Abstract:
A mobile phone having an easy-receive feature for an incoming call includes a body and a receiver coupled to the body and configured to convey voice communication to a user. A microphone is coupled to the body and is configured to convey voice communication from the user. The body has an open position and a closed position. A loudspeaker is coupled to the body. A means for activating the easy-receive feature is coupled to the body and upon activation the mobile phone is configured to answer the incoming call by routing voice communication to the loudspeaker if the body is in the closed position. Otherwise the mobile phone is configured to route voice communication to the receiver if the body is in the open position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to mobile phones, and more particularly to a mobile phone having an easy-receive feature for an incoming call.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of the front side of conventional mobile phone  10  while closed. Body  12  has loudspeaker  14 , antennae  16  and volume control buttons  18 . Mobile phone  10  is a flip-top or clamshell design. During an incoming, or mobile-terminated (MT) call, loudspeaker  14  emits a tone to alert a user to the call.  
         [0003]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of the left side of conventional mobile phone  10  from  FIG. 1  while closed.  FIG. 2  further illustrates upper body  12   a  and lower body  12   b.  Reference numeral  12  refers to the upper body  12   a  and lower body  12   b  together, as opposed to reference numeral  12   a  to the upper body and  12   b  to the lower body separately. Upper body  12   a,  in a flip-top design, is mounted to lower body  12   b  with a hinge (see  FIG. 4 ) that swings upper body  12   a  through approximately 150 degrees, in order to open mobile phone  10  (also see  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0004]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of the right side of conventional mobile phone  10  from  FIG. 1  while closed, illustrating antennae  16  mounted to lower body  12   b,  and upper body  12   a.    
         [0005]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of the front of conventional mobile phone  10  from  FIG. 1  while open. In order to answer a MT call, a user opens mobile phone  10 , resulting in a front view with upper body  12   a  connected to lower body  12   b  with hinge  20 . Upper body  12   a  includes screen  22  and receiver  24 . Screen  22  may display the number or identity of the incoming call, if known, as well as features such as signal strength, battery level, roaming or in-network, and so forth. The user will place mobile phone  10  against their head in order to position receiver  24  against the ear in order to hear incoming sound.  
         [0006]     Lower body  12   b  includes volume control buttons  18 , end button  26 , send button  28 , dial keys  30 , and microphone  32 . The user answers the incoming call by pressing the send button  28 , then initiates conversation by placing mobile phone  10  against their head so they may hear from receiver  24  and speak into microphone  32 .  
         [0007]     One problem with conventional mobile phone  10  is that three steps are needed in order to initiate a conversation: 1) Open the phone; 2) Press a button to accept the call; and 3) Place the phone in a position to hear from the receiver and speak into the microphone.  
         [0008]     Accordingly, what is needed is a mobile phone having an easy-receive feature for an incoming call. The present invention addresses such a need.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention provides a mobile phone having an easy-receive feature for an incoming call. One embodiment of the invention includes a body and a receiver coupled to the body and configured to convey voice communication to a user. A microphone is coupled to the body and is configured to convey voice communication from the user. The body has an open position and a closed position. A loudspeaker is coupled to the body. A means for activating the easy-receive feature is coupled to the body and upon activation the mobile phone is configured to answer the incoming call by routing voice communication to the loudspeaker if the body is in the closed position. Otherwise the mobile phone is configured to route voice communication to the receiver if the body is in the open position.  
