METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING A CALL NOTIFICATION MESSAGE PRIOR TO A CALL ACCEPTANCE

Abstract: The present invention encompasses an electronic device comprising a method for displaying a message, which is included in an incoming call request. While the electronic device is in ring phase, the user of the electronic device is notified that a message is included in said incoming call request and given a choice to check the message. If the user checks the message, the user is given a choice to accept the call. If the user was not able to check the message, then the message is stored in memory.

Description: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING A CALL NOTIFICATION MESSAGE PRIOR TO A CALL ACCEPTANCE FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a method and apparatus for displaying a message from an incoming call, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for displaying the message from a calling party of said incoming call before the call is accepted. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A communication system is operable to communicate information between a transmitting station (a calling party) and a receiving station (a called party) by way of a communication connection. A wireless communication system is a communication system in which information is communicated between the transmitting and receiving stations via one or more base stations. A cellular or digital communication system is exemplary of a multi-user wireless communication system. Various wireless communication systems have been developed and implemented throughout large geographical areas. Various standards have been established, and the wireless communication systems are generally constructed to be operable in compliance with one or more of the standards. One such standard, referred to as IS-95/IS-2000 defines a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) based wireless communication system. In a wireless communication system such as CDMA, defined by 1S-95/IS-2000 standard, a call is established between the called party and the calling party via a communication link. The calling party initiates the call by using a calling sequence by sending an outgoing call request which includes an Origination Message defined in "Upper Layer (Layer 3) Signaling Standard for CDMA2000 Spread Spectrum Systems" published as TIA/EIA/IS-2000-5-A, 2000, herein referred to as IS-2000A standard. The called party having a ringing sequence receives an incoming call request, which includes a General Page Message defined in the IS-2000A standard. In wireless system defined by the IS-2000A standard, a call request, including an Origination Message (OM), is created by the calling party and is transmitted to the base station. Upon locating the called party, the base station converts the Origination Message into a General Page Message (GPM) and transmits the General Page Message to the called party. Upon the called party's receiving the GPM, the user may accept said incoming call request and thereafter a communication link is established. In a typical communication system, such as CDMA, electronic devices, such as mobile stations, are used to create a communication link (or a call). Electronic devices used in the communication system are typically designed to provide a caller id to identify the user in the OM and GPM. The caller id provides a phone number of the calling party to the called party. Generally, upon receiving a call, the called party checks the caller id and chooses to accept or not to accept said incoming call. However, there are situations wherein the user is able to check the caller id but is not able to accept the call. For example, when the user is in a meeting and has placed the electronic device in a meeting mode. In these situations, because the user has no other information about the call, the user checks the identification of the calling . party and allows the call to be forwarded to voice mail system by not accepting the call. Unfortunately, the calling party may have an important message or an emergency requiring the user to accept the call. In a conventional communication system, the calling party will be required to leave a voice mail and wait for a return call or make multiple calls to reach the called party. Making multiple calls to reach a called party is inconvenient and costly, especially when the called party is not accepting the call due to lack of information about said incoming call. It would be useful if the calling party can provide some notification about the nature of the call to the called party, so that the called party may make an adequate decision about accepting or not accepting said incoming call. Furthermore, it would be useful to establish only one call to notify the user and then allow the user to accept the call, if desired, for further communication. SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention advantageously provides an apparatus and an associated method for an electronic device to facilitate a transmission and reception of a call comprising a call notification message. The present invention encompasses an electronic device, such as a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA), in a communication system (for example, CDMA, TDMA, GSM, etc.). The mobile terminal (MT) comprises a method of receiving an incoming call request (such as General Page Message) having a call notification message from a calling party. The MT also comprises a method of indicating that a call notification message (CNM) is received in the call request. The MT further comprises a method of displaying the CNM to the user of the mobile terminal. The present invention also encompasses an electronic device in a communication system, which comprises a method of generating a call notification message (such as an audio or a text message) and transmitting an outgoing call request (such as Origination Message) comprising the generated CNM. An advantage of this invention is that the user of a mobile terminal is able to check the CNM included in said incoming call request prior to accepting the call request. For example, when a call request is received