System and method for obscuring unwanted ambient noise and a mobile communications device and central office equipment incorporating the same

Abstract

A system for, and method of, obscuring ambient noise with a mobile communications device and central office equipment including the system and/or method. In one embodiment, the mobile communications device includes: (1) a background sound generator (2) a mixer coupled to the background sound generator, (3) a user interface coupled to the mixer and configured to allow a user to indicate a selection for a sound and (4) control circuitry, configured to: (4A) detect the selection, (4B) direct the background sound generator to produce the sound and (4C) direct the mixer to mix the sound with a transmitted signal.

1 . A system for obscuring ambient noise, comprising: 
 a background sound generator configured to provide an output;    a mixer coupled to said background sound generator; and    a user interface, coupled to said mixer, configured to cause said mixer to mix said output with a transmitted signal based upon a command from a user and allow said user to control a volume of said output.    
   
   
       2 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said background sound generator synthesizes said output.  
   
   
       3 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said background sound generator reproduces said output from stored background sound data.  
   
   
       4 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said background sound generator reproduces said output from a data stream received in real time.  
   
   
       5 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said output is selectable via said user interface.  
   
   
       6 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said background sound is a sound selected from the group consisting of: 
 music,    white noise,    colored noise,    out-of-phase ambient noise, and    simulated alternative ambient noise.    
   
   
       7 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said system is associated with a handset selected from the group consisting of: 
 a wireless handset, and    a wireline handset.    
   
   
       8 . A mobile communications device, comprising: 
 a background sound generator;    a mixer coupled to said background sound generator;    a user interface coupled to said mixer and configured to allow a user to indicate a selection for a sound; and    control circuitry, configured to detect said selection and direct said background sound generator to produce said sound, said control circuitry further configured to direct said mixer to mix said sound with a transmitted signal.    
   
   
       9 . The mobile communications device of  claim 8  wherein said control circuitry is further configured to allow said user to control a volume of said sound.  
   
   
       10 . The mobile communications device of  claim 8  further comprising a background sound memory, said control circuitry configured to direct said background sound memory to provide said sound to said background sound generator.  
   
   
       11 . The mobile communications device of  claim 8  wherein said sound is a sound selected from the group consisting of: 
 music,    white noise,    colored noise, and    out-of-phase ambient noise.    
   
   
       12 . The mobile communications device of  claim 8  wherein said sound is a simulated alternative ambient noise.  
   
   
       13 . A method of obscuring ambient noise, comprising: 
 generating a background sound;    responding to a user command by mixing said background sound with a transmitted signal; and    responding to a user command to control a volume of said background sound.    
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 13  wherein said generating comprises synthesizing said background sound.  
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 13  wherein said generating comprises reproducing said background sound from stored background sound data.  
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 13  wherein said generating comprises reproducing said background sound from a data stream received in real time.  
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 13  further comprising selecting said background sound via said user interface.  
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said background sound is a sound selected from the group consisting of: 
 music,    white noise,    colored noise, and    out-of-phase ambient noise.    
   
   
       19 . Central office equipment, comprising: 
 a background sound generator;    a mixer coupled to said background sound generator; and    control circuitry, configured to receive a selection for a sound from a user via a mobile communications device and direct said background sound generator to provide said sound based on said selection, said control circuitry further configured to direct said mixer to mix said sound into a transmitted signal from said mobile communications device.    
   
   
       20 . The central office equipment of  claim 19  wherein said control circuitry is further configured to allow said user to control a volume of said sound.  
   
   
       21 . The central office equipment of  claim 19  further comprising a background sound memory, said control circuitry configured to direct said background sound memory to provide said sound to said background sound generator.  
   
   
       22 . The central office equipment of  claim 19  wherein said sound is a sound selected from the group consisting of: 
 music,    white noise,    colored noise,    out-of-phase ambient noise, and    a simulated alternative ambient noise.