         [0010]     According to a method and system disclosed herein, the present invention provides a user with a feature whereby they may answer the phone by skipping the steps of opening the phone and placing it next to their head. By pressing an exposed button on the closed phone, they answer the phone with voice communication from the caller directed to the loudspeaker rather than the receiver. The increased volume of the loudspeaker permits communication without having to place the mobile phone against the user&#39;s ear. Also, the microphone may be positioned so as to receive sound from the user without opening the phone. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of the front side of a conventional mobile phone while closed.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of the left side of the conventional mobile phone of  FIG. 1  while closed.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of the right side of the conventional mobile phone of  FIG. 1  while closed.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of the front of the conventional mobile phone of  FIG. 1  while open.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of the front side of a mobile phone while closed, illustrating one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of the left side of the mobile phone of  FIG. 1  while closed, illustrating one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of the right side of the mobile phone of  FIG. 1  while closed, illustrating one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of the front of the mobile phone of  FIG. 1  while open, illustrating one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a flow diagram illustrating one method of receiving a call at a mobile phone.  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a flow diagram illustrating another method of receiving a call at a mobile phone. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     The present invention relates to mobile phones, and more particularly to a mobile phone having an easy-receive feature for an incoming call. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention of the front side of mobile phone  200  while closed. Body  212  has loudspeaker  214 , antennae  216  and buttons  218 , for example volume control. Loudspeaker  214  typically uses an audio band sampling frequency, which is typically up to 48 KHz for a ringing tone that announces an incoming call (mobile terminated (MT)). Mobile phone  200  is illustrated as a flip-top or clamshell design. One skilled in the art will recognize that the invention applies to any mobile phone, but in particular to those needing some physical manipulation other than pressing a button and placing the phone near ones head in order to answer a call. Examples of physical manipulation include phones with slide and swivel tops.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention of the left side of mobile phone  200  from  FIG. 5  while closed.  FIG. 6  illustrates upper body  212   a  and lower body  212   b.  Reference numeral  212  refers to the upper body  212   a  and lower body  212   b  together, as opposed to reference numeral  212   a  to the upper body and  212   b  to the lower body separately. Upper body  212   a,  in a flip-top design, is mounted to lower body  212   b  with a hinge (see  FIG. 8 ) that swings upper body  212   a  through an arc in order to open mobile phone  200 .  
         [0024]     Audio channel  234  between upper body  212   a  and lower body  212   b  provides a path for sound to reach microphone  232  (see  FIG. 7 ).  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention of the right side of mobile phone  200  from  FIG. 5  while closed, illustrating antennae  216  mounted to lower body  212   b,  and upper body  212   a.  Audio channel  234  provides a space for sound to reach microphone  232 , in contrast to conventional mobile phones (see  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0026]     In another embodiment of the invention and illustrated in  FIG. 7 , microphone  232  extends to the side of lower body  212   b.  Although illustrated on the right side of mobile phone  200 , either side is adequate. Additionally, audio channel  234  may be optional if microphone  232  is positioned on the bottom or sides of lower body  212   b.    
         [0027]     In another embodiment, microphone  232  may project downward or outward (not shown) from body  212   a.    
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention of the front of mobile phone  200  from  FIG. 5  while open. Upper body  212   a  is connected to lower body  212   b  with hinge  220 . Upper body  212   a  includes screen  222  and receiver  224 . Screen  222  may display the number or identity of the incoming call, if known, as well as features such as signal strength, battery level, roaming or in-network, and so forth.  
         [0029]     Lower body  212   b  includes control buttons  218 , end-call button  226 , call-answer button  228 , dial keys  230 , and microphone  232 . Microphone  232  may cover more than a single surface of lower body  212   b,  it may be located on the bottom of lower body  212   b  (not shown), or there may be multiple microphones (not shown). Audio channel  234  from  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  may or may not be included, depending on the position and sensitivity of microphone  232 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a flow diagram illustrating one method of receiving a call at a mobile phone.  FIG. 9  will be discussed in conjunction with  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  for illustrative purposes, though the method in  FIG. 9  is not limited to the previously disclosed embodiments. Assume that mobile phone  200  receives a call from a caller. As a result, in block  300 , mobile phone  200  transmits an incoming-call tone over loudspeaker  214  to the user. Other means of alerting the user are available, for example, through vibrating and lighting, but not limited to those.  
         [0031]     In block  310 , mobile phone  200  determines if the call is answered by the user. If the call is not answered, mobile phone  200  may continue ringing, the carrier may eventually terminate the call or direct it to voicemail or another number.  
         [0032]     If the call is answered in block  310 , then in block  320  mobile phone  200  determines if it is in a closed position, as illustrated by the embodiments disclosed in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, mobile phone  200  could determine if it is in an open position. In either case, a switch or a sensor (not shown) may be connected to hinge  220  to provide that information.  
