PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8090087-B2
Application Number: US-55342906-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Method, system, and graphical user interface for making conference calls

Abstract:
A user interface for handling multiple calls includes displaying an image associated with a first party on a first call and an image associated with a second party on a second call. When one call is active and the other call is on hold, the image associated with the party that is on the active call is visually highlighted to make it more visually prominent relative to the other image. When both calls are joined into a conference call, both images are displayed adjacent to each other and neither is visually highlighted relative to the other.

Claims:
1. A method, comprising:
 at a portable communications device: 
 establishing a first communication link between a first party and a user in response to a first action by the user; 
 displaying a first image corresponding to the first party at an intensity that is greater than a threshold; 
 while the first communication link is ongoing, establishing a second communication link between a second party and the user in response to a second action by the user; 
 switching the user from the first communication link to the second communication link; 
 while continuing to display the first image, displaying a second image corresponding to the second party with a visible gap between the first image and the second image; 
 visually highlighting the second image so as to facilitate visual differentiation of the first and second images, wherein visually highlighting comprises displaying the second image at an intensity that is greater than the threshold, and modifying the intensity of the first image to be less than the threshold; and, 
 in response to a third action by the user:
 establishing a common communication link between the first party, the second party and the user; 
 displaying the first image and the second image at a same intensity; and 
 reducing or eliminating the visible gap between the first image and the second image. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A method, comprising:
 at a portable communications device: 
 establishing a first communication link between a first party and a user in response to a first action by the user; 
 displaying a first image corresponding to the first party at an intensity that is greater than a threshold; 
 while the first communication link is ongoing, establishing a second communication link between a second party and the user in response to a second action by the user; 
 switching the user from the first communication link to the second communication link; 
 while continuing to display the first image, displaying a second image corresponding to the second party with a visible gap between the first image and the second image; 
 visually highlighting the second image so as to facilitate visual differentiation of the first and second images; 
 switching the user from the second communication link to the first communication link; 
 modifying the intensity of the first image to be greater than the threshold; 
 modifying the intensity of the second image to be less than the threshold; 
 in response to a third action by the user:
 establishing a common communication link between the first party, the second party and the user; 
 displaying the first image and the second image at a same intensity; and 
 reducing or eliminating the visible gap between the first image and the second image. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first image includes information corresponding to the first party. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first image includes a stream of video images of the first party. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second image includes information corresponding to the second party. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second image includes a stream of video images of the second party. 
     
     
       7. A graphical user interface on a portable communications device with a display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute a program stored in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising:
 a first image corresponding to a first party that is communicating with a device; and 
 a second image corresponding to a second party that is communicating with the device, with a visible gap between the first image and the second image, 
 wherein the first image has an intensity greater than a threshold and the second image has an intensity less than the threshold when a user of a device is communicating with the first party, wherein the first image has an intensity less than the threshold and the second image has an intensity greater than the threshold when the user is communicating with the second party, and wherein the first image has an intensity that is greater than the threshold and the second image has an intensity greater than the threshold when the user is communicating through a common link between the first party, the second party and the user; 
 and wherein, in response to an action by the user;
 a common communication link is established between the first party, the second party, and the user; 
 the first image and the second image are displayed at a same intensity; and 
 the visible gap between first image and the second image is reduced or eliminated. 
 
 
     
     
       8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable communications device, cause the portable communications device to perform a method comprising:
 establishing a first communication link between a first party and a user in response to a first action by the user; 
 displaying a first image corresponding to the first party at an intensity that is greater than a threshold; 
 establishing a second communication link, while the first communication link is ongoing, between a second party and the user in response to a second action by the user; 
 switching the user from the first communication link to the second communication link; 
 displaying a second image corresponding to the second party while continuing to display the first image with a visible gap between the first image and the second image; 
 visually highlighting the second image so as to facilitate visual differentiation of the first and second images, wherein visually highlighting comprises displaying the second image at an intensity that is greater than the threshold, and modifying the intensity of the first image to be less than the threshold; and, 
 in response to a third action by the user:
 establishing a common communication link between the first party, the second party and the user; 
 displaying the first image and the second image at a same intensity; and 
 reducing or eliminating the visible gap between the first image and the second image. 
 
