Abstract:
A mobile communication device has a memory and a processor, the processor executing a computer program configured to perform the steps of connecting to an external mobile communication device via a network, gathering information associated with an audio communication, transmitting the information associated with an audio communication to the external mobile communication device for display on the external mobile communication device, receiving a response from the external mobile communication device, and displaying the response from the external mobile communication device on the mobile communication device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a claims the benefit priority of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/653,650, filed May 31, 2012, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Devices capable of sending and receiving communications, such as phone calls, text messages, electronic mail, instant messaging requests, and other electronic updates and information are becoming increasingly prevalent. Such devices come in a wide variety and may be generally stationary, such as a desktop computer, TV/Set-Top box, static game console, etc., or may be easily portable, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, notebook computer, personal digital assistant (“PDA”), portable game console, portable media device, etc. Further, such devices may send and receive communications through a wide variety of wired or wireless connections, standards, or protocols, such as the Internet, an intranet, voice over internet protocol (“VoIP”), satellite, 3G, SMS, MMS, 4G, WIMAX, etc. 
         [0003]    These devices separate text messages from phone calls such that a user can only view either an incoming caller&#39;s phone number or a text message. Further, text messages and phone calls must be initiated using separate applications. Using conventional devices, a user cannot confirm another user&#39;s availability before initiating a phone call, which can be disruptive to the user receiving a call, and those in proximity to the user receiving the call. Further, a user cannot currently notify a recipient of a call request of a topic the caller may want to discuss during the phone call. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, a need exists for a system that will allow a user to visually confirm the topic of an incoming call before answering the call. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure include a mobile communication device having a memory and a processor, the processor executing a computer program configured to perform the steps of connecting to an external mobile communication device via a network, gathering information associated with an audio communication, transmitting the information associated with an audio communication to the external mobile communication device for display on the external device, receiving a response from the external mobile communication device, and displaying the response from the external mobile communication device on the mobile communication device. 
         [0006]    These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Details of the present disclosure, including non-limiting benefits and advantages, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic representation of a mobile communication device; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic representation of the interaction between an application processing unit and radio communication unit in the mobile communication device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  depicts a dialing screen on the mobile communication device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  depicts a message input screen displayed on the mobile communication device of  FIG. 1  after a message generation button is selected; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3C  depicts a configuration screen displayed on the mobile communication device of  FIG. 1  in response to the selection of a configuration button; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an illustrative example of the process used by the mobile communication device of  FIG. 1  to transmit a message with a telephone call; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  depicts another embodiment of a display on the mobile communication device of  FIG. 1  that is configured to receive a transmission from a transmitting mobile communication device; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  illustrate one embodiment of an incoming call display screen on the mobile communication device of  FIG. 1  that is configured to receive and display the text message and transmitting mobile communication device identification; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5C  illustrates another embodiment of an incoming call display screen on the mobile communication device of  FIG. 1  that is configured to receive and display the text message and transmitting mobile communication device identification; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a schematic representation of a mobile communication device of  FIG. 1  generating a message and transmitting the message to a receiving communication device; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of a mobile communication device of  FIG. 1  receiving and processing information from a transmitting mobile communication device; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a schematic representation of the mobile communication device of  FIG. 1  receiving and processing information from another mobile communication device; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a schematic representation the mobile communication device of  FIG. 1  routing text to alternate display locations based on the network status of the receiving device 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  depicts the configuration screen of  FIG. 3C  with the question configuration box set to respond to a communication with a camera image; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  illustrates a filtering screen that is displayed when a user selects the filter button; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  depicts one embodiment of an incoming call display screen on the receiving device; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a schematic representation of a mobile communication device responding to a communication request with an image 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    While the present disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described one or more embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered illustrative only and is not intended to be limited to any specific embodiment disclosed herein. 
         [0026]    The present disclosure is directed to an application operating on a mobile communication device configured to transmit a text message simultaneously with a phone call request. A corresponding application on the receiving mobile communication device receives the text message and phone call request, extracts configuration information from the text message, and displays the phone number of the mobile communication device transmitting the text message, the text message, and response buttons which the user of the receiving device may use to respond to the text message before initiating the phone call. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  illustrates a mobile communication device  100 . The mobile communication device  100  includes an application processing unit  102  that includes a central processing unit (CPU)  104  and a digital signal processor (DSP)  106 , a radio communication unit  108  that includes a CPU  110  and DSP  112 , a memory  114 , an input output ( 10 ) unit  116  that includes an audio switch unit  118 , a display  120 , and a secondary storage unit  122 . The radio communication unit  108  is configured to communicate across a wireless network. The radio communication unit  108  may be configured to communicate over a wireless cellular network using any cellular protocol including, but not limited to, code division multiple access (CDMA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), and universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), or any other cellular communication protocol. 
