Answer and hold with client and host

• US 9,602,661 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Schobel, Andreas E, Fraioli, Nicholas M, Rauenbuehler, Keith W., Laurens, Peter A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghulamali, Qutbuddin
• Application Number:
  US14/475,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20150350418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420, 455415-417, 4554141-4144
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A host device may relay notifications to any number of client devices of an incoming call. In response to a hold command from a client device, the host device may connect to the call and place the call in a hold state. For example, when a phone operating as a host device receives an incoming call from a network, the phone may communicate the presence of the incoming call to client device(s), such as laptop, desktop, tablet, or wearable devices that are associated with the host device. When an answer and hold selection is made at a client, an answer and hold communication may be sent from the client device to the host device. The host device may then communicate with the network to connect the call to the host. When the call is connected, the host may mute the call until an answer or disconnect occurs.

Claims

1. A method of using a client device of a user to facilitate a call to a mobile device of the user, the method comprising:

at the client device comprising a processor, an input device, and a wireless interface;

receiving, from the mobile device via the wireless interface, a notification associated with a voice-invite communication as part of the call, the call being from a calling device to the mobile device via a network;

presenting a call-received interface at the input device of the client device in response to receipt of the voice-invite communication, the call-received interface including a hold option;

receiving a hold input at the input device;

communicating, to the mobile device, a hold communication in response to receipt of the hold input at the input device; and

updating the call-received interface at the input device to a hold interface in response to receipt of the hold input.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the client device;

sending, to the mobile device, a location assistance communication to cause the mobile device to output a sound.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the client device;

sending, to the mobile device, a location assistance communication to cause the mobile device to determine a location of the mobile device; and

receiving, from the mobile device, the location of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the client device;

outputting a ring via a speaker of the client device in response to receipt of the voice-invite communication, wherein the ring of the client device indicates that the call is intended for the mobile device and is being relayed to the client device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the input device is a touch-sensitive display of the client device, and wherein the call-received interface is presented by displaying the call-received interface on the touch-sensitive display.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the client device;

receiving, from an identity assistance server, a first client identifier and a mobile identifier,

wherein the notification associated with the voice-invite communication comprises the mobile identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the client device;

receiving, at the hold interface, a locate assistance input; and

communicating a locate assistance request to the mobile device in response to the locate assistance input.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the client device;

receiving, at the hold interface, a message input that identifies a first hold message selection associated with a first hold message, wherein the hold interface comprises a plurality of hold message selections associated with a plurality of hold messages; and

communicating, to the mobile device, a hold message selection identifying the first hold message.

9. A client device of a user for facilitating a call to a mobile device of the user, the client device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

a wireless interface; and

at least one processor coupled to the wireless interface and the touch-sensitive display, the at least one processor configured to;

receive, from the mobile device via the wireless interface, a notification associated with a voice-invite communication as part of the call from a calling device, wherein the voice-invite communication is relayed from a network via the mobile device;

present a call-received interface at the touch-sensitive display of the client device in response to receipt of the voice-invite communication, the call-received interface including a hold option;

receive a hold input at the touch-sensitive display;

communicate, to the mobile device, a hold communication in response to receipt of the hold input at the touch-sensitive display; and

update the call-received interface at the touch-sensitive display to a hold interface in response to receipt of the hold input.

10. The client device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

send, to the mobile device, a location assistance communication to cause the mobile device to output a sound.

11. The client device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

send, to the mobile device, a location assistance communication to cause the mobile device to determine a location of the mobile device; and

receive, from the mobile device, the location of the mobile device.

12. The client device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

output a ring via a speaker of the client device in response to receipt of the voice-invite communication, wherein the ring of the client device indicates that the call is intended for the mobile device and is being relayed to the client device.

13. The client device of claim 9, wherein the call-received interface is presented by displaying the call-received interface on the touch-sensitive display.

14. The client device of claim 9, wherein the voice-invite communication is relayed from the network via the mobile device.

15. The client device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive, from an identity assistance server, a first client identifier and a mobile identifier,

wherein the notification associated with the voice-invite communication comprises the mobile identifier.

16. The client device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive, at the hold interface, a locate assistance input; and

communicate a locate assistance request to the mobile device in response to the locate assistance input.

17. The client device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive, at the hold interface, a hold input that identifies a first hold message selection associated with a first hold message, wherein the hold interface comprises a plurality of hold message selections associated with a plurality of hold messages; and

communicate, to the mobile device, a hold message selection that is selected from the plurality of hold messages and that identifies the first hold message.

18. The client device of claim 9, wherein the hold communication automatically comprises a hold message selection that identifies the first hold message to be communicated via the mobile device.

19. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions that, when executed, control a client device of a user to perform a method of interacting with a host device of the user to create a hold state for a call, the instructions comprising:

at the client device comprising a processor, an input device, and a wireless interface;

receiving, from the host device via the wireless interface, a notification associated with a voice-invite communication as part of the call, wherein the voice-invite communication is relayed from a network via the host device, and wherein the notification comprises a host identifier associated with the host device;

receiving, from an identity assistance server, an authenticated host identifier when an account identification associated with the host device is authenticated by the identity assistance server;

presenting a call-received interface at the input device of the client device in response to receipt of the voice-invite communication when the host identifier matches the authenticated host identifier, the call-received interface including a hold option;

receiving a hold input at the input device;

communicating, to the host device, a hold communication in response to receipt of the hold input at the input device; and

updating the call-received interface at the input device to a hold interface in response to receipt of the hold input.

20. The computer product of claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise:

receiving, at the hold interface, a message input that identifies a first hold message selection associated with a first hold message, wherein the hold interface comprises a plurality of hold message selections associated with a plurality of hold messages; and

communicating, to the host device, a hold message selection that is selected from the plurality of hold messages and that identifies the first hold message.

21. The computer product of claim 19, wherein the input device comprises a touch-sensitive display.