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

(54) A method of managing calls received by a portable intelligent communication device and a portable intelligent communication device (57) A method of managing calls received by a portable intelligent communication device when its owner is involved in a meeting in which the portable intelligent communications device is configured to manage each incoming call individually. If an incoming call is received in such a usage mode, a plurality of options are generated in the graphical user interface. The user of the portable intelligent communication device then activates one of the options available to manage each incoming call.

(57) An apparatus and method for handling incoming calls during an operational mode for a portable intelligent communications device when a subscriber is engaged in a meeting where the portable intelligent communications device is configured to handle each incoming eal! in an individual manner. When an incoming call is reeeived while in sueh operational mode, the plurality of options are generated in a graphical user interface. The user of the portable intelligent Communications device then introduces one of the options made available for handling each incoming call.

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A METHOD FOR MANAGING CALLS RECEIVED BY A PORTABLE PROGRAMMABLE COMMUNICATION MEDIA AND

PORTABLE PROGRAMMABLE COMMUNICATION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a portable intelligent communication device, and more particularly to a device and method for managing calls received by such a portable intelligent communication device during a meeting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A new class of communication devices has been developed that includes a complete computer with built-in communication hardware and software. Known as portable programmable communication devices, these devices differ greatly from electronic notebooks (PDAs) and handheld devices (HPCs) in that they are primarily designed as a communication device rather than simply a "mobile computer". The main characteristics of such means of communication are the availability of telephony, advanced telephony, messaging and information services. In order to realize at least some of these characteristics, there is provided the ability to connect a portable intelligent communications device to the Internet, either via a wired or wireless communications line. It will also be appreciated that the portable programmable communication device is provided with certain software applications for use with the aforementioned capabilities as well as other desired features such as PIM (Personal Information Manager), games and the like. An example of a programmable portable communication device is disclosed and disclosed in U.S. Patent Application entitled "Swilching of Analog Signals in Mobile Computing Devices", which is owned by the owner of the present invention.

It will be understood that the aforementioned portable programmable communication device is intended for the traveling businessman. Because this type of user is often busy with appointments and other activities during which the portable

EE 04080 Βί Normal use is either inconvenient or inappropriate, it is recommended that the portable programmable communication device operate in a consistent operating mode. As disclosed in PCT Patent Application WO99 / ​​21101, published April 29, 1999, entitled "Apparatus and Methods for Configuring Settings of a Portable Intelligent

Communications Device During a Meeting April 1999, this involves configuring a number of settings for the portable intelligent communications device (e.g., managing and / or switching incoming calls, disabling the alarm, etc.). This application includes activating and blocking such a meeting mode, either manually or automatically, but also maintaining the same settings for all incoming calls while using the io meeting mode. Since the user of a portable intelligent communication device may wish to manage some of the calls it receives during a meeting differently from each other and the identification of the source of each incoming call is easy, it is desirable that the mode of operation used during the meeting include the ability to manage each incoming call individually.

A different radio system and a portable wireless terminal are disclosed in European Patent Application 0 399 520 A2. This portable radiotelephone is equipped with a number of communication modes that can be automatically switched, depending on the schedule information and current position information.

Restrictions entered by the user are shown to work only according to the schedule that was entered before the call was received. The location based constraint is secured by the base station signal. With both restrictions, all incoming phone calls are handled the same. Thus, this system cannot distinguish between incoming calls and does not provide various alternatives for managing calls depending on the caller.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a device and method for managing telephone calls to a portable intelligent communications device while its user is engaged in a meeting or similar activity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device and method for individually managing each incoming telephone call to a portable intelligent communications device while its user is engaged in either

EE 04080 B1 Other similar activities.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device and method for managing a telephone call to a portable intelligent communications device that provides multiple options for each incoming call while the user of that device is either in a meeting or engaged in other similar activities.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device and method for managing telephone calls to a portable intelligent communications device, which is automatically activated when a user is engaged in either a meeting or similar activity and is manually disabled after the end of that meeting or other activity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device and method for managing incoming telephone calls to a portable intelligent communications device that is manually activated when its user is engaged in a meeting or similar activity.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device and method for managing incoming calls to a portable intelligent communications device when its user is engaged in an appointment or similar activity identifying each source of incoming calls.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device and method for managing incoming telephone calls to a portable intelligent communications device while the user is engaged in either a meeting or other similar activity that signals the user to receive an incoming call.

