Inter-device noise alert for electronic devices

Abstract

The invention relates to inter-device noise alerts for electronic devices. Inter-device noise alerts may allow an electronic device of a user, such as a smartphone or smartwatch, to alert one or more electronic devices of one or more other users, such as smartphones: noise levels in a noisy environment in which the electronic devices and the users are located may be unsafe for long term exposure. This may provide beneficial power savings by facilitating multiple devices to alert without all of the multiple devices continuously monitoring the noise level. This may also help notify the other users, for example, when the electronic devices of the other users are in a pocket, bag, or another container and are not able to directly detect the complete noise level. The electronic devices of the other users may then provide alerts to the other users to wear hearing protectors or leave the noisy environment.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 544,613, filed on October 17, 2023, entitled “Inter-Device Noise Alerts For Electronic Devices,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] This specification relates generally to electronic devices, including, for example, inter-device noise alarms for electronic devices. Background Art

[0004] Electronic devices including audio devices such as headphones and earbuds may include speakers for outputting sound to a user's ears and microphones for capturing sound from the environment of the electronic device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Certain features of the subject technology are set forth in the appended claims. However, for purposes of explanation, several embodiments of the subject technology are set forth in the following figures.

[0006] Figure 1 An example system architecture including various electronic devices that may implement the subject system is illustrated according to one or more implementations.

[0007] Figure 2 A first electronic device and a second electronic device in a noisy environment according to a specific implementation of the subject technology are illustrated.

[0008] Figure 3 An electronic device that receives noise notifications and sounds from a noisy environment is illustrated in accordance with an implementation of the subject technology.

[0009] Figure 4 An electronic device receiving a noise notification from another electronic device while in a user's pocket is illustrated in accordance with one or more implementations of the subject technology.

[0010] Figure 5 Multiple electronic devices associated with the same user account that obtain audio samples from a noisy environment are illustrated in accordance with one or more implementations of the subject technology.

[0011] Figure 6 An electronic device receiving a noise notification from another electronic device while located in a user's bag is illustrated in accordance with one or more implementations of the subject technology.

[0012] Figure 7 An example alert including a recommendation to wear ear protection is illustrated in accordance with an implementation of the subject technology.

[0013] Figure 8 A flow chart illustrating an example process for inter-device audio alerting in accordance with an implementation of the subject technology.

[0014] Fig. 9 A flow chart illustrating another example process for inter-device audio alerting in accordance with an implementation of the subject technology.

[0015] Fig.10 An electronic system is illustrated with which one or more implementations of the subject technology may be implemented. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The detailed description set forth below is intended to be a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configuration by which the subject technology can be practiced. The accompanying drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details intended to provide a thorough understanding of the subject technology. However, the subject technology is not limited to the specific details set forth herein, but can be practiced using one or more other specific implementations. In one or more specific implementations, structures and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid blurring the concepts of the subject technology.

[0017] Aspects of the present disclosure provide an alert to a noisy environment using an electronic device of a first user based on a noise notification from a device of a second, different user. The alert may be an alert to a noise level above a noise threshold (considered safe for sustained human immersion) (e.g., a noise level above which may cause temporary or permanent hearing loss immediately or over time if exposure continues above it). The noise notification may be sent wirelessly from the device of the second user (e.g., using Bluetooth or another direct wireless communication protocol) and configured to be detected by any other device capable of receiving the transmission using the same wireless protocol and within range of the wireless transmission.

[0018] In one or more specific implementations, the first user's electronic device may locally obtain an audio sample in response to receiving a noise notification from another device, and confirm the noise level of the environment based on the audio sample before providing an alert. In some use cases, when one or more noise notifications are wirelessly received from another device, the electronic device receiving the one or more noise notifications may be in a container (such as a pocket or bag). In these or other use cases, the audio sample may be compared to a noise threshold that is lower than the noise threshold used by the sending device to trigger the noise notification. In some examples, the electronic device receiving the noise notification from another device may wait to obtain the audio sample and / or provide an alert until a threshold number of noise notifications have been received from other devices and / or until the user of the electronic device engages with the electronic device (e.g., by removing the device from the user's pocket or bag).

[0019] Figure 1 An example system architecture 100 including various electronic devices that can implement the subject system according to one or more implementations is illustrated. However, not all of the components depicted may be used in all implementations, and one or more implementations may include additional or different components than those shown in the figures. Changes in the arrangement and types of these components may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims listed herein. Additional components, different components, or fewer components may be provided.

[0020] The system architecture 100 includes an audio device 150, an electronic device 104 (e.g., a handheld electronic device such as a smart phone, a tablet, or a smart watch), an electronic device 110, an electronic device 112 (e.g., a wearable electronic device such as a smart watch or a head-mounted device), an electronic device 115, and one or more servers 120 that are communicatively coupled via a network 106 (e.g., a local area network or a wide area network). For purposes of explanation, the system architecture 100 is described in detail in detail in the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 1. The system architecture 100 is illustrated as including an audio device 150, an electronic device 104, an electronic device 110, an electronic device 112, an electronic device 115, and a server 120; however, the system architecture 100 may include any number of electronic and / or audio devices and any number of servers or a data center including multiple servers.

[0021] The audio device 150 may be implemented as an audio device configured to be worn by a user (when the user wears the audio device, the user is also referred to as a wearer), such as headphones (e.g., a pair of speakers installed in a speaker housing coupled together by a headband) or earbuds (e.g., earbuds in a pair of earbuds each having a speaker disposed in a housing conforming to a portion of the user's ear), or may be implemented as any other device capable of obtaining audio and / or outputting audio, video, and / or other types of media using one or more microphones (e.g., and configured to be worn by a user). Each audio device 150 may include one or more speakers configured to project sound into the ears of the user 101, such as speakers 151, and one or more microphones configured to receive audio input such as external noise input and / or external voice input, such as microphone 152. In one or more specific implementations, the audio device 150 may include multiple microphones 152, which may cooperate to form a beamforming microphone array for preferentially obtaining sound from a specific direction and / or location.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the electronic device 104, the electronic device 110, the electronic device 112, and the electronic device 115 may also each include one or more microphones 152 for obtaining audio from the physical environment surrounding the device. The electronic device 104, the electronic device 110, the electronic device 112, and the electronic device 115 may also include Figure 1 Other components not visible in the device include, but are not limited to, processing circuitry, memory, a display for visually displaying electronic information, tactile components for generating tactile output (e.g., vibrations) from one or more portions of the device, communication circuitry (e.g., including wireless communication circuitry), input components, and / or output components.

[0023] Despite Figure 1 1, but each audio device 150 may include processing circuitry (e.g., including memory and / or one or more processors, such as a central processing unit and / or one or more digital signal processors (DSPs)) and communication circuitry (e.g., one or more antennas, etc.) for receiving audio content, such as from one or more of electronic devices 104 and / or electronic devices 112, and / or processing audio content. The processing circuitry of audio device 150 or another device may operate one or more speakers, such as speaker 151, to produce sound. The memory may store one or more machine learning models that are implemented as neural networks and trained for one or more audio processing operations for audio device 150.

[0024] The audio device 150, the electronic device 104, the electronic device 110, the electronic device 112, and / or the electronic device 115 may each include a communication circuit for communicating with other devices in the audio device 150, the electronic device 104, the electronic device 110, the electronic device 115, and / or the server 120 (e.g., directly or via the network 106), the communication circuit including, for example, one or more wireless interfaces, such as WLAN radio devices, cellular radio devices, Bluetooth radio devices, Zigbee radio devices, near field communication (NFC) radio devices, and / or other radio devices. The audio device 150, the electronic device 104, the electronic device 110, the electronic device 112, and / or the electronic device 115 may each include a power source, such as a battery and / or a wired or wireless power source.

