Mobile communications device with hold mode

BACKGROUND

0001This invention is directed to mobile communication devices.

0002Mobile communication devices, such as cell phones, may ring to alert the user that an incoming call has been received. Often, however, the ringing may take place in a situation that is awkward for the user to answer the incoming call. Meetings, for example, are often disrupted by ringing cell phones. Other situations in which the mobile phone user may not be able to readily respond to the incoming call may include libraries, theaters, churches, and hospitals.

0003At present, one option for the mobile phone user in such situations may be to allow the phone to continue ringing, after which the caller may be invited to leave a voice message. After the caller leaves the voice message, the call may be discontinued. The mobile phone user may put the phone in a mute or silent mode, so that the ringing is silenced, allowing the voice mail service to record the voice message from the incoming caller.

SUMMARY

0004However, when the user allows the voice mail to take a message rather than answer the call directly, the opportunity to speak directly to the caller may be lost because the call may be discontinued after the caller leaves the voice message. When the user finally gets around to receiving and listening to the voice message left by the caller, and returns the call, the caller may no longer be available to take the return call, so that the opportunity to speak directly with the caller may be lost or postponed. This may result in less efficient productivity in work situations, and reduced communications in personal relationships.

0005Various exemplary systems and methods are described which may provide an alternative mode for handling an incoming call in situations in which the user cannot readily answer the call. Exemplary systems and methods may provide a mobile communications device with a hold mode. The hold mode holds the caller on the line for an interval of time, within which the user may be able to exit the situation and then answer the call. This may allow the opportunity for the user to speak directly with the caller, at a later time which is more convenient for the user.

0006The mobile communications device may comprise a hold mode selector that selects a hold mode for the mobile communications device, and a microprocessor that invokes a hold mode routine when the hold mode selector is selected. The mobile communications device may further include a device which initiates a hold indicator, such as a distinct ring or silent vibration, wherein the hold indicator indicates that the hold mode is active. The mobile communications device may further include a microphone disabler, which disables the microphone to avoid transmitting ambient sounds to the caller.

0007Several different modes may be employed to implement various exemplary systems and methods. These modes may include a first mode wherein the user selects the hold mode before the user enters the situation in which he or she will be unable to take the incoming call, for example, before entering a church. In this first mode, the mobile communications device may ring or vibrate only once, before generating a hold greeting which directs the caller to stay on the line, as the respondent will answer within a few moments. In a second mode, the mobile communications device may ring or vibrate as usual, and may enter the hold mode upon depression of a hold mode selector by the user, which may then cause the mobile communications device to generate the hold greeting and hold the call.

0008The hold mode may loop and therefore may last indefinitely, or it may invoke a voice message routine after a predefined period of time. The voice message routine may then invite the caller to leave a voice message, before disconnecting the call.

0009These and other features and advantages are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0010Various exemplary details are described with reference to the following figures, wherein:

0011<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates an exemplary mobile communications device operating within a range of a transmission/reception antenna;

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile communications device with hold mode;

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a flowchart illustrating a first exemplary mode for using the mobile communication device with hold mode;

0014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary hold routine;

0015<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a flow chart illustrating a second exemplary mode for using the mobile communication device with hold mode;

0016<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a flow chart illustrating a first exemplary method for implementing the hold routine of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>;

0017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a flow chart illustrating a second exemplary method for implementing the hold routine of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>; and

0018<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary combination of the hold routine of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> with a usual voice message routine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

0019A mobile communications device may be equipped with a hold mode that allows a user to direct the mobile communications device to hold an incoming call on a connection for a predefined period of time, during which the user may prepare to receive the incoming call.

0020<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> depicts a scenario within which an exemplary mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b> may be deployed. The mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b> may communicate with a transmission/reception antenna <b>10</b> associated with a base station <b>5</b>, which may transmit and receive communication information to and from one or more mobile communications devices. A region <b>20</b>, specified as “region A,” may correspond to an entire region within which the mobile device with hold mode <b>100</b> may transmit and receive information from the transmission/reception antenna <b>10</b> and base station <b>5</b>. When the mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b> is within a region <b>50</b> specified as “region C,” the mobile communications device with hold mode may be configured to accept no incoming calls, and instead may direct all incoming calls to a voice message service via transmission/reception antenna <b>10</b>. Region <b>50</b> may be, for example, a workplace where personal calls are not encouraged, or the home of the user within which the user prefers not to be interrupted by telephone calls.

