Signaling the type of incoming telephone calls

• US 6,032,053 A
• Filed: 12/19/1997
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pacific Communication Sciences , Inc. (Cirrus Logic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacific Communication Sciences , Inc. (Cirrus Logic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schroeder, Martin K., Sharman, Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lerner, Martin
• Application Number:
  US08/995,284
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.24, 379/93.01, 379/93.03, 379/93.23, 455/553, 455/566, 455/567
• US Class Current: 455/553.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• 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 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/68 with means for recording information, e.g. telephone number during a conversation recording of telephone conversations H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

An improved user interface for a cellular telephone system subscriber unit, including the following functions: (1) a predictive keyboard input method for speeding up input on a telephone with a space limited keyboard; (2) a word completion method for speeding up input; (3) a distinctive signaling method useful in a dual-mode or tri-mode cellular phone system that incorporates both voice call functionality and data messaging functionality; (4) a secret message method that permits secret messages to be received by an authorized user of a cellular telephone that includes a data messaging capability; (5) a message screening method that permits a user to set a message screening mode in a cellular telephone; (6) an improved "scratchpad" method which permits a user to enter a telephone number into a storage register of a cellular telephone while in the middle of a voice call, visually verify the entry, and then save the number to a rapid redial location for later use; (7) a global search method for searching text strings in all of the different memory sections of a cellular telephone having an address book, a hierarchical menu structure, and stored data messages.

Claims

1. In a cellular telephone capable of receiving calls from an analog cellular system and from a digital cellular system, a method for distinctively signaling a call type, comprising:

receiving an incoming call to the cellular telephone by monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an indication of a call type by detecting one of an incoming control channel or incoming data packet header, determining whether the incoming call is an analog call or a digital call, in the case of an analog call, monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an incoming control channel prior to accepting the call, and in the case of a digital call, monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an incoming data packet header prior to accepting the call;

if the call is from the analog cellular system, then activating a first indicator to signal to a user receipt of an analog call;

if the call is from the digital cellular system, then determining if the call is a voice or a data call;

if the call from the digital cellular system is determined to be a voice call, then activating a second indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital voice call; and

if the call from the digital cellular system is determined to be a data call, then activating a third indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital data call.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein data calls include information indicating a message type for the data call, further including:

determining the message type of a call determined to be a data call; and

providing a distinct indicator to a user to signal receipt of each message type.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein data calls include information indicating a source for the data call, further including:

determining the source of a call determined to be a data call; and

providing a distinct indicator to a user for calls from selected sources.

4. A cellular telephone capable of receiving calls from an analog cellular system and from a digital cellular system, the cellular telephone having a programmable processing system, the programmable processing system being programmed to perform the functions of:

receiving an incoming call to the cellular telephone by monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an indication of a call type by detecting one of an incoming control channel or incoming data packet header, determining whether the incoming call is an analog call or a digital call, in the case of an analog call, monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an incoming control channel prior to accepting the call, and in the case of a digital call, monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an incoming data packet header prior to accepting the call;

if the call is from the analog cellular system, then activating a first indicator to signal to a user receipt of an analog call;

if the call is from the digital cellular system, then determining if the call is a voice or a data call;

if the call from the digital cellular system is determined to be a voice call, then activating a second indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital voice call; and

if the call from the digital cellular system is determined to be a data call, then activating a third indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital data call.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein data calls include information indicating a message type for the data call, further including:

determining the message type of a call determined to be a data call; and

providing a distinct indicator to a user to signal receipt of each message type.

6. The invention of claim 4, wherein data calls include information indicating a source for the data call, further including:

determining the source of a call determined to be a data call; and

providing a distinct indicator to a user for calls from selected sources.

7. A computer program, for use in a cellular telephone capable of receiving calls from an analog cellular system and from a digital cellular system, the cellular telephone having a programmable processing system, for configuring and operating the programmable processing system to perform the functions of:

receiving an incoming call to the cellular telephone, wherein each message includes information indicating the source of said message;

monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an indication of a call type by detecting one of an incoming control channel or incoming data packet header;

if the call is from the analog cellular system, then activating a first indicator to signal to a user receipt of an analog call;

if the call is from the digital cellular system, then activating a second indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital call; and

if the cellular telephone is in a message screening mode, determining from the source information of a received data message that the data message is to be displayed.