[0025] The electronic device 104 may be, for example, a smart phone, a portable computing device (such as a laptop), a peripheral device (e.g., a digital camera, headphones, another audio device, or another media output device), a tablet device, a wearable device (such as a smart watch, a smart wristband, etc.), any other suitable device including, for example, processing circuitry and / or communication circuitry for processing microphone signals including audio content received from the physical environment surrounding the electronic device 104, for generating noise notification announcements for other electronic devices, for receiving audio data and / or noise notification data from one or more other electronic devices, and / or for generating an alert regarding unsafe noise levels in the physical environment (as an example). Figure 1 In the embodiment, by way of example, the electronic device 104 is depicted as a mobile smart phone device. In one or more specific implementations, the electronic device 104 and / or the audio device 150 may be and / or may include the following relative to the following relative to Fig.10 The electronic system in question is all or part of the electronic device in question.

[0026] The electronic device 115 may be, for example, a desktop computer, a portable computing device such as a laptop computer, a smart phone, a peripheral device (e.g., a digital camera, headphones, another audio device, or another media output device), a tablet device, a wearable device (such as a watch, a wristband, etc.). Figure 1 In the embodiment, the electronic device 115 is depicted as a desktop computer by way of example. The electronic device 115 may be and / or may include the following with respect to Fig.10 All or part of the electronic system in question.

[0027] The electronic device 110 may be, for example, a smart phone, a portable computing device (such as a laptop), a peripheral device (e.g., a digital camera, headphones, another audio device, or another media output device), a tablet device, a wearable device (such as a smart watch, a smart wristband, etc.), any other suitable device including, for example, processing circuitry and / or communication circuitry for processing microphone signals including audio content received from the physical environment surrounding the electronic device 110, for generating noise notification announcements for other electronic devices, for receiving audio data and / or noise notification data from one or more other electronic devices, and / or for generating an alert regarding unsafe noise levels in the physical environment (as an example). Figure 1 In the embodiment, by way of example, the electronic device 110 is depicted as a mobile smart phone device. In one or more specific implementations, the electronic device 110 may be and / or may include the following relative to the following relative to Fig.10 The electronic system in question is all or part of the electronic device in question.

[0028] The electronic device 112 may be, for example, a smart phone, a portable computing device (such as a laptop), a peripheral device (e.g., a digital camera, headphones, another audio device, or another media output device), a tablet device, a wearable device (such as a smart watch, a smart wristband, etc.), any other suitable device including, for example, processing circuitry and / or communication circuitry for processing microphone signals including audio content received from the physical environment surrounding the electronic device 112, for generating noise notification announcements for other electronic devices, for receiving audio data and / or noise notification data from one or more other electronic devices, and / or for generating an alert regarding unsafe noise levels in the physical environment (as an example). Figure 1 In the embodiment, by way of example, the electronic device 112 is depicted as a smart watch worn on the wrist of the user 101. In one or more specific implementations, the electronic device 112 can be and / or can include the following relative to the following relative to Fig.10 The electronic system in question is all or part of the electronic device in question.

[0029] In one or more implementations, the electronic device 104, the audio device 150, and / or the electronic device 112 may be associated with the same user account (e.g., the electronic device 104, the audio device 150, and / or the electronic device 112 may be registered to the user account of the user 101, such as at the server 120). In one or more implementations, the electronic device 110 may be associated with a different user account (e.g., the electronic device 110 may be registered to a second user account of a second user different from the user 101). In one or more implementations, the electronic device 110 may not be associated with the user account of the user 101 and / or any other user account associated with the user 101. In one or more implementations, the electronic device 104, the audio device 150, and / or the electronic device 112 may communicate directly with each other using secure (e.g., encrypted, such as using information that can only be accessed by devices associated with the user account of the user 101) communications that other devices in proximity to the electronic device 104, the audio device 150, and / or the electronic device 112 cannot detect and / or decipher. In one or more specific implementations, the electronic device 104, the audio device 150, and / or the electronic device 112 may receive and / or broadcast public (e.g., unencrypted) communications to other devices not associated with the same user account. In one or more specific implementations, the electronic device 110 may receive and / or broadcast public (e.g., unencrypted) communications to other devices not associated with the same user account.

[0030] Server 120 may form all or part of a computer network or server group 130, such as in a cloud computing or data center implementation. For example, server 120 stores data and software and includes specific hardware (e.g., processors, graphics processors, and other specialized or custom processors) for processing graphics, images, video, audio, and multimedia files. In one implementation, server 120 may be used as a cloud storage server.

[0031] Figure 2An example noise environment 210 in which an electronic device 299 (e.g., a smartwatch such as electronic device 112, or a smart phone such as electronic device 104) and an electronic device 110 (e.g., registered to different corresponding user accounts of different corresponding users) may be located is illustrated. For example, the noise environment 210 may be a physical environment in which one or more sound sources such as sound source 201 are generating sound. The noise environment 210 may be an indoor environment substantially enclosed by walls, doors, and / or windows, or may be an outdoor environment. For example, an indoor noise environment may include a restaurant, a bar, a club, an arena, a theater, a building, a room, a factory, a vehicle, a ship, an airplane, a shopping mall, a warehouse, and / or any other indoor location where one or more sound sources are located. As an example, an outdoor noise environment may include a stadium, a theater, a concert venue, a sporting event, a racing event, an airport, a highway, a park, a parking lot, a parking garage, a street, a sidewalk, and / or any other outdoor, open-air, unenclosed, or partially unenclosed environment where one or more sound sources are located.

[0032] Although in Figure 2 2 , it is understood that the noise environment 210 may include one sound source, two sound sources, more than two sound sources, dozens of sound sources, hundreds of sound sources, thousands of sound sources, or any other number of sound sources that individually and cumulatively contribute to the sound level at any particular location within the noise environment 210. As examples, the sound source 201 may be a person, a speaker, a machine, a vehicle, an aircraft, a ship, a siren, a crowd, a megaphone, a bullhorn, an appliance, and / or any other sound producing device, component, object, and / or presence.

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, a sound source such as sound source 201 may generate sound 200 received by microphone 152 of electronic device 299. Figure 2 Although not depicted in FIG. 2 , the sound 200 may also be received at the ear of the user of the electronic device 299 (e.g., the user 101) and at the ear of the user of the electronic device 110. For example, when the sound 200 is generated in the noisy environment 210, the user 101 may be holding, carrying, or wearing the electronic device 299. Figure 2 As illustrated, the electronic device 299 may broadcast (e.g., send) a noise notification 202 in response to receiving a sound 200 using its microphone 152. For example, the electronic device 299 may determine that a sound level (e.g., a sound pressure level (SPL), such as in decibels (dB)) exceeds a threshold noise level that is considered safe for human listening, and broadcast the noise notification 202 in response to the determination.

[0034] For example, the threshold noise level may be eighty dB, eighty-five dB, ninety dB, ninety-five dB, one hundred dB, or another threshold noise level. In one or more implementations, the sound level compared to the threshold noise level may be determined by the electronic device 299 over a period of time. In one or more implementations, the period may depend on the decibel level of the threshold. As an example, the threshold noise level may be eighty dB over a period of several hours, eighty-five dB over a period of one to two hours, ninety dB over a period between fifteen minutes and one hour, ninety dB over a period of five to fifteen minutes, one hundred dB over a period of one to five minutes, or another threshold noise level over another corresponding period.

