Transferring an active telephone conversation

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a computing device may conduct an active telephone conversation and a proximity of the computing device to a second computing device may be determined to be within a predetermined distance. Moreover, a determination of a capability of the second computing device to conduct a telephone conversation may be made, and in response to such determinations, the active telephone conversation may be transferred from the computing device to the second computing device. In an example, when a user holding a telephone conversation moves near a smart speaker, the telephone conversation may be transferred to the smart speaker from the user's mobile device, should the user desire such a transfer. Moreover, as the user moves around, the telephone conversation may move with the user from device to device, enabling a seamless and intuitive telephone conversation experience for the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 transferring, by a mobile telephone, an active telephone conversation from the mobile telephone to a first smart speaker;   subsequent to transferring the active telephone conversation: detecting, by the mobile telephone, that the mobile telephone is closer to a second smart speaker than to the first smart speaker; and   sending, by the mobile telephone, a message to the second smart speaker to transfer the active telephone conversation from the first smart speaker to the second smart speaker in response to detecting that the mobile telephone is closer to the second smart speaker than to the first smart speaker.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the mobile telephone, a distance to the second smart speaker by measuring a strength of a signal transmitted by the second smart speaker, the signal being received via a microphone or a radio frequency receiver of the mobile telephone, and wherein the mobile telephone directly transfers the active telephone conversation to the first smart speaker. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 subsequent to sending the message to the second smart speaker: detecting, by the mobile telephone, that the second smart speaker is farther than a predetermined distance from the mobile telephone; and   transferring, by the mobile telephone, the active telephone conversation from the second smart speaker back to the mobile telephone in response to detecting that:
 the second smart speaker is farther than the predetermined distance from the mobile telephone; and 
 the second smart speaker is conducting the active telephone conversation. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 presenting, by the mobile telephone, a notification on a display of the mobile telephone while the mobile telephone is in a locked state in response to detecting that:
 the second smart speaker is farther than the predetermined distance from the mobile telephone; and 
 the second smart speaker is conducting the active telephone conversation, 
   wherein the notification includes a selectable option to transfer the active telephone conversation, and wherein the transferring the active telephone conversation from the second smart speaker back to the mobile telephone is in response to receiving selection of the option to transfer the active telephone conversation.   
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 automatically transferring, by the mobile telephone, the active telephone conversation from the second smart speaker back to the mobile telephone in response to detecting that a user has placed the mobile telephone in a position normally associated with conducting a telephone call.   
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to transferring the active telephone conversation from the mobile telephone to the first smart speaker:
 conducting, by the mobile telephone, an active telephone conversation;   detecting, by the mobile telephone, that the mobile telephone is within a predetermined distance to a plurality of smart speakers and closest to the first smart speaker of the plurality of smart speakers; and   determining, by the mobile telephone, that the first smart speaker is configured to conduct telephone conversations.   
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to transferring the active telephone conversation from the mobile telephone to the first smart speaker: detecting, by the mobile telephone, a position of the mobile telephone,   wherein the transferring the active telephone conversation from the mobile telephone to the first smart speaker is in response to detecting that a user has placed the mobile telephone in a resting position proximate to the first smart speaker.   
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to transferring the active telephone conversation from the mobile telephone to the first smart speaker: displaying, by the mobile telephone, a notification on a display of the mobile telephone that displays a selectable option to transfer the active telephone conversation,   wherein the transferring the active telephone conversation from the mobile telephone to the first smart speaker is in response to receiving selection of the option to transfer the active telephone conversation.   
     
     
         9 . A mobile telephone comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, perform operations comprising:
 transferring an active telephone conversation from the mobile telephone to a first smart speaker; 
 subsequent to transferring the active telephone conversation: detecting that the mobile telephone is closer to a second smart speaker than to the first smart speaker; and 
 sending a message to the second smart speaker to transfer the active telephone conversation from the first smart speaker to the second smart speaker in response to detecting that the mobile telephone is closer to the second smart speaker than to the first smart speaker. 
   
