Courtesy answering solution for wireless communication devices

A method for answering a call made to a mobile phone, comprising:

• observing the Caller ID display, by the receiving party, to determine whether or not to accept the call, and to aid in the decision of what action to take,
• optionally manually activating, by the receiving party, a special courtesy mode feature on said mobile phone, said courtesy mode displaying, to the receiving party, a menu of possible actions to be taken, one of which is the primary courtesy mode where a message is played to the calling party indicating in effect that the receiving party will take their call shortly and/or that they should wait while the receiving party relocates in order to be able to better receive their call;
• selecting from said menu of possible actions, by the receiving party, the action to be taken relative to answering and processing the call.

A method for answering a call made to a mobile phone, comprising:

• observing the Caller ID display, by the receiving party, to determine whether or not to accept an incoming call, and to aid in the decision of what action to take in processing the call;
• optionally pressing a sequence of numerical buttons on said mobile phone, by the receiving party, the function to be initiated by said sequence of numerical button presses to be interpreted according to what function key is subsequently pressed;
• optionally pressing a function key on said mobile phone, the action initiated by said function key being influenced by said previously entered sequence of numerical button presses, and determining how said incoming call is to be answered and processed.

A method for answering a call made to a mobile phone, comprising:

• observing the Caller ID display, by the receiving party, to determine whether or not to accept an incoming call, and to aid in the decision of what action to take in processing the call;
• optionally pressing a sequence of numerical buttons on said mobile phone, by the receiving party, the function of said sequence of numerical button presses to be interpreted according to what function key is subsequently pressed;
• optionally pressing one of two function keys on said mobile phone, the action initiated by each of said function keys being influenced by said previously entered sequence of numerical button presses, and where one of said function keys initiates a courtesy mode function including a message played for the calling party in effect stating that the receiving party will take their call shortly and/or the receiving party is relocating in order to be able to better receive their call, and the other of said function keys initiates a mode that includes sending the caller to voicemail.

A method for providing an indication of an incoming call on a flip-type mobile phone, including:

• Upon opening the flip-type mobile phone, the call is not answered, however any audible ring indication is terminated or reduced in volume.

A wireless remote controller/communicator device for assisting in the answering of a mobile phone, said device having bi-directional communications with said mobile phone, and including:

• a vibrating ring indication, responsive to information transmitted from said mobile phone,
• a display, capable of displaying caller ID information transmitted from said mobile phone, and
• the ability to send command information to said mobile phone to control how an incoming call is processed.

A wireless remote controller/communicator/headset device for assisting in the answering of a mobile phone, said device containing a wireless headset voice communications capability as well as command and control communications with said mobile phone including:

• a vibrating ring indication, responsive to information transmitted from said mobile phone, and
• the ability to send command information to said mobile phone indicating how a particular call should be answered and processed, and
• an integrated wireless headset function, capable of sending and receiving audio information to and from said mobile phone.

A wireless remote communicator device for assisting in the answering of a mobile phone, said device capable of receiving ring indication information transmitted from said mobile phone, and including a vibrating ring indication capability, responsive to said information transmitted from said mobile phone.

A wireless remote controller/communicator device for assisting in the answering of a mobile phone, said device having bi-directional communications with said mobile phone, and including:

• a vibrating ring indication, responsive to information transmitted from said mobile phone, and
• the ability to send command information to said mobile phone to control how an incoming call is processed.

A method for controlling the ring indication of a mobile phone, comprising:

• Designating a button or set of buttons such that an incoming call is answered when said button or set of buttons are pressed;
• Causing the cessation of any current audible ring indication upon pressing any buttons on said mobile phone except said designated button or set of buttons.