[0035] In one or more specific implementations, the noise notification 202 may be generated in the form of a wireless announcement using a corresponding wireless communication protocol. For example, the wireless announcement may be a Bluetooth announcement configured to be detectable and processable by any device having (e.g., the latest) Bluetooth communication circuit and within the range of Bluetooth communication (e.g., within about twenty feet to fifty feet). For example, the Bluetooth announcement may be sent via a primary announcement channel and / or a secondary announcement channel in the Bluetooth frequency band, and may include a preamble, an access address, a protocol data unit (PDU), and / or a check bit (e.g., a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bit). For example, the PDU may include a header and a payload. In one or more specific implementations, the noise notification information (e.g., including a sound level and / or a time period) may be included in the header and / or the payload of the wireless announcement. As another example communication protocol that may be used for noise notification, the wireless announcement may be a wireless announcement generated using a WiFi protocol and configured to be detectable and processable by any device having (e.g., the latest) WiFi communication circuit and within the range of WiFi communication (e.g., within about one hundred meters to three hundred meters).

[0036] In one or more implementations, noise notifications may be sent using multiple wireless communication protocols (e.g., Bluetooth and direct WiFi). For example, in one or more implementations, the electronic device 299 may select a wireless communication protocol based on the sound level detected by the electronic device 299 (e.g., a shorter range wireless communication protocol such as Bluetooth may be used for relatively low SPLs (such as SPLs less than ninety-five dB), and a longer range wireless communication protocol such as direct WiFi may be added to the shorter range notification for relatively high SPLs (such as SPLs greater than ninety-five dB, which may affect users at a greater distance from the electronic device 299).

[0037] like Figure 2As shown, in response to receiving a noise notification 202 (e.g., wirelessly and directly from an electronic device 299), the electronic device 110 can provide an alert 206, such as a hearing protection notification (HPN). As an example, the alert 206 can be provided using a display 221 of the electronic device 110, using a speaker 223 of the electronic device 110, and / or using a tactile component 225 of the electronic device 110 (e.g., to vibrate the electronic device 110 to provide a notification that can be received by a user of the electronic device 110 even in a noisy environment and / or even when the user is not looking at the electronic device 110 or not engaged with the electronic device).

[0038] As shown, one or more other electronic devices (such as electronic devices 207-1, 207-2, 207-3, and 207-4) may also be located within the noise environment 210. For example, each of the electronic devices 207-1, 207-2, 207-3, and 207-4 may be a smart phone or smart watch of a different respective user who is in the noise environment 210 with the user of the electronic device 299 and the user of the electronic device 110. As an example, the users of the electronic device 299, the electronic device 110, and the electronic devices 207-1, 207-2, 207-3, and 207-4 may be co-workers in a building or factory, attendees of a concert, show, or sporting event, or patrons of a restaurant, club, or other business.

[0039] In some implementations, the electronic device 110 may provide the alert 206 only in response to the noise notification 202. In one or more other implementations, the electronic device 110 may receive the noise notification 202 and may provide the alert 206 in response to receiving the noise notification 202 and in response to one or more other criteria. As an example criterion, the electronic device 110 may cache multiple noise notifications and may provide the alert 206 in response to receiving a threshold number of noise notifications (e.g., at least two noise notifications, at least three noise notifications, at least four noise notifications, or at least five noise notifications), such as within a predetermined time window (e.g., within one minute, within three minutes, within five minutes, or within ten minutes). For example, as Figure 2 As illustrated, electronic device 110 may receive noise notification 202 from electronic device 299 and may receive (e.g., directly and wirelessly) one or more other noise notifications, such as noise notifications 203-1, 203-2, 203-3, and 203-4, from one or more other devices (such as electronic devices 207-1, 207-2, 207-3, and 207-4) that are respectively located within noise environment 210.

[0040] As another example criterion, electronic device 110 may locally confirm noise levels using a microphone of electronic device 110 before providing alert 206 in response to receiving noise notification 202 and / or one or more other noise notifications from one or more other devices. Figure 3 An example use case is illustrated in which an electronic device 110 receives a noise notification 202 (from an electronic device 299) and also receives a sound 200 (e.g., a portion of the sound) from a sound source 201 at a microphone 152 of the electronic device 110. The electronic device 110 may then obtain an audio sample of the sound 200 and compare the sound level in the audio sample to a threshold noise level. In one or more specific implementations, the electronic device 110 may provide an alert in response to receiving a noise notification 202 (e.g., and / or one or more noise notifications) and in response to determining that the noise level in the audio sample exceeds the threshold noise level (e.g., thereby confirming that the noise level in the noise environment 210, such as at the location of the electronic device 110 and / or its user, is above a safe listening threshold).

[0041] Figure 3 Also illustrated is how the electronic device 110 (e.g., upon receiving the noise notification 302, and / or upon confirming the noise level by comparing the locally obtained sound level to the confirmed threshold noise level) can broadcast the noise notification 202 (e.g., detectable by one or more other devices within range of the wireless protocol used to generate the noise notification 302) in addition to providing the alert 206 to the user of the electronic device 110. As with the noise notification 202 from the electronic device 299, the noise notification 302 can include (e.g., in a header portion or in a payload portion of the wireless notification) the sound level detected by the electronic device and / or the time during which the sound level was detected. In this way, the electronic device 110 can join the noise notifications being broadcast by other devices and increase the density of electronic devices providing noise notifications to other devices within the noise environment 210. Increasing the density in this way can increase the confidence that the receiving electronic devices can provide an alert to their own users to obtain and / or wear hearing protection. In one or more specific implementations, noise notifications broadcast by various electronic devices can be synchronized in time (e.g., by broadcasting noise notifications at the beginning of a minute, as tracked by a global or common time source). In this way, electronic devices can avoid cascading waves of notifications, for example, within a crowd of people with electronic devices.

[0042] In various implementations, the threshold noise level to which the electronic device 110 compares the sound level in the audio sample obtained using its own microphone (e.g., confirms) may be the same as the threshold noise level to which the electronic device 299 compares the sound level to trigger the noise notification 202, or may be a different threshold noise level. For example, there are many use cases where the electronic device 104 may detect sound levels in the noisy environment 210 that are above a safe threshold while the microphone 152 of the electronic device 110 is shielded or otherwise blocked from receiving the full sound within the noisy environment 210. For example, Figure 4 An example use case is illustrated in which the electronic device 299 is carried or worn by the user 101 while the electronic device 110 of another user 402 is in the pocket 400 of the other user 402 (eg, another user having a user account to which the electronic device 110 is registered).

[0043] In this example use case, the sound 200 reaching the microphone of the electronic device 110 can be reduced relative to the sound 200 reaching the microphone 152 of the electronic device 299, and the noise notification 202 can be used to notify the electronic device 110 of the high sound level in the noisy environment 210 that the electronic device 110 cannot detect when it is in the pocket 400. In this example use case, in some specific implementations, the electronic device 110 can obtain audio samples (e.g., such as Figure 3 ), and the sound level in the audio sample may be compared to a threshold noise level that is lower than a threshold noise level used by the electronic device 104 to trigger the noise notification 202.

