Abstract:
A method and apparatus for managing a missed-call list in a telephone device by flagging a missed-call entry as “called-back” when a telephone call is placed to or received from the party listed in a missed-call list. The telephone device may still maintain the missed-call in the missed-call list after being flagged. A user may view the missed-call list to see which missed-calls (if any) the user has returned and which missed-call (if any) the user has not returned. Beneficially, the invention enables a user to retain valuable information about a missed-call and is therefore advantageous to the user of a telephone.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to telecommunications and, more particularly, to management of missed-call lists. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Many telephones today include a “call-log” function that maintains a record of call activity for convenient reference by a user. A typical call-log keeps separate lists of outgoing-calls, answered calls, and missed-calls, with each list specifying for each call a respective telephone number and/or name. In a typical arrangement, the telephone will then provide an on-screen menu through which a user can opt to view a desired list and, in turn, the details regarding a particular call. In most cases, a user can further opt to initiate a call from the call-log, by selecting a listed call and then invoking a call-initiation function. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for managing a missed-call list. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides for automatically flagging a missed-call entry as “called-back” when a call is placed to the listed party, but still maintaining the missed-call entry in the missed-call list. When a user views the missed-call list, the user can then conveniently see which missed-calls (if any) the user has returned and which missed-call (if any) the user has not returned. 
   By keeping a missed-call in the missed-call list while flagging it as a called-back, the invention advantageously preserves a record that the call was missed, which can be valuable information for the user. For instance, the mere presence of a call in the missed-call list tells the user that the calling party intended to contact the user. Further, if entries in the missed-call list indicate the time and date of missed-calls and/or the number of times a particular caller attempted to call, the entries could reflect the level of urgency of particular call attempts. If, instead, a missed-call entry were automatically deleted from the missed-call list upon placement of a call to the listed party, the user would unfortunately lose this and other valuable information. 
   Consistent with the invention, when a call is placed to a party listed in the missed-call list, an entry for the new call could also be added to an outgoing-call list. That way, the user could then conveniently view a record of the call in the outgoing-call list, and the user could still view a record of the missed-call, flagged as called-back, in the missed-call list. 
   As a variation, the invention could be arranged more generally to flag a missed-call as “completed” in response to connection of a call either to or from the listed party, again while maintaining the call in the missed-call list. Thus, a missed-call entry could be flagged as completed (e.g., called-back) in response to placement of an outgoing-call to the listed party (e.g., in response to successful connection of a call to the outgoing party, or simply in response to a dialed call to the outgoing party), and a missed-call entry could similarly be flagged as completed in response to successful connection of an incoming-call from the listed party. 
   These and other aspects, advantages, and alternatives will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings. Further, it is understood that this summary is merely an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a telephone device arranged to carry out an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a missed-call list with a detailed underlying record of a specific missed-call. 
       FIG. 3  displays a flow chart of the exemplary functions performed by the present invention in which a flag is placed for a missed-call entry. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a flagged missed-call list with a detailed underlying record of a flagged missed-call. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   A missed-call list may be managed by flagging a missed-call entry as “called-back” when a user places an outgoing-call to a party listed in a missed-call list or when a user responds to an incoming-call from a party listed in a missed-call list. 
     FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram of a telephone device  10  arranged to carry out an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the telephone device  10  may be connected with a telephone network  11 . The telephone device  10  may include a communication interface  12 , a user interface  14 , a processing unit  20 , and data storage  22 . The communication interface  12 , user interface  14 , processing unit  20 , and data storage  22  may be connected by a system bus  32  or other mechanism. The telephone device  10  may include additional components as well or may vary in other ways from the arrangement shown. 
   The telephone device  10  may be a telephone (e.g., cellular telephone or landline telephone), which a user may use to place and receive calls. The calls may range from voice calls to video calls or may take still other forms. 
   Alternatively, the telephone device  10  may be an adjunct box (e.g., an enhanced caller-ID display box) that connects with a telephone line but is not equipped to support user communication. The adjunct box may detect incoming or outgoing telephone calls. The adjunct box may also detect when the telephone line is off-hook. Additionally, the adjunct box may maintain a call-log and may include a display for presentation of a call-log. The description below will focus on a telephone; however, the invention may be applied to other types of devices such as an adjunct box, for instance. 
   The telephone network  11  may support voice and/or video calling and may include circuit switched and/or packet switched components and landline phone and/or wireless components. The telephone network  11  may include a cellular radio network (i.e., a radio network made up of a number of radio cells each served by a fixed transmitter), the Public Switched Telephone Network (i.e., an international telephone network based on copper wires carrying analog voice data), a Voice over Internet Protocol network (i.e., a network using a broadband Internet connection), or any other type of network capable of transmitting calls. It is to be noted that the telephone device  10  is not necessarily coupled with the telephone network  11  but is at least equipped to be coupled with the telephone network  11 . 
   The user interface  14  may include a display screen  16  and a keypad  18 . The display screen  16  may be a liquid crystal display screen, but other display screens may also be used. On the keypad  18  are a set of menu keys that provide quick access to the features of a telephone device  10  with just a few key presses of these menu keys. Other forms of a user interface  14  (e.g., touch screens) may be used as well. 
