Patent Description:
With the development of mobile communication technology and hardware/processor technology, portable electronic devices (hereinafter referred to as electronic devices) have become capable of high-speed data communication and, accordingly, provide various functions. Various services related to voice calls, which are unique functions of electronic devices, are also provided, and one example of such services may be a call continuity service (or call switch service) that continues the call by switching a call received by the electronic device to another electronic device. A user may make a call with a counterpart electronic device by using any one of a plurality of electronic devices registered through the call continuity service, and continue the call without interruption even when switching to another electronic device during the call.

The electronic device that provides a voice call service may provide a recording function of content of the call. When a user selects the recording function during the call, the voice uttered by the user and the voice received from the other party may be recorded in the memory of the electronic device. <CIT> relates to a method of recording a call during a call in a private branch exchange (PBX). <CIT> relate to relates to communication services that are designed to help businesses communicate with their customers.

In the case of a call continuity service (or call switch service), a call may be made through another electronic device even when the call is received by the electronic device. Because the recording function is performed by an electronic device itself, continuity of the recording function is not guaranteed when the electronic device that is a subject of the call is changed.

Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to a method of providing a recording service based on the user's device-to-device connection usability during a call, and to continuously provide the call recording function even when the call service is switched to another electronic device.

Further aspects of the present invention are outlined in the dependent claims. An electronic device according to various embodiments may include a display, a communication module, a microphone, a memory, and a processor operatively connected to the display, the communication module, the microphone, and the memory, and the processor may be configured to perform a call with a first external device through the communication module, generate, when a call recording function is started based on a user input, first recording data including user voice data inputted through the microphone and counterpart's voice data received from the first external device through the communication module, and store the first recording data in the memory, detect a switch of the call with the first external device to a second external device connected to the electronic device through a call continuity service, and store the second recording data including the counterpart's voice data and external voice data received from the second external device through the communication module in the memory.

A call recording method of an electronic device according to various embodiments may include performing a call with a first external device, generating, when a call recording function is started based on a user input, first recording data including user voice data inputted through a microphone of the electronic device and counterpart's voice data received from the first external device, and store the first recording data in the memory, detecting a switch of the call with the first external device to a second external device connected to the electronic device through a call continuity service, and storing, in the memory, second recording data including the counterpart's voice data and external voice data received from the second external device.

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, even if a call service is switched to another electronic device, an electronic device and a call recording function of the electronic device capable of continuously providing the call recording function may be provided.

In addition, various effects identified directly/indirectly in the disclosure may be provided.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> in the network environment <NUM> may communicate with an electronic device <NUM> via a first network <NUM> (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or at least one of an electronic device <NUM> or a server <NUM> via a second network <NUM> (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, an input module <NUM>, a sound output module <NUM>, a display module <NUM>, an audio module <NUM>, a sensor module <NUM>, an interface <NUM>, a connecting terminal <NUM>, a haptic module <NUM>, a camera module <NUM>, a power management module <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a communication module <NUM>, a subscriber identification module(SIM) <NUM>, or an antenna module <NUM>. In some embodiments, at least one of the components (e.g., the connecting terminal <NUM>) may be omitted from the electronic device <NUM>, or one or more other components may be added in the electronic device <NUM>. In some embodiments, some of the components (e.g., the sensor module <NUM>, the camera module <NUM>, or the antenna module <NUM>) may be implemented as a single component (e.g., the display module <NUM>).

<FIG> illustrates several devices providing a call continuity service according to various embodiments.

Hereinafter, a device that receives a call through a cellular network will be defined as a first electronic device <NUM> (or primary device, PD), a device registered to switch a call of the first electronic device <NUM> in the call continuity service (or call switch service) will be defined as a second electronic device <NUM> (or secondary device, SD), and a device for transmitting a call will be defined as the counterpart's electronic device <NUM>. The same device may operate as the first electronic device <NUM>, the second electronic device <NUM>, or the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> according to a call transmission/reception situation.

According to various embodiments, the first electronic device <NUM> is a portable electronic device (e.g., smartphone, tablet PC) having a voice call function, and may receive a voice call or video call connection request from the counterpart's electronic device <NUM>. The first electronic device <NUM> may transmit/receive voice data with the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> through a cellular network, and a voice call between the first electronic device <NUM> and the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> may use an Internet protocol (IP)-based IP multimedia system (IMS) network (e.g., LTE voice communication service (VoLTE)), or use a <NUM> voice communication (VoNR) network and a circuit switching network. To this end, the first electronic device <NUM> may include a communication module necessary for accessing a cellular network, and may be assigned a phone number from its own mobile communication service provider.

According to various embodiments, a user of the first electronic device <NUM> may register the second electronic device <NUM> on a server <NUM> by interworking with the first electronic device <NUM> for a call continuity service. According to various embodiments, the user of the first electronic device <NUM> may register a plurality of devices including the second electronic device <NUM> by interworking with the first electronic device <NUM>, and the call continuity service may be provided to a plurality of devices registered through the same account. The second electronic device <NUM> may be the same type of device as the first electronic device <NUM> (e.g., a smartphone) or a different type of device (e.g., a tablet PC, PDA, laptop PC, or smartwatch). The server <NUM> may perform registration, authentication, database and/or data transmission/reception functions related to the call continuity service. The first electronic device <NUM> and the second electronic device <NUM> may be connected to the server <NUM> through a public data network (PDN). To this end, the second electronic device <NUM> may include a communication module supporting a cellular network (e.g., LTE network, <NUM> network) and/or a local area network (e.g., Wi-Fi).