[0044] The electronic device 110 may then provide an alert 206, such as a tactile alert, to the user 402 in response to determining that the sound level in the audio sample exceeds the lower threshold noise level. In this way, a noise notification 202 from the electronic device 299 of the user 110 having an unshielded microphone may be used to warn another unrelated user 402 of a potentially dangerous sound level in the noisy environment 210, even when the potentially dangerous sound level is not (e.g., temporarily) detectable by the electronic device 101 itself. Although for simplicity of this description, in Figures 2 to 4 , a single other user (e.g., user 402) is depicted with a single other device (e.g., electronic device 110), but it should be understood that the noise notification 202 may be broadcast from the electronic device 299 to multiple (e.g., many) other devices to trigger a noise alarm at each of the multiple (e.g., many) other devices (e.g., together with noise notifications from one or more additional other electronic devices).

[0045] exist Figure 3 and Figure 4In the example of , the sound level in the noisy environment 210 is directly detected by the electronic device 299 (e.g., one of the electronic device 104 or the electronic device 112) before the noise notification 202 is generated and broadcast. It should also be understood that before the electronic device 299 broadcasts the noise notification 202, the sound level in the noisy environment 210 may be detected by one or more other devices (e.g., the other of the electronic device 104 or the electronic device 112, and / or the audio device 150) associated with the same user account as the user account associated with the electronic device 104. For example, Figure 5 An example use case is illustrated in which a user 101 of an electronic device 104 is wearing a smartwatch (e.g., electronic device 112) while in a noise environment 210. In one or more implementations, the smartwatch may detect (e.g., using its microphone 152) a sound level above a threshold noise level, and may provide a (e.g., encrypted) notification 502 to the electronic device 104. The electronic device 104 may then broadcast a noise notification 202 in response to receiving (e.g., and decrypting) the notification 502 of the sound level from the smartwatch. Such noise detection using a smartwatch may be beneficial because, compared to a smartphone implementation of the electronic device 104, a smartwatch may be less likely to be kept in a pocket, bag, or other container, and may therefore be more likely to be able to detect the full sound level in the noise environment 210. Such noise detection using a smartwatch may also be beneficial for power management and / or optimization. For example, a smartwatch may run audio analysis in the background and transmit a notification (e.g., notification 502, such as a Bluetooth notification) when a sound level above a threshold is reached. Nearby smartphones may cache and eventually (e.g., upon receiving a threshold number of other notifications) act on the notification from the smartwatch (e.g., to provide an alert), thereby allowing nearby smartphones to provide alerts without having to run their own (e.g., always-on) audio analysis. For example, nearby smartphones may each only run a quick local check of sound levels in response to receiving a notification from a smartwatch (e.g., and one or more or many other smartwatches), thereby significantly reducing the battery impact on nearby smartphones.

[0046] exist Figure 5In the example of FIG. 1 , the user 101 of the electronic device 104 is also wearing earbuds or headphones (e.g., audio device 150) while in the noise environment 210. In one or more implementations, the earbuds or headphones may detect (e.g., using their microphones 152) a sound level above a threshold noise level, and may provide a (e.g., encrypted) notification 500 to the electronic device 104. The electronic device 104 may then broadcast the noise notification 202 in response to receiving (e.g., and decrypting) the notification 500 of the sound level from the earbuds or headphones. Such noise detection using earbuds or headphones may be beneficial because, compared to a smart phone implementation of the electronic device 104, the earbuds or headphones may be less likely to be kept in a pocket, bag, or other container, and may therefore be more likely to be able to detect the full sound level in the noise environment 210. In one or more use cases, both the smartwatch and the earbuds or headphones of the user 101 may detect a sound level above the threshold noise level, and may provide a notification to the electronic device 104.

[0047] In one or more implementations, notifications from the smartwatch and / or earbuds or headphones of user 101 may be provided to the electronic device 104 of user 101 using secure (e.g., encrypted) communications that are indecipherable by devices not associated with the user account of user 101. In one or more implementations, the smartwatch of user 101 and / or the earbuds or headphones of user 101 may also separately broadcast noise notifications that are detectable and decipherable by other devices (such as electronic device 110) that are not associated with the user account of user 101. However, in one or more implementations, the electronic device 104 may broadcast a single noise notification on behalf of multiple devices of user 101 (e.g., without separately broadcasting noise notifications from the smartwatch or earbuds or headphones), such that the devices of other users receive only one notification per unit time from the device of any given user.

[0048] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the example of FIG. 4 , electronic device 110 is depicted as being in pocket 400 of user 402 . However, it should also be understood that electronic devices such as electronic device 110 may be disposed in other types of containers within noisy environment 210 . For example, Figure 6Another example use case is illustrated in which the electronic device 110 is disposed in a bag 600 (e.g., a purse, backpack, waist bag, lunch pail, suitcase, or other bag) of a user 402. In this example, the sound 200 may be attenuated or partially blocked from reaching a microphone of the electronic device 110 by the bag 600. In this example use case, the noise notification 202 may be used to notify the electronic device 110 within the bag 600 of high sound levels in the noise environment 210 that the electronic device 110 may not be able to detect while in the bag 600. In this example use case, the electronic device 110 may obtain audio samples while the electronic device 110 is in the bag 600 (e.g., as in Figure 3 ), and the sound level in the audio sample may be compared to a threshold noise level that is lower than a threshold noise level used by the electronic device 104 to trigger the noise notification 202.

[0049] exist Figures 4 to 6 In an example in which the electronic device 110 is in a receptacle (e.g., pocket 400 or bag 600) and / or the microphone 152 of the electronic device 110 is obscured, the electronic device 110 may immediately provide an alert 206 in response to the noise notification 202, may cache the noise notification 202 (e.g., and / or one or more additional noise notifications received from one or more additional devices) and provide the alert 206 when the electronic device 110 is removed from the receptacle (e.g., when the user 402 takes their phone out of their pocket 400 or their bag 600) and / or is otherwise engaged by the user 402, or may provide the alert 206 in response to the noise notification 202 and one or more additional criteria for waking the electronic device 110.

[0050] For example, when in pocket 400, bag 600, or another container, electronic device 110 may be in an inactive state (e.g., a sleep state, such as a state in which the main processor of electronic device 110 is inactive). In the inactive state, a secondary processor (e.g., an always-on processor having fewer computing resources and / or memory resources than the main processor of the electronic device) may have the ability to cache and / or process one or more noise notifications from one or more other devices without waking up the main processor of electronic device 110. In one or more specific implementations, electronic device 110 may cache any noise notifications received from any other device until the user engages electronic device 110 to wake up electronic device 110, and may provide alert 206 when the user wakes up electronic device 110. Because hearing loss typically occurs over an extended period of noise exposure, waiting to provide an alert may be beneficial to the user even if the user does not see the alert until several minutes after receiving noise notification 202. This may be particularly beneficial, for example, in a resource-constrained device such as a portable device powered by a battery, and for which power consumption that occurs by waking up the device to provide an alert that the user does not immediately receive may be undesirable.

[0051] However, in one or more specific implementations, when the electronic device 110 is in an inactive state, one or more criteria may be applied to determine whether to wake up the electronic device 110 to provide the alert 206. For example, the electronic device 110 may wake up from the inactive state (e.g., by activating the main processor of the electronic device 110) in response to receiving a threshold number of noise notifications from a threshold number of other devices to provide the alert 206. For example, receiving the threshold number of noise notifications may serve as a confirmation to the electronic device 110 that the alert 206 may be immediately beneficial to its user. For another example, the electronic device 110 may wake up from the inactive state to provide the alert 206 in response to receiving a noise notification 202 including a sound level above the wake-up threshold sound level. For example, the wake-up threshold sound level (e.g., ninety dB or ninety-five dB) may be higher than the threshold noise level used by the electronic device 104 (e.g., and / or one or more other devices) to trigger the broadcast noise notification. In this way, when the time before hearing damage occurs is less than, for example, a few minutes, the device may be woken up to provide the alert 206.

