# US 10,320,963 B2 · Phone user interface

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- Number: US 10,320,963 B2
- Document ID: US10320963B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/841,614
- Filed: 2015-08-31
- Published: 2016-03-03
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-02
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Lawrence Y. Yang; Alan C. Dye; Imran Chaudhri; Stephen O. Lemay; Christopher Patrick Foss; Anton M. Davydov; Zachery Kennedy; Dylan Ross Edwards; Jonathan P. Ive
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320963B2

## CPC

- H04M 1/6066: {including a wireless connection}
- G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt}
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- H04M 1/0258: {for a headset device}
- H04M 1/2745: using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
- H04M 1/72412: using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
- H04M 1/72469: for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
- H04M 1/72484: wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
- H04M 3/428: Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
- H04M 3/4285: {Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold}
- H04W 4/16: Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
- H04W 52/0254: {detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device}
- H04W 52/027: {by controlling a display operation or backlight unit}
- G06F 2203/04105: Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
- H04M 1/2746: Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
- H04M 1/663: Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
- H04M 2250/02: including a Bluetooth® interface
- H04M 2250/12: including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
- H04M 2250/22: including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
- H04M 2250/60: logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

An electronic device having a user interface for accessing phone features. The user interface accounts for whether the electronic device is connected to a companion cellular phone. The user interface accounts for a headset is available for use to carry on a call. The user interface permits transition between using one or more of cellular phone, headset, and/or the electronic device to be used for carrying on incoming or outgoing calls.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display and a wireless communication module, cause the electronic device to:
display, on the display, an indication of an incoming phone call from a caller;
while displaying, on the display, the indication of the incoming phone call from the caller, receive an answer input at the electronic device;
in response to receiving the answer input at the electronic device, initiate an in-progress phone call in which the electronic device has an audio connection to the caller;
during the in-progress phone call, detect a touch input on the display, wherein the touch input has a characteristic intensity and is located at the position of a first affordance;
in response to detecting the touch input:
in accordance with at least a determination that the characteristic intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold intensity, send, via the wireless communication module of the electronic device, an instruction to a cellular phone instructing the cellular phone to display a second affordance, wherein the second affordance, when selected, causes the cellular phone to retrieve the in-progress phone call, wherein the electronic device and the cellular phone are different devices; and
in accordance with at least a determination that the characteristic intensity is below the predetermined threshold intensity, perform a function associated with the first affordance.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:
in response to at least a determination that the characteristic intensity exceeds the predetermined threshold intensity, place the in-progress phone call on hold.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1,
wherein the cellular phone has a speaker and a microphone, and
wherein the second affordance, when selected, causes the cellular phone to provide input into the in-progress phone call using the microphone and to provide output from the in-progress phone call using the speaker.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 2, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to: after placing the in-progress phone call on hold, display an un-hold affordance, wherein the un-hold affordance, when selected: un-holds the held call; and causes the electronic device to display an end-call affordance, wherein the end-call affordance, when selected, ends the in-progress phone call.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 4, wherein the electronic device is operatively connected to a headset, wherein un-holding the held call comprises:
providing input into the in-progress phone call using the headset and providing output from the in-progress phone call using the headset.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 4, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:
provide input into the in-progress phone call using a microphone of the electronic device and provide output from the in-progress phone call using a speaker of the electronic device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:
after placing the in-progress call on hold, cause playback of an audio message to a participant of the in-progress phone call, the audio message informing the participant that the in-progress phone call is on hold.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a wearable electronic device.

