Caller ID preview for mobile telephones

• US 6,215,993 B1
• Filed: 02/24/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Ulveland, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/256,134
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/414, 455/415, 455/550, 455/567, 455/575, 455/566, 379/106.08, 379/433, 379/434, 379/437, 379/456
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• 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 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/048 Arrangements providing optical indication of the incoming call, e.g. flasher circuits

Abstract

A mobile phone with a movable cover allows the user to preview caller ID information on a display that is normally concealed by the cover. In one embodiment, the user can open the cover to a preview position without accepting the call and then to a fully open position to accept the call after the caller ID information has been previewed. In another embodiment, the phone delays accepting the incoming call after the cover is opened to give the user time to preview the caller ID information and decide whether to answer the call.

Claims

1. A communication terminal comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a display on said housing for displaying caller ID information;

c. a cover mounted to said housing for movement between a first position in which said display is obstructed from view by said cover, a second position for previewing caller ID information on said display, and a third position for answering incoming calls;

d. control logic responsive to both movement of said cover from said first position to said second position after an incoming call is received to allow previewing of said caller ID information on said display without accepting said incoming call, and movement of said cover to said third position after an incoming call is received to accept said incoming call.

2. The communication terminal according to claim 1 wherein said control logic is responsive to further movement of said cover from said second position to said first position after an incoming call is received to reject said incoming call.

3. The communication terminal according to claim 1 wherein said control logic is responsive to further movement of said cover from said second position to said first position after an incoming call is received to generate a busy signal.

4. The communication terminal according to claim 1 wherein said control logic is responsive to further movement of said cover from said second position to said first position after an incoming call is received to redirect said incoming call.

5. The communication terminal according to claim 1 further including a keypad having one or more function keys, and wherein said control logic is responsive to actuation of a function key following receipt of an incoming call to take a predetermined action.

6. The communication terminal according to claim 5 wherein said control logic generates a busy signal in response to actuation of said function key.

7. The communications terminal according to claim 5 wherein said control logic connects the caller to a recording device in response to actuation of said function key.

8. The communication terminal according to claim 5 wherein said control logic redirects said incoming call in response to actuation of said function key.