Abstract:
An answering system including a first mobile phone, the first mobile phone includes a communication unit for communicating with a second mobile phone, a position sensor, a microphone, and a processor. The position sensor detects whether the first mobile phone is flat or tilted (balanced state or unbalanced state). The microphone detects vocal commands given to the first mobile phone. The processor acknowledges any incoming call when the first mobile phone is positioned in an unbalanced state and a conversation is detected in a preset time, and hangs up a call received previously when no command or conversation is detected in the preset time and the first mobile phone is positioned in a balanced state.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an answering system employing mobile phone and a method for putting through or hanging up an incoming call to the mobile phone, automatically. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     A smart mobile phone includes a touch screen. For example, when an incoming call is received, the user can touch an icon displayed on the screen to answer the coming call. However, the touch screen may have many icons displayed and the user may inadvertently activate another icon on the screen when retrieving or trying to take hold of the smart phone when answering incoming calls. 
     Thus, a mobile phone and a method using the same are desired to overcome the above-described shortcomings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of at least one embodiment. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the various views. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an answering system using a mobile phone. 
         FIGS. 2-4  are schematic, side views of the mobile phone of  FIG. 1  in different states. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for automatically putting through an incoming call using the mobile phone of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for automatically hanging up an incoming call using the mobile phone of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     In general, the word “module”, as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as in an EPROM. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other storage device. Some non-limiting examples of non-transitory computer-readable medium include compact discs (CDs), digital video discs (DVDs), BLU-Ray disks, flash memories, and hard disk drives. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an answering system using a mobile phone  10 . The mobile phone  10  includes a position sensor  11 , a light sensor  12 , a microphone  13 , a processor  14 , a storage unit  15 , a communication unit  16 , and an incoming call control module  40 . The incoming call control module  40  includes an incoming call detecting module  41 , a position determining module  43 , a light determining module  45 , a speech detecting module  47 , and an answering/rejecting module  49 . 
     The communication unit  16  can communicate with other mobile phones. In one embodiment, the communication unit  16  may be selected from a group consisting of a global system for mobile communication (GSM) device, a code division multiple access (CDMA) device, or a wide band CDMA (WCDMA) device. The incoming call detecting module  41  detects any incoming call. 
     The position determining module  43  detects the orientation or position states of the mobile phone  10 . In the embodiment, the position states include a balanced state and an unbalanced state. The processor  14  defines a balanced state as the mobile phone  10  being on a horizontal surface  100  with a front surface  101  or a back surface  102  of the mobile phone  10  resting on the horizontal surface  100  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), as detected by the position sensor  11 . The definition of balanced state by the processor  14  includes the mobile phone  10  resting perpendicularly on the horizontal surface  100  with a top surface  104  or a bottom surface  105  of the mobile phone  10  resting on the horizontal surface  100  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). The processor  14  defines an unbalanced state when the position sensor  11  detects a first angle between the horizontal surface  100  and one of the front surface  101 , the back surface  102 , the top surface  104 , and the bottom surface  105  as being within a range from five degrees to eighty five degrees as shown in  FIG. 4 . In an alternative embodiment, the processor  14  further defines a balanced state when the position sensor  11  detects a second angle between the horizontal surface  100  and each one of the front surface  101 , the back surface  102 , the top surface  104 , and the bottom surface  105  as being within a range from zero degree to five degrees. In one embodiment, the position sensor  11  may be a gyroscope. 
     The light sensor  12  is arranged on the front surface  101  of the mobile phone  10 . Through the light sensor  12 , the light determining module  45  detects light increases or decreases of the environment in front of the front surface  101  within a first predetermined time, and provides data as to the increase or decrease in light intensity to the processor  14 . The light determining module  45  compares the increase or decrease in light intensity in front of the front surface  101  against one or more reference levels of light intensity, and determines whether the increase or decrease in detected light is more or less than the reference level(s). In the embodiment, the light sensor  12  in fact is used to detect whether the front surface  101  is closed to or covered by the face of the user. 
     The speech detecting module  47  controls the microphone  13  to record sound and to provide a sample of the sound recorded to the processor  14  in a second predetermined time, and compares the sound sample with reference level of background or environmental noise, and determines whether the sound sample includes a level of sound which is greater than the reference level of the background or environmental noise in a second predetermined time, in other words, to determine if a voice command has been given to the mobile phone  10 . In one embodiment, the environmental noise may also be detected by a second microphone (not shown). 
