Cellular phone with special standby feature
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for operating a cellular telephone of a user, comprising:
- monitoring signals for incoming calls;
when an incoming call from a caller phone is detected, alerting the user of said incoming call;
establishing an audio channel of communication with said caller phone, thereby enabling said caller to converse with the user of said cellular phone;
sending a special signal to said caller indicating that the audio channel of communication has been established and the caller may converse with said holder; and
, thereby enabling the user to accept a call from the caller without having to immediately talk to the caller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cellular phone is disclosed having a SPECIAL mode of operation. According to one embodiment, in the SPECIAL operating mode a channel of communication is automatically established upon receipt of an incoming call. Additional features enable muting of the ringing after the first ring, and sending a note to the caller that the phone in the SPECIAL mode. This allows a user in a meeting to receive a call and have time to exit the meeting to talk to the caller. According to another embodiment, is the special operating mode the phone blocks all incoming calls for a pre-programmed time period, and thereafter resumes normal operation.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for operating a cellular telephone of a user, comprising:
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monitoring signals for incoming calls;
when an incoming call from a caller phone is detected, alerting the user of said incoming call;
establishing an audio channel of communication with said caller phone, thereby enabling said caller to converse with the user of said cellular phone;
sending a special signal to said caller indicating that the audio channel of communication has been established and the caller may converse with said holder; and
,thereby enabling the user to accept a call from the caller without having to immediately talk to the caller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
when an incoming call from a caller phone is detected, sending a message to said caller phone requesting an indication of the urgency of the call.
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5. The method of claim 1, wherein said alerting and said establishing comprises:
providing a single ring and thereafter automatically establishing said audio channel of communication.
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6. A method for operating a cellular telephone user, comprising:
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monitoring signals for incoming calls;
when an incoming call from a caller phone is detected, sending a signal requesting an indication of the urgency of the call;
when a specified urgency of call is received, alerting the user of said incoming call, automatically establishing an audio channel of communication with said caller phone, and sending a special signal to said caller indicating that the channel of communication has been established and the caller may converse with said holder, thereby enabling the user to accept a call from the caller without having to immediately talk to the caller. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method for operating a cellular telephone comprising:
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providing a user with an option to block incoming calls;
when the user selects the option to block incoming calls providing the user with an option to specify a period of time to block all incoming calls;
when the user enters a specified period of time to block all incoming calls, activating a timer to monitor the specified period of time;
rejecting incoming calls during the specified period of time;
when said timer indicates that the period of time has elapsed, ceasing to reject incoming calls;
providing a user with an option to specify subscriber numbers that should not be blocked during said specified period of time;
wherein when an incoming call is detected during said specified period of time performing;
when the incoming call subscriber number does not match a specified subscriber number, rejecting the call;
when the incoming call subscriber number matches a specified subscriber number, alerting the user of said incoming call, establishing an audio channel of communication with said caller phone, and sending a special signal to said caller indicating that the channel of communication has been established and the caller may converse with said holder thereby enabling the user to accept a call from the caller without having to immediately talk to the caller. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
when the incoming call subscriber number matches a specified subscriber number, sending a message to said caller phone requesting an indication of the urgency of the call.
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13. The method of claim 9, wherein said alerting and said establishing comprises:
providing a single ring and thereafter automatically establishing said audio channel of communication.
Specification