         [0028]    The IO Unit  116  is coupled to a speaker  124  and a microphone  126  via the audio switch unit  118 . The audio switch unit  118  is configured to receive an audio signal from the microphone  126 , and to adjust various characteristics of the received audio signal. The audio switch unit  118  may adjust the volume of the audio, side tone generation, comfort noise generation, echo cancelation, automatic gain, noise suppression, tone generation, or any other characteristic of the audio signal. The audio switch unit  118  also routes audio signals received by the microphone  126  to the application processing unit  102 , or the radio communication unit  108 , and also routes audio from the application processing unit  102  and radio communication unit  108  to the speaker  124 . The mobile communication device  100  may be a transmitting device, when the device  100  is transmitting information to another mobile communication device, or a receiving device when the mobile communication device is receiving information. For purposes of this disclosure, a device initiating initial communication will be referred to as a transmitting device, and a device receiving an initial communication well be referred to as a receiving device. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic representation of the interaction between the application processing unit  102  and radio communication unit  108 . The application processing unit  102  includes an operating system  200  running in the CPU  104  of the application processing unit  102 . The operating system  200  may be any commercially available operating system including Linux, Windows Mobile, Google Android, or any other operating system capable of running on a mobile device. The operating system  200  controls the operation of the CPU  104  and DSP  106  in the application processing unit  102 . An application  202  operating in the operating system  200  interacts with different components of the mobile device  100 , such as the display  120 , speaker  124 , and microphone  126 , via an application programming interface (API)  204 . 
         [0030]    The radio communication unit  108  includes a radio interface unit  220 , a radio daemon unit  222 , a radio audio unit  224 , and a driver unit  226  operating via the CPU  110  and DSP  112 . The radio audio unit  224  is communicatively coupled to the audio switch unit  118 , such that the audio switch unit  118  transmits audio captured by the microphone  126  for transmission over the wireless network by radio hardware coupled to the driver unit  226 . The radio audio unit  224  also transmits audio information received from the radio hardware via the driver unit  226  to the speaker  126  via the audio switch unit  118 . 
         [0031]    The radio interface unit  220  performs high level operations to initiate a connection between the mobile device  100  and another device connected to the wireless network via the driver unit  226 . The radio interface unit  220  is also communicatively coupled to a telephony unit  206  in the application processing unit  102 . As an illustrative example, the radio interface unit  220  may receive a command from the telephony unit  206  to initiate a phone call between two mobile devices. The radio interface unit  220  communicates with the radio audio unit  224  and driver unit  226 , via the radio daemon unit  222 , to connect to the wireless network and initiate a call between the two devices. The radio interface unit  220  also communicates with the telephony unit  206  to notify the telephony unit  206  that a phone call has been initiated either by the mobile device  100  or by an external device that is calling the mobile device  100 . The telephony unit  206  communicates with the application  202  running in the application processing unit  102  to provide a status of the radio transmission unit  208 , and to initiate actions in the radio transmission unit  108 . The radio interface unit  220  also transmits data, received from the wireless network, to the telephony unit  206 . 