   The processing unit  20  may include one or more processors, such as a general purpose processor, special purpose processor, and/or a digital signal processor. Other types of processors may also be used. 
   The data storage  22  may be any medium or media, such as any volatile or non-volatile mass storage system, such as disc, tape storage drive, memory or other storage means readable by the communication interface  12 . Further, the data storage  22  may be an add-on module which is temporarily situated within or otherwise connected with the telephone device  10 . The data storage  22  may be used to store data and/or machine-readable instructions. 
   The data storage  22  preferably includes a call-log  24 . The call-log  24  is a database or data file that contains details about telephone calls. An exemplary call-log  24  contains an outgoing-call list  26 , an incoming-call list  28 , or a missed-call list  30 . The outgoing-call list  26  contains details about outgoing phone calls placed to others. The incoming-call list  28  contains details about incoming phone calls received from others and answered by the user. The missed-call list  30 , on the other hand, contains details about missed calls received from others and unanswered by the user. The call-log may contain additional information as well. 
   The processing unit  20  may execute logic (e.g., software routine and/or machine code) stored in data storage  22  to control various operating features and functions such as placement of telephone calls, receipt of telephone calls, and management of the call-log  24 . Particularly, the processing unit  20  may execute display logic (e.g., software routine and/or machine code to display information) stored in data storage  22  to present an outgoing-call list  26 , an incoming-call list  28 , or a missed-call list  30  on the display screen  16  in response to a user request. 
   Additionally, the processing  20  unit may execute logic stored in data storage  22  to delete information contained in the call-log  24 . For example, the processing  20  unit may execute logic stored in data storage  22 , upon user request, to delete details of missed-calls from the missed-call list  30 . 
   Depending on the type of telephone device  10 , the communication interface  12  can take various forms. For instance, if the telephone device  10  is a cellular telephone, the communication interface  12  can include a wireless communication interface, such as a wireless chipset and antenna. As another example, if the telephone device  10  is a landline telephone, the communication interface  12  can include a telephone line interface circuit. Through the chipsets, antennas and/or circuits, the communication interface  12  can send and receive appropriate signals to facilitate placement and receipt of calls. 
   A user of a telephone device  10  may place and receive phone calls. For example, a user may place an outgoing telephone call and/or receive an incoming telephone call. If the user places an outgoing telephone call, the telephone device  10  places details about the telephone call in the outgoing-call list  26 . If the user answers an incoming telephone call, the telephone device  10  characterizes the call as completed and places details about the telephone call in the incoming-call list  28 . Otherwise, the telephone device  10  characterizes the telephone call as a missed-call and places details about the telephone call in the missed-call list  30 . 
   A missed-call list  30  may include missed-call entries containing details of missed-calls. The details of a missed-call entry may include (i) a telephone number for the missed-call, (ii) a caller name for the missed-call, (iii) a first timestamp indicating the time of the missed-call, and/or (v) a date of the missed-call. The missed-call entry may also contain a count of the number of call attempts from a caller. In this case, the first timestamp may be replaced by the last call timestamp indicating the time of the last missed-call. The details of a missed-call entry may vary in other ways. For example, any of the above details may be omitted, and/or additional details may be included. 
   The user interface  14  is preferably used to present information and to receive information. For example, the user interface  14  can present information stored in the call-log  24  upon user request on the display screen  16 . Particularly, the user interface can display a missed-call list  30  and details of missed-call entries on the display screen  16  upon user request. The missed-call list  30  may be displayed vertically, horizontally, or in another format. Additionally, the lists may be displayed on the display screen  16  in chronological order (i.e., with the latest phone call displayed first) or in another order. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a missed-call list  30  which may be shown on the display screen  16  of a cellular telephone, for instance. Block  42  shows four missed-call entries from a missed-call list  30 . Each missed-call entry contains a telephone number and/or a name of a caller. Block  46  depicts an underlying data record with details of a missed-call entry  44  of caller number one. The underlying data record  46  contains (i) a telephone number for the missed-call, (ii) a caller name for the missed-call, (iii) a first timestamp indicating the time of the missed-call, and (iv) a date of the missed-call. The above details may be displayed in another order on the display screen  16 . Further, any of the above details about a missed-call entry may be omitted from the display screen  16 . On the other hand, additional details may be depicted on the display screen  16 . 
   Moreover, a user may optionally view an “Erase” option on the display screen  16  when viewing the call-log  24 . The “Erase” option may allow a user to delete information stored in the call-log  24 . For example, the “Erase” option may allow a user to delete missed-call entries in the missed-call list  30 . Alternatively, the “Erase” option may allow a user to delete the missed-call list  30  in its entirety. 
   A missed-call may be flagged as “completed” or “called-back” when a user returns a telephone call to a party listed in the missed-call list  30 . Alternatively, a missed-call may be flagged as “completed” or “called-back” when a user answers an incoming-call from a party listed in the missed-call list  30 . The labels “completed” or “called-back” should not be viewed as limiting. Other labels may be used as well. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a set of functions that the telephone device  10  performs in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. At block  60 , the telephone device  10  maintains the missed-call list  30 . The telephone device  10  may maintain the missed-call list  30  by placing details about missed calls in the missed-call list  30 . 
