For example, while the audio signal is being produced, the whack based audio control module 110 of the mobile device could receive acceleration data from accelerometer 120. The acceleration data indicates acceleration of the mobile device detected by the accelerometer. The mobile device could include exemplar whack event data 130 that indicates exemplar acceleration during a whacking event. The whack based audio control module could receive exemplar event data to determine a correlation between the acceleration data and exemplar event data to detect a whacking event. When a whacking event is detected and responsive thereto, the audio signal is controlled.

The second patent figure noted above is Microsoft's patent FIG. 3A which illustrates a diagram 300 of an exemplary whack on which exemplar whack event data can be based. In the diagram 300, a user 310 whacks a mobile device 320 that is producing an audio signal 330. For example, the whack applies force to the mobile device which causes the mobile device to move over a period of time and accelerate accordingly. A whack could be a hitting of the mobile device such as with a slap, hit, swat, smack, flick, push, tap, or the like. The whack could include impact with the device. Because the user has the mobile device in a pocket 340, the whack is generally applied to one side of the mobile device. A whack could be applied to one side of a mobile device or more than one side of a mobile device. When the mobile device is whacked, the whack could be detected with reference to exemplar whack event data.

Microsoft's states that the types of audio signals that could be silenced by a whacking event include any of the following: a ringing, a ringtone, user-initiated audio, a tone, a played recording, an alarm, or the like. The audio signal could be in response to or indicate an incoming call, a message, an update, a reminder for a meeting or event, the playing of music or recording, or the like.