audio format of the alert file is in the first category, and to save the alert file with the converted audio format on the electronic device.
In still further embodiments, the alert file manager is further configured to receive a user selection of the alert file before determining if the audio format of the alert file is in the first category or the second category.
In still further embodiments, the first category includes MPEG Audio Layer Three format (MP3), Advanced Audio Coding format (AAC), High-Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding format (HE-AAC), and/or Windows Media Audio format (WMA).
In still further embodiments, the second category comprises Pulse Code Modulation format (PCM) and/or Waveform Audio format (WAV).
In still further embodiments, the alert file manager is further configured to delete the alert file with the audio format from the electronic device and to generate the alert file with the audio format from the alert file with the converted audio format.
In still further embodiments, the electronic device is a mobile terminal.
In other embodiments of the present invention, an alert is generated on an electronic device by receiving an alert event, determining if a plurality of alert files are associated with the alert event, selecting one of the plurality of alert files based on an operating mode of the electronic device and/or a time duration of the alert, and generating the alert using the selected one of the plurality of alert files.
In still other embodiments, the plurality of alert files includes a first category including at least one high complexity audio format alert file and a second category including at least one low complexity audio format alert file.
In still other embodiments, the operating mode of the electronic device is a mono audio playback mode and selecting one of the plurality of alert files includes selecting one of the at least one low complexity audio format alert file.
In still other embodiments, the operating mode of the electronic device is a stereo audio playback mode and selecting one of the plurality of alert files includes selecting one of the at least one high complexity audio format alert file.
In still other embodiments, a time duration of the alert exceeds a time threshold and selecting one of the plurality of alert files includes selecting one of the at least one low complexity audio format alert file.
In still other embodiments, a time duration of the alert is less than a time threshold and selecting one of the plurality of alert files includes selecting one of the at least one high complexity audio format alert file.
In still other embodiments, the at least one high complexity audio format alert file includes a MPEG Audio Layer Three format (MP3), a Advanced Audio Coding format (AAC), a High-Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding format (HE-AAC), and/or a Windows Media Audio format (WMA) file, and the at least one low complexity audio format alert file includes a Pulse Code Modulation format (PCM) file and/or Waveform Audio format (WAV) file.
In still other embodiments, the electronic device is a mobile terminal.
In still other embodiments, a computer program product includes computer-readable program code embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer readable program code being configured to carry out the following: receiving an alert event, determining if a plurality of alert files are associated with the alert event, selecting one of the plurality of alert files based on an operating mode of the electronic device and/or a time duration of the alert, and generating the alert using the selected one of the plurality of alert files.
In further embodiments of the present invention, an electronic device includes an alert processing module that is configured to receive an alert event, to determine if a plurality of alert files are associated with the alert event, to select one of the plurality of alert files based on an operating mode of the electronic device and/or a time duration of the alert, and to generate the alert using the selected one of the plurality of alert files.
In still further embodiments, the plurality of alert files includes a first category including at least one high complexity audio format alert file and a second category including at least one low complexity audio format alert file.
In still further embodiments, the at least one high complexity audio format alert file includes a MPEG Audio Layer Three format (MP3), a Advanced Audio Coding format (AAC), a High-Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding format (HE-AAC), and/or a Windows Media Audio format (WMA) file, and the at least one low complexity audio format alert file includes a Pulse Code Modulation format (PCM) file and/or Waveform Audio format (WAV).
Other features of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Like reference numbers signify like elements throughout the description of the figures.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. Furthermore, “connected” or “coupled” as used herein may include wirelessly connected or coupled. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
The present invention may be embodied as methods, electronic devices, and/or computer program products. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.). Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. In the context of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples (a nonexhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: a portable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), and a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM).
As used herein, the term “mobile terminal” may include a satellite or cellular radiotelephone with or without a multi-line display; a Personal Communications System (PCS) terminal that may combine a cellular radiotelephone with data processing, facsimile and data communications capabilities; a PDA that can include a radiotelephone, pager, Internet/intranet access, Web browser, organizer, calendar and/or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; and a conventional laptop and/or palmtop receiver or other appliance that includes a radiotelephone transceiver. Mobile terminals may also be referred to as “pervasive computing” devices.
