ANSWER AND HOLD WITH CLIENT AND HOST

• US 20150350418A1
• Filed: 09/02/2014
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rauenbuehler, Keith W., Laurens, Peter A., Schobel, Andreas E., Fraioli, Nicholas M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,602,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A host device may relay notifications to any number of client devices of an incoming call. In response to a hold command from a client device, the host device may connect to the call and place the call in a hold state. For example, when a phone operating as a host device receives an incoming call from a network, the phone may communicate the presence of the incoming call to client device(s), such as laptop, desktop, tablet, or wearable devices that are associated with the host device. When an answer and hold selection is made at a client, an answer and hold communication may be sent from the client device to the host device. The host device may then communicate with the network to connect the call to the host. When the call is connected, the host may mute the call until an answer or disconnect occurs.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A method of using a client device of a user to facilitate a call to a host device of the user, the method comprising:

at the client device comprising a processor, an input device, and a wireless interface;

receiving, from the host device via the wireless interface, a notification associated with a voice-invite communication as part of the call, the call being from a calling device to the host device via a network;

presenting a call-received interface at the input device of the client device in response to receipt of the voice-invite communication, the call-received interface including a hold option;

receiving a hold input at the input device;

communicating, to the host device, a hold communication in response to receipt of the hold input at the input device; and

updating the call-received interface at the input device to a hold interface in response to receipt of the hold input.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

at the client device;

sending, to the host device, a location assistance communication to cause the host device to output a sound.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

at the client device;

sending, to the host device, a location assistance communication to cause the host device to determine a location of the host device; and

receiving, from the host device, the location of the host device.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

at the client device;

outputting a ring via a speaker of the client device in response to receipt of the voice-invite communication, wherein the ring of the client device indicates that the call is intended for the host device and is being relayed to the client device.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the input device is a touch-sensitive display of the client device, and wherein the call-received interface is presented by displaying the call-received interface on the touch-sensitive display.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the voice-invite communication is relayed from the network via the host device.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

at the client device;

communicating an account identification to an identity assistance server, the account identification associated with the host device; and

receiving, from the identity assistance server, a first client identifier and a host identifier,

wherein the notification associated with the voice-invite communication comprises the host identifier.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

at the client device;

receiving, at the hold interface, a locate assistance input; and

communicating a locate assistance request the host device in response to the locate assistance input.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

at the client device;

receiving, at the hold interface, a first hold message selection associated with a first hold message, wherein the hold interface comprises a plurality of hold message selections associated with a plurality of hold messages; and

communicating, to the host device, a hold message selection identifying the first hold message.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the hold communication automatically comprises a hold message selection that identifies a first hold message to be communicated via the host device.

30. A client device of a user for facilitating a call to a host device of the user, the client device comprising:

an input device;

a wireless interface; and

at least one processor coupled to the wireless interface and the input device, the at least one processor configured to;

receive, from the host device via the wireless interface, a notification associated with a voice-invite communication as part of the call, wherein the voice-invite communication is relayed from a network via the host device;

present a call-received interface at the input device of the client device in response to receipt of the voice-invite communication, the call-received interface including a hold option;

receive a hold input at the input device;

communicate, to the host device, a hold communication in response to receipt of the hold input at the input device; and

update the call-received interface at the input device to a hold interface in response to receipt of the hold input.

31. The client device of claim 30, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

send, to the host device, a location assistance communication to cause the host device to output a sound.

32. The client device of claim 30, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

send, to the host device, a location assistance communication to cause the host device to determine a location of the host device; and

receive, from the host device, the location of the host device.

33. The client device of claim 30, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

output a ring via a speaker of the client device in response to receipt of the voice-invite communication, wherein the ring of the client device indicates that the call is intended for the host device and is being relayed to the client device.

34. The client device of claim 30, wherein the input device is a touch-sensitive display of the client device, and wherein the call-received interface is presented by displaying the call-received interface on the touch-sensitive display.

35. The client device of claim 30, wherein the voice-invite communication is relayed from the network via the host device.

36. The client device of claim 30, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

communicate an account identification to an identity assistance server, the account identification associated with the host device; and

receive, from the identity assistance server, a first client identifier and a host identifier,

wherein the notification associated with the voice-invite communication comprises the host identifier.

37. The client device of claim 30, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive, at the hold interface, a locate assistance input; and

communicate a locate assistance request the host device in response to the locate assistance input.

38. The client device of claim 30, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive, at the hold interface, a first hold message selection associated with a first hold message, wherein the hold interface comprises a plurality of hold message selections associated with a plurality of hold messages; and

communicate, to the host device, a hold message selection identifying the first hold message.

39. The client device of claim 30, wherein the hold communication automatically comprises a hold message selection that identifies a first hold message to be communicated via the host device.

40. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions that, when executed, control a client device of a user to perform a method of interacting with a host device of the user to create a hold state for a call, the instructions comprising:

at the client device comprising a processor, an input device, and a wireless interface;

receiving, from the host device via the wireless interface, a notification associated with a voice-invite communication as part of the call, wherein the voice-invite communication is relayed from a network via the host device;

presenting a call-received interface at the input device of the client device in response to receipt of the voice-invite communication, the call-received interface including a hold option;

receiving a hold input at the input device;

communicating, to the host device, a hold communication in response to receipt of the hold input at the input device; and

updating the call-received interface at the input device to a hold interface in response to receipt of the hold input.