         [0032]    The radio audio unit  224  in the radio communication unit  108  is communicatively coupled to the audio switch unit  118 , such that the radio audio unit  224  instructs the audio switch unit  118  to send audio signals from the microphone  126  to the radio audio unit  224 , and to transmit audio signals from radio audio unit  224  to the speaker  124  via the audio switch unit  118 . The hardware driver unit  226  is communicatively coupled to the radio hardware in the mobile device  100  such that the hardware driver unit  226  initiates a connection with a wireless network, via the radio hardware, and controls the transmission and receipt of audio signals onto and from the wireless network. The hardware driver unit  226  is communicatively coupled to the radio audio unit  224  via the radio interface unit  220  and the radio daemon unit  222 , such that the radio audio unit  224  provides audio signals from the microphone  126  to the hardware driver unit  226  for transmission over the wireless network. The hardware driver unit  226  also transmits audio signals received from the wireless network to the radio audio unit  224  for transmission to the speaker  124 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3A  depicts a dialing screen on a transmitting mobile communication device  300  that is configured to transmit information to a receiving mobile communication device. The dialing screen includes a telephonic keypad  302 , a call initiation button  304 , a phone number display box  306 , and a message generation button  308 . The dialing screen  302  allows a user to input a phone number of a receiving device that the transmitting device  300  will communicatively connect to over the wireless network. The call initiation button  304  is configured to initiate the communication between the receiving device identified by the number inputted via the telephonic keypad  302 , and displayed in the phone number display unit  306 , and the transmitting device  300 . The message generation button  308  is configured, via the application  202 , to allow a user to associate a text message with a phone call as will be described herein. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3B  depicts the message input screen displayed on the transmitting device  300  after the message generation button  308  is selected. Upon selection of the message generation button  308 , a keypad  310  and a text display box  312  are displayed under the phone number display box  306 . The call initiation button  304  and a message cancel button  314  are positioned on the lower portion of the dialing screen under the keypad  310 . The keypad  310  may be a Qwerty type keypad or any other known keypad type. The keypad  310  is logically coupled to the text display box  312  such that keys selected on the keypad  310  are displayed in the text display box  312 . Once a message is inputted into the text display box  312 , the call initiation button  304  may be selected to create a communication connection as described herein. The message may also be formatted by selecting the configuration button  316 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 3C  depicts a configuration screen  318  displayed in response to the selection of the configuration button  316 . The configuration screen  318  includes the phone number display box  306 , the text display box  312 , a question configuration box  320 , a response selection box  322 , and a message selection box  324 . The question configuration box  320  is configured to allow users to select the type of message transmitted to a receiving device, and to allow the user of the receiving device to select a pre-determined response to the transmitted message. As an illustrative example, the question configuration box  320  may allow a user to categorize the question as a YES/NO question. The receiving device will then display YES and NO buttons that will allow the receiving device to respond to the message before the phone call is initiated, as will be discussed herein. If the question type is indicated by the question configuration box  320 , the application  202  operating on the transmitting device  300  will anticipate receiving one of the predetermined responses from the receiving device, and will initiate or not initiate the call based on the returned response. 
         [0036]    As another illustrative example, a date/time question may be selected from the question configuration box  320 . Selection of a date/time question will cause the receiving device to display an accept button and a date/time change button to allow the receiving device to transmit an acceptance of the proposed time or an alternate time/date as will be discussed in further detail below. The question configuration box  320  may also allow a user to configure any type of response such as, but not limited to, the selection of a geographic location, a monetary amount, or any other response that is capable of being displayed on a mobile communication device display  120 . 
         [0037]    The configuration screen also includes a response selection button  322  that allows the transmitting device  300  to respond to the selection of the receiving device. As an illustrative example, if the receiving device transmits a NO response to the transmitting device  300 . Upon receiving the response, the transmitting device  300  may prompt the user of the transmitting device  300  that a response has been received, and allow the user of the transmitting device  300  to enter a new message in response to the response from the receiving device. When the response selection button  322  is selected, an indicator is included in the message sent to the receiving device notifying the receiving device that the transmitting device  300  will respond to the configuration screen and also includes a message selection button  324  that allows a user of the receiving device to leave a message if a call is connected between the transmitting device  300  and the receiving device. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  depicts an illustrative example of the process  400  used to transmit a message with a telephone call from the mobile communication device  100 . In step  402 , the phone number of the receiving device is entered via the keypad  302 . In step  404 , if the message generation button  308  is selected, the process moves to step  406 . If the message generation button  308  is not selected, the call is initiated in step  410 . In step  406 , a message is gathered by the keypad  310 , and the message is configured using the screens disclosed in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C. In step  408 , the message is transmitted to the device identified by the phone number via a wireless network connected to each mobile communication device. The message may be transmitted as a data packet, an SMS message, an e-mail message, or in any other format capable of being transmitted over a wireless network. The message may include text and configuration information with the configuration including the question type, buttons to include on the screen, a response indicator, and any other information required to properly configure the information on the receiving device display  120 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 5A  illustrates another embodiment of a receiving mobile communication device  500  that is configured to receive a transmission from a transmitting mobile communication device  300 . When an incoming call request is received from the transmitting device  300 , the receiving device  500  displays the notification on the display  120  via a notification box  502 . The phone number associated with the transmitting device  300  is displayed in the phone number receiving box  504 . In addition, the text entered into the text display box  312  of the transmitting device  300  is displayed in the message display box  506 . A plurality of buttons  508  may be displayed under the notification box  502 . The buttons  508  may allow a user of the receiving device  500  to place the call on hold, answer the call, or send the call to voice mail by ignoring the call. The buttons  508  may also allow the user of the receiving device  500  to transmit an audio message indicating that they are not available and confirming they have received the call. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5B  depicts another embodiment of an incoming call display screen on the receiving device  500  that is configured to receive and display the text message and transmitting device  300  identification. A plurality of buttons  508  may be displayed under the message display box  506  that include a listing of predetermined responses to the question presented. As an illustrative example, if the message indicates a yes/no question, the transmitting device  300  may instruct the application on the receiving device  500  to display “YES” and “NO” buttons. If the user of the receiving device  500  selects the “YES” button, the application  202  operating on the receiving device  500  may automatically connect the audio path between the transmitting device  300  and the receiving device  500  via the audio switch unit  118 . 
