Missed Telephone Call Management for a Portable Multifunction Device

• US 20120172020A1
• Filed: 03/12/2012
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greg Christie, Imran Chaudhri, Marcel Van Os, Michael Matas, Scott Forstall, Scott Herz, Stephen O. Lemay
• Original Assignee: Greg Christie, Imran Chaudhri, Marcel Van Os, Michael Matas, Scott Forstall, Scott Herz, Stephen O. Lemay
• Inventors: Forstall, Scott, Christie, Greg, Herz, Scott, Chaudhri, Imran, Matas, Michael, Van Os, Marcel, Lemay, Stephen O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• 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 1/663 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

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. A list of items comprising missed telephone calls is displayed. Upon detecting user selection of an item in the list, contact information is displayed for a respective caller corresponding to the user selected item. The displayed contact information includes a plurality of contact objects that include a first contact object, comprising a telephone number object having a first telephone number associated with the missed telephone call, and a second contact object. Upon detecting user selection of the second contact object, a communication with the respective caller is initiated via a modality corresponding to the second contact object.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display;

displaying a list of items, the list comprising a plurality of interactive displayed items associated with telephone calls,

wherein at least one interactive displayed item in the list is associated with a prior telephone call and is also associated with contact information stored in the portable electronic device, and

wherein each such interactive displayed item associated with both a prior telephone call and contact information comprises at least a first interactive displayed portion and a second interactive displayed portion, the second interactive displayed portion being distinct from the first interactive displayed portion;

detecting a finger tap input at a first user selected interactive displayed item associated with both a prior telephone call and contact information, wherein the finger tap input is detected at the first interactive displayed portion of the first user selected interactive displayed item, and in response to that input initiating a telephone call to a telephone number associated with the first user selected interactive displayed item;

detecting a finger tap input at a second user selected interactive displayed item associated with both a prior telephone call and contact information, where the finger tap input is detected at the second interactive displayed portion of the second user selected interactive displayed item, and in response to that input displaying contact information for a caller corresponding to the second user selected interactive displayed item, the displayed contact information including simultaneous display of a plurality of contact objects, the plurality of contact objects comprising;

a first contact object associated with a telephonic communication modality for calling the caller, and

a second contact object associated with a non-telephonic communication modality for contacting the caller; and

in response to detecting user selection of the second contact object, initiating a communication with the corresponding caller through the non-telephonic communication modality corresponding to the second contact object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second contact object is an email contact object, and wherein initiating the communication with the corresponding caller through the non-telephonic communication modality corresponding to the second contact object includes preparing an email message with an email address associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second contact object is an instant messaging object, and wherein initiating the communication with the corresponding caller through the non-telephonic communication modality corresponding to the second contact object includes preparing an instant message to a number associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of consecutive missed telephone calls.

5. The method of claim 1, including, while displaying the list of items comprising prior telephone calls, displaying, within a respective single item in the list, a number indicating a plurality of consecutive missed telephone calls.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of missed telephone calls from a plurality of distinct telephone numbers associated with a respective caller.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second interactive displayed portion of the second user selected interactive displayed item is identified by an icon displayed within the second user selected interactive displayed item.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second contact object is a contact object associated with sending an email to the caller and the plurality of simultaneously displayed contact objects includes a third contact object associated with sending an instant message to the caller.

9. A portable electronic device with a touch screen display, 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 a list of items, the list comprising a plurality of interactive displayed items associated with telephone calls,

wherein at least one interactive displayed item in the list is associated with a prior telephone call and is also associated with contact information stored in the portable electronic device, and

wherein each such interactive displayed item associated with both a prior telephone call and contact information comprises at least a first interactive displayed portion and a second interactive displayed portion, the second interactive displayed portion being distinct from the first interactive displayed portion;

detecting a finger tap input at a first user selected interactive displayed item associated with both a prior telephone call and contact information, wherein the finger tap input is detected at the first interactive displayed portion of the first user selected interactive displayed item, and in response to that input initiating a telephone call to a telephone number associated with the first user selected interactive displayed item;