 
     
     
       9. A portable communications device, comprising:
 a display; 
 one or more processors; 
 memory; and 
 a program, wherein the program is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the program including instructions for:
 establishing a first communication link between a first party and a user in response to a first action by the user; 
 displaying a first image corresponding to the first party at an intensity that is greater than a threshold; 
 establishing a second communication link, while the first communication link is ongoing, between a second party and the user in response to a second action by the user; 
 switching the user from the first communication link to the second communication link; 
 displaying a second image corresponding to the second party while continuing to display the first image with a visible gap between the first image and the second image; 
 visually highlighting the second image so as to facilitate visual differentiation of the first and second images, wherein visually highlighting comprises displaying the second image at an intensity that is greater than the threshold, and modifying the intensity of the first image to be less than the threshold; 
 in response to a third action by the user: 
 displaying the first image and the second image at a same intensity; and 
 reducing or eliminating the visible gap between the first image and the second image. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the first image includes a stream of video images of the first party. 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the second image includes a stream of video images of the second party. 
     
     
       12. The portable communications device of  claim 9 , wherein the first image includes a stream of video images of the first party. 
     
     
       13. The portable communications device of  claim 9 , wherein the second image includes a stream of video images of the second party. 
     
     
       14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable communications device, cause the portable communications device to perform a method comprising:
 establishing a first communication link between a first party and a user in response to a first action by the user; 
 displaying a first image corresponding to the first party at an intensity that is greater than a threshold; 
 establishing a second communication link, while the first communication link is ongoing, between a second party and the user in response to a second action by the user; 
 switching the user from the first communication link to the second communication link; 
 displaying a second image corresponding to the second party while continuing to display the first image with a visible gap between the first image and the second image; 
 visually highlighting the second image so as to facilitate visual differentiation of the first and second images; 
 switching the user from the second communication link to the first communication link; 
 modifying the intensity of the first image to be greater than the threshold; 
 modifying the intensity of the second image to be less than the threshold; 
 in response to a third action by the user:
 establishing a common communication link between the first party, the second party and the user; 
 displaying the first image and the second image at a same intensity; and 
 reducing or eliminating the visible gap between the first image and the second image. 
 
 
     
     
       15. A portable communications device, comprising:
 a display; 
 one or more processors; 
 memory; and 
 a program, wherein the program is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the program including instructions for:
 establishing a first communication link between a first party and a user in response to a first action by the user; 
 displaying a first image corresponding to the first party at an intensity that is greater than a threshold; 
 establishing a second communication link, while the first communication link is ongoing, between a second party and the user in response to a second action by the user; 
 switching the user from the first communication link to the second communication link; 
 displaying a second image corresponding to the second party while continuing to display the first image with a visible gap between the first image and the second image; 
 visually highlighting the second image so as to facilitate visual differentiation of the first and second images; 
 
 switching the user from the second communication link to the first communication link; 
 modifying the intensity of the first image to be greater than the threshold; 
 modifying the intensity of the second image to be less than the threshold; 
 in response to a third action by the user:
 establishing a common communication link between the first party, the second party and the user; 
 displaying the first image and the second image at a same intensity; and 
 
 reducing or eliminating the visible gap between the first image and the second image. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first image includes information corresponding to the first party. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first image includes a stream of video images of the first party. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second image includes information corresponding to the second party. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second image includes a stream of video images of the second party. 
     
     
       20. The graphical user interface of  claim 7 , wherein the first image includes information corresponding to the first party. 
     
     
       21. The graphical user interface of  claim 7 , wherein the first image includes a stream of video images of the first party. 
     
     
       22. The graphical user interface of  claim 7 , wherein the second image includes information corresponding to the second party. 
     
     
       23. The graphical user interface of  claim 7 , wherein the second image includes a stream of video images of the second party. 
     
     
       24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the first image includes information corresponding to the first party. 
     
     
       25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the second image includes information corresponding to the second party. 
     
     
       26. The portable communications device of  claim 9 , wherein the first image includes information corresponding to the first party. 
     
     
       27. The portable communications device of  claim 9 , wherein the second image includes information corresponding to the second party. 
     
     
       28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the first image includes information corresponding to the first party. 
     
     
       29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the first image includes a stream of video images of the first party. 
     
     
       30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the second image includes information corresponding to the second party. 
     
     
       31. non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the second image includes a stream of video images of the second party. 
     
     
       32. The portable communications device of  claim 15 , wherein the first image includes information corresponding to the first party. 
     
     
       33. The portable communications device of  claim 15 , wherein the first image includes a stream of video images of the first party. 
     
     
       34. The portable communications device of  claim 15 , wherein the second image includes information corresponding to the second party. 
     
