Answering a call with client through a host

• US 9,712,623 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2014
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Jansen, Thomas, Rauenbuehler, Keith W., Bernardo, Jason A., Fraioli, Nicholas M., Chandok, Gurtej Singh, Garrido, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Mundur, Padma
• Application Number:
  US14/475,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20150350332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• 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 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism

Abstract

A client device may be used to initiate or answer calls using a host device connected to a network. 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 one or more client devices such as laptop, desktop, tablet, or wearable devices that are associated with the host device. When an answer call selection is made at a client, a call answered 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, and when the call is connected, the host may hand-off the call to the client that sent the call answered communication.

Claims

1. A method of using a first client device to receive a call via a mobile device, the mobile device configured to act as host for the call, the method comprising:

at the first client device comprising a wireless interface, an output display, and at least one processor coupled to the wireless interface and the output display;

receiving, from the mobile device via the wireless interface, a voice invite communication as part of the call, the voice invite communication including a host identifier that identifies the mobile device;

comparing the host identifier to a list of known devices associated with a user account from which the first client device is configured to receive calls;

providing a call-received interface in response to receiving the voice invite communication and when the host identifier matches at least one of the list of known devices associated with the user account;

receiving, at the call-received interface, an input to answer the call;

establishing a first connection for the call, the first connection providing communication of audio between the first client device and the mobile device;

communicating, to the mobile device, a call answer communication in response to the input to answer the call, the call answer communication comprising a client identifier associated with the first client device and with the user account; and

communicating call data as part of the call to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the client identifier associated with the first client device uniquely identifies the first client device from one or more other client devices associated with the user account.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the first client device;

receiving an input to end the call at the call-received interface; and

closing the first connection in response to the input to end the call.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the first client device;

receiving an input to end the call at the call-received interface; and

sending an end call communication to the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the first client device;

outputting an audible ring in response to receiving the voice invite communication.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first client device uses the host identifier to establish the first connection with the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first connection comprises a peer to peer wireless connection between the mobile device and the first client device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the call-received interface is displayed on the output display and comprises an answer button and a decline button, and wherein the input to answer the call is received by a selection of the answer button.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the call-received interface includes a voice command interface.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from an identity management server, a client identifier that identifies a user account of the user.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first connection for the call is established at least in response to the host identifier matching at least one of the list of known devices associated with the user account.

10. A first client device configured to receive a call via a mobile device, the first client device comprising:

a wireless interface;

an output display; and

at least one processor coupled to the wireless interface and the output display, the at least one processor configured to;

receive, from the mobile device via the wireless interface, a voice invite communication as part of the call, the voice invite communication including host identifier that identifies the mobile device;

compare the host identifier to a list of known devices associated with a user account from which the first client device is configured to receive calls;

establish a connection for the call providing communication of audio between the first client device and the mobile device when the host identifier matches at least one of the list of known devices associated with the user account;

communicate, to the mobile device, a call answer communication, the call answer communication comprising a client identifier associated with the first client device and with the user account; and

communicate call data to the mobile device.

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

provide a call-received interface in response to receiving the voice invite communication; and

receive, at the call-received interface, an input to answer the call, wherein a peer to peer connection between the mobile device and the first client device is established in response to receiving the input to answer the call.

12. The first client device of claim 11, further comprising:

at the first client device;

receiving an input to end the call at the call-received interface;

sending an end call communication to the mobile device; and

closing the peer to peer connection.

13. The first client device of claim 11, wherein the call-received interface is displayed on the output display, wherein the call-received interface includes an answer button and a decline button, and wherein the input to answer the call is received by a selection of the answer button.

14. The first client device of claim 10, wherein the client identifier associated with the first client device uniquely identifies the first client device from one or more other client devices associated with the user account.

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

output an audible ring in response to receiving the voice invite communication.

16. The first client device of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to use the host identifier to establish a peer to peer connection with the mobile device.

20. The first client device of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive, from an identity management server, a client identifier that identifies a user account of the user.

17. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions that when executed control a computer system to perform a method of relaying a call from a mobile device to a first client device, the first client device comprising a wireless interface, an output display, and at least one processor coupled to the wireless interface and the output display, the instructions comprising:

receiving, from an identity management server, a client identifier that identifies a user account of the user, the client identifier that identifies the user account of the user being managed by the identity management server;

receiving, at the first client device from the mobile device via the wireless interface, a voice invite communication as part of the call, the voice invite communication including a host identifier that identifies the mobile device;

comparing the host identifier to a list of known devices associated with the user account from which the first client device is configured to receive calls;

establishing a first connection for the call when the host identifier matches at least one of the list of known devices associated with the user account, the first connection providing communication of audio between the first client device and the mobile device;

communicating, to the mobile device, a call answer communication, the call answer communication comprising the client identifier that identifies the user account; and

communicating call data to the mobile device.