Method and apparatus for automatic volume control

An apparatus for automatically controlling a volume level of an audio signal transmitted to or received by a mobile station within a wireless telecommunications network for one or more subscribers, the apparatus comprising:

• a noise measuring device for measuring a noise external to communication with the mobile station;
• a volume controller communicably coupled to the noise measuring device for adjusting the gain of the audio signal transmitted to or received by the mobile station based on an input from a subscriber identity module, and for updating the volume control data corresponding to the subscriber and the measurement of the noise whenever the subscriber manually adjusts a volume level of the audio signal;
• and
• the subscriber identity module communicably coupled to the noise measuring device for identifying the subscriber and in communication with the volume controller for providing the input to the volume controller, wherein the input is based on the volume control data corresponding to the subscriber and the measurement of the noise.

A method of automatically controlling a volume level of an audio signal transmitted to or received by a mobile station within a telecommunications network for one or more subscribers, comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a measurement of a background noise signal;
• obtaining a preferred volume level corresponding to the subscriber and the measurement of the background noise signal;
• automatically adjusting the volume level of the audio signal to the preferred volume level;
• and
• updating the preferred volume level corresponding to the subscriber and the measurement of the background noise signal whenever the subscriber manually adjusts the volume level of the audio signal.

A method of automatically controlling the volume level of an audio signal transmitted to or received by a mobile station within a telecommunications network for one or more subscribers, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first audio signal wherein the first audio signal comprises speech;
• receiving a second audio signal wherein the second audio signal comprises background noise;
• obtaining a preferred volume level corresponding to the subscriber and the level of the second audio signal;
• obtaining a third audio signal by filtering the first audio signal;
• automatically adjusting the volume level of the third audio signal to the preferred volume level;
• and
• updating the preferred volume level corresponding to the subscriber and the level of the second audio signal whenever the subscriber manually adjusts the volume level of the third audio signal.