         [0041]    If the user selects “NO,” the application  202  may transfer the call to voice mail, end the call, or allow the transmitting device  300  to input additional message details. If the user selects “HOLD” the application may connect the call, but not initiate audio communication until the “HOLD” button is pressed a second time. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5C  illustrates one embodiment of an incoming call display screen on a receiving device  500  that is configured to receive and display a text message and transmitting device  300  identification. The configuration of the display screen is similar to the display screen of  FIG. 5B , however, the buttons  508  allow a user to respond to the message in the display box  506  by proposing a new time and date. Selection of a “YES” button may cause the application  202  on the receiving device  500  to generate a meeting notice to the transmitting device  300  and receiving device&#39;s  500  e-mail/scheduling software. As an illustrative example, the display may include a button  508  that transmits a message accepting the meeting time to the transmitting device  300  and also creates a meeting event in a Microsoft Office, Google Gmail, or any other scheduling software, and transmits the meeting notice to an e-mail address associated with the transmitting device  300  in the receiving device&#39;s  500  contact list. Further, the selection of “OTHER TIME” button may allow the user of the receiving device  500  to transmit an alternate time to the transmitting device  300 . The selection of the “OTHER TIME” button may also transmit a predetermined message to the transmitting device  300  to propose a new time. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  depicts a schematic representation  600  of the transmitting device  300  generating a message, and sending the message to a receiving device  500 . In step  602 , the application  202  is started on the transmitting device  300 , and a display including a telephonic keypad is displayed. In step  604 , the application  202  determines if the message generation button  308  has been selected. If the message generation button  308  has not been selected, the application  202  initiates a phone call to the phone number inputted into the phone number display box  102  via the telephony unit  206  and the radio interface unit  220 , in step  606 . If the message generation button  308  has been selected, the application  202  displays the message input display screen on the transmitting mobile device  300  in step  608 . In step  610 , the message is gathered via the keypad  302  on the message input display screen. 
         [0044]    In step  612 , the application  202  determines whether the configuration button  316  has been selected. If the configuration button  316  is selected, the application displays the configuration screen depicted in  FIG. 3C , and gathers the configuration settings for the communication in step  614 , before moving to step  616 . If the configuration has not been selected, the process moves to step  616  where the text and configuration settings are transmitted to the receiving device  500 . In step  618 , a telephone communication request is transmitted to the receiving device  500 . One having ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the transmission of the telephone communication request may occur before the transmission of the configuration settings and text, simultaneously with the transmission of the configuration settings and text, or after the transmission of the configuration settings and text. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  depicts a schematic representation  700  of the receiving device  500  receiving and processing information from a transmitting device  300 . In step  702 , an application  202  operating on the receiving device  500  receives information from the transmitting device  300 . The information may be a data packet, an SMS message, an e-mail message, or in any other format capable of being transmitted over a wireless network. In step  704 , the receiving device  500  receives an telephone communication request from the transmitting device  300 , and the receiving device  500  connects the call without opening the audio channel between the transmitting device  300  and the receiving device  500  via the audio switch unit  118  in the receiving device  500 . In step  706 , the application  202  operating on the receiving device  500  extracts the configuration information from the received information. In step  708 , the application  202  displays the phone number of the transmitting device  300 , the received text information, and any buttons  508  based on the extracted configuration settings on the display  120  of the receiving device  500 . 
