Patent ID: 8909200

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: an alert device; an optical input device; and a controller coupled to the alert device and the optical input device; wherein the controller is configured to send an alert via the alert device in response to incoming calls; wherein the controller is configured to recognize whether a face is detected by the optical input device; wherein the controller is configured to determine a proximity of the face to the camera; wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the face is within a predefined proximity to the camera; wherein the controller is configured to discontinue the alert responsive to determining that the face is being detected by the optical input device and is within the predefined proximity; wherein the controller answers calls responsive to detecting a head nodding in a first direction; wherein the controller diverts calls to voice mail responsive to detecting the head nodding in a second direction; and wherein the controller discontinues the alert responsive to detection of a face from data received from the optical input device and detecting head nodding in the second direction.