According to various embodiments, the user of the first electronic device <NUM> may register identification information of the second electronic device <NUM> on an application supporting the call continuity service of the first electronic device <NUM>, and in this case, the phone number of the first electronic device <NUM>, the user's account, and the identification information of the second electronic device <NUM> may be mapped and stored in the database of the server <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, when the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> attempts to make a call to the phone number of the first electronic device <NUM>, a call request may be transmitted to the first electronic device <NUM> through a cellular network, and an application supporting the call continuity service may transmit the call request to the server <NUM>. The server <NUM> may identify the registered second electronic device <NUM> mapped with the first electronic device <NUM>, and transmit the call request from the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> to the first electronic device <NUM> to the second electronic device <NUM>. The first electronic device <NUM> and the second electronic device <NUM> may display a call connection screen at least partially simultaneously or sequentially, and the user may perform a call with the other part's electronic device <NUM> by accepting the call connection through either the first electronic device <NUM> or the second electronic device <NUM>. Hereinafter, a case where a user makes a call with the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> by using the first electronic device <NUM> may be referred to as a general call, and a case where a call is made with the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> through relaying of the first electronic device <NUM> by using the second electronic device <NUM> may be referred to as a call and message continuity (CMC) call.

According to various embodiments, when a user makes a call with the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> through the second electronic device <NUM>, the counterpart's voice data transmitted from the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> may be transmitted to the first electronic device <NUM> through a cellular network, and the first electronic device <NUM> may transmit the counterpart's voice data to the second electronic device <NUM> through the PDN. Similarly, user voice data inputted from the second electronic device <NUM> may transmitted to the first electronic device <NUM> through the PDN, and the first electronic device <NUM> may transmit the user voice data to the first electronic device <NUM> through the cellular network.

According to another embodiment, the counterpart's voice data transmitted from the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> may be transmitted to the second electronic device <NUM> through a cellular network or PDN without passing through the first electronic device <NUM>, and user voice data of the second electronic device <NUM> may also be transmitted to the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> without passing through the first electronic device <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the first electronic device <NUM> may perform a call recording function when making a general call connection with the counterpart's electronic device <NUM>. When the call recording function is executed, the first electronic device <NUM> may store recording data including the user voice data inputted through the microphone of the first electronic device <NUM> and the counterpart's voice data received from a memory of the second electronic device <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the first electronic device <NUM> may perform a call recording function without interruption even when the call connection with the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> is switched to the second electronic device <NUM> through the call continuity service. Hereinafter, various embodiments for ensuring continuity of the call recording function when the call connection is switched will be described with reference to <FIG>.

Among various embodiments in the disclosure, features that provide continuity of the call recording function in a situation in which the first electronic device <NUM> receives a call request from the counterpart's electronic device, makes the call, and then switches the call connection to the second electronic device <NUM> will be mainly described, but various embodiments are not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, even when the first electronic device <NUM> becomes a call originator and transmits a call request to the counterpart's electronic device <NUM>, continuity of the call recording function may be provided. For example, the second electronic device <NUM> may have a subscriber identification module (SIM) and be assigned a phone number of the second electronic device <NUM>. In a state where the first electronic device <NUM> and the second electronic device <NUM> are connected through the call continuity service, when the second electronic device attempts to transmit a call to the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> according to user input, the second electronic device <NUM> may display a pop-up UI for selecting whether to transmit the call to the phone number of the second electronic device <NUM> or to the phone number of the first electronic device <NUM> connected to the call continuity service.

When the phone number of the first electronic device <NUM> is selected in the pop-up UI, the call according to the call continuity service may be transmitted from the first electronic device <NUM> to the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> through (or not pass through) the first electronic device <NUM>. In this case, in a state where the second electronic device <NUM> and the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> are connected by a call, the call connection may be switched to the first electronic device <NUM>. Even when the call connection is switched to another device while the call recording function is running during the call connection to the first electronic device <NUM> or the second electronic device <NUM>, the call recording function may be continuously provided as in the embodiments described below.

When the phone number of the second electronic device <NUM> is selected in the pop-up UI, a call connection request may be made to the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> by using the second electronic device <NUM>. In this case, the roles of the first electronic device <NUM> and the second electronic device <NUM> may be interchanged, and for example, call recording data may be stored in the memory of the second electronic device <NUM> in a state where the call connection is switched to the first electronic device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

Hereinafter, a configuration of a first electronic device (e.g., the first electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) will be described, and a second electronic device (e.g., the second electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) may also include at least some of the components and/or functions illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> may include a display <NUM>, a microphone <NUM>, a communication module <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, and a memory <NUM>, and some of the components illustrated in various embodiments may be omitted or replaced. The electronic device <NUM> may further include at least some of the configurations and/or functions of the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>. At least some of the components of the illustrated (or not illustrated) electronic device <NUM> may be operatively, functionally, and/or electrically connected to each other.