[0052] In one example use case, the noise notification 202 may include an indication that the sound level detected by the electronic device 104 is eighty decibels. In this example use case, because the user of the electronic device 110 may not experience hearing loss within a few hours, the electronic device 110 may remain in an inactive state, and an alert 206 corresponding to the noise notification 202 may be provided when the user later engages with the electronic device 110 to wake up the electronic device 110. In another example use case, the noise notification 202 may include an indication that the sound level detected by the electronic device 104 is ninety-five decibels. In this example use case, because the user of the electronic device 110 may experience hearing loss within a few minutes, the electronic device 110 may automatically wake up from the inactive state to provide the alert 206 (e.g., even if the electronic device is in a container such as a pocket 400 or a bag 600). For example, in this example use case, the alert 206 may include a tactile output of the electronic device 110 attempting to gain the user's attention from within the container.

[0053] Figure 7 An example alert 206 is illustrated that may be provided by the electronic device 110 (eg, in response to receiving the noise notification 202 from the electronic device 104 and / or receiving one or more other noise notifications from one or more other devices). Figure 7 As illustrated, the alert 206 may include text displayed on a display of the electronic device 110. As shown, the text may include an indication that the alert is a noise alert, a sound level 700, and a suggestion 702. In this example, the sound level 700 is reported in decibels. In one or more specific implementations, the sound level 700 may be a sound level received by the electronic device 110 in a noise notification 202 from the electronic device 104 (e.g., in the payload of the noise notification or in the header of the noise notification). In one or more other specific implementations, the sound level 700 may be a sound level determined at the electronic device 110 based on an audio sample captured by the electronic device 110 in response to receiving the noise notification 202.

[0054] like Figure 7 As shown, the suggestion 702 included in the alert 206 may include a suggestion to wear (e.g., put on) ear protection. As shown, the suggestion 702 may also include a suggestion to use active ear protection to activate noise reduction operation. For example, Figure 7 As shown, in response to receiving the alert 206 via the electronic device 110, the user 402 may wear ear protection, such as an earplug, or an audio device 150, such as an earbud or a headset. In one or more specific implementations, the earbud or headset may include one or more microphones, one or more speakers, and one or more processors capable of performing active noise cancellation (ANC) operations using its microphone and speaker. Figure 7, the active noise cancellation operation of the audio device 150 may actively block or otherwise prevent some or all of the sounds 200 from reaching the user's ears. In one or more implementations, the audio device 150 may automatically increase or decrease the amount of noise cancellation based on a corresponding increase or decrease in the sound level in the noisy environment 210.

[0055] In one or more specific implementations, before providing the alert 206, the electronic device 110 may determine whether any active ear protection devices (e.g., the audio device 150) are near the electronic device 110, paired with the electronic device 110, and / or connected to the electronic device 110 (e.g., via a wired or wireless connection). If such an active ear protection device is detected, the suggestion 702 may include a suggestion to wear the detected active ear protection device. If such an active ear protection device is not detected, the suggestion 702 may include a suggestion to seek non-active hearing protection (such as an ear plug).

[0056] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating an example process 800 for inter-device audio alerts according to a specific implementation of the subject technology is shown. Figures 1 to 3 The process 800 is described with reference to the electronic devices 104 and 110. However, the process 800 is not limited to Figures 1 to 3 The audio device 150 and the electronic device 104 of the embodiment of the present invention may be used, and one or more frames (or operations) of the process 800 may be performed by one or more other components of other suitable devices (including the electronic device 110, the electronic device 112, the electronic device 115 and / or the server 120). Further for the purpose of explanation, some frames of the process 800 are described as occurring sequentially or linearly in this article. However, multiple frames of the process 800 may occur in parallel. In addition, the frames of the process 800 do not have to be performed in the order shown, and / or one or more frames of the process 800 do not have to be performed and / or may be replaced by other operations.

[0057] like Figure 8As illustrated, at box 802, a first electronic device (e.g., electronic device 110) in a noisy environment (e.g., noisy environment 210) may receive a noise notification (e.g., noise notification 202) from a second electronic device (e.g., a first other device, such as electronic device 104) located in the noisy environment (e.g., directly and wirelessly). For example, the noise notification may have been broadcast from the second electronic device located in the noisy environment. The first electronic device may be associated with a first user account (e.g., registered to the first user account), and the second electronic device may be associated with a second user account different from the first user account (e.g., registered to the second user account) (e.g., and may not be associated with the first user account, such as not being registered to the first user account and / or not logging into the first user account). In one or more specific implementations, the noise notification may be a first noise notification, and the first electronic device may also directly and wirelessly receive a second noise notification from a third electronic device (e.g., a second other device, such as electronic device 207-1). As described herein in conjunction with Figure 2 As discussed, one or more additional noise notifications may also be received from one or more additional respective other devices.

[0058] In one or more specific implementations, the first electronic device may determine a first noise level in a noise environment in response to wirelessly receiving at least the noise notification. For example, determining the first noise level may include: obtaining an audio sample of the noise environment using a microphone (e.g., microphone 152) of the first electronic device in response to receiving the noise notification; obtaining a first noise level from the audio sample; and comparing the first noise level with a threshold noise level.

[0059] In one or more specific implementations, the threshold noise level can be a first threshold noise level that is lower than a second threshold noise level used by the second electronic device to trigger the broadcast noise notification. For example, a lower first threshold noise level can allow the first electronic device to confirm the potentially unsafe noise level indicated by the noise notification even if the microphone of the first electronic device is shielded (e.g., in some use cases, shielded by a container (such as a bag or pocket) in which the first electronic device is located when the noise notification is received).

[0060] In one or more specific implementations, the noise notification may include a wireless notification (e.g., a Bluetooth notification or a direct WiFi notification) corresponding to a second noise level measured by a second electronic device in a noise environment. The wireless notification may include an indication of the second noise level (e.g., in a header or payload of the wireless notification). The indication of the second noise level may include an indication of the second noise level and a time period corresponding to the measurement of the second noise level (e.g., ninety dB for ten seconds, thirty seconds, one minute, or three minutes).

[0061] In one or more specific implementations, the noise notification may be a first noise notification, and the first electronic device may determine the first noise level in response to receiving at least the first noise notification from a second electronic device located in the noise environment and receiving the second noise notification from a third electronic device (e.g., electronic device 207-1) located in the noise environment. For example, determining the first noise level may include determining the first noise level in response to receiving the noise notification from the second electronic device and receiving at least one additional noise notification from at least one additional electronic device. In one or more specific implementations, process 800 may also include broadcasting, by the first electronic device, a third noise notification (e.g., noise notification 302) configured to be detected within a predetermined range of the first electronic device.

