Apparatus and method for handling incoming calls received by a portable intelligent communications device during a meeting

• US 6,574,471 B1
• Filed: 02/03/1998
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology, LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Rydbeck, Nils Rutger Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/017,595
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 455/417, 455/418, 455/550, 455/556, 455/557, 455/90, 455/95, 455/344, 455/351, 379/373-1-3
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

An apparatus and method for handling incoming calls during an operational mode for a portable intelligent communications device when a user thereof is engaged in a meeting, where the portable intelligent communications device is configured to handle each incoming call in an individual manner. When an incoming call is received while in such operational mode, a plurality of options are generated in a graphical user interface. The user of the portable intelligent communications device then activates one of the options made available for handling each incoming call.

Claims

1. A method of handling incoming calls during an operational mode for a portable intelligent communications device when a user of said portable intelligent communications device is engaged in a meeting, said method comprising:

configuring said portable intelligent communications device for handling each incoming call in an individual manner when said operational mode is activated;

setting a meeting appointment in a calendar software application of said portable intelligent communications device for a designated date and time range;

automatically activating said operational mode in response to initiation of said meeting appointment;

generating a plurality of options available to the user of said portable intelligent communications device when an incoming call is received while said operational mode is active, said plurality including the option of answering said incoming call;

displaying said plurality of options via a graphical user interface on a display screen of said portable intelligent communications device; and

activating one of said incoming call handling options.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of identifying a source for each incoming call.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of alerting the user of said portable intelligent communications device when an incoming call is received.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is diverting said incoming call to voice mail.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is diverting said incoming call to an assistant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is diverting said incoming call to another phone number.

7. The method of claim 6, said option having a plurality of stored phone numbers from which to designate.

8. The method of claim 1, one of said options also including placing the incoming call on hold for a predetermined time period.

9. The method of claim 1, said one of options also including playing a prerecorded message.

10. The method of claim 9, said option having a plurality of stored messages from which to choose.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said operational mode is activated manually.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting certain default settings for handling an incoming call to said portable intelligent communications device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is activating said default settings.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically terminating said operational mode in response to the expiration of said meeting appointments.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said automatically activating said operational mode in response to initiation of said meeting appointment comprises automatically activating said operational mode solely in response to initiation of said meeting appointment.

16. A portable intelligent communications device, comprising:

circuitry for performing telephony operations;

a processing circuit;

a real-time clock circuit;

software running on said processor operative to compare previously entered meeting appointments designating a date and time range to said real-time clock circuit, and to automatically initiate an operational mode when a user of said portable intelligent communications device is engaged in a meeting;

a display screen coupled to said processing circuit; and

a graphical user interface for configuring said portable intelligent communications device to handle incoming calls in an individual manner when said operational mode is active, wherein a plurality of options for handling each incoming call is provided on said display screen via said graphical user interface when an incoming call is received.

17. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 16, wherein said telephony circuitry and said processing circuit are able to identify a source for each incoming call.

18. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 16, further comprising a mechanism for alerting a user when an incoming call is received.

19. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 16, wherein said operational mode is activated manually through a graphical user interface.

20. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 16, wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is diverting said incoming call to voice mail.

21. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 16, wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is diverting said incoming call to an assistant.

22. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 16, wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is forwarding said incoming call to another phone number.

23. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 22, said option having a plurality of stored phone numbers from which to designate.

24. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 16, wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is answering said incoming call.

25. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 24, said option also including placing the incoming call on hold for a predetermined time period.

26. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 24, said option also including playing a prerecorded message.

27. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 26, said option having a plurality of stored messages from which to choose.

28. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 16, further comprising a graphical user interface for configuring certain default settings for handling incoming calls to said portable intelligent communications device.

29. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 28, wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is selecting said default settings.

30. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 16 wherein said software is further operative to automatically terminate said operational mode in response to the expiration of said meeting appointment.

31. The portable intelligent communications device of claim 16, wherein said software determines that a user of said portable intelligent communications device is engaged in a meeting based solely on said comparison.