System and Method of Escalating Call Alert Indications

• US 20090312067A1
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ahlin, Eskil Gunnar
• Application Number:
  US12/138,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20090312067A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs

Abstract

A wireless communications device, such as a cellular telephone, for example, receives incoming calls. A controller at the wireless communications device progressively escalates the call alert indications used to alert a user of an incoming call from a remote party based on an identity of the remote party, and on a cumulative number of times that the remote party has called the user without the user having answered the calls.

Claims

1. A method of alerting a user of a wireless communication device to an incoming call comprising:

receiving an incoming call from a remote party at a wireless communication device;

determining an identity of the remote party placing the incoming call;

determining a count of unanswered calls previously placed by the remote party, and received at the wireless communication device; and

generating an alert signal responsive to the incoming call based on the identity of the remote party and the count of unanswered calls previously placed by the remote party.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

incrementing the count of unanswered calls if a user of the wireless communication device does not answer the incoming call; and

resetting the count of unanswered calls if the user answers the incoming call.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

calculating an elapsed time between a time of receipt of a previously unanswered call received from the remote party and a time of receipt for the incoming call;

weighting an increment value based on the elapsed time; and

incrementing the count of unanswered calls with the weighted increment value.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising

determining whether the count of unanswered calls exceeds a predetermined threshold;

and

generating the alert signal based on the determination.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein determining whether the count of unanswered calls exceeds a predetermined threshold comprises:

comparing the count of unanswered calls to a predetermined value;

calculating an elapsed time between a time of receipt of a previously unanswered call received from the remote party and a time of receipt for the incoming call; and

determining that the count of unanswered calls exceeds the predetermined threshold if the count of unanswered calls exceeds the predetermined value, and if the elapsed time is less than a predefined time window.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting the alert signal responsive to the incoming call based on the count of unanswered calls previously placed by the remote party and received at the wireless communication device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein selecting the alert signal comprises escalating the alert signal from a first call alert level to a second call alert level if the count of unanswered calls previously placed by the remote party and received at the wireless communication device exceeds a predetermined threshold.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first call alert level comprises a non-audible call alert indication, and wherein the second call alert level comprises an audible call alert indication.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein escalating the alert signal comprises progressively escalating the alert signal based on the count of unanswered calls placed by the remote party and received at the wireless communication device.

10. A wireless communication device comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive incoming calls from a remote party;

a user interface configured to render alert signals to alert a user to an incoming call; and

a controller configured to;

determine an identity of the remote party placing the incoming call;

determine a count of unanswered calls previously placed by the remote party, and received at the wireless communication device; and

generate a control signal responsive to the incoming call to control the user interface to render a selected alert signal based on the identity of the remote party and the count of unanswered calls previously placed by the remote party.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured to:

increment the count of unanswered calls if a user of the wireless communication device does not answer the incoming call; and

reset the count of unanswered calls if the user answers the incoming call.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the controller is further configured to:

calculate an elapsed time between a time of receipt of a previously unanswered call received from the remote party and a time of receipt for the incoming call;

weight an increment value based on the elapsed time; and

increment the count of unanswered calls with the weighted increment value.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine whether the count of unanswered calls exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

select the alert signal based on the determination.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the controller is further configured to:

compare the count of unanswered calls to a predetermined value;

calculate an elapsed time between a time of receipt of a previously unanswered call received from the remote party and a time of receipt for the incoming call; and

determine that the count of unanswered calls exceeds the predetermined threshold if the count of unanswered calls exceeds the predetermined value, and if the elapsed time is less than a predefined time window.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured to select an alert signal responsive to the incoming call based on the count of unanswered calls previously placed by the remote party and received at the wireless communication device.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the controller is further configured to escalate the alert signal from a first call alert level to a second call alert level if the count of unanswered calls previously placed by the remote party and received at the wireless communication device exceeds a predetermined threshold.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the first call alert level comprises a non-audible call alert indication, and wherein the second call alert level comprises an audible call alert indication.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the controller is further configured to progressively escalate the alert signal based on the count of unanswered calls placed by the remote party and received at the wireless communication device.