     
       35. The portable communications device of  claim 15 , wherein the second image includes a stream of video images of the second party.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosed embodiments relate generally to user interfaces, and more particularly, to a user interface for call waiting and conference calls. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As portable devices become more compact, and the amount of information to be processed and stored increases, it has become a significant challenge to design a user interface that allows users to easily interact with the device. This is unfortunate since the user interface is the gateway through which users receive not only content but also responses to user actions or behaviors, including user attempts to access a device&#39;s features or tools. Some portable communication devices (e.g., mobile phones) have resorted to adding more pushbuttons, increasing the density of push buttons, overloading the functions of pushbuttons, or using complex menu systems to allow a user to access, store and manipulate data. These conventional user interfaces often result in complicated key sequences and menu hierarchies that must be memorized by the user. In addition, as the number of pushbuttons has increased, the proximity of neighboring buttons often makes it difficult for users to activate a desired pushbutton. 
     Many conventional user interfaces, such as those that include physical pushbuttons, are also inflexible. This is unfortunate because it may prevent a user interface from being configured and/or adapted by either an application running on the portable device or by users. When coupled with the time consuming requirement to memorize multiple key sequences and menu hierarchies, and the difficulty in activating a desired pushbutton, such inflexibility is frustrating to most users. 
     The interfaces for call waiting and conference calling that are currently available suffer the same shortcomings. Users are often at a loss as to the sequence of buttons to push in order to switch between calls or to make a conference call. Furthermore, the interface often does not convey intuitively the parties involved in the calls. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for more efficient interfaces for call waiting and conference calling. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a method includes establishing a first communication link between a first party and a user in response to a first action by the user, and displaying a first image corresponding to the first party at an intensity that is greater than a threshold. The method also includes establishing a second communication link between a second party and the user in response to a second action by the user while the first communication link is ongoing, and switching the user from the first communication link to the second communication link. The method further includes displaying a second image corresponding to the second party while continuing to display the first image, and visually highlighting the second image so as to facilitate visual differentiation of the first and second images. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface includes a first image corresponding to a first party that is communicating with a device, and a second image corresponding to a second party that is communicating with the device. When a user of a device is communicating with the first party, the first image has an intensity greater than a threshold and the second image has an intensity less than the threshold. When the user is communicating with the second party, the first image has an intensity less than the threshold and the second image has an intensity greater than the threshold. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, there is a computer program product for use in conjunction with a portable communications device. The computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein. The computer program mechanism includes instructions for establishing a first communication link between a first party and a user in response to a first action by the user; instructions for displaying a first image corresponding to the first party at an intensity that is greater than a threshold; instructions for establishing a second communication link, while the first communication link is ongoing, between a second party and the user in response to a second action by the user; instructions for switching the user from the first communication link to the second communication link; instructions for displaying a second image corresponding to the second party while continuing to display the first image; and instructions for visually highlighting the second image so as to facilitate visual differentiation of the first and second images. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a portable communications device includes a display, one or more processors, memory, and a program, wherein the program is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors. The program includes instructions for establishing a first communication link between a first party and a user in response to a first action by the user; instructions for displaying a first image corresponding to the first party at an intensity that is greater than a threshold; instructions for establishing a second communication link, while the first communication link is ongoing, between a second party and the user in response to a second action by the user; instructions for switching the user from the first communication link to the second communication link; instructions for displaying a second image corresponding to the second party while continuing to display the first image; and instructions for visually highlighting the second image so as to facilitate visual differentiation of the first and second images. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a portable communications device includes display means, one or more processor means, memory means, and a program mechanism, wherein the program mechanism is stored in the memory means and configured to be executed by the one or more processors means. The program mechanism includes instructions for establishing a first communication link between a first party and a user in response to a first action by the user; instructions for displaying a first image corresponding to the first party at an intensity that is greater than a threshold; instructions for establishing a second communication link, while the first communication link is ongoing, between a second party and the user in response to a second action by the user; instructions for switching the user from the first communication link to the second communication link; instructions for displaying a second image corresponding to the second party while continuing to display the first image; and instructions for visually highlighting the second image so as to facilitate visual differentiation of the first and second images. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the aforementioned embodiments of the invention as well as additional embodiments thereof, reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a portable communications device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a portable communications device having a click wheel input device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating a process of displaying a graphical user interface for conveying information regarding multiple callers to a user in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 4A-4F  illustrate exemplary graphical user interfaces for conveying information regarding multiple callers in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. 