     
     
         10 . The mobile telephone as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a distance to the second smart speaker by measuring a strength of a signal transmitted by the second smart speaker, the signal being received via a microphone or a radio frequency receiver of the mobile telephone, and wherein the mobile telephone directly transfers the active telephone conversation to the first smart speaker. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile telephone as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 subsequent to sending the message to the second smart speaker: detecting that the second smart speaker is farther than a predetermined distance from the mobile telephone; and   transferring the active telephone conversation from the second smart speaker back to the mobile telephone in response to detecting that:
 the second smart speaker is farther than the predetermined distance from the mobile telephone; and 
 the second smart speaker is conducting the active telephone conversation. 
   
     
     
         12 . The mobile telephone as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 presenting a notification on a display of the mobile telephone while the mobile telephone is in a locked state in response to detecting that:
 the second smart speaker is farther than the predetermined distance from the mobile telephone; and 
 the second smart speaker is conducting the active telephone conversation, 
   wherein the notification includes a selectable option to transfer the active telephone conversation, and wherein the transferring the active telephone conversation from the second smart speaker back to the mobile telephone is in response to receiving selection of the option to transfer the active telephone conversation.   
     
     
         13 . The mobile telephone as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 automatically transferring the active telephone conversation from the second smart speaker back to the mobile telephone in response to detecting that a user has placed the mobile telephone in a position normally associated with conducting a telephone call.   
     
     
         14 . The mobile telephone as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise, prior to transferring the active telephone conversation from the mobile telephone to the first smart speaker:
 conducting the active telephone conversation;   detecting that the mobile telephone is within a predetermined distance to a plurality of smart speakers and closest to the first smart speaker of the plurality of smart speakers; and   determining that the first smart speaker is configured to conduct telephone conversations.   
     
     
         15 . The mobile telephone as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 prior to transferring the active telephone conversation from the mobile telephone to the first smart speaker: detecting a position of the mobile telephone,   wherein the transferring the active telephone conversation from the mobile telephone to the first smart speaker is in response to detecting that a user has placed the mobile telephone in a resting position proximate to the first smart speaker.   
     
     
         16 . The mobile telephone as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 prior to transferring the active telephone conversation from the mobile telephone to the first smart speaker: displaying a notification on a display of the mobile telephone that displays a selectable option to transfer the active telephone conversation,   wherein the transferring the active telephone conversation from the mobile telephone to the first smart speaker is in response to receiving selection of the option to transfer the active telephone conversation.   
     
     
         17 . A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, perform operations comprising:
 transferring, by a mobile telephone, an active telephone conversation from the mobile telephone to a first smart speaker;   subsequent to transferring the active telephone conversation: detecting, by the mobile telephone, that the mobile telephone is closer to a second smart speaker than to the first smart speaker; and   sending, by the mobile telephone, a message to the second smart speaker to transfer the active telephone conversation from the first smart speaker to the second smart speaker in response to detecting that the mobile telephone is closer to the second smart speaker than to the first smart speaker.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable storage medium as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise determining, by the mobile telephone, a distance to the second smart speaker by measuring a strength of a signal transmitted by the second smart speaker, the signal being received via a microphone or a radio frequency receiver of the mobile telephone, wherein the second smart speaker comprises at least one speaker and at least one microphone, and wherein the mobile telephone directly transfers the active telephone conversation to the first smart speaker. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable storage medium as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 subsequent to sending the message to the second smart speaker: detecting, by the mobile telephone, that the second smart speaker is farther than a predetermined distance from the mobile telephone; and   transferring, by the mobile telephone, the active telephone conversation from the second smart speaker back to the mobile telephone in response to detecting that:
 the second smart speaker is farther than the predetermined distance from the mobile telephone; and 
 the second smart speaker is conducting the active telephone conversation. 
   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable storage medium as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 automatically transferring, by the mobile telephone, the active telephone conversation from the second smart speaker back to the mobile telephone in response to detecting that a user has placed the mobile telephone in a position normally associated with conducting a telephone call.