Research in Motion has just filed a new patent application that describes how a BlackBerry can sense how loudly the owner is talking and determine if it should be in handset mode or speakerphone mode.
A system and methods are provided whereby a user of a mobile device can adaptively switch the mobile device from speakerphone mode to handset mode without needing to look at the mobile device or without the need to activate a button or key sequence.
In a preferred embodiment, modules are provided in the mobile device which allow for the detection of a voice conversation, the sampling of the user’s voice and the switching between the two modes of operation.
If the user’s voice volume is above a certain threshold the mobile device operates in handset mode. If the user’s voice volume is below a certain threshold the mobile device operates in handset mode.
Through the inclusion of the embodiments described herein, a mobile device can allow a user to safely and quickly switch from one mode of operation to the other without a requirement for additional hardware in the mobile device.