comprising a call notification message, the user can check if the CNM is included with said incoming call request. If a message is associated with the call request, then the user may check the message and choose to accept the call. If the user is not able to accept said incoming call or chooses not to accept the call, the message is stored in the mobile terminal's memory and the user may be notified. Another advantage is that if the called party does not wish to answer the call request, the calling party can adequately presume that the user is not available for conversation and save the message and try establishing the call at a later time using the same message. A more complete appreciation of all the advantages and scope of the present invention can be obtained from the accompanying drawings, the following detailed description of the invention, and the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a mobile station into which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented; FIG. 2A illustrates a communication system into which an embodiment of the invention may be operated; FIG. 2B illustrates an outgoing call request depiction of an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2C illustrates an incoming call request depiction of an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 3 shows a ring sequence task software module depiction of an embodiment of the invention; and FIG.4 shows call request setup task software module depiction of an embodiment of the invention. DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the mobile station 1 , according to an embodiment of the invention. Generally, mobile station 1 includes receiver 10, transmitter 11 , and controller (which may also be known as a processor) 15 that is coupled to transmitter 1 and receiver 10. Processor 15, using the transmitter 11 and the receiver 10, initiates the transmission of outgoing signals (such as an outgoing call request) and processes incoming signals (such as an incoming call request), respectively. These signals may include signaling information (such as call notification message) in accordance with the air interface of the applicable cellular or digital system and also user speech and/or user generated data. A user interface includes a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 12 which may comprise a touch-screen display, Light Emitting Diode (LED) 40, tone generator 17, speaker 19, vibrating device 18 and user input device 14, comprising alpha-numeric keypad 14a, all of which are coupled to processor 15. The input device may also comprise microphone 14b for generating input. Mobile station 1 also comprises timer 16 (also referred to as a clock chip) coupled to processor 15 for synchronizing the operations of processor 15 and tracking time. Mobile station 1 also includes various memories, shown collectively as memory 13. Memory 13 includes a plurality of stored constants and variables that are used by processor 15 during the operation of mobile station 1. For example, memory 13 stores the values of the various feature parameters and the Number Assignment Module (NAM). An operating program for controlling the operation of processor 15 is also stored in memory 13 (typically in a read only memory). Memory 13 is also used to store data provided by the user through the user interface. Furthermore, memory 13 is used to hold the subprograms or sub-processes for controlling the operation of mobile station 1 and carrying out the embodiment of the invention. The operating program in memory 13 includes routines for displaying the call notification message before the call is accepted. Referring to Figure 2A, a multi-user communication system, shown generally as 200, provides for a wireless communication with one or more mobile stations analogous to mobile station 1. The communication system 200, generally includes a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 202 operable to transceiver communication signals with one or more mobile stations, for example, mobile station 1a and mobile station 1b, by way of a radio link 211a and 211b formed therebetween within a geographical region. The BTS 202 is coupled to a Base Station Controller (BSC) 204, which controls the operations of the BTS 202. The BSC is coupled to a Mobile Switching Center 206 which is, in turn, connected by way of an external network to a Public-Switch Telephonic Network (PTSN) 208. A communication path (or communication link) is formable between the BSC and the mobile station 1a and mobile station 1 b by way of the PTSN 208, BSC 204 and a radio link 211 a and 211 b formed between the mobile station 1 and BTS 202. In an exemplary implementation, the communication system 200 forms a wireless communication system operable pursuant to the IS-2000A standard. The arrow 212 is representative of a forward link transmission of the Original Message, and arrow 216 is representative of the General Page Message. The exemplary communication system 200 further modifies the Origination Message and General Page Message pursuant to IS-2000A standard to include a call notification message. Figure 2B shows an exemplary outgoing call request 250 having additional bits 252 representing an outgoing call notification message. The plurality of bits 252 is added to an Origination Message 251 pursuant to the IS-2000A standard. The plurality of bits may present alphanumeric characters and depending on manufacture, the length of characters may range from 1- 150 characters. Figure 2C shows an exemplary incoming call request 260 having additional bits 262 representing an incoming call notification message. The plurality of bits 262 is added to a General Page Message 261 pursuant to the IS-2000A standard. The plurality of bits may present alphanumeric characters and the length is equal to the length of outgoing call notification message 252. While the following description shall describe the operation of an embodiment of the present invention with respect to the exemplary communication system operable pursuant to the IS-2000A and modified messages 250 and 260, other implementations of the present invention can analogously be implemented in other types of communication