     The answering/rejecting module  49  controls the processor  14  to put through an incoming call or to hang up a current call according to the position states of the mobile phone  10 , the light increases or decreases of the environment in front of the front surface  101  within a first predetermined time, and the sound sample detected by the speech detecting module  47 . 
     The storage unit  15  pre-stores the level of environmental noise as a reference or average, the reference levels for an increase or decrease in light intensity, and stores the position states of the mobile phone  10 . Data as to relevant sound samples (of commands or otherwise) is also recorded. In one embodiment, the storage unit  15  can be selected from a group consisting of CDs, DVDs, BLU-Ray disks, flash memories, and hard disk drives. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for automatically putting through or allowing an incoming call. The method may be carried out by using the mobile phone  10 . Depending on the embodiment, additional steps may be added, others removed, and the ordering of the steps may be changed. 
     In step S 51 , the incoming call detecting module  41  detects any incoming call. 
     In step S 52 , the position determining module  43  detects the position state of the mobile phone  10 , and determines whether the mobile phone  10  is balanced or unbalanced as described in detail above. If the mobile phone  10  is unbalanced, step S 53  is performed, otherwise, step S 52  is repeated. 
     In step S 53 , the light determining module  45  detects the level of light intensity in front of the front surface  101  in a first predetermined time, and the processor  14  then determines whether the light sampled shows an decrease in level against one or more reference levels in light intensity, in a first predetermined time. When there is decrease in light intensity beyond a reference level in light intensity, step S 54  is performed, otherwise, the procedure goes back to step S 52 . In one embodiment, the first predetermined time is within a range of five to ten seconds 
     In step S 54 , the speech detecting module  47  records sound and provide a sample of the sound to the processor  14 . The processor  14  compares the sound sample with a reference level of environmental noise to determine whether the sound sample includes a sound which is louder than the reference level of environmental noise, in a second predetermined time, in other words, to determine if a voice command has been given to the mobile phone  10 . When the sound sample includes a sound which is louder than the reference level of environmental noise, step S 55  is performed, otherwise, the procedure goes back to step S 52 . In one embodiment, the second predetermined time is 0.1 seconds. 
     In step S 55 , the answering/rejecting module  49  automatically puts through the incoming call. In an alternative embodiment, the processor  14  may further control a display to display a message or warning when the incoming call is put through. 
     In alternative embodiments, step S 53  may be omitted, and if the mobile phone  10  is unbalanced, step S 54  is performed, otherwise, step S 2  is repeated. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for automatically closing or hanging up during a call. The method is carried out by using the mobile phone  10 . Depending on the embodiment, additional steps may be added, others removed, and the ordering of the steps may be changed. 
     In step S 61 , the incoming call detecting module  41  detects whether the mobile phone is communicating with another phone. 
     In step S 62 , the light determining module  45  controls the light sensor  12  to detect an increase in light intensity of the environment in front of the front surface  101  within the first predetermined time, and the processor  14  then determines whether the decrease in light intensity beyond a reference level in light intensity within the first predetermined time. When the increase in light intensity is greater than the reference level in light intensity, step S 63  is performed, otherwise, the procedure goes back to step S 62 . In one embodiment, the first predetermined time is within a range from five to ten seconds. 
     In step S 63 , the speech detecting module  47  controls the microphone  13  to record sound and provide a sound sample to the processor  14 . The processor  14  compares the sound sample with a reference level of environmental noise to determine whether the sound sample includes a louder sound than the reference level of environmental noise within the second predetermined time, in other words, to determine if a voice command has been given to the mobile phone. When the sound sample includes a louder sound, step S 64  is performed, otherwise, the procedure goes back to step S 62 . In one embodiment, the second predetermined time is 0.1 seconds. 
     In step S 64 , the position determining module  43  detects the orientation or position state of the mobile phone  10 , and determines whether the mobile phone  10  is balanced or unbalanced as described in detail above. If the mobile phone  10  is balanced, step S 65  is performed, otherwise, the procedure goes back to step S 62 . 
     In step S 65  the answering/rejecting module  49  controls the processor  14  to automatically close or hang up the current call. In an alternative embodiment, the processor  14  may further control a display to display a message or warning when the current call is terminated. 
     In alternative embodiments, step S 62  may be omitted, and if a conversation is continuing through the mobile phone  10 , step S 64  is performed, otherwise, step S 63  is repeated. 
     Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of certain inventive embodiments have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matter of arrangement of parts within the principles of present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.