These objects and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a method for managing incoming telephone calls to a portable intelligent communications device, such as when used by its user in a busy meeting, wherein the portable intelligent communications device is configured to individually manage each incoming call. When each incoming call is received in this mode of operation, a graphical user interface is generated on the screen, which includes a number of options for managing the incoming call. The io then activates one of the options available to the user of the portable intelligent communications device to manage each incoming call. The method may also include the steps of identifying the source of each incoming call and informing the user of the portable intelligent communication device of the receipt of the incoming call.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the disclosed portable programmable communication device includes a circuit for use in telephone services, a display and a screen-connected processing circuit. In the access mode, the processing scheme generates a graphical user interface for receiving each incoming call on a portable programmable communication device, the graphical user interface including a plurality of options for individually managing incoming calls and each individual incoming call.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the description of the invention will end with the claims which specifically state and define the features which distinguish the present invention, it will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable intelligent communications device having a mode of operation for meetings or other similar activities in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the portable programmable device shown in Figure 1

EE 04080 B1 Simplified block diagram of a communication device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the software architecture of the portable intelligent communications device of FIGS. 1 and 2, which includes certain software applications according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a screen view of the portable intelligent communication device of FIGS. 1 and 2 when operating with a calendar software application.

FIG. 5 is a graphical display of a graphical user interface displayed on a portable intelligent communication device used to configure certain default settings of the intelligent communication device according to an operating mode used when the user of the device is engaged in a meeting or similar activity.

FIG. 6 is a graphical on-screen display provided by the graphical user interface when each incoming call is received, including a plurality of options for managing incoming calls to its portable programmable communication device while its user is engaged in a meeting or similar activity.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of processing steps for receiving an incoming telephone call while in the access mode of the portable intelligent communication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in more detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings in which FIG. 1 illustrates a portable intelligent communications device, designated in its entirety by 10. It is understood that portable intelligent communications device 10 is essentially a communications device. that allow it to function

EE 04080 ΒΙ mobile, fixed telephone, infrared data, card, etc. modes. The portable programmable communication device 10 also includes circuitry that enables it to function as a computer while utilizing a plurality of software applications. Because of this combination, the portable intelligent communications device 10 is uniquely suited for integrating software applications with communication hardware and software. Thus, it will be appreciated that the portable intelligent communications device 10 will generally operate in accordance with the device described in U.S. Patent Application Switching of Analog Signals in Mobile Computing Devices, which is also owned by the present inventor.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the portable programmable communication device 10 includes a housing 12 for accommodating communication and other circuitry, which will be described in more detail below. The handle 14 is disposed at the top 16 of the housing 12 and preferably includes a built-in speaker 18 for use when the handle 14 is in this position. The pivot antenna 20 (in the open or working position shown in FIG. 1) is intended for communication in, for example, the cellular telephone mode. It will be appreciated that various ports, sockets and interfaces have been added to provide additional communication capabilities. The control buttons 21 and 23 are also shown located at the top 16 of the housing 12.

The portable programmable communication device 10 further includes a display 22, which is preferably of a type that allows the user of the device to interact interactively by touching designated areas therein. It will be appreciated that a pointed object may be used to pinpoint a particular area relative to a finger, although most of the areas provided are large enough for contact with a normal sized finger. Since the portable intelligent communications device 10 is preferably not larger than a standard office landline telephone, the screen 22 has a diagonal of approximately 8 (eight) inches. It puts the screen into 22 specific size classes because it is smaller than a monitor on a regular PC or laptop and larger than screens on personal digital assistants (PDAs), calculators and the like.

FIG. 2 shows that the internal electrical circuitry of the portable programmable communication device 10 includes a processor 26, such as a Motorola

EE 04080 B1 Microprocessor Power PC 821. As can be seen, processor 26 is connected to both read-only memory (ROM) 28 and random access memory (RAM) 30, which stores both operating systems and software applications. The optional mass storage device 32 is further optional for storing databases. The processor 26 is also coupled to the display 22 via a standard driver (not shown) to control the images displayed therein, as well as to obtain information through graphical user interfaces on which the user of the portable intelligent communication device 10 can display the choices made. The communication functions of the portable programmable communication device 10 are also controlled via the processor 26 through the serial and / or parallel port 34 as a whole to the specific communication mode switches designated 36. As noted above, there are several possible communication modes, including cell phone, landline, IrDA (inff red data), and phone card modes, and it is understood that more than one can be used at any given time. It is also possible to connect the keyboard 38 to the processor 26, whereby the keyboard 15 may be depicted on screen 22 or may be a separate physical object that can be used with the portable programmable communication device 10 via the IR keyboard port (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a software architecture for a portable intelligent communications device 10. As can be seen, the software is divided into three main areas: application software 42, desktop software 44, and system application software 46 (which includes everything from the class library to the device drivers for the portable intelligent communications device 10). It will be appreciated that neither application software 42 nor desktop software 44 will ever interact with anything other than the top layer of system application software 46. Exemplary software applications are shown with application software 42, with particular reference to calendar / schedule list software 48 in connection with the present invention.

