According to reports, software giant Microsoft has submitted a patent application - application no. 20120231838 - for a new mechanism which will apparently enable mobile-device users of `control the audio of a device' by whacking them firmly to silence them.

In its patent application for "controlling an audio signal of the mobile communications device," Microsoft has clarified that the `whack' could be a "slap, hit, swat, smack, flick, push, tap, or the like."

Highlighting the need for the whacking-to-silence mechanism for controlling a mobile device's audio, Microsoft said in its patent application that, in a number of situations, it may be desirable for the users "to quickly control a device without having to interact with a traditional user interface."

Further elucidating that such circumstances may include instances in which the users forget to use the `silent' or `vibrate' setting on their devices, with the result that "the device rings or makes sounds at an inopportune moment."

With the Microsoft patent application noting that the "whacking of the mobile device" will be based on "receiving information indicative of acceleration" of the device, the company said that a whack will deliver such a jerk to the accelerometer of a device that the audio output is switched off.

However, while attempting to patent the whacking mechanism for silencing a mobile device, Microsoft has also mentioned in its patent application that leaving the accelerometer `on' will cause battery-drain, so users should switch on the motion-detecting widget only after starting the audio player.