System and method for providing a user interface for managing calls received at a mobile device

Abstract

Embodiments of a system and method for providing a user interface for managing calls received at a mobile device is described. The user interface provides an incoming call screen to the user, where the incoming call screen comprises a caller identification data field for displaying data associated with incoming calls and at least one key label field in which labels for mobile device keys (e.g. send and end keys) are displayed. The area of the caller identification data field is substantially greater than the area of the at least one key label field, enabling more information pertaining to incoming calls to be displayed to the user. In at least one embodiment, this is facilitated by providing user-selectable options for responding to incoming calls in an options menu, which can be accessed by a user but is not initially displayed to the user when an incoming call is first received.

1 . A method of providing a user interface for managing calls received at a mobile device, the mobile device providing access to at least a first communication line configured to receive the calls, the method comprising:
 displaying an incoming call screen on a display of the mobile device in response to an incoming call received at the mobile device, the incoming call screen comprising a caller identification data field for displaying data associated with the incoming call;   wherein an options menu comprising user-selectable options for responding to the incoming call is displayed on the incoming call screen if a direction to display the options menu is received at the mobile device after the incoming call is received at the mobile device; and   wherein a label is displayed in at least one key label field in the incoming call screen if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is engaged in a different call but the label is not displayed if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is not engaged in the different call, the label comprising an options menu identifier associated with the options menu.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an area of the caller identification data field and an area of the at least one key label field, in combination, occupies an entire visible area on the display of the mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one key label field occupies 10% of an area of the display. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one additional key label field is displayed proximate send and end keys of the mobile device, such that one additional label is displayed in an area of the display adjacent to the send key, and one other additional label is displayed in an area of the display adjacent to the end key. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the one additional label comprises an answer icon and a corresponding text identifier, and wherein the other additional label comprises an ignore icon and a corresponding text identifier. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the one additional label comprises a wireless audio device icon. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: detecting when the direction to display the options menu is received, displaying the options menu in the user interface, detecting when an option from the options menu is user-selected, and processing the incoming call in accordance with the user-selected option. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one item of data associated with the incoming call is displayed in an area of the caller identification data field that is centered along at least one axis of the display. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: determining a contact entry associated with the incoming call on the mobile device by matching the phone number associated with the incoming call to a data item in the contact entry, and displaying at least one item from the contact entry in the caller identification data field. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one item from the contact entry displayed in the caller identification data field comprises a company name. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the contact entry associated with the incoming call is stored in an address book on the mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device provides access to a plurality of communication lines configured to receive calls, and wherein data identifying the communication line on which the incoming call is received is displayed in the caller identification data field. 
     
     
         13 . A non-volatile computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable on a processor of the mobile device for implementing a method of providing a user interface for managing calls received at a mobile device, the mobile device providing access to at least a first communication line configured to receive the calls, the method comprising:
 displaying an incoming call screen on a display of the mobile device in response to an incoming call received at the mobile device, the incoming call screen comprising a caller identification data field for displaying data associated with the incoming call;   wherein an options menu comprising user-selectable options for responding to the incoming call is displayed on the incoming call screen if a direction to display the options menu is received at the mobile device after the incoming call is received at the mobile device; and   wherein a label is displayed in at least one key label field in the incoming call screen if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is engaged in a different call but the label is not displayed if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is not engaged in the different call, the label comprising an options menu identifier associated with the options menu.   
     
     
         14 . A mobile device on which a user interface for managing calls received at the mobile device is provided, the mobile device providing access to at least a first communication line configured to receive the calls, the mobile device comprising a processor, a display, and at least one input device, wherein the processor is configured to:
 display an incoming call screen on a display of the mobile device in response to an incoming call received at the mobile device, the incoming call screen comprising a caller identification data field for displaying data associated with the incoming call;   wherein an options menu comprising user-selectable options for responding to the incoming call is displayed on the incoming call screen if a direction to display the options menu is received at the mobile device after the incoming call is received at the mobile device; and   wherein a label is displayed in at least one key label field in the incoming call screen if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is engaged in a different call but the label is not displayed if the incoming call is received at the mobile device while the mobile device is not engaged in the different call, the label comprising an options menu identifier associated with the options menu.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein an area of the caller identification data field and an area of the at least one key label field, in combination, occupies an entire visible area on the display of the mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one key label field occupies 10% of an area of the display. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein at least one additional key label field is displayed proximate send and end keys of the mobile device, such that one additional label is displayed in an area of the display adjacent to the send key, and one other additional label is displayed in an area of the display adjacent to the end key. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the one additional label comprises an answer icon and a corresponding text identifier, and wherein the other additional label comprises an ignore icon and a corresponding text identifier. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the one additional label comprises a wireless audio device icon. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to: detect when the direction to display the options menu is received, display the options menu in the user interface, detect when an option from the options menu is user-selected, and process the incoming call in accordance with the user-selected option. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein at least one item of data associated with the incoming call is displayed in an area of the caller identification data field that is centered along at least one axis of the display. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to: determine a contact entry associated with the incoming call on the mobile device by matching the phone number associated with the incoming call to a data item in the contact entry, and display at least one item from the contact entry in the caller identification data field. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one item from the contact entry displayed in the caller identification data field comprises a company name. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the contact entry associated with the incoming call is stored in an address book on the mobile device. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the mobile device provides access to a plurality of communication lines configured to receive calls, and wherein data identifying the communication line on which the incoming call is received is displayed in the caller identification data field.