According to various embodiments, the display <NUM> may display various images under the control of the processor <NUM>. For example, the display <NUM> may be implemented as any one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, but is not limited thereto. The display <NUM> may be configured as a touch screen that detects a touch and/or proximity touch (or hovering) input using a part of the user's body (e.g., a finger) or an input device (e.g., a stylus pen). At least a part of the display <NUM> may be flexible, and may be implemented as an expandable display such as a foldable display <NUM> or a rollable display <NUM>. The display <NUM> may include at least some of the components and/or functions of the display module <NUM> of <FIG>.

According to various embodiments, the microphone <NUM> may collect a user voice and/or an external sound and convert the same into a voice signal that is digital data. The electronic device <NUM> may include a microphone in a part of the housing (not illustrated) or may receive a voice signal collected from an external microphone wired/wireless connected.

According to various embodiments, the communication module <NUM> may communicate with an external device through a wireless network. The communication module <NUM> may include hardware and software modules for transmitting and receiving data in a cellular network (e.g., LTE network, <NUM> network) and a local area network (e.g., Wi-Fi). The communication module <NUM> may include at least some of the components and/or functions of the communication module <NUM> of <FIG>.

According to various embodiments, the memory <NUM> may temporarily or permanently store various data including volatile memory and non-volatile memory. The memory <NUM> may include at least some of the configuration and/or functions of the memory <NUM> of <FIG>, and store the program <NUM> of <FIG>.

According to various embodiments, the memory <NUM> may store various instructions that may be executed by the processor <NUM>. These instructions may include control commands such as arithmetic and logic operations, data movement, and input/output that may be recognized by the processor <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the processor <NUM> is a component capable of control of each component of the electronic device <NUM> and/or performing calculations or data processing related to communication, and may include one or more processors <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may include at least some of the components and/or functions of the processor <NUM> of <FIG>.

According to various embodiments, calculation and data processing functions that the processor <NUM> may implement on the electronic device <NUM> will not be limited, but hereinafter, various embodiments for providing continuity of the recording function when a call connection is switched between the electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the first electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) and another electronic device (e.g., the second electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) in the call continuity service (or a call switch service) will be described. Operations of the processor <NUM> to be described below may be performed by loading instructions stored in the memory <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the processor <NUM> may receive a call connection request from the counterpart's electronic device (or first external device) (e.g., the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) through the communication module <NUM>. Here, the call connection request may be transmitted through an Internet protocol (IP)-based IP multimedia system (IMS) network (e.g., LTE voice communication service (VoLTE), <NUM> voice communication (VoNR)) and/or a circuit switching network.

According to various embodiments, the processor <NUM> may display a call connection screen on the display <NUM> in response to receiving a call connection request, and perform a call connection with the counterpart's electronic device according to a user input.

According to various embodiments, when a call connection request is received from the counterpart's electronic device, the processor <NUM> may transmit the call connection request to the second electronic device (or second external device) (e.g., the second electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) registered in the call continuity service. Here, the second electronic device is a device registered in conjunction with the electronic device <NUM> for call continuation service, and the user may register the electronic device <NUM> and the second electronic device in conjunction with each other on an application supporting the call continuity service of the electronic device <NUM> or the second electronic device.

According to various embodiments, when receiving a call connection request from the counterpart's electronic device, the electronic device <NUM> may transmit information related to the call connection request of the counterpart's electronic device to a server (e.g., the server <NUM> in <FIG>) providing the call continuity service through a PDN by cellular communication (e.g., LTE, <NUM>) or local area communication (e.g., Wi-Fi), and request information on another electronic device stored in conjunction with the call continuity service through the account of the electronic device <NUM>. The server may transmit information related to the call connection request of the counterpart's electronic device to the second electronic device registered in conjunction with the electronic device <NUM>. The second electronic device receiving the information related to the call connection request may display a call connection screen and perform a call connection with the counterpart's electronic device according to a user input. The user may perform a call with the counterpart's electronic device by using either the electronic device <NUM> or the second electronic device, and switch the call with the counterpart's electronic device to another device during the call by using either one. In the case of a call using the second electronic device, voice data transmitted and received between the second electronic device and the counterpart's electronic device may be transmitted and received through the electronic device <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the processor <NUM> may execute a call recording function based on a user input while performing a call with the counterpart's electronic device. For example, a call screen displayed on the display <NUM> during the call may include a UI for selecting various functions available during the call, and when a call recording button is selected on the UI, call recording may be started.

According to various embodiments, when call recording is started, the processor <NUM> may store a first recording data including the user voice data inputted through the microphone <NUM> and the counterpart's voice data received from the counterpart's electronic device through the communication module <NUM> in the memory <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, when a general call is connected, the processor <NUM> may mix user voice data input through the microphone <NUM> and the counterpart's voice data received from the counterpart's electronic device by using an audio driver, transmit the mixture to an audio recorder, and generate first recording data from data mixed by using the audio recorder. In the case of a general call, data transmitted and received from the counterpart's electronic device may be delivered through the communication processor to the kernel-level audio driver, and the audio driver may mix user voice data inputted from the microphone <NUM>. The mixed data may be transmitted through an audio hardware abstraction layer (HAL) to the audio recorder of the framework, and the audio recorder may process the recording data and store the same in the memory <NUM>. This embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>.