     Embodiments of user interfaces and associated processes for using a device are described. In some embodiments, the device is a portable communications device. The user interface may include a click wheel and/or touch screen. A click wheel is a physical user-interface device that may provide navigation commands based on an angular displacement of the wheel or a point of contact with the wheel by a user of the device. A click wheel may also be used to provide a user command corresponding to selection of one or more items, for example, when the user of the device presses down on at least a portion of the wheel or the center of the wheel. For simplicity, in the discussion that follows, a portable communications device (e.g., a cellular telephone that may also contain other functions, such as PDA and music player functions) that includes a click wheel is used as an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood, however, that the user interfaces and associated processes may be applied to other devices, such as personal computers and laptops, that may include one or more other physical user-interface devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick. 
     The device may support a variety of applications, such as telephone, text messenger and a music player. The music player may be compatible with one or more file formats, such as MP3 and/or AAC. In an exemplary embodiment, the device includes an iPod music player (trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.). 
     The various applications that may be executed on the device may use at least one common physical user-interface device, such as the click wheel. One or more functions of the click wheel as well as corresponding information displayed on the device may be adjusted and/or varied from one application to the next and/or within a respective application. In this way, a common physical architecture (such as the click wheel) of the device may support the variety of applications with user interfaces that are intuitive and transparent. 
     Attention is now directed towards embodiments of the device.  FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an architecture for a portable communication device  100 , according to some embodiments of the invention. The device  100  may include a memory  102  (which may include one or more computer readable storage mediums), a memory controller  122 , one or more processing units (CPU&#39;s)  120 , a peripherals interface  118 , RF circuitry  108 , audio circuitry  110 , a speaker  111 , a microphone  113 , an input/output (I/O) subsystem  106 , a display system  112  (which may include a touch screen), a click wheel  114 , other input or control devices  116 , and an external port  124 . The device  100  may optionally include optical sensors  164 . These components may communicate over one or more communication buses or signal lines  103 . The device  100  may be any portable electronic device, including but not limited to a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a media player, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like, including a combination of two or more of these items, provided the device includes voice communication capabilities (e.g., telephony). In other embodiments, the device  100  may not be portable, such as a desktop personal computer. 
     It should be appreciated that the device  100  is only one example of a portable communications device  100 , and that the device  100  may have more or fewer components than shown, may combine two or more components, or a may have a different configuration or arrangement of the components. The various components shown in  FIG. 1  may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of both hardware and software, including one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits. 
     Memory  102  may include high speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state memory devices. In some embodiments, memory  102  may further include storage remotely located from the one or more processors  120 , for instance network attached storage accessed via the RF circuitry  108  or the external port  124  and a communications network (not shown) such as the Internet, intranet(s), Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Local Area Networks (WLANs), Storage Area Networks (SANs) and the like, or any suitable combination thereof. Access to memory  102  by other components of the device  100 , such as the CPU  120  and the peripherals interface  118 , may be controlled by the memory controller  122 . 
     The peripherals interface  118  couples the input and output peripherals of the device to the CPU  120  and memory  102 . The one or more processors  120  run or execute various software programs and/or sets of instructions stored in memory  102  to perform various functions for the device  100  and to process data. 
     In some embodiments, the peripherals interface  118 , the CPU  120 , and the memory controller  122  may be implemented on a single chip, such as a chip  104 . In some other embodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips. 
     The RF (radio frequency) circuitry  108  receives and sends RF signals, also called electromagnetic signals. The RF circuitry  108  converts electrical signals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates with communications networks and other communications devices via the electromagnetic signals. The RF circuitry  108  may include well-known circuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited to an antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. The RF circuitry  108  may communicate with networks, such as the Internet, also referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranet and/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and other devices by wireless communication. The wireless communication may use any of a plurality of communications standards, protocols and technologies, including but not limited to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocol for email, instant messaging, and/or Short Message Service (SMS)), or any other suitable communication protocol, including communication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of this document. 
     The audio circuitry  110 , the speaker  111 , and the microphone  113  provide an audio interface between a user and the device  100 . The audio circuitry  110  receives audio data from the peripherals interface  118 , converts the audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to the speaker  111 . The speaker  111  converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves. The audio circuitry  110  also receives electrical signals converted by the microphone  113  from sound waves. The audio circuitry  110  converts the electrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data to the peripherals interface  118  for processing. Audio data may be retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory  102  and/or the RF circuitry  108  by the peripherals interface  118 . In some embodiments, the audio circuitry  110  also includes a headset jack (not shown). The headset jack provides an interface between the audio circuitry  110  and removable audio input/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headset with both output (e.g., headphone for one or both ears) and input (e.g., microphone). 
     The I/O subsystem  106  couples input/output peripherals on the device  100 , such as the display system  112 , the click wheel  114  and other input/control devices  116 , to the peripherals interface  118 . The I/O subsystem  106  may include a display controller  156 , a click wheel controller  158  and one or more input controllers  160  for other input or control devices. The one or more input controllers  160  receive/send electrical signals from/to other input or control devices  160 . The other input/control devices  160  may include physical buttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, joysticks, and so forth. 