detecting a finger tap input at a second user selected interactive displayed item associated with both a prior telephone call and contact information, where the finger tap input is detected at the second interactive displayed portion of the second user selected interactive displayed item, and in response to that input displaying contact information for a caller corresponding to the second user selected interactive displayed item, the displayed contact information including simultaneous display of a plurality of contact objects, the plurality of contact objects comprising;

a first contact object associated with a telephonic communication modality for calling the caller, and

a second contact object associated with a non-telephonic communication modality for contacting the caller; and

in response to detecting user selection of the second contact object, initiating a communication with the corresponding caller through the non-telephonic communication modality corresponding to the second contact object.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the second contact object is an email contact object, and wherein initiating the communication with the corresponding caller through the non-telephonic communication modality corresponding to the second contact object includes preparing an email message with an email address associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the second contact object is an instant messaging object, and wherein initiating the communication with the corresponding caller through the non-telephonic communication modality corresponding to the second contact object includes preparing an instant message to a number associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of consecutive missed telephone calls.

13. The device of claim 9, including instructions for, while displaying the list of items comprising prior telephone calls, displaying, within a respective single item in the list, a number indicating a plurality of consecutive missed telephone calls.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of missed telephone calls from a plurality of distinct telephone numbers associated with a respective caller.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the second interactive displayed portion of the second user selected interactive displayed item is identified by an icon displayed within the second user selected interactive displayed item.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the second contact object is a contact object associated with sending an email to the caller and the plurality of simultaneously displayed contact objects includes a third contact object associated with sending an instant message to the caller.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a list of items, the list comprising a plurality of interactive displayed items associated with telephone calls,

wherein at least one interactive displayed item in the list is associated with a prior telephone call and is also associated with contact information stored in the portable electronic device, and

wherein each such interactive displayed item associated with both a prior telephone call and contact information comprises at least a first interactive displayed portion and a second interactive displayed portion, the second interactive displayed portion being distinct from the first interactive displayed portion;

detect a finger tap input at a first user selected interactive displayed item associated with both a prior telephone call and contact information, wherein the finger tap input is detected at the first interactive displayed portion of the first user selected interactive displayed item, and in response to that input initiate a telephone call to a telephone number associated with the first user selected interactive displayed item;

detect a finger tap input at a second user selected interactive displayed item associated with both a prior telephone call and contact information, where the finger tap input is detected at the second interactive displayed portion of the second user selected interactive displayed item, and in response to that input display contact information for a caller corresponding to the second user selected interactive displayed item, the displayed contact information including simultaneous display of a plurality of contact objects, the plurality of contact objects comprising;

a first contact object associated with a telephonic communication modality for calling the caller, and

a second contact object associated with a non-telephonic communication modality for contacting the caller; and

in response to detecting user selection of the second contact object, initiate a communication with the corresponding caller through the non-telephonic communication modality corresponding to the second contact object.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the second contact object is an email contact object, and wherein initiating the communication with the corresponding caller through the non-telephonic communication modality corresponding to the second contact object includes preparing an email message with an email address associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the second contact object is an instant messaging object, and wherein initiating the communication with the corresponding caller through the non-telephonic communication modality corresponding to the second contact object includes preparing an instant message to a number associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of consecutive missed telephone calls.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, including instructions which cause the device to, while displaying the list of items comprising prior telephone calls, display, within a respective single item in the list, a number indicating a plurality of consecutive missed telephone calls.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of missed telephone calls from a plurality of distinct telephone numbers associated with a respective caller.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the second interactive displayed portion of the second user selected interactive displayed item is identified by an icon displayed within the second user selected interactive displayed item.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the second contact object is a contact object associated with sending an email to the caller and the plurality of simultaneously displayed contact objects includes a third contact object associated with sending an instant message to the caller.