         [0046]    In step  710 , the application  202  determines if a response has been requested from the transmitting device  300 . If a response has not been requested from the transmitting device  300 , in step  712 , the application  202  connects the audio path between the transmitting device  300  and the receiving device  500  via the audio switch unit  118  in the receiving device  500 , terminates the call, or connects the audio stream to a voice message system via the audio switch unit  118 . If a response has been requested, in step  714 , the application  202  gathers a response from the user of the receiving device  500  via the buttons  508 . In step  716 , the receiving device  500  transmits the response to the transmitting device  300 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is a schematic representation  800  of the transmitting device  300  receiving and processing information from the receiving device  500 . In step  802 , the application  202  operating on the transmitting device  300  receives a response from the receiving device  500 . 
         [0048]    In step  804 , the application  202  determines if a response is requested from the receiving device  500 . In step  806 , if no response is requested, the application  202  displays the response from the receiving device  500 . In step  808 , if a response is requested from the receiving device  500 , the application  202  gathers the response using any of the previously discussed methods. In step  810 , the application  202  transmits the response to the receiving device  500 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 9  is a schematic representation  900  of the transmitting device  300  routing text to alternate display locations based on the network status of the receiving device  500 . In step  902 , the transmitting device  300  receives an off network indicator indicating the receiving device  500  is not connected to the wireless network, or that the receiving device is unavailable. The transmitting device  300  may receive the off network indicator as a message from a secondary device on the wireless network, such as the wireless management system. In step  904 , the application  202  on the transmitting device  300  may retrieve alternate notification options from the contact information stored in the memory of the transmitting device  300 , or an external device. The contact information may include information on the user associated with the receiving device, such as alternate phone numbers, social media web site locations, instant messaging accounts, or any other communication method. In step  906 , the application  202  connects to at least one of the communication methods associated with the receiving device  500 . 
         [0050]    In step  908 , the application  202  transmits the text to each connected alternative communication method. In step  910 , the application monitors each connected alternative communication method for a response to the text, or for confirmation the text was delivered to the user of the receiving device. 
         [0051]    As an illustrative example, the transmitting device  300  may connect to a Facebook account, a Google GChat account, or a Twitter account using an account established by the user of the transmitting device  300 . Once each connection is established, the user may transmit the text of the message to each user account using acceptable transmission methods of each account such as posting on a wall in Facebook, sending a Tweet in Twitter, or initiating a GChat conversation. The transmitting device  300  may also transmit an e-mail message to an e-mail account of the user of the receiving device  500 . Once the information has been posted, the transmitting device monitors each site and account for a response by the user. When a response is received, the response is displayed on the screen using any of the previously discussed methods. 
         [0052]      FIG. 10  depicts a configuration screen  318  of  FIG. 3C  with the question configuration box  320  set to respond to a communication request with a camera image. Consistent with this embodiment, the mobile communication device  100  may include an image capturing unit, such as a camera, that is coupled to the IO unit  116  of the mobile communication device  100 . The image capture unit may be a standard camera, such as a Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) or a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) camera on a cellular phone. The image capture unit may be capable of capturing and storing both fixed images and video images in a digital format. The term “image” is used herein to include a fixed image or a video image stored in a digital format. A fixed image may be stored in any digital image format including, JPEG, BMP, TIF, GIF, PNG or any other fixed image format. A video image may be stored in any digital video format including MP3, MPEG, AVI or any other video format. 
         [0053]    When the configuration box  320  is set to the “CAMERA IMAGE” the application  202  operating on the mobile communication device  100  sends a request to the camera to capture an image at the time the communication request is received. The configuration screen  318  includes a select image button that allows a user to select an image using the camera  1002  and a review image button  1004  that allows a user to review an image before it is sent over the network. The image may be sent along with a text message, or may be sent as only an image. The configuration screen  318  may include a filter button  1006  that allows a user to select different response options for different contact address stored on the mobile communication device  100 . The configuration screen  318  may also include an option to capture a digital video as the captured image. 