systems. In a typical communication system according to IS-2000A, the mobile station 1 presenting a calling party 220 comprising the mobile station 1a transmits an outgoing call request 250, shown in FIG. 2B, transmitted to a BTS 202. The BTS 202 extracts a caller information, such as phone number of the called party, and attempts to locate the called party 222 comprising the mobile station 1 b. Once the BTS 202 locates the called party, the BTS 202 generates said incoming call request 260 using the information from the outgoing call request 250 and transmits said incoming call request 260 to the mobile station designated as the called party 222. A two-way communication between the calling party 220 and called party 222 may be established upon the called party 222 accepting said incoming call request 260. Through an operation of an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile station 1 is operable to extract said incoming call notification message 262 from an incoming call request 260, shown in FIG 2C, received from a BTS 202. Also, the mobile terminal 1 is operable to generate the outgoing call notification message 252 and insert the outgoing call notification message 252 into the outgoing call request prior to transmitting to the BTS 202. Improved communication is thereby possible through the operation of an embodiment of the present invention in contrast to conventional mobile stations, which generally do not permit the transmission and reception of the call notification message. FIG. 3 describes a flow diagram of a ring sequence task executed by the processor 15 in accordance to the invention for displaying the call notification message when a call is made to mobile station 1. At block 300, the ring sequence task is activated upon receiving an incoming call request 260 comprising an incoming call notification message 261 and call information (such as caller id) of an incoming call from a calling party. At block 302, the user is provided with an indication that the call notification message is attached to the incoming call request of the incoming call. The indication may include displaying a text message comprising at least one text character on the display 12, generating at least one beep using the tone generator 19 or flashing the LED 40 coupled to the processor 15. At block 304, a check notification message is displayed on the display 12 prompting the user to check or not to check said incoming call notification message 261 by actuating designated keys of the keypad 14a. For example, the user may actuate an "*" key for checking said incoming call notification message, or the user may actuate an "end" key or do nothing. At block 306, if the user actuates the "end" key or ignores said incoming call request, then at block 322 said incoming call notification message 262 is extracted from said incoming call request and stored in memory 13. If the user subscribes to a voice mail system, then the call is forwarded to the voice mailbox 210. Also, at block 324, a message may be displayed on the display 12 indicating that a call with a call notification message was missed. If at block 306, the user actuates the "*" key, then at block 308, said incoming call notification message 262 is extracted from said incoming call request 260 and said incoming notification message 262 is displayed on the LCD. Also, if the voice mail system is subscribed, then the call forwarding is disabled. Depending on the type of call notification message received, either audio or text, said incoming call notification message 262 may be displayed using the speaker 19 or the display 12, respectively. At block 312, an accept-call message is displayed prompting the user to accept or not to accept said incoming call request by actuating designated keys, such as a "talk" key. At block 312, if the user accepts said incoming call request 260, then the communication link is established and the user begins communicating with the called party at block 314. If at block 312, the user does not accept the call, then at block 316, the user is prompted to store said incoming call notification message 262 in memory 13. At block 318, if the user elects to store the incoming call notification message 262, then at block 320, said incoming call notification message 260 is stored in memory 13. FIG.4 describes a flow diagram of a call request setup task executed by the processor 15 when a call is made by mobile station 1. The call request setup task is activated upon the user's entering the called party's number and actuating a predetermined call request key (such as "talk" or "send" key). At block 400, a message is displayed prompting the user to insert or not to insert the outgoing call notification message 252 to an outgoing call request 250. At block 402, if the user elects to insert outgoing call notification message 252 to the outgoing call request 250, then at block 404, the processor 15 allows the user to create the outgoing call notification message 252. The user may also use a previously stored or canned outgoing call notification message 252 from memory 13. At block 406, the outgoing call notification message 252 is inserted upon user's creating the outgoing call notification message 252 or selecting a stored outgoing call notification message 252 from memory 13. At block 408, the outgoing call request is transmitted to the BTS 202. If at block 402, the user does not elect to attach the outgoing call notification message 252, then the outgoing call request is transmitted to the BTS 202 at block 408. As examples, the method and apparatus may also be implemented in electronic devices such as PDA, GPS devices, landline telephones, computers, and other devices having a wireless connection system. The method and apparatus may be realized by implementing an operating mode, such as an auto-attach call notification message or an auto-display call notification message mode, which may be modified by the user using a menu feature. Thus, while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, the above description is intended by way of example only and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way except as set forth in the following claims.