It will be appreciated that there are certain situations, such as appointments, for which the user of the portable intelligent communications device 10 would prefer to configure it to operate differently from the normal situation. With respect to such preference, it is noted that such a mode of use is described in the PCT application Apparatus and Method For

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Configuring Settings of a Portable Intelligent Communications Device During a Meeting, with International Publication Number WO 99/21101 and International Publication Date April 29, 1999. This mode of operation, known as the "access mode", includes a plurality of settings for the portable intelligent communications device 10 configured and associated with such a mode of operation so that it is activated upon activation (i.e. when a meeting or other similar activity begins). The access mode of the portable programmable communication device 10 can be activated manually (e.g. via a graphical user interface) or automatically (e.g. via some software application such as io calendar / action program software application 48). The various settings of the portable intelligent communications device 10 are organized into a file for the graphical user interface mode of operation, as shown in Figures 5A to 5C of this PCT patent application, where various screens are used to configure specific settings groups. It will be understood that the configuration of the settings may take place before or after manual activation of the operating mode, but that the configuration of these settings is preferably carried out before the automatic activation of the operating mode. Similarly, deactivation of the operating mode can occur manually or automatically, for example, when a meeting or other similar activity ends.

To provide a better understanding of how the access mode can be manually or automatically activated, the calendar / program software application screen 50 is shown in Figure 4. It should be noted that screen 50 includes a title bar 51 in the upper window as well as standard controls along the right side of title bar 51. The main control panel 53 is shown to contain a plurality of compartmented regions that display a second level of menu options control buttons (all together designated 55) after selecting one cell on the main control panel 53. The lower rectangular area 57 of the display 50 is preferably used to present status information. mouse mode control 59.

It should be noted that one of the mouse mode controls 59 is the access mode control 52, which is best seen in FIG. 7 of the aforementioned PCT patent application. To manually activate and disable the access mode, press the control button

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52. Activation of the control button 52 not only causes it to be highlighted (or depressed), but preferably also displays a message in the status bar 57 about activating the access mode. Otherwise, control key 52 remains unchanged and no message appears in status bar 57. It will be appreciated that the control button 52 and the access mode implementation can be brought to the screen 52 for each software application, as well as the use of the status bar to display the corresponding message. This is accomplished by means of a drag-and-drop interface as shown and described in US patent application "System to Associate Controls with Applications Using Drag and Drop Interface", which also belongs to the owner of the invention.

One example of performing this task with respect to the automatic activation and blocking of the mode of operation is to rely on appointments entered in its portable programmable communication device 10 calendar / program software application 48. As can be seen in FIG. 4, agreements and / or appointments may be marked on screen area 50 (having a vertical scroll bar 63), preferably for a predetermined period of time (as indicated by the area highlighted in area 61). Certainly, in the highlighted area 65, certain necessary information identifying the appointment or arrangement may be provided. Accordingly, the operating mode is activated at the beginning of such a meeting and is automatically deactivated when it ends.

Previously, the PCT patent application was associated with an access mode that ensures the same control of all incoming phone calls, since the settings for working in the access mode were selected before receiving an incoming call. However, as it turned out, this somewhat restricts the user of the portable intelligent communications device 10 who wishes to manage incoming calls individually depending on their source. Accordingly, FIG. 5 is analogous to the screen shown in FIG. 5A of said PCT patent application, but screen 56 is provided to enable certain default settings for managing calls and other calls coming into the portable intelligent communication device 10 in the access mode. Screen 56 also includes blocking of certain alarms. It will be understood that the default settings are configured so that once selected, each incoming call will be managed in one way according to such default settings.

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Specifically, a bubble 66 is provided which allows the acoustic signal to be blocked during an appointment or for an agreed period of time to prevent interference. An additional option is to block the touch alarm and / or visual alarm by the bubbles 68 and 70 so that the user is not silently disturbed while the portable programmable communication device

10th has received an incoming call. It will be appreciated that bubbles 66, 68 and 70 can, by default, block one or more of the existing alarms.