         [0054]      FIG. 11  depicts a filtering screen  1100  that is displayed when a user selects the filter button  1006  on the configuration screen  318 . The filtering screen  1100  includes a listing of the contacts  1102  stored in the memory  114  of the mobile communication device  100 . Each contact includes an identification field  1104 , an image button  1106  and a camera button  1108 . The identification field  1104  displays the name associated with the contact  1102  that is stored in the memory  114  of the mobile communication device  100 . Selecting the image button  1106  allows the user to select a stored image to send to the address associated with the contact name when a communication request from the contact is received. Selecting the camera button  1108  allows the user to send an image taken from the camera in the mobile communication device  100  in response to a communication request form the contact. If the image button  1106  and camera button  1108  are not selected, no image is transmitted. The filtering screen  1100  includes a save button  1110  to allow a user to save the configuration of the contacts and a cancel button  1112  that allows a user to cancel their changes. 
         [0055]      FIG. 12  depicts one embodiment of an incoming call display screen  1200  on the receiving device  500 . The incoming call display screen  500  includes an answer button  1202 , an ignore button  1204 , a hold button  1206  and an image button  1208 . Selecting the answer button  1204  opens a communication channel with the requesting device. Selecting the ignore button  1204  does not open a communication channel with the requesting device and transfers the communication request to a voice messaging system. Selecting the hold button  1206  opens a communication channel with the requesting device without opening an audio channel between the mobile communication device  100  and the requesting device to allow a user to open an audio channel at a later time while still connecting the mobile communication device  100  to the requesting device. Selecting the image button  1208  connects the mobile communication device  100  to the requesting device and retrieves an image, or a video, captured from the camera or sends a preselected image, or video, to the requesting device based on the configuration of the requesting device. 
         [0056]      FIG. 13  is a schematic representation of a mobile communication device  100  responding to a communication request from a requesting device with an image or video. In step  1302 , the mobile communication device  100  receives a communication request. The communication request may be a request to connect an audio communication path between the requesting device and the mobile communication device  100 , a request to receive a text message, an e-mail, an Internet gaming request or a request for an online chat via a program such as Yahoo Messenger, GChat or any other online messaging application. In step  1304 , the application  202  on the mobile communication device  100  determines whether to respond to a communication request with an image based on the configuration of the application  202 . If the application  202  is configured to respond to a communication request with an image, the process proceeds to step  1308 . If the application  202  is not configured to respond to a communication request with an image, the process moves to step  1306  where the application  202  presents other options for responding as described previously. In step  1308 , the application  202  determines if the incoming communication is from a known contact. If the incoming communication is from a known contact, the process moves to step  1310 . If the incoming communication is not from a known contact, the process moves to step  1306  where the application  202  presents other options for responding as described previously. 
         [0057]    In step  1310 , the application  202  determines whether to transmit a live image or a saved image based on the configuration associated with the user. If a live image is associated with the contact, the application  202  retrieves an image from the camera on the mobile communication device  100  in step  1312 . The application  202  may retrieve the image by notifying the user of the incoming communication request, presenting the user with a button to capture an image via the camera and capturing the image after the user has selected the image to capture via the camera. The application  202  may allow the user to approve the image before transmitting the image, and may also allow the user to retake an image via the camera. In another embodiment, the application  202  may automatically take an image via the camera and send the image to the requesting device. Consistent with this embodiment, the application  202  may review the image to confirm the image exists in the memory  114  of the mobile communication device  100 . The application  202  may analyze the image to determine the percentage of pixels in the image that are black. If the image contains more than a predetermined number of black pixels, the image will be identified as an overly dark image and will not be transmitted. In yet another embodiment, the application  202  may present the user with a timer that counts down to zero giving the user a predetermined amount of time to capture an image via the camera. If a stored image is associated with the contact, the application  202  retrieves the stored image file form the memory  114  or secondary storage  122  of the mobile communication device  100  in step  1314 . After the image is retrieved or captured, the application  202  transmits the image over the network  108 . 
         [0058]    As an illustrative example, the mobile communication device  100  may receive a communication request from a social networking site, such as Twitter. The mobile communication device may respond to the communication request by automatically posting an image captured from the camera onto the social networking web site as a “Tweet.” The mobile communication device  100  may post the captured image on other social media or social networking web sites such as Facebook and Instagram. In another embodiment, the communication request may include a request that multiple images be transmitted over a predetermined period of time. The application  202  may receive the request and alert the user that a request for multiple image captures has been requested. If the user accepts the request, the application  202  may transmit multiple images over the predetermined period of time. 
         [0059]    In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
         [0060]    It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.