Systems and methods for handling incoming calls on a media device

• US 8,892,088 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Huaiyuan, Williams, Rodney Owen
• Primary Examiner(s): TAYLOR, NATHAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US13/328,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20130157631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 455 412- 413, 455411-4122, 700/94
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• 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 1/72442 for playing music files
• 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 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

Various embodiments for handling an incoming call are disclosed. One embodiment is a method implemented in a media playback device. The method comprises establishing, by the media playback device, a connection with an output device and streaming, by the media playback device, audio content to the output device. The method further comprises receiving, by the media playback device, an indication from a communication device of an incoming call received by the communication device and responsive to receiving the indication, providing, by the media playback device, an alert corresponding to the incoming call.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a media playback device for handling incoming calls to a communication device, comprising:

establishing, by the media playback device, a connection with an output device;

streaming, by the media playback device, audio content to the output device, wherein the media playback device comprises a plurality of playback controls;

receiving, by the media playback device, an indication from a communication device of an incoming call received by the communication device;

responsive to receiving the indication, providing, by the media playback device, an alert corresponding to the incoming call; and

responsive to receiving the indication, providing, by the media playback device, a user interface on a display of the media playback device to a user, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of items each relating to an action for handling the incoming call, wherein for each item displayed on the user interface, an action is assigned to one of the playback controls on the media playback device for invoking the action.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the media playback device, an input from the user via the user interface, the input comprising a selection among the at least one item.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting, by the media playback device, a response to the communication device based on the selection.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the input comprises one of a selection to accept the call and a selection to reject the call.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising responsive to the input comprising a selection to accept the call, suspending, by the media playback device, streaming of the audio content to the output device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising resuming, by the media playback device, streaming of the audio content to the output device upon the incoming call being terminated.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a Bluetooth headset.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the media playback device comprises a portable computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the media playback device is coupled to the output device via an Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) connection, and wherein the communication device is coupled to the media playback device via a Hands-Free Profile (HFP) connection, and wherein the communication device is coupled to the output device via a second HFP connection.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert provided to the output device comprises at least one of a visual alert and an audio alert.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the visual alert comprises caller identification (ID) information corresponding to the incoming call.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the caller ID information comprises limited access data stored on the media playback device, wherein the limited access data is accessed according a connection between the media playback device and the communication device.

13. A method implemented in a handheld media playback device for handling incoming calls to a communication device, comprising:

establishing, by the media playback device, a connection with an output device, wherein the connection complies with both a Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) profile and an Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) profile;

streaming, by the handheld media playback device, audio content to an output device via an A2DP connection, wherein the media playback device comprises a plurality of playback controls;

receiving, by the handheld media playback device, a caller indication (ID) packet from a communication device corresponding to an incoming call received by the communication device; and

responsive to receiving the indication, providing, by the handheld media playback device, a user interface on a display of the handheld media playback device, the user interface including a visual alert corresponding to the incoming call, the visual alert including information in the caller ID packet, wherein the user interface displays a plurality of items each relating to an action for handling the incoming call, wherein for each item displayed on the user interface, an action is assigned to one of the playback controls on the media playback device for invoking the action.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the output device comprises a Bluetooth enabled hands-free device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the caller ID packet comprises a +CLIP (Calling Line Identification Presentation) unsolicited response.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving, by the handheld media playback device, a selection from a user relating to handling of the incoming call.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising responsive to a selection comprising acceptance of the incoming call, suspending, by the handheld media playback device, streaming of the audio content to the output device.

18. A system, comprising:

a handheld media playback device comprising a plurality of playback controls; and

an application executable in the handheld media playback device, the application comprising;

logic that streams audio content to a hands-free device;

logic that receives an indication from a communication device of an incoming call received by the communication device;

logic that provides, responsive to receiving the indication, an alert to the output device corresponding to the incoming call;

logic that provides a user interface on a display of the handheld media playback device, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of items corresponding to actions for handling the incoming call, wherein for each item displayed on the user interface, an action is assigned to one of the playback controls on the media playback device for invoking the action; and

logic that receives a selection of one of the items.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the streaming of audio content to the hands-free device is performed via an Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) connection, and wherein receiving the indication is performed via a Hands-Free Profile (HFP) connection.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising logic for sending a response to the communication device based on the selection.

21. The system of claim 18, further comprising logic for suspending streaming of the audio content to the hands-free device based on the selection of one of the items.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising logic that retrieves limited access data according to a connection established between the handheld media playback device and the communication device.