   At block  62 , the telephone device  10  detects a successful connection of a telephone call to or from a particular telephone number. The successful connection may occur by placing an outgoing phone call to a particular telephone number of a party listed in the missed-call list  30  even if the outgoing phone call is unanswered by the party. Alternatively, a successful connection may occur by answering an incoming phone call from a particular telephone number of a party listed in the missed-call list  30 . 
   At block  64 , the telephone device  10  determines if the particular telephone phone number is present in the missed-call list  30 . If the particular telephone number is present in the missed-call list  30 , the telephone device  10  flags at least one missed-call entry for the particular telephone number as “called-back” or “completed” at block  66 . 
   The telephone device  10  may flag missed-calls at the time when a user places an outgoing phone call to a telephone number of a party listed in the missed-call list  30  or when a user answers an incoming phone call from a telephone number of a party listed in the missed-call list  30 . The telephone device  10  may responsively search for missed-call entries for the telephone phone number and may flag the applicable entries in the missed-call list  30  as depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
   Alternatively, the telephone device  10  may flag missed-calls at the time when a user views the missed-call list  30  on the display screen  16 . For example, a user may indicate a request to view the missed-call list  30  on the display screen  16 . In response to the user request to view the missed-call list  30 , the telephone device  10  may compare the missed-call list  30  with both the outgoing-call list  26  and the incoming-call list  28 . As a result of the comparison, the telephone device  10  may responsively flag the applicable missed-call entries in the missed-call list  30  according to the depiction in  FIG. 3 . The telephone device  10  may then show the missed-call list  30  with flagged missed-call entries (if any) on the display screen  16 . 
   A flag may be a stored as a Boolean flag in the data storage  22 . The processing unit  20  may execute display logic stored in data storage  22  to display a flagged missed-call entry on the display screen  16 . 
   A flag or other indication can be represented visually on the display screen  16  by an icon and/or text, which can be situated next to a missed-call entry in the missed-call list  30 . The choice of an icon versus text may depend on the screen size or other screen and/or memory issues related to the telephone device  10 . 
   A flagged missed-call entry in the missed-call list  30  may include additional details indicating a successful connection of a phone call to and/or from a party listed in the missed-call list  30 . The details of a flagged missed-call entry may include (i) a telephone number for the missed-call, (ii) a caller name for the missed-call, (iii) a first timestamp indicating the time of the missed-call, (iv) a date of the missed-call, (v) a second timestamp indicating the time of a successful connection of a telephone call to and/or from a party listed in the missed-call list  30 , and/or (vi) a date of a successful connection of a telephone call to and/or from a party listed in the missed-call list  30 . The details of a missed-call entry may vary in other ways. For example, any of the above details may be omitted and/or additional details may be included. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a missed-call list  30  with flagged missed-call entries which may be shown on a display screen  16  of a cellular telephone, for instance. Block  82  depicts three flagged missed-call entries  84 ,  86 , and  88  and one unflagged missed-call entry  90 . Each missed-call entry contains a telephone number and/or a name of a caller. 
   Flag  92  is a sample flag; other flags with icons and/or texts may be utilized as well. For example, the flag  92  may be a bold-faced missed-call entry, a checkmark, an arrow or any other indication. Additionally, the flag may be situated in locations other that the one shown in block  82 . Further, the flag may indicate (e.g., by different icons or other indicia) whether the missed call was returned by an connected incoming call from the number or by an outgoing call placed to the number. 
   Block  94  depicts an underlying data record with details of a flagged missed-call entry  84  of caller number one. The underlying record contains: (i) a telephone number for the missed-call, (ii) a caller name for the missed-call, (iii) a first timestamp indicating the time of the missed-call, (iv) a date of the missed-call, (v) a second timestamp indicating the time of a successful connection of a telephone call to and/or from a party listed in the missed-call list  30 , and (vi) a date of a successful connection of a telephone call to and/or from a party listed in the missed-call list  30 . The above details may be displayed in another order on the display screen  16 . Further, any of the above details about a missed-call entry may be omitted from the display screen  16 . On the other hand, additional details may be depicted on the display screen  16 . 
   Furthermore, the “Erase” option may additionally allow a user to delete flagged missed-calls from the missed-call list  30 . The “Erase” option may allow a user to delete (i) selected flagged or unflagged missed-call entries from the missed-call list  30 , (ii) all missed-calls entries from the missed-call list  30 , or (iii) selected flagged missed-call entries from the missed-call list  30 . Other “Erase” options may be provided and utilized as well. 
   It is to be noted that flagging a missed-call does not remove the flagged missed-call from the missed-call list  30 . As a result, a user may still observe the details of the original missed-call, including the timestamp and date. 
   Further, additional storage space may be required to flag a missed-call entry. However, the cost of storage space is likely to decrease and may offset the cost of any additional storage space needed. 
   An exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described above. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that changes and modifications may be made to this embodiment without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present invention, which is defined by the claims.