According to various embodiments, the processor <NUM> may display an icon indicating that call recording is running on the call screen. In addition, the processor <NUM> may transmit information indicating that the call recording function is running to the second electronic device through the communication module <NUM>, and the second electronic device may display the icon indicating that call recording is running on the call waiting screen.

According to various embodiments, while a general call is being made with the counterpart's electronic device through the electronic device <NUM>, a call switch event to a CMC call of the second electronic device may occur. For example, when a user selects a button corresponding to call switch on the second electronic device, a current call may be switched to the second electronic device. When the call is switched to the second electronic device, the electronic device <NUM> may operate in a call waiting state, and even in the call waiting state, the electronic device <NUM> may maintain a call connection with the counterpart's electronic device and perform a function of relaying data transmitted and received between the counterpart's electronic device and the second electronic device.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device <NUM> and/or the second electronic device may continue to perform the call recording function even when the call is switched to the CMC call of the second electronic device when the recording function is executed before the call switch.

According to an embodiment (e.g., <FIG>), the processor <NUM> may store second recording data including the counterpart's voice data received from the counterpart's electronic device and external voice data received from the second electronic device in the memory <NUM>.

According to this embodiment, the processor <NUM> may mix the counterpart's voice data received from the counterpart's electronic device and external voice data received from the second electronic device by using an IMS voice engine when switching to the CMC call. The IMS voice engine may be defined on the framework. The IMS voice engine may transmit the mixed data to the IMS recorder, and the IMS recorder may process and store the recording data in the memory <NUM>. In this way, during the CMC call recording and unlike the general call recording, the electronic device <NUM> may mix and process recording data by using a framework-level IMS voice engine and an IMS recorder without using a kernel-level audio driver. This embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>.

According to another embodiment (e.g., <FIG>), when switching to the CMC call of the second electronic device, a call recording function may be executed by the second electronic device. For example, the second electronic device may mix the counterpart's voice data of the counterpart's electronic device received through the electronic device <NUM> and the user voice data inputted through the microphone <NUM> of the second electronic device, store the mixture in the memory <NUM> of the second electronic device, and transmit the mixture to the electronic device <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may receive the corresponding recording data during or after a call of the second electronic device, merge the recording data previously (or later) stored in the memory <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>, and store the recording data as single audio data.

According to various embodiments, when a call is switched to the second electronic device, the processor <NUM> may display a call waiting screen on the display <NUM>, and display an item (e.g., icon, text information) indicating the call recording function on the call waiting screen when the call recording function is running.

According to various embodiments, after the call is switched to the CMC call of the second electronic device according to the user input, the call may be re-switched to the general call of the electronic device <NUM> according to the user input. In this case, the processor <NUM> may store third recording data including the user voice data and the counterpart's voice data in the memory <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the processor <NUM> may merge the recording data (e.g., first recording data, third recording data) obtained during a general call through the electronic device <NUM> and the recording data (e.g., second recording data) obtained during a CMC call through the second electronic device and store merged data in the memory <NUM> as a single file. Recording data obtained during the general call is processed by the audio recorder, and recording data obtained during the CMC call is processed by the IMS recorder, so they may be initially generated as separate recording data. The processor <NUM> may store recording data as single file data when each recording data is obtained or when a call with the counterpart's electronic device is terminated.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate operations of a first electronic device and a second electronic device according to an event occurring during a call according to various embodiments.

<FIG> illustrates an embodiment in which a call recording function continues on the first electronic device <NUM> when switching to a CMC call of the second electronic device <NUM>. The first electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the first electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) and the second electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the second electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) may be interworked and registered in a server (e.g., the server <NUM> of <FIG>) for a call continuity service.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, the first electronic device <NUM> may receive a call connection request from the counterpart's electronic device.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, the first electronic device <NUM> may display a call connection screen on a display (e.g., the display <NUM> of <FIG>) in response to the call connection request. The first electronic device <NUM> may transmit information related to the call connection request to the second electronic device <NUM>. In operation <NUM>, the second electronic device <NUM> that has received the information related to the call connection request of the counterpart's electronic device may display the call connection screen on the display.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, the first electronic device <NUM> may accept the call according to a user input on the first electronic device <NUM> and start a general call with the counterpart's electronic device. In operation <NUM>, the first electronic device <NUM> may transmit/receive the user voice data inputted through the microphone and the counterpart's voice data of the counterpart's electronic device in real time. The first electronic device <NUM> may display a call screen on the display. In operation <NUM>, the second electronic device <NUM> may display a call waiting screen.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, a call recording function may be started according to a user input on the first electronic device <NUM>. According to an embodiment, in a case where the automatic call recording function is configured in advance, the call recording function may be started when the call is connected without the user input.

