Adaptable communication techniques for electronic devices

• US 20050124324A1
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Tong, Peter P., Thomas, C. Douglass
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Improved approaches for users of electronic devices to communicate with one another are disclosed. The electronic devices have audio and/or textual output capabilities. The improved approaches can enable users to communicate in different ways depending on device configuration, user preferences, prior history, etc. In one embodiment, the communication between users is achieved by short audio or textual messages.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a called party in responding to a calling party, said method comprises:

(a) receiving an incoming voice call from the calling party at a mobile communication device of the called party;

(b) determining that the called party declines to answer the incoming voice call from the calling party;

(c) determining a set of predetermined messages;

(d) presenting the predetermined messages to the called party;

(e) receiving a user selection of one of the predetermined messages from the called party; and

(f) providing the selected one of the predetermined messages to the calling party.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined messages are audio messages, and said providing (f) comprises:

(f1) answering the incoming voice call to enable a voice channel if not already answered;

(f2) playing the selected one of the predetermined messages over the voice channel; and

(f3) thereafter closing the incoming voice call to disable the voice channel.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein a microphone of a head-set coupled to the mobile communication device is disabled during said playing (f2).

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said presenting (d) of the predetermined messages comprises displaying a text representation of at least a portion of one or more of the predetermined messages on a display device of the mobile communication device.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said presenting (d) of the predetermined messages comprises playing at least a portion of one or more of the predetermined messages via a speaker, and wherein the speaker is a component of the mobile communication device or a head-set used with the mobile communication device

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined messages are text messages, and said providing (f) comprises:

(f1) dropping the incoming voice call; and

(f2) transmitting the selected one of the predetermined messages to the calling party as a text message.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined messages are text messages, and said providing (f) comprises:

(f1) answering the incoming voice call to enable a voice channel;

(f2) informing the calling party to expect a text message via the voice channel;

(f3) closing the incoming voice call to disable the voice channel; and

(f4) transmitting the selected one of the predetermined messages to the calling party as a text message.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined messages is determined based on one or more of:

prior usage of the mobile communication device, user-configuration information, and user preference information.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining (b) can determine that the incoming voice call is to be declined by user interaction with the wireless communication device or automatically based on a pre-set criterion.

10. A method for facilitating a called party in responding to a calling party, said method comprises:

(a) receiving an incoming voice call from the calling party at a mobile communication device of the called party;

(b) determining that the called party declines to answer the incoming voice call from the calling party;

(c) recording, by the called party, a custom audio message for the calling party; and

(d) playing the custom audio message that has been recorded for the calling party.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

(e) answering the incoming voice call prior to said playing (d) of the custom audio message.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

(e) prompting the called party to record the custom audio message prior to said recording (c).

13. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said playing (d) comprises:

(d1) answering the incoming voice call to enable a voice channel if not already answered;

(d2) playing the custom audio message over the voice channel; and

(d3) thereafter closing the incoming voice call to disable the voice channel.

14. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said determining (b) can determine that the incoming voice call is to be declined by user interaction with the wireless communication device or automatically based on a pre-set criterion, which can depend on time.

15. A method for facilitating a called party in responding to a calling party, said method comprises:

(a) receiving an incoming voice call from the calling party at a mobile communication device of the called party;

(b) determining that the called party declines to answer the incoming voice call from the calling party;

(c) determining whether a head-set is active for use with the mobile communication device of the called party; and

(d) providing a short audio message to the calling party when said determining (c) determines that the head-set is active and when said determining (b) determines that the called party declines to answer the incoming call.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the short audio message is one of a plurality of predetermined messages selected by the called party.

17. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the short audio message is a custom audio message recorded by the called party.

18. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said method further comprises:

(e) determining whether the mobile communication device of the called party has a display; and

(f) providing a short text message to the calling party when said determining (e) determines that the mobile communication device has a display and when said determining (b) determines that the called party declines to answer the incoming call.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the short text message is one of a plurality of predetermined messages selected by the called party.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the short text message is a custom text message recorded by the called party.

21. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said determining (b) can determine that the incoming voice call is to be declined by user interaction with the wireless communication device or automatically based on a pre-set criterion.

22. A method for facilitating text messaging for a first user of a computing device, said method comprising:

receiving an incoming text message from a second user;

converting the incoming text message to an incoming audio message; and

playing the incoming audio message for the first user.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein said method further comprises:

determining whether the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio or text manner.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein said determining is based on one or more of a preference setting, a configuration setting, hardware components availability, and user indication.

25. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein a head-set is operatively connected to the computing device, and

wherein said determining comprises determining whether the head-set is active.

26. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein said converting of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message comprises:

translating the incoming text message from a short-hand or abbreviated format to a word-format; and

converting the word-format of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message.

27. A method for facilitating text messaging for a first user of a head-set operatively connected to a computing device, said method comprising:

receiving an incoming text message from a second user;

converting the incoming text message to an incoming audio message;

playing the incoming audio message for the first user via the head-set;

recording a reply audio message by the first user via the head-set;

converting the reply audio message into a reply text message; and

transmitting the reply text message to the second user.

28. A method as recited in claim 27,

wherein the incoming text message is received over a wireless network,

wherein the reply text message is transmitted over the wireless network, and

wherein the computing device is a mobile communication device.

29. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein said method further comprises:

determining whether the head-set is active.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein said converting, said playing, recording, and said converting are performed only when said determining determines that the head-set is active.

31. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein said method further comprises:

prompting the first user for providing the reply audio message prior to said recording the reply audio message.

32. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein said method further comprises:

limiting the reply audio message during said recording and/or said converting.