Missed telephone call management for a portable multifunction device

• US 10,536,819 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2013
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Forstall, Scott, Christie, Greg, Herz, Scott, Chaudhri, Imran, Matas, Michael, van Os, Marcel, Lemay, Stephen O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Washington, Erika A
• Application Number:
  US13/903,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20140011485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,422 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• 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 1/663 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 telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method is disclosed for use in conjunction with a portable electronic device with a touch screen display. A list of items comprising missed telephone calls is displayed. Upon detecting user selection of an item in the list, contact information is displayed for a respective caller corresponding to the user selected item. The displayed contact information includes a plurality of contact objects that include a first contact object, comprising a telephone number object having a first telephone number associated with the missed telephone call, and a second contact object. Upon detecting user selection of the second contact object, a communication with the respective caller is initiated via a modality corresponding to the second contact object.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display;

displaying a list of items comprising prior telephone calls;

detecting user selection of an item in the list, and, in response to the user selection of the item, removing the displayed list of items and displaying a plurality of contact objects for a caller corresponding to the user selected item;

the plurality of contact objects comprising;

a first contact object associated with a telephonic communication modality for calling the caller, and

a second contact object associated with a non-telephonic communication modality for contacting the caller; and

detecting user selection of the second contact object, and, in response to the user selection of the second contact object, preparing a communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second contact object is an instant messaging object, and wherein preparing the communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object comprises preparing an instant message to a number associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second contact object is an email contact object, and wherein preparing the communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object comprises preparing an email message with the selected email address associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of consecutive prior telephone calls.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising while displaying the list of items comprising prior telephone calls, displaying, within a single item in the list, a number indicating a plurality of consecutive prior telephone calls.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of missed telephone calls from a plurality of distinct telephone numbers associated with a caller.

7. A portable electronic device with a touch screen display comprising:

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a list of items comprising prior telephone calls;

detecting user selection of an item in the list, and, in response to the user selection of the item, removing the displayed list of items and displaying a plurality of contact objects for a caller corresponding to the user selected item;

the plurality of contact objects comprising;

a first contact object associated with a telephonic communication modality for calling the caller, and

a second contact object associated with a non-telephonic communication modality for contacting the caller; and

detecting user selection of the second contact object, and, in response to the user selection of the second contact object, preparing a communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the second contact object is an instant messaging object, and wherein preparing the communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object comprises preparing an instant message to a number associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the second contact object is an email contact object, and wherein preparing the communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object comprises preparing an email message with the selected email address associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of consecutive prior telephone calls.

11. The device of claim 7, further comprising instructions for, while displaying the list of items comprising prior telephone calls, displaying, within a single item in the list, a number indicating a plurality of consecutive prior telephone calls.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of missed telephone calls from a plurality of distinct telephone numbers associated with a caller.

13. 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 electronic device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a list of items comprising prior telephone calls;

detect user selection of an item in the list, and, in response to the user selection of the item, removing the displayed list of items and displaying a plurality of contact objects for a caller corresponding to the user selected item;

the plurality of contact objects comprising;

a first contact object associated with a telephonic communication modality for calling the caller, and

a second contact object associated with a non-telephonic communication modality for contacting the caller; and

detect user selection of the second contact object, and, in response to the user selection of the second contact object, preparing a communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the second contact object is an instant messaging object, and wherein preparing the communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object comprises preparing an instant message to a number associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the second contact object is an email contact object, and wherein preparing the communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object comprises preparing an email message with the selected email address associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of consecutive prior telephone calls.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions which cause the device to, while displaying the list of items comprising prior telephone calls, display, within a single item in the list, a number indicating a plurality of consecutive prior telephone calls.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of missed telephone calls from a plurality of distinct telephone numbers associated with a caller.

19. A method comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display;

displaying a list of items comprising prior telephone calls;

detecting a first gesture on an item in the list, and, in response to the first gesture, initiating a telephone call to a number associated with the item;

detecting a second gesture on the item in the list, and, in response to the second gesture, removing the displayed list of items and displaying a plurality of contact objects for a caller corresponding to the item;

the plurality of contact objects comprising;

a first contact object associated with a telephonic communication modality for calling the caller, and

a second contact object associated with a non-telephonic communication modality for contacting the caller; and

detecting user selection of the second contact object, and, in response to the user selection of the second contact object, preparing a communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second contact object is an instant messaging object, and wherein preparing the communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object comprises preparing an instant message to a number associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the second contact object is an email contact object, and wherein preparing the communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object comprises preparing an email message with the selected email address associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of consecutive prior telephone calls.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising while displaying the list of items comprising prior telephone calls, displaying, within a single item in the list, a number indicating a plurality of consecutive prior telephone calls.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of missed telephone calls from a plurality of distinct telephone numbers associated with a caller.

25. A portable electronic device with a touch screen display comprising:

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a list of items comprising prior telephone calls;

detecting a first gesture on an item in the list, and, in response to the first gesture, initiating a telephone call to a number associated with the item;

detecting a second gesture on the item in the list, and, in response to the second gesture, removing the displayed list of items and displaying a plurality of contact objects for a caller corresponding to the item;

the plurality of contact objects comprising;

a first contact object associated with a telephonic communication modality for calling the caller, and

a second contact object associated with a non-telephonic communication modality for contacting the caller; and

detecting user selection of the second contact object, and, in response to the user selection of the second contact object, preparing a communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the second contact object is an instant messaging object, and wherein preparing the communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object comprises preparing an instant message to a number associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the second contact object is an email contact object, and wherein preparing the communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object comprises preparing an email message with the selected email address associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of consecutive prior telephone calls.

29. The device of claim 25, further comprising instructions for, while displaying the list of items comprising prior telephone calls, displaying, within a single item in the list, a number indicating a plurality of consecutive prior telephone calls.

30. The device of claim 25, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of missed telephone calls from a plurality of distinct telephone numbers associated with a caller.

31. 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 electronic device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a list of items comprising prior telephone calls;

detect a first gesture on an item in the list, and, in response to the first gesture, initiating a telephone call to a number associated with the item;

detect a second gesture on the item in the list, and, in response to the second gesture, removing the displayed list of items and displaying a plurality of contact objects for a caller corresponding to the item;

the plurality of contact objects comprising;

a first contact object associated with a telephonic communication modality for calling the caller, and

a second contact object associated with a non-telephonic communication modality for contacting the caller; and

detect user selection of the second contact object, and, in response to the user selection of the second contact object, preparing a communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the second contact object is an instant messaging object, and wherein preparing the communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object comprises preparing an instant message to a number associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the second contact object is an email contact object, and wherein preparing the communication with the caller via the non-telephonic modality corresponding to the second contact object comprises preparing an email message with the selected email address associated with the second contact object, ready for text input by the user.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of consecutive prior telephone calls.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions which cause the device to, while displaying the list of items comprising prior telephone calls, display, within a single item in the list, a number indicating a plurality of consecutive prior telephone calls.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein a single item in the list of items corresponds to a plurality of missed telephone calls from a plurality of distinct telephone numbers associated with a caller.