In operation <NUM>, the first electronic device <NUM> may store first recording data including the user voice data and the counterpart's voice data in the memory. In operation <NUM>, the second electronic device <NUM> may maintain the call waiting state.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, the call connection may be switched to the second electronic device <NUM> according to the user input on the first electronic device <NUM> and/or the second electronic device <NUM>. In operation <NUM>, the second electronic device <NUM> may perform a CMC call with the counterpart's electronic device, and in operation <NUM>, and the first electronic device <NUM> may relay external voice data and the counterpart's voice data transmitted and received between the second electronic device <NUM> and the counterpart's electronic device while maintaining a communication connection with the counterpart's electronic device. The first electronic device <NUM> may store second recording data including external voice data and the counterpart's voice data.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, the call connection may be re-switched to the first electronic device <NUM> according to the user input on the first electronic device <NUM> and/or the second electronic device <NUM>. In operation <NUM>, the first electronic device <NUM> may make the general call again and store third recording data including user voice data and the counterpart's voice data. In operation <NUM>, the second electronic device <NUM> may switch to the call waiting state.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, when the call connection with the counterpart's electronic device is terminated, in operation <NUM>, the first electronic device <NUM> may merge the obtained first recording data, the second recording data, and the third recording data and store them in the memory as single file data. According to another embodiment, the first recording data, the second recording data, and the third recording data may be stored in the memory as separate file data.

Compared to <FIG>, <FIG> has a difference in that the call recording function is performed by the second electronic device <NUM> when switching to the CMC call of the second electronic device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, when switching to the CMC call of the second electronic device <NUM>, the first electronic device <NUM> may transmit information indicating that the call recording function is being performed to the second electronic device <NUM>, and in operation <NUM>, store the counterpart's voice data and the voice data inputted from the second electronic device <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, when the call is terminated, the second electronic device <NUM> may transmit the recording data to the first electronic device <NUM>, and in operation <NUM>, the first electronic device <NUM> may merge the recording data recorded by the first electronic device <NUM> and the recording data received from the second electronic device <NUM> and store them as single file data in the memory. In this case, in the recording data, the call section of the first electronic device <NUM> and the call section of the second electronic device <NUM> may be specified as separate flags and distinguished from each other. According to another embodiment, the second electronic device <NUM> may transmit recorded data to the first electronic device <NUM> at specified periods. According to another embodiment, the recording data obtained from the first electronic device <NUM> and the recording data obtained from the second electronic device <NUM> may be stored in the memory as separate file data.

According to various embodiments, when storing recording data, the first electronic device <NUM> may include information indicating the first electronic device <NUM> and/or the second electronic device <NUM> in a file name stored so that the user may recognize on which device the recording data is when connecting the call. Alternatively, the first electronic device <NUM> may distinguish recording data with icons indicating the first electronic device <NUM> and/or the second electronic device <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the first electronic device <NUM> may reproduce stored recording data after the call ends. According to various embodiments, when the call connection is switched, in a case where the call content of the first electronic device <NUM> and the call content of the second electronic device are recorded together, the first electronic device <NUM> may display the call content of the first electronic device <NUM> and the call content of the second electronic device <NUM> to be distinguished in the user interface displayed on the display when the recording data is reproduced. For example, text/image information indicating the call section of the first electronic device <NUM> and the call section of the second electronic device may be provided or each call section may be displayed as a separate graphic effect in a progress bar indicating a reproducing section of recording data.

In <FIG> and <FIG>, although an embodiment in which continuity of a call recording function is provided in a situation where the first electronic device <NUM> receives a call request from the counterpart's electronic device and makes the call, and then the call connection is switched to the second electronic device <NUM> has been described in various embodiments, the various embodiments of the disclosure are not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, even when the second electronic device <NUM> becomes the call receiver and receives the call from the counterpart's electronic device <NUM>, continuity of the call recording function may be provided. For example, when the call is first received by using the second electronic device <NUM> and the call recording function is executed by configuring an automatic recording function or a user input on the first electronic device <NUM> or the second electronic device <NUM>, the first electronic device <NUM> (or the second electronic device <NUM>) may record the counterpart's voice data and the user voice data transmitted from the second electronic device <NUM>. Thereafter, when the call connection is switched to the first electronic device <NUM>, the first electronic device <NUM> may record the counterpart's voice data and the user voice data obtained by the first electronic device <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are block diagrams of each component providing a call recording function in an electronic device according to various embodiments.

<FIG> illustrates configurations for recording a call while the first electronic device <NUM> is making a general call with the counterpart's electronic device <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the first electronic device <NUM> may mix user voice data inputted through a microphone <NUM> and the counterpart's voice data received from the second electronic device and transmit the mixture to an audio recorder <NUM> by using an audio driver <NUM>, and generate first recording data from the mixed data by using the audio recorder <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the call recording function is performed, a call application <NUM>, the audio recorder <NUM>, an audio HAL <NUM>, and/or an audio driver <NUM> of the first electronic device <NUM> may be executed.

According to various embodiments, the audio driver <NUM> may include a digital signal processor (DSP) <NUM> that is operated by a kernel and mixes call transmission/reception data. The counterpart's voice data received from the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> may be provided to the audio driver <NUM> through a communication processor <NUM>, and the audio driver <NUM> may output the data through a receiver <NUM>. In addition, user voice data inputted through the microphone <NUM> may be provided to the audio driver <NUM> and transmitted to the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> through the communication processor <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the audio driver <NUM> may mix the user voice data inputted through the microphone <NUM> and the counterpart's voice data received from the second electronic device by using the DSP <NUM>. The audio driver <NUM> may transmit the mixed data to the audio recorder <NUM> through the audio hardware abstract layer (HAL) <NUM>, which is an upper layer.

