Patent ID: 8886252

Claim:
An apparatus for changing an operating mode of a mobile device, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a form factor suitable for hand-held use, wherein the housing has a front face and a back face; a call notification component contained in the housing configured to provide an incoming call notification in response to an incoming telephone call from a wireless network, wherein the incoming call notification comprises an audible component; one or more sensor components contained in the housing configured to provide information associated with the physical environment of the mobile device, wherein the one or more sensor components comprises a G sensor configured to provide positioning information associated with a position of the mobile device; a memory contained in the housing; and a processor contained in the housing and coupled among the call notification component, the one or more sensor components, and the memory; wherein the processor is configured to execute various components, wherein the components comprise: a sensor monitor component configured to: monitor, while the telephone call is incoming, the one or more sensor components to detect an object placed in proximity to the front face of the mobile device, and determine based on a set of positioning information whether the orientation of the mobile device is in a face-up state, wherein the face-up state exists when the front face of the mobile device is facing in a upward direction; and a mode control component configured to change the operating mode of the mobile device based on the detection of the object placed in proximity to the front face of the mobile device and determining that the orientation of the mobile device is in the face-up state, wherein changing the operating mode of the mobile device comprises changing at least the level of the audible component of the incoming call notification prior to the conclusion of the incoming call notification.