User interface-technique for managing an active call

• US 20030073430A1
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Williams, Eric, Robertson, Ryan, Maes, Stephane, Twerdahl, Timothy, Stone, Carl
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/416
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5072 Multiple active speakers conducting a computer conference, e.g. Admission detection H04L12/1822
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/68 with means for recording information, e.g. telephone number during a conversation recording of telephone conversations H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A portable electronic device includes a housing, a processor supported by the housing, a memory coupled to the processor, and a communications transceiver coupled to the processor. The transceiver is configured to support voice conference calling between more than two parties. A program stored in the memory and running on the processor is configured to provide a user interface on the display which is configured to display indicators representative of the parties on the conference call. The user interface includes the hold area configured to display indicators representative of the parties on hold and an active area configured to display indicators representative of the parties active on the conference call.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a processor supported by the housing;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a communications transceiver coupled to the processor, the transceiver configured to support voice conference calling between more than two parties; and

a program stored in the memory and running on the processor, the program configured to provide a user interface on the display, the user interface configured to display indicators representative of the parties on the conference call, the user interface including a hold area of the display configured to display indicators representative of the parties on hold and an active area of the display configured to display indicators representative of the parties active on the conference call.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes an icon configured to place at least one indicator representative of a party active on the conference call from the active area on hold.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the at least one indicator representative of a party active on the conference call from the active area is moved to the hold area.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a call timer associated with the call indicators.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to provide a plurality of user selectable options when a call is selected.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the user selectable options includes a save to address book option.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the user selectable options includes a private conversation option.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the user selectable options includes a set redial reminder option.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the user selectable options includes a disconnect call option.

10. A method of managing a conference call on a handheld mobile telephone device, comprising:

displaying to a user a screen including a new call option;

initiating a first call at the request of a user;

placing the first call on hold at the request of a user and placing an indicator representative of the first call in a hold section of the display;

displaying to a user an available section of the display including a new call option;

initiating a second call at the request of a user by selecting the new call option; and

placing an indicator representative of the second call in an active section of the display.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing to a user a selectable option configured to swap the first call in the hold section with the second call in the active section.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the mobile telephone device is a handheld computer.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

placing the calls in the active section on hold by selecting a hold option.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

selecting a new call option.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

placing a new call.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

selecting a conference option that effectuates the addition of the held calls to the new call.

17. A user interface for a radio enabled handheld computer display screen, comprising:

a first screen portion providing a first indicator representative of a first call of a conference call;

a second screen portion providing a second indicator representative of a second call of a conference call; and

a user selectable option that is configured to effectuate movement of at least one of the first indicator and the second indicator to the other of the first and second screen portion.

18. The user interface of claim 17, wherein the first screen portion is representative of active calls.

19. The user interface of claim 17, wherein the second screen portion is representative of held calls.

20. The user interface of claim 17, wherein the first portion may contain indicators representative of up to four calls.

21. The user interface of claim 17, further comprising:

a user selectable option configured to effectuate swapping of the first indicator from the first display screen portion to the second display screen portion and the second indicator from the second display screen portion to the first display screen portion.

22. The user interface of claim 17, further comprising:

a user selectable option that is configured to effectuate placing a call on hold and moving the first indicator from the first display screen portion to the second display screen portion.