Claims: CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1 1. An electronic device operated in a communication system, the electronic 2 device comprising: 3 a receiver for receiving an incoming call request including an incoming 4 call notification message; and 5 a processor coupled to the receiver, said processor displaying said 6 incoming call notification message upon receiving the incoming call 7 request. i 2. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein 2 said processor further provides an indication that said incoming call 3 request includes said incoming call notification message. 1 3. The electronic device in accordance with claim 2, wherein 2 said processor further prompts a user to check said incoming call 3 notification message before displaying said incoming call notification 4 message; and 5 said processor further prompts the user to accept said incoming call 6 request if the user elects to check said incoming call notification 7 message. i 4. The electronic device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said processor 2 establishes a communication link if the user elects to accept said incoming 3 call request. 1 5. The electronic device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said processor 2 further prompts the user to store said incoming call notification message if 3 the user eiects not to accept said incoming call request. 1 6. The electronic device in accordance with claim 5, further comprising; a memory coupled to the processor; and said processor storing said incoming call notification message in said memory if the user elects to store said incoming call notification message 7. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising; a Liquid Crystal Display coupled to said processor; and said processor further displaying said incoming call notification message. 8. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising; a speaker coupled to said processor; and said processor further displaying said incoming call notification message. 9. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising; a Light Emitting Diode (LED) coupled to said processor; and said processor further flashing said LED to provide the indication that said incoming call notification message is included in said incoming call request. 10. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising; a tone generator coupled to said processor; and said processor further generating at least one beep using said tone generator for providing an indication that said incoming call notification message is included in said incoming call request. 11. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising; a display coupled to said processor; and said processor further displaying a text message on said display to provide the indication that said incoming call notification message is included in said incoming call request. 12. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising; a memory coupled to the processor; and said processor further storing said incoming call notification message received in the incoming call request. 13. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising; a transmitter coupled to the processor for transmitting an outgoing call request; said processor further prompting the user to attach an outgoing call notification message to said outgoing call request; said processor further inserting said outgoing call notification message in said outgoing call request if the user elects to attach said outgoing call notification message to said outgoing call request; and said processor transmitting said outgoing call request using the transmitter. 14. The electronic device in accordance with claim 13, further comprising; an alphanumeric keypad for generating said outgoing call notification message. 15. The electronic device in accordance with claim 13, further comprising; a memory coupled to the processor; the memory having an outgoing call notification message; and said processor for retrieving said outgoing call notification message from said memory and attaching said outgoing call notification to said outgoing call request. 16. A method for displaying an incoming call notification message received by an electronic device, said method comprising steps of: receiving an incoming call request including said incoming call notification message; and displaying said incoming call notification message received in said incoming call request. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising steps of: providing an indication that said incoming call request includes said incoming call notification message before said step of displaying. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising step of prompting a user to check said incoming call notification message before said step of displaying. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising step of prompting the user to accept said incoming call request. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising step of establishing a communication link if the user elects to accept said incoming call request. 21. The method of claim 19, further comprising step of prompting the user to store said incoming call notification message if the user elects not to accept said incoming call request. 22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising the step of storing said incoming call notification message in a memory of the electronic device if the user elects to store the call notification message. 23. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of displaying said incoming call notification message on a display of the electronic device. 24. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of displaying said incoming call notification message using a speaker of the electronic device. 25.The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of flashing an LED of the electronic device to provide the indication that said incoming call notification message is included in said incoming call request. 26. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of generating at least one beep using a tone generator of the electronic device for providing the indication that said incoming call notification message is included in said incoming call request. 27. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of displaying a text message on a display of the electronic device to provide the indication that said incoming call notification message is included in said incoming call request. 28. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of storing said incoming call notification message in a memory if the user elects not to check said incoming call notification message. 29. A processor for an electronic device operated in a communication system, the processor comprising: an operating program comprising steps of, receiving an incoming call request including an incoming call notification message; and displaying the call notification message if the user elects to check said incoming call notification message. 30. The processor in accordance with claim 29, wherein, an operating program comprising step of, providing an indication that said incoming call request includes said incoming call notification message before said step of displaying. 31. The processor in accordance with claim 30, wherein, an operating program comprising step of, prompting a user to check said incoming call notification message in said step of displaying. 32. The processor in accordance with claim 31 , wherein, an operating program comprising step of, prompting the user to accept said incoming call request if user elects to check said incoming call notification message. 33. The processor in accordance with claim 32, wherein, an operating program comprising step of, establishing a communication link if the user elects to accept said incoming call request. 34. The processor in accordance with claim 32, wherein, the operating program further comprising step of prompting the user to store said incoming call notification message if the user elects not to accept said incoming call request. 35. The processor in accordance with claim 34, wherein, the operating program further comprising step of storing said incoming call notification message in a memory coupled to the processor if the user elects to store said incoming call notification message. 36. The processor in accordance with claim 29, wherein, the operating program further comprising step of displaying said incoming call notification message on a display coupled to the processor. 37. The processor in accordance with claim 29, wherein, the processor is coupled to a speaker; and the operating program further comprising step of displaying said incoming call notification message using a speaker. 38. The processor in accordance with claim 29, wherein, the operating program further comprising step of flashing an LED coupled to the processor to provide the indication that said incoming call notification message is included in said incoming call request. 39. The processor in accordance with claim 29, wherein, the operating program further comprising step of generating at least one beep using a tone generator coupled to the processor for providing the indication that said incoming call notification message is included in said incoming call request. 40. The processor in accordance with claim 29, wherein, the operating program further comprising step of displaying a text message on a display coupled to the processor to provide the indication that said incoming call notification message is included in said incoming call request. 41. The processor in accordance with claim 29, wherein, the operating program further comprising step of storing said incoming call notification message in a memory coupled to the processor if the user elects not to check the call notification message. 42. A method for transmitting an outgoing call notification message by an electronic device, the method comprising steps of: generating said outgoing call notification message; attaching said outgoing call notification message to an outgoing call request; and transmitting said outgoing call request. 43. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of generating said outgoing call notification message comprises step of retrieving said outgoing call notification message from a memory of the electronic device. 44. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of generating said outgoing call notification message comprises step of creating said outgoing call notification message using an alphanumeric keypad of the electronic device. 45. A mobile terminal operated as calling party or a called party in communication system, the mobile terminal comprising; a memory comprising a ring sequence task and a call request setup task; and a processor coupled to said memory, said processor for executing said ring sequence task when operated as the called party and said processor for executing said call request setup task when operated as the calling party, said processor further executing said ring sequence task upon receiving an incoming call request comprising an incoming call notification message. 46. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 45, wherein: the call request setup task comprises a step of creating an outgoing call notification message; and the call request setup task further comprises a step of inserting said outgoing call notification message to an outgoing call request. 47. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 45, wherein: the ring sequence task comprises the steps of: receiving an incoming call request including an incoming call notification message; providing an indication that said incoming call request includes said incoming call notification message; prompting a user to check said incoming call notification message; displaying the call notification message if the user elects to check said incoming call notification message; prompting the user to accept said incoming call request; and establishing a communication link if the user elects to accept said incoming call request.

Inventors: HEIE ANDERS, PATEL MILAN, HEIE, ANDERS, PATEL, MILAN
Applicants: HEIE ANDERS, NOKIA MOBILE PHONES LTD, PATEL MILAN, HEIE, ANDERS, NOKIA MOBILE PHONES LIMITED, PATEL, MILAN
Application year: 2001
Main classification: H04Q7
IPC codes: H04M1, H04M3