[0062] At box 804, the first electronic device may provide an alert (e.g., alert 206, such as a hearing protection notification) (e.g., in response to receiving the noise notification, and / or in response to determining that the first noise level is above a threshold noise level). The alert may include a suggestion (e.g., suggestion 702) to obtain hearing protection (e.g., earplugs, earplugs, or headphones, such as audio device 150). In one or more specific implementations, the first electronic device may provide an alert in response to receiving at least the first noise notification and the second noise notification (e.g., with or without determining the first noise level and / or comparing the first noise level to the threshold noise level in response to receiving at least the first noise notification and the second noise notification). The alert may indicate a noise level (e.g., sound level 700) that is above a predetermined safety level (e.g., eighty dB, eighty-five dB, ninety dB, ninety-five dB, or one hundred dB).

[0063] In one or more implementations, the alert can include a notification on a display of the first electronic device (eg, display 221). The alert can also or alternatively include a haptic output by the first electronic device (eg, by a haptic component 225 of the first electronic device).

[0064] In one or more specific implementations, the suggestion includes a suggestion to wear hearing protection. In one or more specific implementations, the first electronic device may determine that an active hearing protection device (e.g., an audio device 150 such as earbuds or headphones registered to the same user account as the first electronic device) is wirelessly connected to the first electronic device, and the suggestion may include a suggestion to wear the active hearing protection device. In one or more specific implementations, process 800 may also include reducing the amount of noise received at the ear of a user of the first electronic device using the active hearing protection device (e.g., by performing an ANC operation using the active hearing protection device).

[0065] In one or more specific implementations, the first electronic device may provide an alert in response to receiving at least a noise notification (e.g., in response to receiving at least a first noise notification from a first other device and a second noise notification from a second other device) by: determining that a microphone of the first electronic device is in a container (e.g., pocket 400 or bag 600) within a noise environment in which the first electronic device, the first other device, and the second other device are located; and providing an alert in response to receiving at least the first noise notification and the second noise notification and in response to determining by the first electronic device (e.g., using one or more sensors such as an accelerometer and / or an ambient light sensor, and / or one or more cameras of the first electronic device) that the first electronic device has been removed from the container.

[0066] In one or more specific implementations, the first electronic device may receive a noise notification and / or one or more additional noise notifications (e.g., a first noise notification from a first other device and a second noise notification from a second other device) when the first electronic device is in an inactive state; and may provide an alarm in response to receiving the noise notification and / or one or more additional noise notifications (e.g., at least the first noise notification and the second noise notification) in the following manner: when the first electronic device is in an inactive state, determining that a noise level indicated in the noise notification and / or one or more additional noise notifications (e.g., indicated in the first noise notification, indicated in the second noise notification, or indicated in both the first noise notification and the second noise notification) is greater than a threshold noise level (e.g., a wake-up threshold level, which may be higher than a threshold noise level used by the second electronic device to trigger transmission of the noise notification); and waking up the first electronic device from the inactive state to provide an alarm in response to determining that the noise level indicated in the noise notification and / or one or more additional noise notifications is greater than the threshold noise level.

[0067] In one or more specific implementations, the first electronic device may receive a noise notification and / or one or more additional noise notifications (e.g., a first noise notification from a first other device and a second noise notification from a second other device) when the first electronic device is in an inactive state; and may provide an alarm in response to receiving the noise notification and / or one or more additional noise notifications (e.g., at least the first noise notification and the second noise notification) in the following manner: when the first electronic device is in an inactive state, determining that the number of noise notifications (e.g., including the first noise notification and the second noise notification) received by the first electronic device is greater than a threshold number of noise notifications; and waking up the first electronic device from the inactive state to provide an alarm in response to determining that the number of noise notifications is greater than the threshold number of noise notifications.

[0068] Fig. 9A flowchart illustrating another example process 900 for inter-device audio alerts according to a specific implementation of the subject technology is shown. Figures 1 to 3 The process 900 is described with reference to the audio device 150 and the electronic device 104. However, the process 900 is not limited to Figures 1 to 3 The audio device 150 and the electronic device 104 of the embodiment of the present invention may be used, and one or more frames (or operations) of the process 900 may be performed by one or more other components of other suitable devices (including the electronic device 110, the electronic device 115 and / or the server 120). Further for the purpose of explanation, some frames of the process 900 are described as occurring sequentially or linearly in this article. However, multiple frames of the process 900 may occur in parallel. In addition, the frames of the process 900 do not have to be performed in the order shown, and / or one or more frames of the process 900 do not have to be performed and / or may be replaced by other operations.

[0069] like Fig. 9 As illustrated, at box 902, a first electronic device (e.g., electronic device 104) may determine that the noise level in the physical environment (e.g., noise environment 210) of the first electronic device is higher than a threshold noise level. For example, the first electronic device may (e.g., using one or more microphones 152 thereof) obtain one or more audio samples of the physical environment and may compare the sound level (e.g., noise level) in the one or more audio samples to the threshold noise level. In one or more use cases, when it is determined that the noise level in the physical environment is higher than the threshold noise level, the first electronic device may be worn by a user or carried by a user. The threshold noise level may be a noise level above which temporary or permanent hearing loss or damage may occur (when a human ear is exposed to the noise level for a period of time).

[0070] At box 904, the first electronic device may wirelessly and in response to the determination broadcast a noise notification notification (e.g., noise notification 202) that can be detected within a predetermined range of the first electronic device. For example, the predetermined range may include the range of a wireless communication protocol (e.g., a Bluetooth range or a direct WiFi range). The noise notification notification may include information indicating a noise level (e.g., sound level 700). The noise notification notification may include time information indicating a time period within which the first electronic device measured the noise level. The first electronic device may periodically broadcast updated noise notification notifications (e.g., including updated noise level measurements and / or updated timing information of updated noise level measurements) when the noise level continues to be above a threshold noise level. In one or more specific implementations, the updated noise notification notification may include a rotating random notification address so that the periodically updated noise notification notification cannot be used to track the first electronic device.

[0071] In one or more specific implementations, determining that the noise level in the physical environment of the first electronic device is above the threshold noise level may include wirelessly receiving a noise notification (e.g., as described herein in conjunction with) from a third electronic device (e.g., audio device 150 and / or electronic device 112) that is associated with (e.g., registered to) the first user account. Figure 5 As described herein, the second electronic device can provide an alert (eg, alert 206) to its user in response to receiving the noise notification announcement.

[0072] As described above, one aspect of the present technology is the collection and use of data available from specific and legitimate sources for inter-device audio alerts. The present disclosure contemplates that, in some instances, the collected data may include personal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used to identify a specific person. Such personal information data may include voice samples, voice profiles, demographic data, location-based data, online identifiers, phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, biometric data or records related to a user's health or fitness level (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, or any other personal information.

[0073] The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information data in the present technology can be used to benefit users. For example, the personal information data can be used for device-to-device audio alerts.

[0074] The present disclosure envisions that entities responsible for collecting, analyzing, disclosing, transmitting, storing or otherwise using such personal information data will comply with established privacy policies and / or privacy practices. Specifically, such entities will be expected to implement and consistently apply privacy practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding the requirements of the industry or government that maintain user privacy. Such information about the use of personal data should be prominently and easily accessible to users, and should be updated as the collection and / or use of data changes. The user's personal information should be collected only for legitimate use. In addition, such collection / sharing should only occur after receiving user consent or other legal basis specified in applicable law. In addition, such entities should consider taking any necessary steps to protect and safeguard access to such personal information data and ensure that other entities with access to personal information data comply with the privacy policies and procedures of other entities. In addition, such entities may subject themselves to third-party assessments to demonstrate their compliance with widely accepted privacy policies and privacy practices. In addition, policies and practices should be adjusted for specific types of personal information data collected and / or accessed, and applied to applicable laws and standards, including specific considerations that are exclusive to jurisdictions that can be used to impose higher standards. For example, in the United States, the collection or access of certain health data may be governed by federal and / or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); while health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly.