For purposes of illustration, embodiments of the present invention are described herein in the context of a mobile terminal. It will be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and may be embodied generally as an electronic device in which files are stored thereon for generation of alerts, such as, for example, ringtones, alarms, and the like.
Some embodiments of the present invention stem from a realization that files used to generate alerts in an electronic device, such as a mobile terminal, may be converted from a relatively complex format to a less complex format. This may reduce the load on a processor to play such files and, in some cases, may even allow the audio generated therefrom to be mixed with other audio. Thus, a user may be able to assign custom alerts to various parties or functions, such as an alarm function, and recognize the calling party of an incoming call or distinguish an alarm from an incoming call without interrupting another audio activity, such as listening to music or participating in another phone call.
Referring now to
The foregoing components of the mobile terminal 100 may be included in many conventional mobile terminals and their functionality is generally known to those skilled in the art.
The processor 140 communicates with the memory 135 via an address/data bus. The processor 140 may be, for example, a commercially available or custom microprocessor. The memory 135 is representative of the one or more memory devices containing the software and data used to operate the mobile terminal 100 and to generate alerts so as to reduce processor loading in certain instances based on the operating configuration of the mobile terminal 100, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The memory 135 may include, but is not limited to, the following types of devices: cache, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash, SRAM, and DRAM.
As shown in
The alert processing module 175 may be configured to detect or receive an alert event and determine if there are multiple alert files 180 that are associated with the alert event. For example, a user may save a ringtone associated with a friend in both a high complexity audio format and a low complexity audio format in the alert files 180. Based on the particular operating configuration of the mobile terminal 100, the alert processing module 175 may select one of the two alert files to use to generate the alert, i.e., ringtone, when the friend calls. For example, if the user is wearing headphones, then the alert processing module 175 may select the high complexity audio format for the alert file as the alert may be played in stereo. However, if the mobile terminal is in a mono audio mode, then the alert processing module 175 may select the low complexity audio format for the alert file as the additional sound quality provided by the high complexity alert file format may not be realized when the mobile terminal is in a mono audio mode.
In the example shown in
Although
Computer program code for carrying out operations of electronic devices/mobile terminals discussed above with respect to
The present invention is described hereinafter with reference to flowchart and/or block diagram illustrations of methods, electronic devices/mobile terminals, and/or computer program products in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
These flowchart and/or block diagrams further illustrate exemplary operations of generating an alert based on processor loading considerations, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart and/or block diagram illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart and/or block diagram illustrations, may be implemented by computer program instructions and/or hardware operations. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer usable or computer-readable memory that may direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer usable or computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instructions that implement the function specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
Referring now to
As mentioned above, the PCM audio format is relatively memory intensive. Thus, when deciding which alert files are to be converted to a low complexity audio format, such as PCM, the increase in the amount of memory used may be weighed against the reduced processor loading and power consumption. For example, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, an alert file may be saved in the alert files 180 in both a high complexity audio format and a low complexity audio format. Alternatively, the original alert file having the high complexity audio format may be deleted from the memory 135 of the mobile terminal 100 once the low complexity audio format version is saved. In some embodiments, the audio processor 103 of
For example, a high complexity audio format file may have been saved in the alert files 180 for the alert and a low complexity audio format file may have been saved in the alert files 180 for the alert as discussed above with respect to
The flowcharts of
Some embodiments of the present invention may reduce the processing burden on processors that are used to play and/or mix audio streams by converting high complexity audio alert files to low complexity-audio alert files. The low complexity audio alert files, such as PCM, need not be decoded and/or interpolated. As a result, an electronic device may be able to mix many audio alerts with other audio streams, such as music or voice. The reduced processor load may also reduce power consumption thereby extending battery life.
Many variations and modifications can be made to the embodiments without substantially departing from the principles of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.