0021Another region <b>40</b>, specified as “region B” in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, may correspond to locations or situations wherein the user may prefer to receive the incoming calls, but may not be able to readily answer the calls. Region <b>40</b> may be a business meeting, a library, a theater or a church, for example. When the user is located in region B, he may prefer to hold the call for some predefined amount of time, during which he may prepare to answer the call personally. This preparation may include exiting the church or business meeting, swallowing a bite of lunch, clearing his nose or throat, or searching for a relevant document. When the user is located in region <b>40</b>, he may configure the mobile communication device to be in a hold mode in which the caller is presented with a hold greeting and invited to hold the line for a few moments within which the user will answer the call. Accordingly, region <b>40</b> offers the advantage compared to region <b>50</b>, in that the user may still have the opportunity to speak directly with the incoming caller after a hold period, whereas in region <b>50</b>, this opportunity is not available because the all incoming calls are automatically directed to the voice message service.

0022<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram illustrating details of the exemplary mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b>. The mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b> may include a hold mode selector <b>110</b>, a hold greeting memory <b>120</b>, an antenna <b>130</b>, a microprocessor <b>140</b>, a speaker <b>150</b>, a caller identification module <b>160</b>, a microphone <b>165</b>, a display <b>170</b>, a keypad <b>175</b>, a hold indicator generator <b>180</b>, and a hold routine <b>190</b>. The foregoing components may communicate through a bus <b>195</b>, or may be implemented as components of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Any combination of hardware and software may be used to implement the components of mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b> as illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

0023Hold mode selector <b>110</b> may be a dedicated key on keypad <b>175</b>, which may be used to select or invoke the hold mode. Alternatively, hold mode selector <b>110</b> may invoke the hold mode upon the depression of a predefined sequence of keys on keypad <b>175</b>. In yet another alternative, the hold mode selector <b>110</b> may invoke the hold mode upon audible detection of a signal word or words, such as “set hold mode ON”, spoken into microphone <b>165</b>, for example, during a setup or configuration phase of operation of the mobile communication device with hold mode <b>100</b>. It should be understood that these alternatives are non-limiting, and that any other suitable method of invoking or activating the hold mode may be employed.

0024Hold greeting memory <b>120</b> may be a volatile or non-volatile memory which stores a hold greeting that the user would like to use to greet the incoming caller. The hold greeting may be something such as “Please hold. Henry will answer shortly.” This greeting may be recorded previously, for example, upon entering region <b>40</b>, or upon powering on mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b>, may be recorded in the factory as a standard hold greeting, or may be provided as a default greeting by the base station <b>5</b>. This greeting may be played back to a caller each time a call is received when the mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b> is configured in the hold mode. The greeting may be communicated to the caller by electronic signals inserted directly on the data stream relayed to the transmission/reception antenna, rather than re-created audibly and transmitted through the microphone <b>165</b> of the mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b>.

0025The hold indicator generator <b>180</b> may be a device which generates an indicator, such as a signal indicating to the user that an incoming call has been received and has been placed on hold. The hold indicator may be, for example, a distinct sound or a series of distinct sounds, such as a single ring of the mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b>, a silent vibration, or a visual signal, such as a blinking light.

0026Hold routine <b>190</b> may contain hardware and/or software for performing the hold routine. The hold routine may include disabling the microphone, playing back the hold greeting stored in the hold greeting memory <b>120</b>, and/or holding the connection for a predefined period of time. The connection may be held by having the mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b> transmit the appropriate data to the transmission/reception antenna <b>10</b> and base station <b>5</b>, indicating that the call is underway. During this period, the connection may be maintained, although no audio information may be transmitted over the wireless connection.

0027Alternatively, the hold greeting and hold routine may be stored in the base station <b>5</b>, rather than in the mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b>. The hold greeting may be stored and replayed by the base station <b>5</b> in a manner similar to a voice message greeting recorded by the user, inviting incoming callers to leave a voice message. In this situation, the base station <b>5</b> may also store and execute the hold routine <b>190</b>. The base station <b>5</b> may send a signal instructing the mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b> to disable its microphone <b>165</b>, may play the hold greeting to the user, and may maintain the open connection with the mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b>. The microphone <b>165</b> may be enabled when the user pushes a button on keypad <b>175</b>, to answer the call being held by the base station <b>5</b>.

