US6574471B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for handling incoming calls received by a portable intelligent communications device during a meeting
Assignee: Ericsson Inc
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Filing: 1998-02-03
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Granted: 2003-06-03
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Expires: 2018-02-03
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Nils Rutger Carl Rydbeck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:52
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/38; H04B1/40; H04B1/44; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/66; H04M1/663; H04M1/72; H04M1/724
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of identifying a source for each incoming call.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
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.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is diverting said incoming call to voice mail.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is diverting said incoming call to an assistant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is diverting said incoming call to another phone number.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 , said option having a plurality of stored phone numbers from which to designate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , one of said options also including placing the incoming call on hold for a predetermined time period.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , said one of options also including playing a prerecorded message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 , said option having a plurality of stored messages from which to choose.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said operational mode is activated manually.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
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.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is activating said default settings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically terminating said operational mode in response to the expiration of said meeting appointments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
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.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
123 words
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.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
123 words
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.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
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.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The portable intelligent communications device of claim 16 , further comprising a mechanism for alerting a user when an incoming call is received.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The portable intelligent communications device of claim 16 , wherein said operational mode is activated manually through a graphical user interface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
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.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
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.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
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.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The portable intelligent communications device of claim 22 , said option having a plurality of stored phone numbers from which to designate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The portable intelligent communications device of claim 16 , wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is answering said incoming call.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The portable intelligent communications device of claim 24 , said option also including placing the incoming call on hold for a predetermined time period.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The portable intelligent communications device of claim 24 , said option also including playing a prerecorded message.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The portable intelligent communications device of claim 26 , said option having a plurality of stored messages from which to choose.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
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.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The portable intelligent communications device of claim 28 , wherein one of said options for handling an incoming call is selecting said default settings.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
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.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
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.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-02 | 2006-12-02 | 2007-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | 2011-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-02 | 2014-12-02 | 2015-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |