System and method of managing incoming calls on a mobile device having an earplug

• US 7,248,864 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Robertson, Ryan, Maes, Stephane, Vialle, Benoit, Twerdahl, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost; William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ewart; James D.
• Application Number:
  US09/677,526
• Time in Patent Office: 2,489 Days
• Field of Search: 455/140, 455/142, 455/403, 455/421, 455/556, 455/415, 455/412, 455/413, 455/401, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/417, 455/445, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/567, 455/575.2, 455/575.3, 455/575.4
• US Class Current: 455/417
• 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 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/18 Comparators
• 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 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2227 Quality of service monitoring
• 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: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A system and method is described for managing a phone call to a phone device of a personal digital assistant, the phone call being transmitted from a device in a mobile phone network. In one example, the method involves determining a status of a radio switch of the personal digital assistant. The personal digital assistant determines a status of the network coverage of the phone device. In other words, the personal digital assistant determines the relative strength of the phone call signal that is transmitted to the phone device from the mobile phone network. If the radio switch is turned on and the network coverage is adequate, the phone device receives the phone call. A user of the personal digital assistant preferably has an option of answering or not answering the phone call. If the phone call is not answered, the phone call is preferably redirected to a voicemail application.

Claims

1. A method of managing a phone call to a mobile wireless device, the method comprising:

determining a status of an earplug device associated with the mobile wireless device; and

managing an incoming phone call to the mobile wireless device based on the status of the earplug device by;

receiving the incoming phone call only when the earplug device is plugged into the mobile wireless device; and

diverting the incoming phone call to a voicemail application when the earplug device is not plugged into the mobile wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a voicemail notification; and

presenting a voicemail notification message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving caller data of the incoming phone call, wherein the caller data includes information on a phone number associated with the incoming phone call, and information on a name associated with the incoming phone number; and

displaying an incoming message, wherein the incoming message includes information related to the caller data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information on the phone number is identifiable or unidentifiable, and wherein the information on the name is identifiable or unidentifiable.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

suspending a current application other than a call device, wherein the call device is configured to be active if the incoming phone call is being answered; and

initiating the call device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

silencing a ringer of the wireless handheld phone device and sending the incoming phone call to the voicemail application when the user performs an action to initiate a silence routine after being alerted to the incoming phone call.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a status of a radio switch; and

determining a status of a network coverage of the mobile wireless device, wherein the managing of the incoming phone call to the mobile wireless device further based on the status of the radio switch and the status of the network coverage.

8. A wireless handheld phone device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a phone call; and

an earplug device status determiner configured to determine a status of an earplug device with respect to the wireless handheld phone device;

wherein;

the receiver is configured to receive the phone call only when the earplug device status determiner determines that the earplug device is plugged into the wireless handheld phone device, and

when the earplug device status determiner determines that the earplug device is not plugged in, the wireless handheld phone device is further configured to divert the phone call to a voicemail application.

9. The wireless handheld phone device of claim 8, further comprising:

a display device; and

a tap recognizer connected to the display device, wherein the tap recognizer is configured to initiate a voicemail application.

10. The wireless handheld phone device of claim 8, further comprising:

a display device; and

a tap recognizer connected to the display device, wherein the tap recognizer is configured to answer the phone call and to initiate a call application.

11. A computer-readable medium storing a program having more instructions for managing an incoming phone call to a wireless handheld phone device, the instructions comprising:

determining a status of an earplug device with respect to the wireless handheld phone device;

receiving the incoming phone call only when the earplug device is plugged into the wireless handheld phone device; and

diverting the incoming phone call when the earplug device is determined to not be plugged in.

12. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11, the instructions further comprising:

determining a status of a radio switch; and

determining a status of a network coverage of the wireless handheld phone device, wherein

if the radio switch is on, the wireless handheld phone device is capable of receiving the phone call, and wherein if the network coverage is adequate, the signal strength of the phone call is sufficient for the wireless handheld phone device to maintain a connection with a mobile phone network.

13. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise:

receiving a voicemail notification; and

presenting a voicemail notification message.

14. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise:

receiving caller data of the phone call, wherein the caller data includes information on a phone number associated with the incoming phone call, and information on a name associated with the phone number; and

presenting an incoming message, wherein the incoming message includes information related to the caller data.

15. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the information on the phone number is identifiable or unidentifiable, and wherein the information on the name is identifiable or unidentifiable.

16. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise:

suspending a current application other than a call device, wherein the call device is configured to be active if the phone call is being answered; and

initiating the call device.