0028The term “hold mode” as described herein refers to a mode in which the call may be connected although no voice transmission may take place. The hold mode routine thereby differs from “call waiting” or voice mail capabilities presently available on some cell phones, because, among other things, the call connection is established in the hold mode, whereas it is not yet established in the call waiting and voice mail services. As a result, the user may be charged for the period that an incoming call is held in hold mode, depending on the charging policies of the communications service provider. In contrast, connection charges are typically not accrued to the mobile communications device user when using the call waiting or voice mail services. Although the systems and methods described here may have the disadvantage of accruing connect time charges for periods when no conversation is underway, in many situations, the increased expense is well worth the improvement in communications and reduction in missed calls.

0029The caller ID module <b>160</b> may determine the phone number or other identifying information of the incoming caller, and may display the information on display <b>170</b>. This information may assist the user in deciding whether to answer the call immediately, to place the caller on hold, or to let the voice message service take a voice message from the caller. It should be understood that the caller ID module <b>160</b> is optional, and is not necessary to the functioning of the mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b>.

0030The hold mode of mobile communications device with hold mode <b>100</b> may be activated in any of a number of ways. One exemplary method for activating the hold mode is shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates a method in which the hold mode may be activated by the user before a call is received. For example, the hold mode may be activated upon entering a church, a theater or a library, for example, to avoid having the phone ring as usual inside these locations.

0031The method starts in step S<b>110</b>, and proceeds to step S<b>120</b>, where the phone may be set to the hold mode. This selection may occur by the depression of a dedicated hold key, by the depression of a sequence of keys, or by uttering certain signal word or words into the microphone, which indicate to the mobile communications device with hold mode that the hold mode is desired. In step S<b>120</b>, an incoming call may be received. The process then proceeds to step S<b>130</b>, where upon receipt of an incoming call, a hold indicator of the mobile communications device may be generated, for example, a single ring, or a particular sequence of sounds, that is distinct from the normal ring of the mobile communications device. As an alternative, a less intrusive indicator, such as a vibration, a somewhat muted ring, or a visual signal may be generated to alert the user that an incoming call has been received in hold mode.

0032In step S<b>140</b>, the hold routine may be invoked. The call may be terminated in step S<b>150</b>, and the process may end in step S<b>160</b>.

0033<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a flow chart describing in greater detail an exemplary hold routine. These steps generally correspond to step S<b>140</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. The process may begin with step S<b>140</b> and proceed to step S<b>141</b>, where the phone connection may be confirmed. This step may include the transmission of appropriate data to the transmission/reception antenna, indicating that the call has been received and is underway by the mobile communications device with hold mode. The transmission/reception antenna and base station may then maintain the connection between the caller and the user of the mobile communications device.

0034The method then proceeds to step S<b>142</b>, where the microphone of the mobile communications device with hold mode may be disabled. This prevents the caller from overhearing unintended conversations, or ambient noise, at the location of the mobile communications device with hold mode. In step S<b>143</b>, the hold greeting may be generated for the caller. The hold greeting may greet the caller, and may give an indication as to when the caller can expect the call to be answered. Since the microphone may have been disabled, the hold greeting may be generated and transmitted electronically from the hold greeting memory. The method then proceeds to step S<b>144</b>, where the mobile communications device may wait for a predefined interval for the user to answer the call. During this interval, the user may or may not accrue connection charges as the call may be treated as underway by the transmission/reception antenna and base station, or may be treated differently by the communications provider.

0035A determination is made in step S<b>145</b>, whether the call has been answered. If so, control proceeds to step S<b>146</b>, where the microphone of the mobile communications device with hold mode is enabled. The connection is maintained in step S<b>147</b> until the conversation is ended. Control then returns to step S<b>150</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, where the call may then be terminated. If the call has not been answered, the control returns directly to step S<b>1150</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, where the call is terminated. The process ends in step S<b>160</b>.

0036<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates an alternative process for activating the hold mode on a mobile communications device with hold mode. The process starts in step S<b>200</b>, and continues to step S<b>210</b>, where an incoming call may be received. In step S<b>220</b>, the usual ring may be generated, followed by a display of information related to the identity of the caller in step S<b>230</b>. Based on this information, the user may elect to set the phone to hold mode in step S<b>240</b>. The phone may then invoke a hold routine such as that detailed in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, in step S<b>250</b>. The call may be terminated in step S<b>260</b>, and the process ends in step S<b>270</b>.