In addition, the screen 56 includes a number of default setting options for managing incoming calls to the portable intelligent communications device 10. These options include diverting calls to an assistant (bubble 72), diverting calls to voicemail (bubble 74), and diverting calls to another location (indicated by box 78 or search button 80) in box 78 (bubble 76). Alternatively, answer the call and put the caller on hold (bubble 82) so that the message shown in box 84 can be played back. The paging button 86 preferably provides the user of the portable intelligent communication device 10 with the ability to select between several messages so that the caller is presently available.

It will be understood that screen 56 may be the first in a series of screens to configure various operating mode-related default settings. Accordingly, separate control buttons 88 and 90 may be provided along the lower edge of the screen 56 to allow the user to switch to another screen or cancel the default configuration of the access mode. In this way it is possible to configure additional default settings for the operating mode (see fig. for example, FIGS. 5B and 5C in the aforementioned PCT application, which provides settings related to the range and power of the portable intelligent communications device 10).

In accordance with the present invention, a display 92 is generated by the portable intelligent communications device to receive each incoming call (see FIG. 6). In this way, it is possible to manage each incoming call individually by directing it to one of several alternative locations by filling in bubble 94 (helper), bubble 96 (voicemail) or bubble 98 (another location defined in box 100 or search button 102). Another alternative is to fill bubble 104, which answers the caller's caller on hold, so

EE 04080 B1 that he may hear the message in box 108 (bubble 106). This latter option allows the user of the portable intelligent communication device 10 to apologize for being in a meeting and receiving a call within a specified time period. It will be appreciated that the process of selecting a variant for a particular incoming call can advantageously be accelerated by using the caller identification function (IF) implemented in the communication scheme 36, whereby the source of the incoming call is identified and displayed on screen 22. The display 92 is preferably also provided with control buttons 110 and 112 for controlling the settings selected for a particular incoming call or for implementing the default settings 10 pre-selected by the display 56.

Of course, the display 22 of the portable intelligent communication device 10 may provide information about the status of the operating mode quoted here (e.g., display 50 in the status bar 57 as described above). As explained, the mode of operation can be easily activated by graphical user interfaces and automatically by other software applications. One of the advantages of the automatic application is the automatic blocking of the mode of operation at the end of the appointment or the agreed time so that subsequent incoming calls are not diverted or lost. It is also preferable to display on the screen 22 some information when the portable programmable communication device 10 receives an incoming call. This can be done, for example, either graphically on the screen 50 by the indicator 114 adjacent to the control buttons 59 and / or in the lower rectangular area 57 thereof (see Fig. 4).

To better illustrate how incoming calls are handled in a working mode for a meeting or similar event, a flowchart of FIG. 7 illustrates the steps to be taken, depending on whether a new calendar event occurs first or a call arrives. It will be seen that the process is in each case involved in managing the incoming call while operating in the access mode of the portable intelligent communication device 10.

Figure 7 shows the skin that the logic (scheme) first determines whether a new calendar event has arrived (decision box 114). This step considers the automatic activation of the operating mode, for example the calendar / action plan described above

EE 04080 Bl software application 48. If so, the logic then determines whether the event is the beginning of the meeting (decision box 116). If the answer is positive, the access mode is activated (box 118). Accordingly, the process returns via decision loop 120 to decision box 114. It will be understood that if the new calendar event that has arrived is not the beginning of the meeting (i.e., the decision in decision box 116 is negative), then the logic will decide whether the calendar event is the end of the meeting (decision box 122). If the answer is no, the logic returns via decision loop 120 to decision box 114. If yes, the logic determines whether the access mode is activated (decision 124). If the coexistence mode was activated, it is blocked by the mother io (box 126) and then logic returns to decision box 114 via the feedback loop 120. If not, the coexistence mode remains deactivated and also returns to the decision box 120 via the feedback loop 120.

In the event that a new calendar event has not arrived (i.e., there are 15 responses to decision box 114 requests), the logic determines whether the incoming call has been received by the portable programmable communication device (decision box 128). If the response to the request to decision box 128 is negative, then the logic returns via the feedback loop 132 to the decision box 114. If the answer is yes, it is determined whether the access mode is activated (decision box 130). This request is required because the access mode may have been manually activated.

As for the request box 130, the incoming call is managed in the same way as when the access mode was not activated (box 134). However, when the access mode is activated, user input settings are viewed as being desirable for managing this incoming call (box 136), and then these settings are applied (box 138). Upon completion of the incoming call (box 140), whether managed in the access mode or not, the process returns to the first step in decision box 114 via feedback loop 142. It will be understood that this process continues and the required actions are performed depending on the response to requests 114 and 128.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings in detail, and

EE 04080 B1 or other similar situation call management device and method can be adapted by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.