Apparatus and method for detecting and handling accidental dialing on a mobile communications device

A method in a communications device for detecting an unattended communication, the method comprising the steps of:

• monitoring at least one of an input and an output of the communications device;
• detecting an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• and
• activating an alarm signal based on the detection of an absence of the at least one of an input and an output, wherein monitoring the at least one of an input and an output of the communications device includes monitoring an earpiece for a voice output by a called party.

A method in a communications device for detecting an unattended communication, the method comprising the steps of:

• monitoring at least one of an input and an output of the communications device;
• detecting an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• activating an alarm signal based on the detection of an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• determining if an activation of the communications device includes an input of an emergency number;
• and
• disabling the monitoring, detecting and activating steps if the activation of the communications device does include the input of an emergency number.

A method in a communications device for detecting an unattended communication, the method comprising the steps of:

• monitoring at least one of an input and an output of the communications device;
• detecting an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• and
• activating an alarm signal based on the detection of an absence of the at least one of an input and an output, wherein monitoring the at least one of an input and an output includes determining if the at least one of an input and an output includes a data transmission, and disabling the monitoring, detecting and activating steps if the at least one of an input and an output includes a data transmission.

An apparatus for detecting an unattended communication, comprising:

• means for initiating communication with a remote communication device;
• means for monitoring at least one of an input and an output of the apparatus;
• means detecting an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• and
• means for activating an alarm signal based on the detection of an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• means for monitoring for a response to the alarm signal;
• and
• means for terminating the communication while maintaining a current state of power to the apparatus if no response to the alarm signal is received.

An apparatus for detecting an unattended communication, comprising:

• means for monitoring at least one of an input and an output of the apparatus;
• means detecting an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• and
• means for activating an alarm signal based on the detection of an absence of the at least one of an input and an output, wherein the means for monitoring the at least one of an input and an output of the apparatus monitors an earpiece for a voice output by a called party.

An apparatus for detecting an unattended communication, comprising:

• means for monitoring at least one of an input and an output of the apparatus;
• means detecting an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• means for activating an alarm signal based on the detection of an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• means for determining if an activation of the apparatus includes an input of an emergency number;
• and
• means for disabling the means for monitoring, means for detecting and means for activating if the activation of the apparatus does include the input of an emergency number.

An apparatus for detecting an unattended communication, comprising:

• means for monitoring at least one of an input and an output of the apparatus;
• means detecting an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• and
• means for activating an alarm signal based on the detection of an absence of the at least one of an input and an output, wherein the means for monitoring the at least one of an input and an output includes means for determining if the at least one of an input and an output includes a data transmission, and means for disabling the means for monitoring, means for detecting and means for activating if the at least one of an input and an output includes a data transmission.

An apparatus in a mobile communications device for detecting an unattended communication, the apparatus comprising:

• a detection circuit that can detect an absence of conversation in both directions for a specified time period;
• a warning circuit to send an alarm signal and wait for a response to the alarm signal from a user of the mobile communications device;
• and
• a termination device to end the communication if no response to the alarm signal is received.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for detecting an unattended communication, comprising:

• first instructions for initiating communication between a communication device and a remote communication device;
• second instructions for monitoring at least one of an input and an output of the communications devices;
• third instructions for detecting an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• fourth instructions for activating an alarm signal based on the detection of an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• fifth instructions for monitoring for a response to the alarm signal;
• and
• sixth instructions for terminating the communication while maintaining a current state of power to the communication device if no response to the alarm signal is received.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for detecting an unattended communication of a communication device, comprising:

• first instructions for monitoring at least one of an input and an output of the communications device;
• second instructions for detecting an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• and
• third instructions for activating an alarm signal based on the detection of an absence of the at least one of an input and an output, wherein the first instructions for monitoring the at least one of an input and an output of the communications device includes instructions for monitoring an earpiece for a voice output by a called party.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for detecting an unattended communication of a communication device, comprising:

• first instructions for monitoring at least one of an input and an output of the communications device;
• second instructions for detecting an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• third instructions for activating an alarm signal based on the detection of an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• fourth instructions for determining if an activation of the communication device includes an input of an emergency number;
• and
• fifth instructions for disabling the monitoring, detecting and activating steps if the activation of the communications device does include the input of an emergency number.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for detecting an unattended communication of a communication device, comprising:

• first instructions for monitoring at least one of an input and an output of the communications device;
• second instructions for detecting an absence of the at least one of an input and an output;
• and
• third instructions for activating an alarm signal based on the detection of an absence of the at least one of an input and an output, wherein the first instructions for monitoring the at least one of an input and an output includes instructions for determining if the at least one of an input and an output includes a data transmission, and instructions for disabling the monitoring, detecting and activating steps if the at least one of an input and an output includes a data transmission.