Smart-phone answering service for handling incoming calls

• US 8,644,805 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2012
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Earnshaw, Andrew Mark, Weng, Jianfeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US13/407,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/413, 455/417, 455/418, 455/420, 455/445, 455/432.3, 455/434, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 379/211.02, 379/201.01, 379/207.15, 379/225, 379/198, 379/220.01, 379/234
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• 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

An electronic device capable of receiving and sending calls is configured with at least two modes. When a call is received by a device in a normal mode, the device displays information and presents selectable options for handling the received call. When the device is in a restricted or meeting mode, the device provides authorized callers with the option of prompting the called party to immediately answer the call or to record a message for later retrieval or take other appropriate action. Settings associated with the normal mode and settings associated with the meeting mode are adjustable.

Claims

1. An electronic device configured to receive and send calls, the electronic device comprising:

a display;

a processor communicatively coupled to the display, the processor configured to execute instructions to cause the electronic device to;

operate in a first mode to;

render caller information and a plurality of command-images on the display when a call is received, the plurality of command-images including an answer command to answer the received call, a call-back command to send a message that the call will be returned within a predetermined amount of time, and an override command to offer an urgency-override;

upon activation of the call-back command, prompt a caller to record a message; and

upon activation of the override command, prompt the caller to record a message or request the callee to answer the call; and

operate in a second mode to;

automatically direct all calls to voicemail except calls received from callers of a specific characterization; and

automatically offer the urgency-override for callers of the specific characterization.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of command-images further comprises a command-image which corresponds to a divert command to divert the received call to voice mail.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor further includes instructions to block a call from a selected number.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the message is stored locally to the electronic device.

14. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor further includes instructions to offer the urgency-override option when the call is received from a selected number.

5. A method of managing calls to an electronic device configured to receive and send calls, the method comprising:

operating in a first mode to;

render caller information and a plurality of command-images when a call is received by the device, the plurality of command-images including an answer command to answer the received call, a call-back command to send a message that the call will be returned within a predetermined amount of time, and an override command to offer an urgency-override;

upon activation of the call-back command, prompt a caller to record a message; and

upon activation of the override command, prompt the caller to record a message or request the callee to answer the call; and

operating in a second mode to;

automatically directs all calls to voicemail except calls received from callers of a specific characterization; and

automatically offer the urgency-override for callers of the specific characterization.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of command-images further comprises a command-image which corresponds to a divert command to divert the received call to voice mail.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first mode and the second mode are further configured to block a call from a selected number.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the message is stored locally to the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the second mode is configured to offer the urgency-override option when the call is received from a selected number.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause an electronic device having a display to:

operate in a first mode to;

render caller information and a plurality of command-images on the display when a call is received, the plurality of command-images including an answer command to answer the received call, a call-back command to send a message that the call will be returned within a predetermined amount of time, and an override command to offer an urgency-override;

upon activation of the call-back command, prompt a caller to record a message; and

upon activation of the override command, prompt the caller to record a message or request the callee to answer the call; and

operate in a second mode to;

automatically direct all calls to voicemail except calls received from callers of a specific characterization; and

automatically offer the urgency-override for callers of the specific characterization.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the plurality of command-images further comprises a command-image which corresponds to a divert command to divert the received call to voice mail.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to offer the urgency-override when the call is received from a selected number.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the message is stored locally to the electronic device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the first mode and the second mode are further configured to block a call from a selected number.