Incoming Telephone Call Management for a Portable Multifunction Device

• US 20080055263A1
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Christie, Greg, Van Os, Marcel, Coffman, Patrick, Forstall, Scott, Novick, Gregory, Jobs, Steven, Lemay, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/769,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20080055263A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6008 in the transmitter circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• 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 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method is disclosed for use in conjunction with a portable electronic device with a touch screen display. Upon detecting an incoming telephone call from a caller, a text identifier of the caller is displayed; an image associated with the caller is displayed; a call answer icon is displayed, which if selected by a user of the device, answers the incoming telephone call; and a call decline icon is displayed, which if selected by the user of the device, declines the incoming telephone call.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects,

upon detecting an incoming telephone call from a caller,

displaying on the touch screen display a text identifier of the caller;

displaying on the touch screen display an image associated with the caller;

displaying on the touch screen display a call answer icon;

in response to selection of the call answer icon by a user of the device by touching the call answer icon on the touch screen display, answering the incoming telephone call; and

displaying a call decline icon; and

in response to user selection of the call decline icon by touching the call decline icon on the touch screen display, declining the incoming telephone call.

2. The method of claim 1, including identifying contact information corresponding to the caller, wherein the text identifier of the caller and the image associated with the caller are from the identified contact information.

3. The method of claim 1, including

upon detecting that a telephone call between a user of the device and another entity has been established, concurrently displaying on the touch screen display:

a mute icon for muting a microphone of the device;

a speaker icon for activating a speaker mode of the device;

a conference call icon for forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and at least one additional entity;

a call hold icon for suspending the telephone call; and

an end call icon for ending the telephone call.

4. The method of claim 3, including

in response to user selection of the mute icon by touching the mute icon on the touch screen display, muting the microphone of the device;

in response to user selection of the speaker icon by touching the speaker icon on the touch screen display, activating the speaker mode of the device;

in response to user selection of the conference call icon by touching the conference call icon on the touch screen display, forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and the additional entity;

in response to user selection of the call hold icon by touching the call hold icon on the touch screen display, suspending the telephone call; and

in response to user selection of the end call icon by touching the end call icon on the touch screen display, ending the telephone call.

5. The method of claim 1, including

upon detecting that a telephone call between a user of the device and another entity has been established, concurrently displaying on the touch screen display:

a mute icon for muting a microphone of the device;

a keypad icon for displaying a keypad;

a speaker icon for activating a speaker mode of the device;

an add call icon for forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and at least one additional entity;

a call hold icon for suspending the telephone call;

a contacts icon for displaying a contacts list; and

an end call icon for ending the telephone call.

6. The method of claim 5, including

in response to user selection of the mute icon by touching the mute icon on the touch screen display, muting the microphone of the device;

in response to user selection of the keypad icon by touching the keypad icon on the touch screen display, displaying a keypad;

in response to user selection of the speaker icon by touching the speaker icon on the touch screen display, activating the speaker mode of the device;

in response to user selection of the add call icon by touching the add call icon on the touch screen display, forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and the additional entity;

in response to user selection of the call hold icon by touching the call hold icon on the touch screen display, suspending the telephone call;

in response to user selection of the contacts icon by touching the contacts icon on the touch screen display, displaying a contacts list; and

in response to user selection of the end call icon by touching the end call icon on the touch screen display, ending the telephone call.

7. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects,

upon detecting that a telephone call between a user of the device and another entity has been established, concurrently displaying on the touch screen display;

a mute icon for muting a microphone of the device;

a speaker icon for activating a speaker mode of the device;

a conference call icon for forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and at least one additional entity;

a call hold icon for suspending the telephone call; and

an end call icon for ending the telephone call.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

in response to user selection of the mute icon by touching the mute icon on the touch screen display, muting the microphone of the device;

in response to user selection of the speaker icon by touching the speaker icon on the touch screen display, activating the speaker mode of the device;

in response to user selection of the conference call icon by touching the conference call icon on the touch screen display, forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and the additional entity;

in response to user selection of the call hold icon by touching the call hold icon on the touch screen display, suspending the telephone call; and

in response to user selection of the end call icon by touching the end call icon on the touch screen display, ending the telephone call.

9. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects,

upon detecting that a telephone call between a user of the device and another entity has been established, concurrently displaying on the touch screen display;

a mute icon for muting a microphone of the device;

a keypad icon for displaying a keypad;

a speaker icon for activating a speaker mode of the device;

an add call icon for forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and at least one additional entity;

a call hold icon for suspending the telephone call;

a contacts icon for displaying a contacts list; and

an end call icon for ending the telephone call.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

in response to user selection of the mute icon by touching the mute icon on the touch screen display, muting the microphone of the device;

in response to user selection of the keypad icon by touching the keypad icon on the touch screen display, displaying a keypad;

in response to user selection of the speaker icon by touching the speaker icon on the touch screen display, activating the speaker mode of the device;

in response to user selection of the add call icon by touching the add call icon on the touch screen display, forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and the additional entity;

in response to user selection of the call hold icon by touching the call hold icon on the touch screen display, suspending the telephone call;

in response to user selection of the contacts icon by touching the contacts icon on the touch screen display, displaying a contacts list; and

in response to user selection of the end call icon by touching the end call icon on the touch screen display, ending the telephone call.