         [0033]     Mobile phone  200  may be answered in a closed position by activating (pressing) any button configured as an easy-receive button. Any exterior button may be used, for example either one of volume control buttons  218 . The button used may be accessed while mobile phone  200  is in a closed position.  
         [0034]     If mobile phone  200  is in the open position when answered in block  310  (or not in the closed position), then in block  330  mobile phone  200  routes voice communication from the incoming call to receiver  224 . In the open position, mobile phone  200  may be answered by any button configured as a call-answering button, for example call-answer button  228 .  
         [0035]     If mobile phone  200  is in the closed position when answered in block  310 , then in block  340  mobile phone  200  routes voice communication from the incoming call to loudspeaker  214 .  
         [0036]     Loudspeaker  214  typically uses an audio band sampling frequency, which may be higher than the voice band sampling frequency that is used in voice communication in the call. In the case that the sampling rates of loudspeaker  214  and receiver  224  differ, voice communication to loudspeaker  214  may be up-sampled.  
         [0037]     Because loudspeaker  214  and microphone  232  are in close proximity relative to receiver  224  and microphone  232  (while mobile phone  200  is in the open position), and loudspeaker  214  operates at a greater volume than receiver  224 , echo cancellation enhancement may be activated in one embodiment of the invention. In another embodiment of the invention, microphone  232  may be muted while loudspeaker  214  is projecting voice communication, and active during pauses from the caller. By projecting voice communication from the caller, through loudspeaker  214  at a high volume, and positioning microphone  232  to receive voice communication from the user, mobile phone  200  provides an easy-receive feature that eliminates two steps in conventional mobile phones. The user does not have to open mobile phone  200  and does not have to place mobile phone  200  up to their head in order to communicate. The increased volume from loudspeaker  214  may be sufficient for the user to hear voice communication from the caller, and microphone  232  is positioned, perhaps within audio channel  234 , in order to receive voice communication from the user. Typically the distance between a user&#39;s mouth and microphone  232  is increased during use of the easy-receive feature than in normal receive mode, so a higher sensitivity in microphone  232  may be needed. Other enhancements, such as echo cancellation enhancement or muting, may be applied to further communication.  
         [0038]      FIG. 10  is a flow diagram illustrating another method of receiving a call at a mobile phone.  FIG. 10  will be discussed in conjunction with  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  for illustrative purposes, though the method in  FIG. 10  is not limited to the previously disclosed embodiments. Assume that mobile phone  200  receives a call from a caller. As a result, in block  400 , mobile phone  200  transmits an incoming-call tone over loudspeaker  214  to the user. Other means of alerting the user are available, for example, through vibrating and lighting, but not limited to those.  
         [0039]     In block  410 , mobile phone  200  determines if the call is answered by the user. If the call is not answered, mobile phone  200  may continue ringing, the carrier may eventually terminate the call or direct it to voicemail or another number.  
         [0040]     If the call is answered in block  410 , then in block  420  mobile phone  200  determines if an easy-receive button was activated. An easy-receive button may be dedicated to the easy-receive feature or it may have multiple uses depending on the situation. For example, buttons  218  may perform an easy-receive function while mobile phone  200  is receiving a not-yet-answered call, and may perform volume control during a conversation (after accepting the received call). Other buttons or means of activating an easy-receive feature may be implemented, for example voice commands, a slide, a switch, an automatic easy-receive mode, a dial, and so on. In another embodiment, mobile phone  200  may determine if a call-answer button was activated rather than an easy-receive button.  
         [0041]     If the call is not answered with an easy-receive button, then the call is answered by any button configured as a call-answering button, for example call-answer button  228 .  
         [0042]     If the call is not answered in block  420  with an easy-receive button, then in block  430  mobile phone  200  routes voice communication from the caller to receiver  224 .  
         [0043]     If the call is answered in block  420  with an easy-receive button, then in block  440  mobile phone  200  routes voice communication from the caller to loudspeaker  214 .  
         [0044]     According to the method and system disclosed herein, the present invention provides an easy-receive feature for an incoming call on a mobile phone. The present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, and one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments, and any variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.