Adaptable communication techniques for electronic devices

• US 7,116,976 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Thomas, C. Douglass, Tong, Peter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Application Number:
  US11/006,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20050124324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 455/417, 455/412.1, 455/414.4, 455/466, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/566, 455/569.1, 379/211.01, 379/207.02, 379/220.01, 379/88.22
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Improved approaches for users of electronic devices to communicate with one another are disclosed. The electronic devices have audio and/or textual output capabilities. The improved approaches can enable users to communicate in different ways depending on device configuration, user preferences, prior history, etc. In one embodiment, the communication between users is achieved by short audio or textual messages.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a called party in responding to a calling party, said method comprises:

(a) receiving an incoming voice call from the calling party at a mobile communication device of the called party;

(b) determining that the called party declines to answer the incoming voice call from the calling party;

(c) determining a set of predetermined messages;

(d) presenting the predetermined messages to the called party;

(e) receiving a user selection of one of the predetermined messages from the called party; and

(f) providing the selected one of the predetermined messages to the calling party,

wherein the predetermined messages are text messages, and

wherein said providing (f) includes at least (f1) answering the incoming voice call to enable a voice channel;

(f2) informing the calling party to expect a text message via the voice channel;

(f3) closing the incoming voice call to disable the voice channel; and

(f4) transmitting the selected one of the predetermined messages to the calling party as a text message.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said presenting (d) of the predetermined messages comprises displaying a text representation of at least a portion of one or more of the predetermined messages on a display device of the mobile communication device.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said presenting (d) of the predetermined messages comprises playing at least a portion of one or more of the predetermined messages via a speaker, and wherein the speaker is a component of the mobile communication device or a head-set used with the mobile communication device.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined messages is determined based on one or more of:

prior usage of the mobile communication device, user-configuration information, and user preference information.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining (b) can determine that the incoming voice call is to be declined by user interaction with the wireless communication device or automatically based on a pre-set criterion.

2. A method for facilitating a called party in responding to a calling party, said method comprises:

(a) receiving an incoming voice call from the calling party at a mobile communication device of the called party;

(b) determining that the called party declines to answer the incoming voice call from the calling party;

(c) determining a set of predetermined messages;

(d) presenting the predetermined messages to the called party;

(e) receiving a user selection of one of the predetermined messages from the called party; and

(f) providing the selected one of the predetermined messages to the calling party, wherein the predetermined messages are audio messages, and said providing (f) includes at least (f1) answering the incoming voice call to enable a voice channel if not already answered;

(f2) playing the selected one of the predetermined messages over the voice channel; and

(f3) thereafter closing the incoming voice call to disable the voice channel,

wherein a microphone of a head-set coupled to the mobile communication device is disabled during said playing (f2).

7. A method for facilitating a called party in responding to a calling party, said method comprises:

(a) receiving an incoming voice call from the calling party at a mobile communication device of the called party;

(b) determining that the called party declines to answer the incoming voice call from the calling party;

(c) recording, by the called party, a custom audio message for the calling party;

(d) playing the custom audio message that has been recorded for the calling party, wherein said playing (d) includes at least (d1) answering the incoming voice call to enable a voice channel if not already answered;

(d2) playing the custom audio message over the voice channel; and

(d3) thereafter closing the incoming voice call to disable the voice channel; and

(e) prompting the called party to record the custom audio message prior to said recording (c).

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said determining (b) can determine that the incoming voice call is to be declined by user interaction with the wireless communication device or automatically based on a pre-set criterion, which can depend on time.

9. A method for facilitating a called party in responding to a calling party, said method comprises:

(a) receiving an incoming voice call from the calling party at a mobile communication device of the called party;

(b) determining that the called party declines to answer the incoming voice call from the calling party;

(c) determining whether a head-set is active for use with the mobile communication device of the called party;

(d) providing a short audio message to the calling party when said determining (c) determines that the head-set is active and when said determining (b) determines that the called party declines to answer the incoming call;

(e) determining whether the mobile communication device of the calling party has a display; and

(f) providing a short text message to the calling party when said determining (e) determines that the mobile communication device has a display and when said determining (b) determines that the called party declines to answer the incoming call,

wherein one or both said providing (d) and (f) need be performed.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the short audio message is one of a plurality of predetermined messages selected by the called party.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the short audio message is a custom audio message recorded by the called party.

12. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the short text message is one of a plurality of predetermined messages selected by the called party.

13. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the short text message is a custom text message recorded by the called party.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said determining (b) can determine that the incoming voice call is to be declined by user interaction with the wireless communication device or automatically based on a pre-set criterion.