According to various embodiments, the audio recorder <NUM> may support a call recording function at the framework level. The audio recorder <NUM> may process data received from the audio driver <NUM> and store recording data in a memory.

According to various embodiments, the audio recorder <NUM> may provide information related to the call recording function to the call application <NUM>, and the call application <NUM> may display an item indicating the call recording function on the call screen.

<FIG> illustrates configurations for recording a call in the first electronic device <NUM> while the second electronic device <NUM> is performing a CMC call with the counterpart's electronic device <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the first electronic device <NUM> may mix the counterpart's voice data received from the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> and external voice data received from the second electronic device <NUM> and transmit the mixture to an IMS recorder <NUM> by using the IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) voice engine, and generate second recording data from the mixed data by using the IMS recorder <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when a CMC call recording function is performed, the call application <NUM>, the IMS recorder <NUM>, and the IMS voice engine <NUM> of the first electronic device <NUM> may be executed.

According to various embodiments, during the CMC call by using the second electronic device <NUM>, the first electronic device <NUM> may transmit and receive data with the second electronic device <NUM> through the IMS network. For example, the first electronic device <NUM> and the second electronic device <NUM> may transmit and receive call data through the IP IMS network by using a cellular communication (e.g., LTE, <NUM>) or a local area network communication (e.g., Wi-Fi). In the case of such an IMS-based call connection, an audio driver (e.g., the audio driver <NUM> of <FIG>) may not process mixing of call data. Accordingly, voice data of the CMC call generated by the IMS voice engine <NUM> between the first electronic device <NUM> and the second electronic device <NUM> may be difficult to transfer to the audio recorder (e.g., the audio recorder in <FIG>).

Accordingly, according to various embodiments, the first electronic device <NUM> may perform the call recording function by using the IMS voice engine <NUM> and the IMS recorder <NUM> without using the audio driver in a CMC call situation.

According to various embodiments, during a CMC call between the second electronic device <NUM> and the counterpart's electronic device <NUM>, the IMS voice engine <NUM> may mix the counterpart's voice data received from the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> through the CP <NUM> and the user voice data received from the second electronic device <NUM>. The IMS voice engine <NUM> may transmit the mixed data to the IMS recorder <NUM> of the framework, and the IMS recorder <NUM> may process data transferred from the IMS voice engine <NUM> and store recording data in a memory. The IMS recorder <NUM> may provide information related to the call recording function to the call application <NUM>, and the call application <NUM> may display an item indicating the call recording function on the call screen.

<FIG> illustrate screens displayed on a first electronic device and a second electronic device in a continuous call service according to various embodiments.

<FIG> illustrates screens displayed on the first electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the first electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) and the second electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the first electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) when a call connection is received from the counterpart's electronic device (e.g., the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> in <FIG>). The first electronic device <NUM> and the second electronic device <NUM> may be interworked and registered in a server (e.g., the server <NUM> of <FIG>) for a call continuity service.

According to various embodiments, the first electronic device <NUM> may transmit information related to the call connection request to the second electronic device <NUM> when a call connection request is received from the counterpart's electronic device through the cellular network.

Referring to <FIG>, the first electronic device <NUM> may display a call connection screen by using a call application. For example, the call connection screen may include a call acceptance button <NUM> and a call rejection button <NUM>, and include information such as the phone number of the counterpart's electronic device. The second electronic device <NUM> may display the call connection screen by using the call application.

<FIG> illustrates screens of the first electronic device <NUM> and the second electronic device <NUM> when a general call is connected between the first electronic device <NUM> and the counterpart's electronic device according to a user input on the first electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the call accept button <NUM> in <FIG>).

Referring to <FIG>, when the first electronic device <NUM> makes a general call, the second electronic device <NUM> may operate in a call waiting state and display a call waiting screen. The call waiting screen may include a call switch button <NUM> for switching the second electronic device <NUM> to a CMC call, and may include information <NUM> indicating that the call is in the call waiting state.

The first electronic device <NUM> may display a call UI <NUM> including at least one usable function during a call. For example, the call UI <NUM> may include at least one of a recording button <NUM>, a call hold button <NUM>, a Bluetooth connection button <NUM>, a speakerphone button <NUM>, a mute button <NUM>, a keypad button <NUM>, and a call end button <NUM>. When a user selects the recording button <NUM> on the call UI <NUM> while the call is ongoing, a call recording function may be executed. When the call recording function is executed, the recording button <NUM> of the call UI <NUM> of the first electronic device <NUM> may be changed to the recording stop button <NUM>, and an item <NUM> (e.g., icon, text information) indicating that the call recording function is being executed may be displayed on the call screen.

According to an embodiment, when the call recording function is started, the first electronic device <NUM> may transmit corresponding information to the second electronic device <NUM>, and the second electronic device <NUM> may display an item indicating that the call is being recorded on the call waiting screen.

