Portable multifunction device, method, and graphical user interface for conference calling

• US 7,975,242 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Matas, Michael, Chaudhri, Imran, Christie, Greg, Lemay, Stephen O., Van Os, Marcel, Forstall, Scott, Coffman, Patrick Lee, Furches, Elizabeth Caroline
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CAO H
• Application Number:
  US11/960,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20080168361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 715763-765, 715740-743, 715/780, 715/773, 715/863, 715/753, 715851-855
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6008 in the transmitter circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 : Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/564 : whereby the feature is a sub-conference

Abstract

In some embodiments, a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display performs a method that includes: displaying a phone call user interface on the touch screen display, wherein the phone call user interface includes: a first informational item associated with an active phone call between a user of the device and a first party, a second informational item associated with a suspended phone call between the user and a second party, and a merge call icon; upon detecting a user selection of the merge call icon, merging the active phone call and the suspended phone call into a conference call between the user, the first party, and the second party, and replacing the phone call user interface with a conference call user interface. The conference call user interface includes: a third informational item associated with the conference call, and a conference call management icon.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display,

displaying a phone call user interface on the touch screen display, the phone call user interface including a first informational item associated with an active phone call between a user of the device and a first party including first information identifying the first party, a second informational item associated with a suspended phone call between the user and a second party including second information identifying the second party, and a merge call icon; and

upon detecting a user selection of the merge call icon,

merging the active phone call and the suspended phone call into a conference call between the user, the first party, and the second party, and

replacing the phone call user interface with a conference call user interface, wherein replacing the phone call user interface with the conference call user interface includes;

ceasing to display the first information and the second information;

displaying a third informational item associated with the conference call in replacement of the first and second informational items, and

displaying a conference call management icon for redisplaying the first information and the second information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon detecting a user selection of the conference call management icon, replacing the conference call user interface with a conference call management user interface distinct from the conference call user interface, the conference call management user interface including a first management entry including the first information corresponding to the first party and a second management entry including the second information corresponding to the second party, each management entry including an end call icon and a private call icon.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

upon detecting a user selection of the end call icon in the first management entry, displaying a confirmation icon on the touch screen display; and

upon detecting a user selection of the confirmation icon,

excluding the first party from the conference call, and

removing the first management entry from the touch screen display.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

upon detecting a user selection of the private call icon in the second management entry;

suspending the conference call, and

replacing the conference call management user interface with the phone call user interface, the phone call user interface including a fourth informational item associated with a suspended phone call between the user and the first party, the fourth information item including the first information, a fifth informational item associated with an active phone call between the user and the second party, the fifth information item including the second information, and the merge call icon.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

resuming the conference call upon detecting a second user selection of the merge call icon; and

replacing the phone call user interface including the fourth and fifth informational items with the conference call user interface, wherein replacing the phone call user interface with the conference call user interface includes;

ceasing to display the first information and the second information;

displaying a sixth informational item associated with the conference call in replacement of the fourth and fifth informational items, and

displaying a conference call management icon for redisplaying the first information and the second information.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

upon detecting an incoming phone call from a third party, replacing the conference call management user interface with an incoming phone call user interface, the incoming phone call user interface including an ignore incoming phone call icon, a suspend current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon, and an end current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

upon detecting a user selection of the ignore incoming phone call icon;

terminating the incoming phone call from the third party or sending the incoming phone call to voice mail,

continuing the conference call with the first and second parties, and

replacing the incoming phone call user interface with the conference call user interface or the conference call management user interface.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

upon detecting a user selection of the end current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon;

terminating the conference call with the first and second parties,

activating a phone call between the user and the third party, and

replacing the incoming phone call user interface with a phone call user interface, the phone call user interface including a sixth informational item associated with the phone call between the user and the third party.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

upon detecting a user selection of the suspend current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon;

suspending the conference call with the first and second parties,

activating a phone call between the user and the third party, and

replacing the incoming phone call user interface with a phone call user interface, the phone call user interface including a sixth informational item associated with the phone call between the user and the third party, a seventh informational item associated with the suspended conference call between the user and the first and second parties, and a merge call icon.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

upon detecting a user selection of the suspend current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon;

activating a phone call between the user and the third party, and

replacing the incoming phone call user interface with a phone call user interface, the phone call user interface including a sixth informational item associated with the phone call between the user and the third party, a seventh informational item associated with the conference call between the user and the first and second parties, and a merge call icon.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the conference call user interface includes an add caller icon;

the method further comprising;

upon detecting a user selection of the add caller icon;

suspending the conference call with the first and second parties, and

displaying a contact list;

initiating an outgoing phone call to a third party using a phone number from an entry in the contact list or a phone number input by a user; and

upon detecting an acceptance of the outgoing phone call, displaying a phone call user interface that includes an eighth informational item associated with the suspended conference call, a ninth informational item associated with the outgoing phone call between the user and the third party, and a merge call icon.