### Claim 9

A method comprising:
at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display and a wireless communication module, wherein the touch-sensitive display comprises one or more sensors to detect the intensity of touches on the touch-sensitive display:
displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, an indication of an incoming phone call from a caller;
while displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, the indication of the incoming phone call from the caller, receiving an answer input at the electronic device;
in response to receiving the answer input at the electronic device, initiating an in-progress phone call in which the electronic device has an audio connection to the caller;
during the in-progress phone call, detecting a touch input on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the touch input has a characteristic intensity and is located at the position of a first affordance;
in response to detecting the touch input:
in accordance with at least a determination that the characteristic intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold intensity, sending, via the wireless communication module of the electronic device, an instruction to a cellular phone instructing the cellular phone to display a second affordance, wherein the second affordance, when selected, causes the cellular phone to retrieve the in-progress phone call, wherein the electronic device and the cellular phone are different devices; and
in accordance with at least a determination that the characteristic intensity is below the predetermined threshold intensity, performing a function associated with the first affordance.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, further comprising:
in response to at least a determination that the characteristic intensity exceeds the predetermined threshold intensity, placing the in-progress phone call on hold.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9,
wherein the cellular phone has a speaker and a microphone, and
wherein the second affordance, when selected, causes the cellular phone to provide input into the in-progress phone call using the microphone and to provide output from the in-progress phone call using the speaker.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, further comprising: at the electronic device: after placing the in-progress phone call on hold, displaying an un-hold affordance, wherein the un-hold affordance, when selected: un-holds the held call; and causes the electronic device to display an end-call affordance, wherein the end-call affordance, when selected, ends the in-progress phone call.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein the electronic device is operatively connected to a headset, wherein un-holding the held call comprises:
providing input into the in-progress phone call using the headset and providing output from the in-progress phone call using the headset.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein un-holding the held call comprises:
providing input into the in-progress phone call using a microphone of the electronic device and providing output from the in-progress phone call using a speaker of the electronic device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, further comprising:
after placing the in-progress phone call on hold, causing playback of an audio message to a participant of the in-progress phone call, the audio message informing the participant that the in-progress phone call is on hold.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a wearable electronic device.

### Claim 17

An electronic device, comprising:
a display,
one or more processors;
a memory;
a wireless communication module; and
one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
displaying, on the display, an indication of an incoming phone call from a caller;
while displaying, on the display, the indication of the incoming phone call from the caller, receiving an answer input at the electronic device;
in response to receiving the answer input at the electronic device, initiating an in-progress phone call in which the electronic device has an audio connection to the caller;
during the in-progress phone call, detecting a touch input on the display, wherein the touch input has a characteristic intensity and is located at the position of a first affordance;
in response to detecting the touch input:
in accordance with at least a determination that the characteristic intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold intensity, sending, via the wireless communication module of the electronic device, an instruction to a cellular phone instructing the cellular phone to display a second affordance, wherein the second affordance, when selected, causes the cellular phone to retrieve the in-progress phone call, wherein the electronic device and the cellular phone are different devices; and
in accordance with at least a determination that the characteristic intensity is below the predetermined threshold intensity, performing a function associated with the first affordance.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the one or more programs further includes instructions for:
in response to at least a determination that the characteristic intensity exceeds the predetermined threshold intensity, placing the in-progress phone call on hold.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The electronic device according to claim 17,
wherein the cellular phone has a speaker and a microphone, and
wherein the second affordance, when selected, causes the cellular phone to provide input into the in-progress phone call using the microphone and to provide output from the in-progress phone call using the speaker.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The electronic device according to claim 18, the one or more programs further includes instructions for: after placing the in-progress phone call on hold, displaying an un-hold affordance, wherein the un-hold affordance, when selected: un-holds the held call; and causes the electronic device to display an end-call affordance, wherein the end-call affordance, when selected, ends the in-progress phone call.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The electronic device according to claim 17, the one or more programs further includes instructions for:
providing input into the in-progress phone call using the headset and providing output from t the in-put progress phone call using the headset.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The electronic device according to claim 17, the one or more programs further includes instruction for:
providing input into the in-progress phone call using a microphone of the electronic device and providing output from the in-progress phone call using a speaker of the electronic device.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The electronic device according to claim 17, the one or more programs further includes instruction for:
after placing the in-progress call on hold, causing playback of an audio message to a participant of the in-progress phone call, the audio message informing the participant that the in-progress phone call is on hold.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the electronic device is a wearable electronic device.