8. A computer program, for use in a cellular telephone capable of receiving calls from an analog cellular system and from a digital cellular system, the cellular telephone having a programmable processing system, for configuring and operating the programmable processing system to perform the functions of:

receiving an incoming call to the cellular telephone by monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an indication of a call type by detecting one of an incoming control channel or incoming data packet header determining whether the incoming call is an analog call or a digital call, in the case of an analog call, monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an incoming control channel prior to accepting the call, and in the case of a digital call, monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an incoming data packet header prior to accepting the call;

if the call is from the analog cellular system, then activating a first indicator to signal to a user receipt of an analog call;

if the call is from the digital cellular system, then determining if the call is a voice or a data call;

if the call from the digital cellular system is determined to be a voice call, then activating a second indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital voice call;

if the call from the digital cellular system is determined to be a data call, then activating a third indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital data call, wherein each data message includes information indicating the source of such message; and

if the cellular telephone is in a message screening mode, determining from the source information of the received message that the data message is to be displayed.

9. The invention of claim 8, wherein data calls include information indicating a message type for the data call, further including the functions of:

determining the message type of a call determined to be a data call; and

providing a distinct indicator to a user to signal receipt of each message type.

10. The invention of claim 8, wherein data calls include information indicating a source for the data call, further including the functions of:

determining the source of a call determined to be a data call; and

providing a distinct indicator to a user for calls from selected sources.

11. In a cellular telephone capable of receiving calls from an analog cellular system and from a digital cellular system, a method including:

receiving an incoming call to the cellular telephone, wherein each message includes information indicating the source of such message;

monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an indication of a call type by detecting one of an incoming control channel or incoming data packet header;

if the call is from the analog cellular system, then activating a first indicator to signal to a user receipt of an analog call;

if the call is from the digital cellular system, then activating a second indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital call; and

if the cellular telephone is in a message screening mode, determining from the source information of the received message that a message is to be provided.

12. In a cellular telephone capable of receiving calls from an analog cellular system and from a digital system, a method for distinctively signaling a call type, comprising:

receiving a call by monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an indication of a call type by detecting one of an incoming control channel or incoming data packet header, determining whether the incoming call is an analog call or a digital call, in the case of an analog call, monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an incoming control channel prior to accepting the call, and in the case of a digital call, monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an incoming data packet header prior to accepting the call;

if the call is from the analog cellular system, then activating a first indicator to signal to a user receipt of an analog call;

if the call is from the digital cellular system, then determining if the call is a voice or a data call;

if the call from the digital cellular system is determined to be a voice call, then activating a second indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital voice call;

if the call from the digital cellular system is determined to be a data call, then activating a third indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital data call, wherein each data message includes information indicating the source of such message; and

if the cellular telephone is in a message screening mode, determining from the source information of the received message that the message is to be displayed.

13. The invention according to claim 12, wherein the source information of the data message is received before the entire data message is received in the cellular telephone, further including the step of rejecting receipt of the entire data message if the data message is not to be displayed.

14. The invention of claim 13, wherein the step of determining that the data message is to be displayed includes comparing the source information to a user-defined list of sources to be excluded from display.

15. The invention of claim 13, wherein the step of determining that the data message is to be displayed includes comparing the source information to a user-defined list of sources to be included for display.

16. The invention of claim 14, wherein data calls include information indicating a message type for the data call, further including:

determining the message type of a call determined to be a data call; and

providing a distinct indicator to a user to signal receipt of each message type.

17. The invention of claim 14, wherein data calls include information indicating a source for the data call, further including the steps of:

determining the source of a call determined to be a data call; and

providing a distinct indicator to a user for call from selected sources.

18. The invention of claim 12, wherein data calls include information indicating a message type for the data call, further including:

determining the message type of a call determined to be a data call; and

providing a distinct indicator to a user to signal receipt of each message type.

19. The invention of claim 12, wherein data calls include information indicating a source for the data call, further including:

determining the source of a call determined to be a data call; and

providing a distinct indicator to a user for calls from selected sources.

20. The invention of claim 12, wherein data calls include information indicating a message type for the data call, further including:

providing an alphanumeric display;

initially receiving a data message in the cellular telephone;

if the cellular telephone is in a secret message mode, storing the data message within the cellular telephone and indicating receipt of the data message without displaying the data message on the display;

accepting user input on the keyboard of an authorization code authorizing display of the data message; and

displaying the data message on the display if the authorization code is valid.

21. The invention according to claim 20, wherein a data message includes a secrecy code indicating that the message is secret, further including the step of changing the cellular telephone to the secret message mode upon receipt of such secrecy code.

22. The invention according to claim 20, wherein a data message includes a source, and the authorization code must correspond to the source of the data message.

23. The invention according to claim 20, further including disabling keyboard input if the authorization code is invalid.

24. The invention of claim 23, further including:

determining the message type of a call determined to be a data call; and

providing a distinct indicator to a user to signal receipt of each message type.

25. The invention of claim 23, wherein data calls include information indicating a source for the data call, further including the functions of:

determining the source of a call determined to be a data call; and

providing a distinct indicator to a user for calls from selected sources.

26. A cellular telephone capable of receiving calls from an analog cellular system and from a digital cellular system, the cellular telephone having a programmable processing system, the programmable processing system being programmed for:

receiving an incoming call to the cellular telephone;

monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an indication of a call type by detecting one of an incoming control channel or incoming data packet header;

if the call is from the analog cellular system, then activating a first indicator to signal to a user receipt of an analog call;

if the call is from the digital cellular system, then activating a second indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital call;

if the cellular telephone is in a secret message mode, storing the data message within the cellular telephone and indicating receipt of the data message without displaying the data message on the display;

accepting user input on the keyboard of an authorization code authorizing display of the data message; and

displaying the data message on the display if the authorization code is valid.

27. A cellular telephone capable of receiving calls from an analog cellular system and from a digital cellular system, the cellular telephone having a programmable processing system for:

receiving a call by monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an indication of a call type by detecting one of an incoming control channel or incoming data packet header, determining whether the incoming call is an analog call or a digital call in the case of an analog call, monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an incoming control channel prior to accepting the call and in the case of a digital call, monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an incoming data packet header prior to accepting the call;

if the call is from the analog cellular system, then activating a first indicator to signal to a user receipt of an analog call;

if the call is from the digital cellular system, then determining if the call is a voice of data call;

if the call from the digital cellular system is determined to be a voice call, then activating a second indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital voice call;

if the call from the digital cellular system is determined to be a data call, then activating a third indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital data call;

if the cellular telephone is in a secret message mode, storing the data message within the cellular telephone and indicating receipt of the data message without displaying the data message on the display;

accepting user input on the keyboard of an authorization code authorizing display of the data message; and

displaying the data message on the display if the authorization code is valid.

28. A computer program, for use in a telephone capable of receiving calls from an analog system and from a digital system, the telephone having a programmable processing system, for configuring and operating the programmable processing system to perform the functions of:

receiving an incoming call to the telephone;

monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an indication of a call type by detecting one of an incoming control channel or incoming data packet header;

if the call is from the analog system, then activating a first indicator to signal to a user receipt of an analog call;

if the call is from the digital system, then activating a second indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital call;

if the cellular telephone is in a secret message mode, storing the data message within the cellular telephone and indicating receipt of the data message without displaying the data message on the display;

accepting user input on the keyboard of an authorization code authorizing display of the data message; and

displaying the data message on the display if the authorization code is valid.

29. A computer program, for use in a cellular telephone capable of receiving calls from an analog cellular system and from a digital cellular system, the cellular telephone having a programmable processing system for:

receiving an incoming call by monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an indication of a call type by detecting one of an incoming control channel or incoming data packet header, determining whether the incoming call is an analog call or a digital call, in the case of an analog call, monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an incoming control channel prior to accepting the call, and in the case of a digital call, monitoring incoming signals of said incoming call to detect an incoming data packet header prior to accepting the call;

if the call is from the analog cellular system, then activating a first indicator to signal to a user receipt of an analog call;

if the call is from the digital cellular system, then determining if the call is a voice or a data call;

if the call from the digital cellular system is determined to be a voice call, then activating a second indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital voice call;

if the call from the digital cellular system is determined to be a data call, then activating a third indicator to signal to a user receipt of a digital data call;

if the cellular telephone is in a secret message mode, storing the data message within the cellular telephone and indicating receipt of the data message without displaying the data message on the display;

accepting user input on the keyboard of an authorization code authorizing display of the data message; and

displaying the data message on the display if the authorization code is valid.