[0075] Notwithstanding the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates implementation schemes in which users selectively block the use or access of personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware elements and / or software elements may be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, in the example of an inter-device audio alert, the subject technology may be configured to allow a user to choose to "opt in" or "opt out" to participate in the collection and / or sharing of personal information data during registration for a service or at any time thereafter. In addition to providing "opt-in" and "opt-out" options, the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications related to access or use of personal information. For example, a user may be notified that the user's personal information data will be accessed when downloading an application, and then the user may be reminded again just before the personal information data is accessed by the application.

[0076] Furthermore, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personal information data should be managed and processed in a manner that minimizes the risk of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risks can be minimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once it is no longer needed. Additionally, and when applicable, including in certain health-related applications, data de-identification can be used to protect the privacy of users. De-identification can be facilitated when appropriate by removing identifiers, controlling the amount or specificity of stored data (e.g., collecting location data at a city level rather than at an address level or at a level that is insufficient for facial recognition), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users), and / or other methods such as differential privacy.

[0077] Therefore, while the present disclosure broadly covers the use of personal information data to implement one or more of the various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that various embodiments may be implemented without requiring access to such personal information data. That is, various embodiments of the present technology will not fail to function properly due to the lack of all or part of such personal information data.

[0078] Fig.10 An electronic system 1000 is illustrated that can be used to implement one or more implementations of the subject technology. The electronic system 1000 can be, for example, Figure 1 The audio device 150, electronic device 104, electronic device 110, electronic device 115 and / or server 120 shown and / or may be a part thereof. The electronic system 1000 may include various types of computer-readable media and interfaces for various other types of computer-readable media. The electronic system 1000 includes a bus 1008, one or more processing units 1012, a system memory 1004 (and / or cache), a ROM 1010, a permanent storage device 1002, an input device interface 1014, an output device interface 1006, and one or more network interfaces 1016, or a subset and variant thereof.

[0079] The bus 1008 generally represents all system buses, peripheral busses, and chipset buses that communicatively connect the many internal devices of the electronic system 1000. In one or more specific implementations, the bus 1008 communicatively connects one or more processing units 1012 with the ROM 1010, the system memory 1004, and the permanent storage device 1002. The one or more processing units 1012 retrieve instructions to be executed and data to be processed from these various memory units in order to perform the processes disclosed in the present subject matter. In different specific implementations, the one or more processing units 1012 can be a single processor or a multi-core processor.

[0080] ROM 1010 stores static data and instructions required by one or more processing units 1012 and other modules of electronic system 1000. On the other hand, permanent storage device 1002 can be a read-write memory device. Permanent storage device 1002 can be a non-volatile memory unit that stores instructions and data even when electronic system 1000 is turned off. In one or more specific implementations, a mass storage device (such as a magnetic disk or optical disk and its corresponding magnetic disk drive) can be used as permanent storage device 1002.

[0081] In one or more specific implementations, a removable storage device (such as a floppy disk, a flash drive and its corresponding disk drive) can be used as a permanent storage device 1002. Like the permanent storage device 1002, the system memory 1004 can be a read-write memory device. However, unlike the permanent storage device 1002, the system memory 1004 can be a volatile read-write memory, such as a random access memory. The system memory 1004 can store any of the instructions and data that one or more processing units 1012 may need at runtime. In one or more specific implementations, the processes disclosed in the subject matter are stored in the system memory 1004, the permanent storage device 1002, and / or the ROM 1010 (each of which is implemented as a non-transitory computer-readable medium). One or more processing units 1012 retrieve instructions to be executed and data to be processed from these various memory units in order to perform the processes of one or more specific implementations.

[0082] The bus 1008 is also connected to an input device interface 1014 and an output device interface 1006. The input device interface 1014 enables a user to transmit information and select commands to the electronic system 1000. Input devices that can be used with the input device interface 1014 may include, for example, an alphanumeric keyboard and a pointing device (also referred to as a "cursor control device"). The output device interface 1006 may, for example, enable the display of images generated by the electronic system 1000. Output devices that can be used with the output device interface 1006 may include, for example, a printer and a display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a flexible display, a flat panel display, a solid-state display, a projector, or any other device for outputting information. One or more specific implementations may include a device that acts as both an input device and an output device, such as a touch screen. In these specific implementations, the feedback provided to the user may be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user may be received in any form, including acoustic, voice, or tactile input.

[0083] Finally, if Fig.10As shown, bus 1008 also couples electronic system 1000 to one or more networks and / or to one or more network nodes, such as via one or more network interfaces 1016. Figure 1 In this manner, electronic system 1000 may be part of a computer network, such as a LAN, a wide area network ("WAN"), or an intranet, or may be part of a network of networks, such as the Internet. Any or all components of electronic system 1000 may be used with the subject disclosure.

[0084] The above functions can be implemented in computer software, firmware or hardware. The technology can be implemented using one or more computer program products. The programmable processor and computer can be included in a mobile device or packaged as a mobile device. The process and logic flow can be performed by one or more programmable processors and one or more programmable logic circuits. General and special computing devices and storage devices can be interconnected through a communication network.

[0085] Some implementations include electronic components such as microprocessors, storage devices, and memory that store computer program instructions in a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (also referred to as a computer-readable storage medium, a machine-readable medium, or a machine-readable storage medium). Some examples of such computer-readable media include RAM, ROM, compact disk-read only (CD-ROM), compact disk-recordable (CD-R), compact disk-rewritable (CD-RW), read-only digital versatile disk (e.g., DVD-ROM, dual-layer DVD-ROM), various recordable / rewritable DVDs (e.g., DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, etc.), flash memory (e.g., SD card, mini-SD card, micro-SD card, etc.), magnetic and / or solid-state hard drives, read-only and recordable Blu-Ray ® A computer readable medium may store a computer program that is executable by at least one processing unit and includes a set of instructions for performing various operations. Examples of computer programs or computer code include machine code, such as that produced by a compiler, and files including higher-level code that can be executed by a computer, electronic component, or microprocessor using an interpreter.

[0086] Although the above discussion mainly involves microprocessors or multi-core processors that execute software, some implementations are performed by one or more integrated circuits such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). In some implementations, such integrated circuits execute instructions stored on the circuits themselves.

[0087] As used in this specification and any claims of this patent application, the terms "computer", "server", "processor" and "memory" refer to electronic or other technical devices. These terms exclude people or groups of people. For the purposes of this specification, the terms display or displaying means displaying on an electronic device. As used in this specification and any claims of this patent application, the terms "computer-readable medium" and "computer-readable media" are entirely limited to tangible, tangible objects that store information in a form that can be read by a computer. These terms do not include any wireless signals, wired download signals, and any other transient signals.

[0088] To provide interaction with a user, implementations of the subject matter described in this specification may be implemented on a computer having a display device, such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user, and a keyboard and pointing device, such as a mouse or trackball, that the user can use to provide input to the computer. Other types of devices may also be used to provide interaction with a user; for example, feedback provided to the user may be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user may be received in any form, including acoustic, voice, or tactile input. In addition, a computer may interact with a user by transmitting documents to and receiving documents from a device used by the user; for example, by transmitting a web page to a web browser in response to a request received from the web browser on the user's client device.

