# US 9,438,715 B2 · Broadcast mode control method and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,438,715 B2 - Document ID: US9438715B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/089,654 - Filed: 2013-11-25 - Published: 2014-05-15 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-23 - Assignees: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited - Applicants: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited - Inventors: Xiaolong Zhang; Bin Zhang; Xing Liang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438715B2 ## CPC - H04M 1/605: {involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user} - H04M 2250/12: including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and an apparatus for controlling a play mode, and a mobile terminal. The method includes: detecting whether a mobile terminal is in a preset status according to an operation of a user on the mobile terminal; if the mobile terminal is in the preset status, acquiring a distance between the user and the mobile terminal; and if the distance between the user and the mobile terminal is smaller than a preset threshold, controlling the mobile terminal to enter an earphone play mode. Trough the present invention, the play mode of the mobile terminal can be effectively and accurately controlled, thereby avoiding unnecessary operations and improving the intelligence of the mobile terminal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling a play mode of a mobile terminal, comprising: at the mobile terminal having one or more processors and memory for storing programs to be executed by the one or more processors: detecting whether a position status of the mobile terminal is in a preset status according to an operation by a user; within a preset time window after the mobile terminal is in the preset status, generating a sensing signal using the mobile terminal and receiving an echoed signal associated with the sensing signal from the user; and calculating a distance between the user and the mobile terminal according to the sensing signal and the echoed signal; and when the distance between the user and the mobile terminal is smaller than a preset threshold, controlling the mobile terminal to enter an earphone play mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting whether a mobile terminal is in a preset status according to an operation by a user further comprises: when the user operates the mobile terminal, detecting a gravity sensing signal generated by the mobile terminal under the operation; determining a position status of the mobile terminal according to the detected gravity sensing signal; and judging whether the mobile terminal is in the preset status according to the determined position status; wherein the position status includes a vertical status and a horizontal status, and the preset status is the vertical status. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: when the echoed signal returned by the user is not received in the preset time window, controlling the mobile terminal to enter a speaker play mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: if the mobile terminal is in a nonpreset status, controlling the mobile terminal to enter a speaker play mode; or if the distance between the user and the mobile terminal is greater than or equal to the preset threshold, controlling the mobile terminal to enter a speaker play mode. ### Claim 5 An apparatus for controlling a play mode of a mobile terminal, comprising: one or more processors; memory; and a plurality of program modules stored in the memory and to be executed by the one or more processors, the plurality of program modules further including instructions for: detecting whether a position status of the mobile terminal is in a preset status according to an operation by a user; within a preset time window after the mobile terminal is in the preset status, generating a sensing signal using the mobile terminal, receiving an echoed signal associated with the sensing signal from the user, and calculating a distance between the user and the mobile terminal according to the sensing signal and the echoed signal; and controlling the mobile terminal to enter an earphone play mode when the distance between the user and the mobile terminal is smaller than a preset threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein instruction for detecting whether the position status of the mobile terminal is in a preset status according to the operation by the user further includes instructions for: detecting a gravity sensing signal generated by the mobile terminal under the operation when the user operates the mobile terminal; determining a position status of the mobile terminal according to the detected gravity sensing signal; and judging whether the mobile terminal is in the preset status according to the determined position status; wherein the position status comprises a vertical status or a horizontal status, and the preset status is the vertical status. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the instruction for controlling the mobile terminal to enter the earphone play mode when the distance between the user and the mobile terminal is smaller than the present threshold includes instructions for controlling the mobile terminal to enter a speaker play mode when the echoed signal returned by the user is not received in the preset time window. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the instruction for controlling the mobile terminal to enter the earphone play mode when the distance between the user and the mobile terminal is smaller than the present threshold further includes instructions for controlling the mobile terminal to enter a speaker play mode when it is detected that the mobile terminal is in a nonpreset status; or when the distance between the user and the mobile terminal is greater than or equal to the preset threshold, controlling the mobile terminal to enter a speaker play mode. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium in conjunction with a mobile terminal, the computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for controlling a play mode of the mobile terminal, the one or more programs including instructions for: detecting whether a position status of the mobile terminal is in a preset status according to an operation by a user; within a preset time window after the mobile terminal is in the preset status, generating a sensing signal using the mobile terminal and receiving an echoed signal associated with the sensing signal from the user; and calculating a distance between the user and the mobile terminal according to the sensing signal and the echoed signal; and when the distance between the user and the mobile terminal is smaller than a preset threshold, controlling the mobile terminal to enter an earphone play mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the instruction for detecting whether a mobile terminal is in a preset status according to an operation by a user further includes instructions for: when the user operates the mobile terminal, detecting a gravity sensing signal generated by the mobile terminal under the operation; determining a position status of the mobile terminal according to the detected gravity sensing signal; and judging whether the mobile terminal is in the preset status according to the determined position status; wherein the position status includes a vertical status and a horizontal status, and the preset status is the vertical status. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for: when the echoed signal returned by the user is not received in the preset time window, controlling the mobile terminal to enter a speaker play mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for: if the mobile terminal is in a nonpreset status, controlling the mobile terminal to enter a speaker play mode; or if the distance between the user and the mobile terminal is greater than or equal to the preset threshold, controlling the mobile terminal to enter a speaker play mode.