System and method for automatically answering a call on a communication device

• US 8,897,757 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2011
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Epp, Anton, Fields, Gregory Jason, Hantzakos, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): SIVJI, NIZAR N
• Application Number:
  US13/635,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20130189963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 379/265, 379 72- 80, 379/201, 379/88.01, 379/69, 455412-4141, 455/90, 455/569, 455/564, 455/567
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/64 Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations centralised dictation systems H04M11/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2027 Live party detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42212 Call pickup comprising simultaneous alerting H04M3/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A system and method for answering a call on a communication device is provided and includes: detecting an incoming call on the communication device, automatically answering the incoming call, and detecting whether an audio signal is received through the microphone of the communication device. Upon not detecting an audio signal, the call is disconnected.

Claims

1. A method for answering an incoming call performed by a communication device comprising:

detecting the incoming call;

automatically answering the incoming call;

detecting whether an audio signal is received by the communication device;

if not, disconnecting the incoming call;

incrementing a number of consecutive calls that were automatically answered and disconnected when no audio signal was received by the communication device; and

when the number equals a pre-determined number, disabling auto-answerinq.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio signal comprises voice.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio signal exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein, after the auto-answering is disabled, the communication device provides an option to re-enable the auto-answering.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication device indicates to the user whether the auto-answering is enabled after detecting the incoming call.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication device alerts the user if the auto-answering is disabled after detecting the incoming call.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising after detecting the incoming call, determining if a communication headset is in communication with the communication device and, if so, automatically answering the incoming call.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein an option is provided to override the auto-answering after the communication device detects the incoming call.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the communication device determining if another call is already in progress, and if not, automatically answering the incoming call.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium for answering an incoming call on a communication device, the computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions comprising:

detecting the incoming call;

automatically answering the incoming call;

detecting whether an audio signal is received by the communication device;

if not, disconnecting the incoming call;

incrementing a number of consecutive calls that were automatically answered and disconnected when no audio signal was received by the communication device; and

when the number equals a pre-determined number, disabling auto-answering.

11. A communication device comprising a processor, means to connect to a communication network, one or more audio input mechanisms and a memory, the memory comprising computer executable instructions for:

detecting an incoming call;

automatically answering the incoming call;

detecting whether an audio signal is received by the communication device;

if not, disconnecting the incoming call;

incrementing a number of consecutive calls that were automatically answered and disconnected when no audio signal was received by the communication device; and

when the number equals a pre-determined number, disabling auto-answerinq.

12. The communication device of claim 11 further comprising instructions for determining whether the audio signal comprises voice and if not, disconnecting the incoming call.

13. The communication device of claim 11 further comprising instructions for determining whether the audio signal exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

14. The communication device of claim 11 wherein, after the auto-answering is disabled, the communication device provides an option to re-enable the auto-answering.

15. The communication device of claim 11 further comprising instructions for indicating to the user whether the auto-answering is enabled after detecting the incoming call.

16. The communication device of claim 11 further comprising instructions for alerting the user if the auto-answering is disabled after detecting the incoming call.

17. The communication device of claim 11 further comprising instructions for detecting the incoming call, determining if a communication headset is in communication with the communication device and, if so, automatically answering the incoming call.

18. The communication device of claim 11 further comprising instructions for providing the user with an option to override the auto-answering after the communication device detects the incoming call.

19. The communication device of claim 11 further comprising the communication device determining if another call is already in progress, and if not, automatically answering the incoming call.