0037There may also be situations in which the user is unable to answer the call within the predetermined interval of the hold mode. In this situation, rather than terminating the call, the exemplary method illustrated by <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> may be used, in which a loop is added to give the user an indefinite period of time in which to answer the call.

0038In <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, the process assumes that the mobile communications device with hold mode has been placed in the hold mode before the reception of an incoming call, as illustrated by the exemplary activation method of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. The method of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> starts in step S<b>300</b>, and continues to step S<b>310</b>, where the incoming call may be received. The process then proceeds to step S<b>320</b>, where the hold indicator, for example, a single ring or a silent vibration, may be generated. The method may then display the caller identification information in step S<b>330</b>. In step S<b>340</b>, the hold routine of, for example, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> may be invoked. After the execution of the hold routine, a determination may be made in step S<b>350</b> whether the call has been answered. If not, control returns to step S<b>340</b> where the hold routine may again be invoked. This loop may continue until the call is answered from hold mode, and the process ends in step S<b>360</b>.

0039Alternatively, in order to limit the connect time for which the user may be billed, a loop may be added to the process shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, such that the hold mode may be invoked only a predefined number of times before the call is terminated as in the method described in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3 and 5</figref>.

0040The exemplary method illustrated by <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is similar to that described by <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, with the exception that the hold indicator, for example, the single ring or the vibration, may be generated each time the hold routine in invoked. That is, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, the process starts in step S<b>400</b>, and proceeds to step S<b>410</b>. In step S<b>410</b>, the incoming call may be received. The process then proceeds to step S<b>420</b>, where the hold indicator may be generated, and then to step S<b>430</b>, where the caller information may be displayed. Thereafter, in step S<b>440</b>, the hold routine may be invoked. Upon completion of the hold routine, in step S<b>450</b>, a determination may be made whether the call has been answered. If not, control returns to step S<b>420</b>, where the hold indicator may be generated, and then to step S<b>430</b> where the caller information may be displayed. Therefore, in the method of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, the user may be alerted by the hold indicator that the caller is still on the line, and still waiting for the user to answer. The periodic generation of the call indicator in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> may serve to remind the user that the call still has not been answered.

0041The method described in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> may be combined with a conventional voice message service, in order to record a voice message in the event that the user cannot answer the held call within a predetermined amount of time. An example of such an implementation is illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>.

0042The exemplary method of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> begins in step S<b>500</b>, and proceeds to step S<b>510</b>, where the incoming call may be received. In step S<b>520</b>, a determination may be made whether the hold mode has been activated. If not, control may continue to step S<b>530</b>, where a normal ring may be activated. In step S<b>540</b>, a determination may be made whether the call has been answered. If so, the process ends in step S<b>550</b>. If the call has not been answered, a pre-recorded message may be played to the caller in step S<b>560</b>, inviting the caller to leave a message. In step S<b>570</b>, the message from the caller may be recorded, to be retrieved by the user at a convenient time. The process ends in step S<b>580</b>.

0043If the determination is made that the hold mode has been activated in step S<b>520</b>, the process proceeds to step S<b>590</b>, where the hold indicator, for example, a single ring or a vibration, may be generated. In step S<b>600</b>, the caller identification information may be displayed to the user. In step S<b>610</b>, the hold routine of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, for example, may be invoked. In step S<b>620</b>, a determination may be made whether the call has been answered. If so, the process ends in step S<b>630</b>. If not, control proceeds to step S<b>640</b>, wherein a determination may be made whether the hold mode has been de-activated. The de-activation may be accomplished either by the user depressing a de-activation button, or by the process having looped through the hold routine a maximum number of times. In either case, if the hold mode has been de-activated, control may continue to step S<b>560</b>, where the pre-recorded message may be played to the caller, inviting the caller to leave a voice message, followed by the recording of the voice message in step S<b>570</b>. If the hold mode has not been de-activated, control returns to step S<b>590</b>, where the hold indicator may again be generated, followed by the display of the caller identification in step S<b>600</b>.

0044It should be clear that the steps outlined in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3-8</figref> above may not necessarily be executed in the specific order indicated in the figures, and that a number of the steps may be optional. For example, the caller identification information may be displayed prior to, or concurrently with, generation of the hold indicator, rather than subsequently. In addition, the display of the caller identification may be omitted for users who do not subscribe to such a service.

0045It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.