11. A computer readable storage medium for use in conjunction with a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, the computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising:

instructions for concurrently displaying on the touch screen display, upon detecting an incoming telephone call from a caller,

a text identifier of the caller;

an image associated with the caller;

a call answer icon, which if selected by a user of the device, answers the incoming telephone call; and

a call decline icon, which if selected by the user of the device, declines the incoming telephone call.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, including instructions for identifying contact information corresponding to the caller, wherein the text identifier of the caller and the image associated with the caller are from the identified contact information.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, including instructions, responsive to detecting that a telephone call between a user of the device and another entity has been established, for concurrently displaying on the touch screen display:

a mute icon for muting a microphone of the device;

a speaker icon for activating a speaker mode of the device;

a conference call icon for forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and at least one additional entity;

a call hold icon for suspending the telephone call; and

an end call icon for ending the telephone call.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, including

instructions for responding to user selection of the mute icon by touching the mute icon on the touch screen display, by muting the microphone of the device;

instructions for responding to user selection of the speaker icon by touching the speaker icon on the touch screen display, by activating the speaker mode of the device;

instructions for responding to user selection of the conference call icon by touching the conference call icon on the touch screen display, by forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and the additional entity;

instructions for responding to user selection of the call hold icon by touching the call hold icon on the touch screen display, by suspending the telephone call; and

instructions for responding to user selection of the end call icon by touching the end call icon on the touch screen display, by ending the telephone call.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, including instructions, responsive to detecting that a telephone call between a user of the device and another entity has been established, for concurrently displaying on the touch screen display:

a mute icon for muting a microphone of the device;

a keypad icon for displaying a keypad;

a speaker icon for activating a speaker mode of the device;

an add call icon for forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and at least one additional entity;

a call hold icon for suspending the telephone call;

a contacts icon for displaying a contacts list; and

an end call icon for ending the telephone call.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, including instructions for responding to user selection of the mute icon by touching the mute icon on the touch screen display, by muting the microphone of the device;

instructions for responding to user selection of the keypad icon by touching the keypad icon on the touch screen display, by displaying a keypad;

instructions for responding to user selection of the speaker icon by touching the speaker icon on the touch screen display, by activating the speaker mode of the device;

instructions for responding to user selection of the add call icon by touching the add call icon on the touch screen display, by forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and the additional entity;

instructions for responding to user selection of the call hold icon by touching the call hold icon on the touch screen display, by suspending the telephone call;

instructions for responding to user selection of the contacts icon by touching the contacts icon on the touch screen display, by displaying a contacts list; and

instructions for responding to user selection of the end call icon by touching the end call icon on the touch screen display, by ending the telephone call.

17. A computer readable storage medium for use in conjunction with a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, the computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising:

instructions for concurrently displaying on the touch screen display, upon detecting that a telephone call between a user of the device and another entity has been established,

a mute icon for muting a microphone of the device;

a speaker icon for activating a speaker mode of the device;

a conference call icon for forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and at least one additional entity;

a call hold icon for suspending the telephone call; and

an end call icon for ending the telephone call.

18. A computer readable storage medium for use in conjunction with a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, the computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising:

instructions for concurrently displaying on the touch screen display, upon detecting that a telephone call between a user of the device and another entity has been established,

a mute icon for muting a microphone of the device;

a keypad icon for displaying a keypad;

a speaker icon for activating a speaker mode of the device;

an add call icon for forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and at least one additional entity;

a call hold icon for suspending the telephone call;

a contacts icon for displaying a contacts list; and

an end call icon for ending the telephone call.

19. A portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, comprising:

memory;

one or more processors;

one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including;

instructions for concurrently displaying on the touch screen display, upon detecting an incoming telephone call from a caller,

a text identifier of the caller;

an image associated with the caller;

a call answer icon, which if selected by a user of the device, answers the incoming telephone call; and

a call decline icon, which if selected by the user of the device, declines the incoming telephone call.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs further includes instructions for identifying a contact information corresponding to the caller, wherein the text identifier of the caller and the image associated with the caller are from the identified contact information.

21. A portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, comprising:

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including;

instructions for displaying on the touch screen display, upon detecting that a telephone call between a user of the device and another entity has been established,

a mute icon for muting a microphone of the device;

a speaker icon for activating a speaker mode of the device;

a conference call icon for forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and at least one additional entity;

a call hold icon for suspending the telephone call; and

an end call icon for ending the telephone call.

22. A portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, comprising:

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including;

instructions for displaying on the touch screen display, upon detecting that a telephone call between a user of the device and another entity has been established,

a mute icon for muting a microphone of the device;

a keypad icon for displaying a keypad;

a speaker icon for activating a speaker mode of the device;

an add call icon for forming a multi-party telephone call between the user, the other entity and at least one additional entity;

a call hold icon for suspending the telephone call;

a contacts icon for displaying a contacts list; and

an end call icon for ending the telephone call.