<FIG> illustrates screens of the first electronic device <NUM> and the second electronic device <NUM> when switching to a CMC call between the second electronic device <NUM> and the counterpart's electronic device according to a user input on the second electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the call transfer button <NUM> in <FIG>). According to an embodiment, in a state in which a general call is connected to the first electronic device <NUM>, a button for selecting a call connection switch to the second electronic device <NUM> may be provided on the call UI of the first electronic device <NUM>, and the call may be switched to the CMC call of the second electronic device <NUM> according to selection of the corresponding button.

Referring to <FIG>, the second electronic device <NUM> may display a call UI <NUM> according to a call switch. The call UI <NUM> of the second electronic device <NUM> may include at least one of a caller add button <NUM>, a call hold button <NUM>, a Bluetooth connection button <NUM>, a message button <NUM>, a mute button <NUM>, a keypad button <NUM>, and a call end button <NUM>. In addition, because the call recording function was being executed in the first electronic device <NUM> before the call switch, the call recording function on the first electronic device <NUM> may continue even after the call switch, and the second electronic device <NUM> may display an item <NUM> indicating that the call is being recorded.

The first electronic device <NUM> may switch to a call waiting state and display a call waiting screen. The call waiting screen may include a call switch button <NUM> for switching to a general call of the first electronic device <NUM>, and include information <NUM> indicating the call waiting state and an item <NUM> indicating that the call is being recorded.

According to various embodiments, while the general call of the first electronic device <NUM> or the CMC call of the second electronic device <NUM> is in progress, the call applications of the first electronic device <NUM> and the second electronic device <NUM> may be continuously executed and display a call UI corresponding to each situation. When both the general call of the first electronic device <NUM> and the CMC call of the second electronic device <NUM> are terminated, the first electronic device <NUM> and the second electronic device <NUM> may terminate the execution of the call application.

An electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> in <FIG>) according to various embodiments may include a display (e.g., the display <NUM> in <FIG>), a communication module (e.g., the communication module <NUM> in <FIG>), a microphone. (e.g.: the microphone <NUM> of <FIG>), a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM> of <FIG>), and a processor (e.g., the processor <NUM> of <FIG>) operatively connected to the display, the communication module, the microphone, and the memory, and the processor may be configured to perform a call with a first external device (e.g., the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) through the communication module, generate, when a call recording function is started based on a user input, first recording data including user voice data inputted through the microphone and the counterpart's voice data received from the first external device through the communication module, and store the first recording data in the memory, detect a switch of the call with the first external device to a second external device (e.g., the second electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) connected to the electronic device through a call continuity service, and store, in the memory, second recording data including the counterpart's voice data and external voice data received from the second external device through the communication module.

According to various embodiments, the processor may be configured to merge the first recording data and the second recording data and store the merged data in the memory as single file data.

According to various embodiments, the processor, when receiving a call connection request with the first external device, may be configured to transmit information related to the call connection request to the second external device connected by the call continuity service, and the switch of the call with the first external device may be started according to an input on the second external device.

According to various embodiments, the communication module may be configured to receive external voice data received from the second external device through a cellular network or a local area network using an Internet protocol.

According to various embodiments, the processor may be configured to mix user voice data inputted through the microphone and the counterpart's voice data received from the first external device and transmit the mixture to an audio recorder (e.g., the audio recorder <NUM> in <FIG>) by using an audio driver (e.g., the audio driver <NUM> of <FIG>), and generate the first recording data from the mixed data by using the audio recorder.

According to various embodiments, the processor may be configured to mix the counterpart's voice data received from the first external device and the external voice data received from the second external device and transmit the mixture to an IMS recorder (e.g., the IMS recorder <NUM> in <FIG>) by using an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) voice engine (e.g., the IMS voice engine <NUM> in <FIG>), and obtain the second recording data from the mixed data by using the IMS recorder.

According to various embodiments, the processor, when a call switch to the second external device is detected while the call recording function is in progress, may be configured to transmit information indicating that the call recording function is in progress to the second external device.

According to various embodiments, the processor, when a call switch to the second external device is detected while the call recording function is in progress, may be configured to display an item (e.g., the item <NUM> in <FIG>) indicating the call recording function on a screen indicating a call waiting state.

According to various embodiments, the processor may be configured to detect a re-switch of the call with the first external device to the electronic device in a state in which the call with the first external device is switched to the second external device, and generate third recording data including the user voice data and the counterpart's voice data and store the third recording data in the memory.

An electronic device according to various embodiments may include a display, a communication module, a microphone, a memory, and a processor operatively connected to the display, the communication module, the microphone, and the memory, and the processor may be configured to perform a call with a first external device (e.g., the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) through the communication module, generate, when a call recording function is started based on a user input, first recording data including user voice data inputted through the microphone and the counterpart's voice data received from the first external device through the communication module, and store the first recording data in the memory, detect a switch of the call with the first external device to a second external device connected to the electronic device through a call continuity service, transmit the counterpart's voice data to the second external device in response to the detection of the call switch, and receive second recording data including external voice data inputted by the second external device and the counterpart's voice data from the second external device, and store the second recording data in the memory.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a call recording method of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

The illustrated method may be performed by the first electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>, the first electronic device <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG>) described with reference to <FIG>, and description of the technical features described above will be omitted below.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, the first electronic device may perform a call connection with the counterpart's electronic device. When the first electronic device receives the call connection request, information related to the call connection request may be transmitted to the second electronic device, and the first electronic device and the second electronic device may display call connection screens. According to a user input on the call connection screen of the first electronic device, the first electronic device may start a call with the counterpart's electronic device.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, the first electronic device may start a call recording function based on the user input. For example, the first electronic device may start the call recording function when the recording button is selected on the call UI of the call screen (e.g., the call UI <NUM> of <FIG>).

