An information processing apparatus comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to receive a notification for a user; sensing circuitry configured to determine the position of the information processing apparatus; storage configured to store a notification mechanism in association with particular positions of the information processing apparatus; and control circuitry configured to control notification circuitry to perform the notification mechanism based on the position of the information processing apparatus.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide an audio output mode adjustment structure that can include a sound output channel communicating an interior and an exterior of the electronic device and an adjusting unit. An opening of the sound output channel is located at the top of the electronic device. The adjustment unit moves relative to the opening of the sound output channel so that when the electronic device outputs audio in a loud-speaking mode, the adjustment unit does not cover the sound output channel, and sound waves propagate in a straight line through the opening of the sound output channel, and when the electronic device outputs audio in the handset mode, the adjustment unit covers the opening of the sound output channel, so that the sound waves propagate toward a display screen side of the electronic device through the opening of the sound output channel.

This disclosure provides a mobile terminal and a sound output control method. The mobile terminal includes: a display screen; a strip-shaped sound output hole, disposed at a top edge of the display screen; and at least two phone receivers, each of which is connected to the sound output hole by a sound conduction channel, where at least one phone receiver is disposed adjacently to a first end of the sound output hole, and at least one phone receiver is disposed adjacently to a second end of the sound output hole.

A method, a mobile device, and a computer program product enable capacitive proximity sensing in a mobile device. The method includes determining, by a controller of a mobile device, whether the mobile device is participating in an active phone call. In response to determining that the mobile device is participating in an active phone call, the method further includes determining if an ear speaker mode of the mobile device is enabled. In response to determining that the ear speaker mode of the mobile device is enabled, the method further includes activating a driven shield to at least partially shield a capacitance sensor from sensing object capacitance at a second side of the mobile device that is opposed to a first side with the ear speaker.

A system and method for controlling the content of a user device in response to an audible request is disclosed. The system and method include an intelligent voice assistant that can control viewable content of the user device in response to a user's request. The system and method can also be used to sync content between a user and a service representative when either the user or service representative make an audible request to sync content.

A method, a mobile device, and a computer program product enable capacitive proximity sensing in a mobile device. The method includes determining, by a controller of a mobile device, whether the mobile device is participating in an active phone call. In response to determining that the mobile device is participating in an active phone call, the method further includes determining if an ear speaker mode of the mobile device is enabled. In response to determining that the ear speaker mode of the mobile device is enabled, the method further includes activating a driven shield to at least partially shield a capacitance sensor from sensing object capacitance at a second side of the mobile device that is opposed to a first side with the ear speaker.

A system and method for providing anonymous communications from a user to a called party includes obtaining a dedicated phone number and creating a user account for the user and assigning the dedicated phone number to the user account. A provider account is created for a digital assistant using the dedicated phone number and the digital assistant is preprogrammed with the user account. The digital assistant is also preprogrammed with a skill for recognizing a specific utterance (e.g. “Call”). Connectivity is provided between the digital assistant and the Internet, for example, using a wireless access point. The digital assistant listens for the specific utterance and, upon recognizing the specific utterance followed by an identification of the called party, the digital assistant initiates a voice call through the Internet to the called party.

An appliance can include a microphone transducer configured to receive sound from an environment and to convert the received sound into an audio signal. The appliance can be configured to receive an input audio signal via the microphone transducer, responsive to an activation input. The appliance can be configured to initiate a bi-directional, wireless communication connection with an external device in parallel with receiving the input audio signal, and responsive to the activation input. The appliance can be configured to transmit an output audio signal corresponding to the input audio signal over the communication connection when the wireless communication connection is established. Related aspects also are described.

A portable communication device (100) comprises a housing that provides an elongated aperture (114) having a non-touch user interface (116) residing therein. The non-touch user interface (116) is formed of an elongated rounded rectangular shaped body. A plurality of non-touch user interface features (118) are spaced apart side-by-side along the single elongated rounded rectangular shaped body of the non-touch user interface (116). The elongated aperture (114) with non-touch user interface (116) residing therein define a visible non-touch user interface zone (120) on the surface of the portable communication device for the protection of the non-touch user interface features (118).

A head mounted display (HMD) worn on a head of a first person that provides an electronic call between the first person and a second person. The HMD includes or more sensors that determine a size of a physical environment where the first person is located and objects in the physical environment. A display displays a virtual image of the second person during the electronic call, and one or more processors adjust a voice of the second person played to the first person to compensation for sound reverberation. The HMD include speakers that play the voice of the second person in binaural sound compensated for the sound reverberation.