[0089] The embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification may be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component, such as a data server, or includes a middleware component, such as an application server, or includes a front-end component, such as a client computer with a graphical user interface or a web browser, through which a user can interact with a specific implementation of the subject matter described in this specification, or includes any combination of one or more such back-end components, middleware components, or front-end components. The components of the system may be interconnected by digital data communication of any form or medium, such as a communication network. Examples of communication networks include local area networks ("LANs") and wide area networks ("WANs"), interconnected networks (e.g., the Internet), and peer-to-peer networks (e.g., self-organizing peer-to-peer networks).

[0090] A computing system may include a client and a server. The client and the server are generally remote from each other and may interact via a communication network. The relationship of the client and the server is generated by computer programs running on respective computers and having a client-server relationship with each other. In some specific implementations, the server sends data (e.g., an HTML page) to a client device (e.g., to display data to a user interacting with the client device and to receive user input from a user interacting with the client device). Data generated at the client device (e.g., a result of a user interaction) may be received at the server from the client device.

[0091] Those skilled in the art will recognize that various illustrative frames, modules, elements, components, methods and algorithms described herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software or a combination of the two. In order to illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative frames, modules, elements, components, methods and algorithms have been generally described above according to functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends on specific applications and the design constraints imposed on the entire system. The functions can be implemented in different ways for each specific application. Various components and frames can be arranged differently (e.g., arranged in different orders, or divided in different ways), without departing from the scope of the subject technology.

[0092] It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the process disclosed by the present invention is an illustration of an exemplary method. Based on design preference requirements, it should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the process can be rearranged. Some of the steps can be performed simultaneously. The attached method claims present elements of various steps in a sample order and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

[0093] The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. The previous description provides various examples of the subject technology, and the subject technology is not limited to these examples. Various modifications to these aspects are obvious to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Therefore, the claims are not intended to be limited to the various aspects shown herein, but are intended to make the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to elements in the singular form is not intended to mean "only one", but to mean "one or more", unless specifically indicated. Unless otherwise specifically stated, the term "some" refers to one or more. Male pronouns (e.g., his) include female and neutral (e.g., her and its), and vice versa. Titles and subtitles (if any) are for convenience only and do not limit the present invention described herein.

[0094] The predicate words "configured to," "operable to," and "programmed to" do not imply any specific tangible or intangible modification of a subject matter but are intended to be used interchangeably. For example, a component or a processor configured to monitor and control an operation may also mean that the processor is programmed to monitor and control the operation or that the processor is operable to monitor and control the operation. Likewise, a processor configured to execute code may be interpreted as a processor programmed to execute code or operable to execute code.

[0095] As used herein, the term automatically may include execution by a computer or machine without user intervention; for example, by instructions in response to a predicate action of a computer or machine or other initiating mechanism. The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example or illustration." Any aspect or design described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.

[0096] Phrases such as "aspects" do not mean that this aspect is essential to the subject technology or that this aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology. The disclosure related to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. An aspect may provide one or more examples. Phrases such as aspects may refer to one or more aspects, and vice versa. Phrases such as "implementation" do not mean that this implementation is essential to the subject technology or that this implementation applies to all configurations of the subject technology. The disclosure related to an implementation may apply to all implementations, or one or more implementations. An implementation may provide one or more examples. Phrases such as "implementation" may refer to one or more implementations, and vice versa. Phrases such as "configuration" do not mean that this configuration is essential to the subject technology or that this configuration applies to all configurations of the subject technology. The disclosure related to a configuration may apply to all configurations or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or more examples. Phrases such as "configuration" may refer to one or more configurations, and vice versa.

[0097] All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later become known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be covered by the claims. In addition, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be made available to the public regardless of whether the disclosure is explicitly stated in a claim. No claim element shall be interpreted under the provisions of 35 USC §112(f) unless the element is explicitly stated using the phrase "means for..." or, in the case of a method claim, the element is stated using the phrase "step for..."

Claims

1. A method comprising wirelessly receiving, by a first electronic device in a noisy environment, a noise notification from a second electronic device located in the noisy environment; and A hearing protection notification is provided by the first electronic device in response to the noise notification. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the noise notification comprises a wireless announcement corresponding to a noise level measured by the second electronic device in the noisy environment. The method of claim 2 , wherein the wireless notification includes an indication of the noise level. 4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the indication of the noise level comprises an indication of the noise level and a time period corresponding to a measurement of the noise level. 5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hearing conservation notification comprises a notification on a display of the first electronic device. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hearing protection notification comprises a tactile output by the first electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the hearing conservation notification includes a recommendation to wear hearing protection equipment.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining, by the first electronic device, that an active hearing protection device is wirelessly connected to the first electronic device, and wherein the recommendation comprises a recommendation to wear the active hearing protection device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising using the active hearing protection device to reduce an amount of noise received at an ear of a user of the first electronic device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the active hearing protection device comprises an earplug.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the noise notification comprises a first noise notification, and wherein providing the hearing protection notification in response to receiving the noise notification comprises: The hearing protection notification is provided in response to receiving at least the first noise notification from the second electronic device located in the noisy environment and a second noise notification from a third electronic device located in the noisy environment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the hearing protection notification in response to receiving at least the first noise notification from the second electronic device located in the noisy environment and the second noise notification from the third electronic device located in the noisy environment comprises: A hearing protection notification is provided in response to receiving a plurality of noise notifications greater than a threshold number of noise notifications from a plurality of respective other devices.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the hearing conservation notification in response to receiving the noise notification comprises: obtaining, by the first electronic device in response to receiving the noise notification, an audio sample of the noise environment; as well as The hearing protection notification is provided in response to determining that a noise level in the audio sample exceeds a threshold noise level.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein obtaining the audio sample of the noise environment in response to receiving the noise notification comprises, by the first electronic device: receiving the noise notification and a plurality of additional noise notifications; and Waiting until a threshold number of noise notifications have been received before obtaining the audio sample of the noisy environment. 15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the threshold noise level comprises a first threshold noise level that is lower than a second threshold noise level used by the second electronic device to trigger the noise notification.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the hearing conservation notification in response to receiving the noise notification comprises: The first electronic device determines that a microphone of the first electronic device is in a container within the noise environment; as well as The hearing protection notification is provided in response to receiving the noise notification and in response to a determination by the first electronic device that the first electronic device has been removed from the receptacle.

17. A device comprising: Memory; and One or more processors configured to: receiving noise notification directly and wirelessly from another device; determining a noise level in a physical environment of the device in response to wirelessly receiving at least the noise notification; as well as A hearing protection notification is provided in response to determining that the noise level is above a threshold noise level.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the noise level in part by obtaining an audio sample of the physical environment using a microphone of the device.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the noise level in response to receiving the noise notification from the other device and at least one additional noise notification from at least one additional device.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the device is associated with a first user account, and wherein the another device is associated with a second user account different from the first user account.

21. A method comprising: determining, by the first electronic device, that a noise level in a physical environment of the first electronic device is above a threshold noise level; as well as A noise notification announcement detectable within a predetermined range of the first electronic device is wirelessly provided by the first electronic device in response to the determination.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined range comprises a range of a wireless communication protocol, and wherein the noise notification announcement comprises information indicative of the noise level.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the first electronic device is associated with a user account, wherein the noise notification notification is configured to be detected by at least a second electronic device associated with a second user account, and wherein determining that the noise level in the physical environment of the first electronic device is higher than the threshold noise level includes wirelessly receiving a noise notification from a third electronic device associated with the user account.

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