Phone user interface

• US 10,320,963 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2015
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Yang, Lawrence Y., Dye, Alan C., Chaudhri, Imran, Lemay, Stephen O., Foss, Christopher Patrick, Davydov, Anton M., Kennedy, Zachery, Edwards, Dylan Ross, Ive, Jonathan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Zhitong
• Application Number:
  US14/841,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20160065708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0258 for a headset device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 : detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 : by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An electronic device having a user interface for accessing phone features. The user interface accounts for whether the electronic device is connected to a companion cellular phone. The user interface accounts for a headset is available for use to carry on a call. The user interface permits transition between using one or more of cellular phone, headset, and/or the electronic device to be used for carrying on incoming or outgoing calls.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display and a wireless communication module, cause the electronic device to:

display, on the display, an indication of an incoming phone call from a caller;

while displaying, on the display, the indication of the incoming phone call from the caller, receive an answer input at the electronic device;

in response to receiving the answer input at the electronic device, initiate an in-progress phone call in which the electronic device has an audio connection to the caller;

during the in-progress phone call, detect a touch input on the display, wherein the touch input has a characteristic intensity and is located at the position of a first affordance;

in response to detecting the touch input;

in accordance with at least a determination that the characteristic intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold intensity, send, via the wireless communication module of the electronic device, an instruction to a cellular phone instructing the cellular phone to display a second affordance, wherein the second affordance, when selected, causes the cellular phone to retrieve the in-progress phone call, wherein the electronic device and the cellular phone are different devices; and

in accordance with at least a determination that the characteristic intensity is below the predetermined threshold intensity, perform a function associated with the first affordance.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

in response to at least a determination that the characteristic intensity exceeds the predetermined threshold intensity, place the in-progress phone call on hold.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1,

wherein the cellular phone has a speaker and a microphone, and

wherein the second affordance, when selected, causes the cellular phone to provide input into the in-progress phone call using the microphone and to provide output from the in-progress phone call using the speaker.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 2, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

after placing the in-progress phone call on hold, display an un-hold affordance, wherein the un-hold affordance, when selected;

un-holds the held call; and

causes the electronic device to display an end-call affordance, wherein the end-call affordance, when selected, ends the in-progress phone call.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 4, wherein the electronic device is operatively connected to a headset, wherein un-holding the held call comprises:

providing input into the in-progress phone call using the headset and providing output from the in-progress phone call using the headset.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 4, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

provide input into the in-progress phone call using a microphone of the electronic device and provide output from the in-progress phone call using a speaker of the electronic device.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

after placing the in-progress call on hold, cause playback of an audio message to a participant of the in-progress phone call, the audio message informing the participant that the in-progress phone call is on hold.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a wearable electronic device.

9. A method comprising:

at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display and a wireless communication module, wherein the touch-sensitive display comprises one or more sensors to detect the intensity of touches on the touch-sensitive display;

displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, an indication of an incoming phone call from a caller;

while displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, the indication of the incoming phone call from the caller, receiving an answer input at the electronic device;

in response to receiving the answer input at the electronic device, initiating an in-progress phone call in which the electronic device has an audio connection to the caller;

during the in-progress phone call, detecting a touch input on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the touch input has a characteristic intensity and is located at the position of a first affordance;

in response to detecting the touch input;

in accordance with at least a determination that the characteristic intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold intensity, sending, via the wireless communication module of the electronic device, an instruction to a cellular phone instructing the cellular phone to display a second affordance, wherein the second affordance, when selected, causes the cellular phone to retrieve the in-progress phone call, wherein the electronic device and the cellular phone are different devices; and

in accordance with at least a determination that the characteristic intensity is below the predetermined threshold intensity, performing a function associated with the first affordance.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

in response to at least a determination that the characteristic intensity exceeds the predetermined threshold intensity, placing the in-progress phone call on hold.

11. The method according to claim 9,

wherein the cellular phone has a speaker and a microphone, and

wherein the second affordance, when selected, causes the cellular phone to provide input into the in-progress phone call using the microphone and to provide output from the in-progress phone call using the speaker.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

at the electronic device;

after placing the in-progress phone call on hold, displaying an un-hold affordance, wherein the un-hold affordance, when selected;

un-holds the held call; and

causes the electronic device to display an end-call affordance, wherein the end-call affordance, when selected, ends the in-progress phone call.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the electronic device is operatively connected to a headset, wherein un-holding the held call comprises:

providing input into the in-progress phone call using the headset and providing output from the in-progress phone call using the headset.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein un-holding the held call comprises:

providing input into the in-progress phone call using a microphone of the electronic device and providing output from the in-progress phone call using a speaker of the electronic device.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

after placing the in-progress phone call on hold, causing playback of an audio message to a participant of the in-progress phone call, the audio message informing the participant that the in-progress phone call is on hold.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a wearable electronic device.

17. An electronic device, comprising:

a display,

one or more processors;

a memory;

a wireless communication module; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying, on the display, an indication of an incoming phone call from a caller;

while displaying, on the display, the indication of the incoming phone call from the caller, receiving an answer input at the electronic device;

in response to receiving the answer input at the electronic device, initiating an in-progress phone call in which the electronic device has an audio connection to the caller;

during the in-progress phone call, detecting a touch input on the display, wherein the touch input has a characteristic intensity and is located at the position of a first affordance;

in response to detecting the touch input;

in accordance with at least a determination that the characteristic intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold intensity, sending, via the wireless communication module of the electronic device, an instruction to a cellular phone instructing the cellular phone to display a second affordance, wherein the second affordance, when selected, causes the cellular phone to retrieve the in-progress phone call, wherein the electronic device and the cellular phone are different devices; and

in accordance with at least a determination that the characteristic intensity is below the predetermined threshold intensity, performing a function associated with the first affordance.

18. The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the one or more programs further includes instructions for:

in response to at least a determination that the characteristic intensity exceeds the predetermined threshold intensity, placing the in-progress phone call on hold.

19. The electronic device according to claim 17,

wherein the cellular phone has a speaker and a microphone, and

wherein the second affordance, when selected, causes the cellular phone to provide input into the in-progress phone call using the microphone and to provide output from the in-progress phone call using the speaker.

20. The electronic device according to claim 18, the one or more programs further includes instructions for:

after placing the in-progress phone call on hold, displaying an un-hold affordance, wherein the un-hold affordance, when selected;

un-holds the held call; and

causes the electronic device to display an end-call affordance, wherein the end-call affordance, when selected, ends the in-progress phone call.

21. The electronic device according to claim 17, the one or more programs further includes instructions for:

providing input into the in-progress phone call using the headset and providing output from t the in-put progress phone call using the headset.

22. The electronic device according to claim 17, the one or more programs further includes instruction for:

providing input into the in-progress phone call using a microphone of the electronic device and providing output from the in-progress phone call using a speaker of the electronic device.

23. The electronic device according to claim 17, the one or more programs further includes instruction for:

after placing the in-progress call on hold, causing playback of an audio message to a participant of the in-progress phone call, the audio message informing the participant that the in-progress phone call is on hold.

24. The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the electronic device is a wearable electronic device.