System and method for providing a user interface for managing calls received at a mobile device

• US 7,860,489 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Vymenets, Leonid Leon, Vander Veen, Raymond Paul, Kuhl, Lawrence Edward, Epp, Anton, Marui, Keizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gu; Yu (Andy)
• Application Number:
  US11/691,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20080242282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 455/415
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

Embodiments of a system and method for providing a user interface for managing calls received at a mobile device is described. The user interface provides an incoming call screen to the user, where the incoming call screen comprises a caller identification data field for displaying data associated with incoming calls and at least one key label field in which labels for mobile device keys (e.g. send and end keys) are displayed. The area of the caller identification data field is substantially greater than the area of the at least one key label field, enabling more information pertaining to incoming calls to be displayed to the user. In at least one embodiment, this is facilitated by providing user-selectable options for responding to incoming calls in an options menu, which can be accessed by a user but is not initially displayed to the user when an incoming call is first received.

Claims

1. A method of providing a user interface for managing calls received at a mobile device, the mobile device providing access to at least a first communication line configured to receive the calls, the mobile device providing send and end keys, the method comprising:

identifying a phone number associated with an incoming call being received at the mobile device; and

displaying an incoming call screen on a display of the mobile device, the incoming call screen comprising (i) a caller identification data field for displaying data associated with incoming calls and (ii) at least one key label field in which first and second labels for the send key and end key respectively are displayed;

wherein the area of the caller identification data field is greater than the area of the at least one key label field;

wherein an options menu comprising user-selectable options for responding to the incoming call is displayed on the incoming call screen if a direction to display the options menu is received at the mobile device after the incoming call is first received at the mobile device; and

wherein a third label is displayed in the at least one key label field at the displaying if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is engaged in a different call but the third label is not displayed at the displaying if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is not engaged in the different call, the third label comprising an options menu identifier associated with the options menu.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the area of the caller identification data field and the area of the at least one key label field, in combination, occupies the entire visible area on the display of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one key label field occupies 10% of the area of the display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at the displaying, the at least one key label field is displayed proximate the send and end keys, such that the first label is displayed in an area of the display adjacent to the send key, and the second label is displayed in an area of the display adjacent to the end key.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first label comprises an answer icon and a corresponding text identifier, and wherein the second label comprises an ignore icon and a corresponding text identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first label comprises a wireless audio device icon.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting when one of the send and end keys are user-selected, and processing the incoming call in accordance with the user-selected key.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting when the direction to display the options menu is received, displaying the options menu in the user interface, detecting when an option from the options menu is user-selected, and processing the incoming call in accordance with the user-selected option.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one item of data associated with the incoming call is displayed in an area of the caller identification data field that is centered along at least one axis of the display.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a contact entry associated with the incoming call on the mobile device by matching the phone number associated with the incoming call to a data item in the contact entry, and displaying at least one item from the contact entry in the caller identification data field.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one item from the contact entry displayed in the caller identification data field comprises a company name.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the contact entry associated with the incoming call is stored in an address book on the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device provides access to a plurality of communication lines configured to receive calls, and wherein data identifying the communication line on which the incoming call is received is displayed in the caller identification data field.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable on a processor of the mobile device for implementing a method of providing a user interface for managing calls received at a mobile device, the mobile device providing access to at least a first communication line configured to receive the calls, the mobile device providing send and end keys, the method comprising:

identifying a phone number associated with an incoming call being received at the mobile device; and

displaying an incoming call screen on a display of the mobile device, the incoming call screen comprising (i) a caller identification data field for displaying data associated with incoming calls and (ii) at least one key label field in which first and second labels for the send key and end key respectively are displayed;

wherein the area of the caller identification data field is greater than the area of the at least one key label field;

wherein an options menu comprising user-selectable options for responding to the incoming call is displayed on the incoming call screen if a direction to display the options menu is received at the mobile device after the incoming call is first received at the mobile device; and

wherein a third label is displayed in the at least one key label field at the displaying if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is engaged in a different call but the third label is not displayed at the displaying if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is not engaged in the different call, the third label comprising an options menu identifier associated with the options menu.

15. A system for providing a user interface for managing calls received at a mobile device, the mobile device providing access to at least a first communication line configured to receive the calls, the mobile device providing send and end keys, the mobile device comprising a processor, a display, and at least one input device, wherein the processor is configured to:

identify a phone number associated with an incoming call being received at the mobile device; and

display an incoming call screen on a display of the mobile device, the incoming call screen comprising (i) a caller identification data field for displaying data associated with incoming calls and (ii) at least one key label field in which first and second labels for the send key and end key respectively are displayed;

wherein the area of the caller identification data field is greater than the area of the at least one key label field;

wherein an options menu comprising user-selectable options for responding to the incoming call is displayed on the incoming call screen if a direction to display the options menu is received at the mobile device after the incoming call is first received at the mobile device; and

wherein a third label is displayed in the at least one key label field if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is engaged in a different call but the third label is not displayed if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is not engaged in the different call, the third label comprising an options menu identifier associated with the options menu.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to display the at least one key label field proximate the send and end keys, such that the first label is displayed in an area of the display adjacent to the send key, and the second label is displayed in an area of the display adjacent to the end key.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first label comprises an answer icon and a corresponding text identifier, and wherein the second label comprises an ignore icon and a corresponding text identifier.

18. A mobile device on which a user interface for managing calls received at the mobile device is provided, the mobile device providing access to at least a first communication line configured to receive the calls, the mobile device providing send and end keys, the mobile device comprising a processor, a display, and at least one input device, wherein the mobile device is configured to:

identify a phone number associated with an incoming call being received at the mobile device; and

display an incoming call screen on a display of the mobile device, the incoming call screen comprising (i) a caller identification data field for displaying data associated with incoming calls and (ii) at least one key label field in which first and second labels for the send key and end key respectively are displayed;

wherein the area of the caller identification data field is greater than the area of the at least one key label field;

wherein an options menu comprising user-selectable options for responding to the incoming call is displayed on the incoming call screen if a direction to display the options menu is received at the mobile device after the incoming call is first received at the mobile device; and

wherein a third label is displayed in the at least one key label field if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is engaged in a different call but the third label is not displayed if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is not engaged in the different call, the third label comprising an options menu identifier associated with the options menu.

19. The device of claim 18, further configured to display the at least one key label field proximate the send and end keys, such that the first label is displayed in an area of the display adjacent to the send key, and the second label is displayed in an area of the display adjacent to the end key.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the first label comprises an answer icon and a corresponding text identifier, and wherein the second label comprises an ignore icon and a corresponding text identifier.