12. A portable multifunction device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the programs including;

instructions for displaying a phone call user interface on the touch screen display, the phone call user interface including a first informational item associated with an active phone call between a user of the device and a first party including first information identifying the first party, a second informational item associated with a suspended phone call between the user and a second party including second information identifying the second party, and a merge call icon;

instructions for merging the active phone call and the suspended phone call into a conference call between the user, the first party, and the second party upon detecting a user selection of the merge call icon; and

instructions for replacing the phone call user interface with a conference call user interface upon detecting a user selection of the merge call icon, wherein replacing the phone call user interface with the conference call user interface includes;

ceasing to display the first information and the second information;

displaying a third informational item associated with the conference call in replacement of the first and second informational items, and

displaying a conference call management icon for redisplaying the first information and the second information.

13. The portable multifunction device of claim 12, further comprising:

instructions for replacing the conference call user interface with a conference call management user interface distinct from the conference call user interface upon detecting a user selection of the conference call management icon, the conference call management user interface including a first management entry including the first information corresponding to the first party and a second management entry including the second information corresponding to the second party, each management entry including an end call icon and a private call icon.

14. The portable multifunction device of claim 13, further comprising:

instructions for displaying a confirmation icon on the touch screen display upon detecting a user selection of the end call icon in the first management entry; and

instructions for excluding the first party from the conference call and removing the first management entry from the touch screen display upon detecting a user selection of the confirmation icon.

15. The portable multifunction device of claim 13, further comprising:

instructions for suspending the conference call and replacing the conference call management user interface with the phone call user interface upon detecting a user selection of the private call icon in the second management entry, the phone call user interface including a fourth informational item associated with a suspended phone call between the user and the first party, the fourth information item including the first information, a fifth informational item associated with an active phone call between the user and the second party, the fifth information item including the second information, and the merge call icon.

16. The portable multifunction device of claim 15, further comprising:

instructions for resuming the conference call upon detecting a second user selection of the merge call icon; and

instructions for replacing the phone call user interface including the fourth and fifth informational items with the conference call user interface, wherein replacing the phone call user interface with the conference call user interface includes;

ceasing to display the first information and the second information;

displaying a sixth informational item associated with the conference call in replacement of the fourth and fifth informational items, and

displaying a conference call management icon for redisplaying the first information and the second information.

17. The portable multifunction device of claim 13, further comprising:

instructions for replacing the conference call management user interface with an incoming phone call user interface upon detecting an incoming phone call from a third party, the incoming phone call user interface including an ignore incoming phone call icon, a suspend current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon, and an end current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon.

18. The portable multifunction device of claim 17, further comprising:

instructions for terminating the incoming phone call from the third party or sending the incoming phone call to voice mail, continuing the conference call with the first and second parties, and replacing the incoming phone call user interface with the conference call user interface or the conference call management user interface upon detecting a user selection of the ignore incoming phone call icon.

19. The portable multifunction device of claim 17, further comprising:

instructions for terminating the conference call with the first and second parties, activating a phone call between the user and the third party, and replacing the incoming phone call user interface with a phone call user interface upon detecting a user selection of the end current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon, the phone call user interface including a sixth informational item associated with the phone call between the user and the third party.

20. The portable multifunction device of claim 17, further comprising:

instructions for suspending the conference call with the first and second parties, activating a phone call between the user and the third party, and replacing the incoming phone call user interface with a phone call user interface upon detecting a user selection of the suspend current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon, the phone call user interface including a sixth informational item associated with the phone call between the user and the third party, a seventh informational item associated with the suspended conference call between the user and the first and second parties, and a merge call icon.

21. The portable multifunction device of claim 17, further comprising:

instructions for activating a phone call between the user and the third party and replacing the incoming phone call user interface with a phone call user interface upon detecting a user selection of the suspend current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon, the phone call user interface including a sixth informational item associated with the phone call between the user and the third party, a seventh informational item associated with the suspended conference call between the user and the first and second parties, and a merge call icon.

22. The portable multifunction device of claim 12, wherein the conference call user interface includes an add caller icon, and the device further comprising:

instructions for suspending the conference call with the first and second parties and displaying a contact list upon detecting a user selection of the add caller icon;

instructions for initiating an outgoing phone call to a third party using a phone number from an entry in the contact list or a phone number input by a user; and

instructions for displaying a phone call user interface that includes an eighth informational item associated with the suspended conference call upon detecting an acceptance of the outgoing phone call, a ninth informational item associated with the outgoing phone call between the user and the third party, and a merge call icon.

23. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a phone call user interface on the touch screen display, the phone call user interface including a first informational item associated with an active phone call between a user of the device and a first party including first information identifying the first party, a second informational item associated with a suspended phone call between the user and a second party including second information identifying the second party, and a merge call icon;

merge the active phone call and the suspended phone call into a conference call between the user, the first party, and the second party upon detecting a user selection of the merge call icon; and

replace the phone call user interface with a conference call user interface upon detecting a user selection of the merge call icon, wherein replacing the phone call user interface with the conference call user interface includes;

ceasing to display the first information and the second information;

displaying a third informational item associated with the conference call in replacement of the first and second informational items, and

displaying a conference call management icon for redisplaying the first information and the second information.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, including instructions which cause the device to:

replace the conference call user interface with a conference call management user interface distinct from the conference call user interface upon detecting a user selection of the conference call management icon, the conference call management user interface including a first management entry including the first information corresponding to the first party and a second management entry including the second information corresponding to the second party, each management entry including an end call icon and a private call icon.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, including instructions which cause the device to:

display a confirmation icon on the touch screen display upon detecting a user selection of the end call icon in the first management entry; and

exclude the first party from the conference call and remove the first management entry from the touch screen display upon detecting a user selection of the confirmation icon.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, including instructions which cause the device to:

suspend the conference call and replacing the conference call management user interface with the phone call user interface upon detecting a user selection of the private call icon in the second management entry, the phone call user interface including a fourth informational item associated with a suspended phone call between the user and the first party, the fourth information item including the first information, a fifth informational item associated with an active phone call between the user and the second party, the fifth information item including the second information, and the merge call icon.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 26, including instructions which cause the device to:

resume the conference call upon detecting a second user selection of the merge call icon; and

replace the phone call user interface including the fourth and fifth informational items with the conference call user interface, wherein replacing the phone call user interface with the conference call user interface includes;

ceasing to display the first information and the second information;

displaying a sixth informational item associated with the conference call in replacement of the fourth and fifth informational items, and

displaying a conference call management icon for redisplaying the first information and the second information.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, including instructions which cause the device to:

replace the conference call management user interface with an incoming phone call user interface upon detecting an incoming phone call from a third party, the incoming phone call user interface including an ignore incoming phone call icon, a suspend current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon, and an end current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, including instructions which cause the device to:

terminate the incoming phone call from the third party or send the incoming phone call to voice mail, continue the conference call with the first and second parties, and replace the incoming phone call user interface with the conference call user interface or the conference call management user interface upon detecting a user selection of the ignore incoming phone call icon.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, including instructions which cause the device to:

terminate the conference call with the first and second parties, activate a phone call between the user and the third party, and replace the incoming phone call user interface with a phone call user interface upon detecting a user selection of the end current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon, the phone call user interface including a sixth informational item associated with the phone call between the user and the third party.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, including instructions which cause the device to:

suspend the conference call with the first and second parties, activate a phone call between the user and the third party, and replace the incoming phone call user interface with a phone call user interface upon detecting a user selection of the suspend current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon, the phone call user interface including a sixth informational item associated with the phone call between the user and the third party, a seventh informational item associated with the suspended conference call between the user and the first and second parties, and a merge call icon.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, including instructions which cause the device to:

activate a phone call between the user and the third party and replace the incoming phone call user interface with a phone call user interface upon detecting a user selection of the suspend current phone call and answer incoming phone call icon, the phone call user interface including a sixth informational item associated with the phone call between the user and the third party, a seventh informational item associated with the suspended conference call between the user and the first and second parties, and a merge call icon.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the conference call user interface includes an add caller icon, and the device including instructions which cause the device to:

suspend the conference call with the first and second parties and displaying a contact list upon detecting a user selection of the add caller icon;

initiate an outgoing phone call to a third party using a phone number from an entry in the contact list or a phone number input by a user; and

display a phone call user interface that includes an eighth informational item associated with the suspended conference call upon detecting an acceptance of the outgoing phone call, a ninth informational item associated with the outgoing phone call between the user and the third party, and a merge call icon.

34. A phone call graphical user interface on a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a first informational item associated with an active phone call between a user of the device and a first party including first information identifying the first party, a second informational item associated with a suspended phone call between the user and a second party including second information identifying the second party, and a merge call icon;

wherein;

upon detecting a user selection of the merge call icon;

the active phone call and the suspended phone call are merged into a conference call between the user, the first party, and the second party, and

the phone call graphical user interface is replaced with a conference call user interface, wherein replacing the phone call user interface with the conference call user interface includes;

ceasing to display the first information and the second information;

displaying a third informational item associated with the conference call in replacement of the first and second informational items, and

displaying a conference call management icon for redisplaying the first information and the second information.