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, the first electronic device may generate user voice data obtained through a microphone and first recording data received from the counterpart's electronic device and store the same in a memory according to the start of the call recording function.

According to various embodiments, when a general call is connected, the first electronic device may mix user voice data inputted through the microphone and the counterpart's voice data received from the second electronic device by using an audio driver, and transmit the mixture to the audio recorder, and generate first recording data from mixed data by using the audio recorder.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, a call switch to the second electronic device may be detected. For example, when a call switch button (e.g., the call switch button <NUM> of <FIG>) is selected on the call waiting screen of the second electronic device, the first electronic device and the second electronic device may switch to a CMC call. When switching to the CMC call, the electronic device may operate in a call waiting state, and even in the call waiting state, the first electronic device may perform a function of maintaining the call connection with the counterpart's electronic device and relaying data transmitted and received between the counterpart's electronic device and the second electronic device.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, the first electronic device may continue to perform the recording function, obtain second recording data including external voice data received from the second electronic device and other party's voice data received from the counterpart's electronic device, and store the second recording data in the memory.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, the first electronic device may perform operation <NUM> when the call switching to the second electronic device is not detected.

According to various embodiments, when switching to the CMC call, the first electronic device may mix the counterpart's voice data received from the counterpart's electronic device and external voice data received from the second electronic device by using the IMS voice engine. The voice engine may transmit the mixed data to the IMS recorder, and the IMS recorder may process and store the recording data in the memory.

In this way, unlike recording of general calls, when recording CMC calls, the electronic device may mix and process recording data by using a framework-level IMS voice engine and an IMS recorder without using a kernel-level audio driver.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, the first electronic device may detect re-switch of the call to the first electronic device.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, when re-switching to the general call of the first electronic device, the first electronic device may continue to perform the recording function and store third recording data including user voice data and other party's voice data.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, the first electronic device may perform operation <NUM> when the call is not switched to the first electronic device.

According to various embodiments, in operation <NUM>, the first electronic device may merge the recorded first recording data, the second recording data, and the third recording data and store them as single file data in the memory.

A call recording method of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> in <FIG>) according to various embodiments may include performing a call with a first external device (e.g., the counterpart's electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>), generating, when a call recording function is started based on a user input, first recording data including user voice data inputted through a microphone of the electronic device and the counterpart's voice data received from the first external device, and store the first recording data in the memory (e.g., the memory <NUM> of <FIG>), detecting a switch of the call with the first external device to a second external device (e.g., the second electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) connected to the electronic device through a call continuity service, and storing, in the memory, second recording data including the counterpart's voice data and external voice data received from the second external device.

According to various embodiments, merging the first recording data and the second recording data and storing the merged data in the memory as single file data may be further included.

According to various embodiments, transmitting, when receiving a call connection request with the first external device, information related to the call connection request to the second external device connected by the call continuity service may be further included, and the switch of the call with the first external device may be started according to an input on the second external device.

According to various embodiments, receiving external voice data received from the second external device through a cellular network or a local area network using an Internet protocol may be further included.

According to various embodiments, generating the first recording data may include mixing user voice data inputted through the microphone and the counterpart's voice data received from the first external device and transmit the mixture to an audio recorder by using an audio driver, and generating the first recording data from the mixed data by using the audio recorder.

According to various embodiments, the storing the second recording data may include mixing the counterpart's voice data received from the first external device and external voice data received from the second external device by using an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) voice engine, and obtaining the second recording data from the mixed data by using the IMS recorder.

According to various embodiments, transmitting information indicating that the call recording function is in progress to the second external device when a call switch to the second external device is detected while the call recording function is in progress may be further included.

According to various embodiments, displaying an item indicating the call recording function on a screen indicating a call waiting state when a call switch to the second external device is detected while the call recording function is in progress may be further included.

Claim 1:
An electronic device comprising:
a display (<NUM>);
a communication module (<NUM>);
a microphone (<NUM>);
a memory (<NUM>); and
a processor (<NUM>) operatively connected to the display, the communication module, the microphone, and the memory,
wherein the processor is configured to:
perform a call between the electronic device and a first external device through the communication module;
generate, in a case that a call recording function is started based on a user input, first recording data including user voice data inputted through the microphone and counterpart's voice data received from the first external device through the communication module, and store the first recording data in the memory;
characterised in that the processor is further configured to:
detect a switch of the call with the first external device from the electronic device to a second external device connected to the electronic device through a call continuity service; and
when a switched call is performed between the first external device and the second external device:
transmit, using the communication module, external voice data received from the second electronic device to the first external device; and
store, in the memory, second recording data including the counterpart's voice data and the external voice data received from the second external device.