System and Method for Providing Feedback to a Caller in Response to The Modulation of an Incoming Voice Communication

Abstract

In order to facilitate the modulation of speech delivery to a participant that is driving or otherwise performing a parallel task, a feedback mechanism is incorporated in order to inform the remote participant of the progress of the delivery of his/her speech at their end of the conversation. In this way, the remote participant is both aware of the modulation occurring at the other end and can adjust their speech to adapt to the current conditions, using the feedback as a guide.

1 . A method of operating a mobile device, the method comprising:
 automatically modulating an incoming voice signal from a remote device on the mobile device to control output thereof in response to at least one external event; and   re-synchronizing the incoming voice signal after detecting a further external event.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incoming voice signal is modulated to slow down speech delivery and the re-synchronizing comprising speeding up the speech delivery. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising detecting movement of the mobile device, and wherein the further external event corresponds to a lack of movement of the mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the incoming voice signal is modulated according to the at least one external event. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating feedback indicative of the modulation of the incoming voice signal, the feedback being generated based on how the incoming voice signal is being modulated; and providing the feedback to the remote device in conjunction with an outgoing voice signal. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising determining one or more intervals wherein the modulation is being applied; and generating a feedback signal to deliver the feedback during the one or more intervals. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the feedback enables at least one of the following to be provided at the remote device:
 an audible output;   a visual output; and   a tactile output.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the audible output enables at least one of a series of discrete tones, a pre-recorded message, and background music to be provided at the remote device. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the visual output enables at least one of a progress bar and a representation of the modulation to be provided at the remote device. 
     
     
         10 . A mobile device comprising a communication subsystem configured for participating in voice communications, the communication subsystem being configured for:
 automatically modulating an incoming voice signal from a remote device on the mobile device to control output thereof in response to at least one external event; and   re-synchronizing the incoming voice signal after detecting a further external event.   
     
     
         11 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the incoming voice signal is modulated to slow down speech delivery and the re-synchronizing comprising speeding up the speech delivery. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile device of  claim 11 , further comprising detecting movement of the mobile device, and wherein the further external event corresponds to a lack of movement of the mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile device according to  claim 10 , wherein the incoming voice signal is modulated according to the at least one external event. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , further configured for: generating feedback indicative of the modulation of the incoming voice signal, the feedback being generated based on how the incoming voice signal is being modulated; and providing the feedback to the remote device in conjunction with an outgoing voice signal. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile device according to  claim 14 , further configured for determining one or more intervals wherein the modulation is being applied; and generating a feedback signal to deliver the feedback during the one or more intervals. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device according to  claim 10 , wherein the feedback enables at least one of the following to be provided at the remote device:
 an audible output;   a visual output; and   a tactile output.   
     
     
         17 . The mobile device according to  claim 16 , wherein the audible output enables at least one of a series of discrete tones, a pre-recorded message, and background music to be provided at the remote device. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile device according to  claim 16 , wherein the visual output enables at least one of a progress bar and a representation of the modulation to be provided at the remote device. 
     
     
         19 . A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for:
 automatically modulating an incoming voice signal from a remote device on the mobile device to control output thereof in response to at least one external event; and   re-synchronizing the incoming voice signal after detecting a further external event.