     The display system  112  provides an output interface and/or an input interface between the device and a user. The display controller  156  receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to the display system  112 . The display system  112  displays visual output to the user. The visual output may include text, icons, graphics, video, and any combination thereof. In some embodiments, some or all of the visual output may correspond to user-interface objects, further details of which are described below. 
     In some embodiments, such as those that include a touch screen, the display system  112  also accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact. In embodiments with a touch screen, the display system  112  forms a touch-sensitive surface that accepts user input. In these embodiments, the display system  112  and the display controller  156  (along with any associated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory  102 ) detect contact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on the display system  112  and converts the detected contact into interaction with user-interface objects, such as one or more soft keys, that are displayed on a touch screen. In an exemplary embodiment, a point of contact between a touch screen in the display system  112  and the user corresponds to one or more digits of the user. 
     In embodiments with a touch screen, the touch screen in the display system  112  may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, or LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, although other display technologies may be used in other embodiments. A touch screen in the display system  112  and the display controller  156  may detect contact and any movement or breaking thereof using any of a plurality of touch sensing technologies, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contact with a touch screen in the display system  112 . A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of the display system  112  may be analogous to the multi-touch sensitive tablets described in the following U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,846 (Westerman et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,557 (Westerman et al.), and/or U.S. Pat. No. 6,677,932 (Westerman), and/or U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0015024A1, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. However, a touch screen in the display system  112  displays visual output from the portable device  100 , whereas touch sensitive tablets do not provide visual output. The touch screen in the display system  112  may have a resolution in excess of 100 dpi. In an exemplary embodiment, the touch screen in the display system has a resolution of approximately 168 dpi. The user may make contact with the touch screen in the display system  112  using any suitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a digit, and so forth. 
     In some embodiments, in addition to touch screen, the device  100  may include a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivating particular functions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, does not display visual output. The touchpad may be a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the touch screen in the display system  112  or an extension of the touch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen. 
     The device  100  may include a click wheel  114 . A user may navigate among one or more graphical objects (henceforth referred to as icons) displayed in the display system  112  by rotating the click wheel  114  or by moving (e.g., angular displacement) a point of contact with the click wheel  114 . The click wheel  114  may also be used to select one or more of the displayed icons. For example, the user may press down on at least a portion of the click wheel  114  or an associated physical button. User commands and navigation commands provided by the user via the click wheel  114  may be processed by the click wheel controller  158  as well as one or more of the modules and/or sets of instructions in memory  102 . 
     The device  100  also includes a power system  162  for powering the various components. The power system  162  may include a power management system, one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), a recharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converter or inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED)) and any other components associated with the generation, management and distribution of power in portable devices. 
     The device  100  may also include one or more optical sensors  164 . The optical sensor  164  may include charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) phototransistors. The optical sensor  164  receives light from the environment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the light to data representing an image. In conjunction with an imaging module  142 , the optical sensor  164  may capture still images or video. 
     In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory  102  may include an operating system  126 , a communication module (or set of instructions)  128 , a contact/motion module (or set of instructions)  130 , a graphics module (or set of instructions)  132 , and one or more applications (or set of instructions)  136 . The applications module  136  may include a telephone module (or set of instructions)  138 , an address book module (or set of instructions)  140  and/or an imaging module (or set of instructions)  142 . 
     The operating system  126  (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes various software components and/or drivers for controlling and managing general system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, power management, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardware and software components. 
     The communication module  128  facilitates communication with other devices over one or more external ports  124  and also includes various software components for handling data received by the RF circuitry  108  and/or the external port  124 . The external port  124  (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices or indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). 
     The contact/motion module  130  may detect contact with the click wheel  114  and/or a touch screen in the display system  112  (in conjunction with the display controller  156 ). The contact/motion module  130  includes various software components for performing various operations related to detection of contact, such as determining if contact has occurred, determining if there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across the click wheel  114  and/or a touch screen in the display system  112 , and determining if the contact has been broken (i.e., if the contact has ceased). Determining movement of the point of contact may include determining speed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction), and/or an acceleration (a change in magnitude and/or direction) of the point of contact. In some embodiments, the contact/motion module  130  and the display controller  156  also detects contact on a touchpad. 
     The graphics module  132  includes various known software components for rendering and displaying graphics on the display system  112 , including components for changing the intensity of graphics that are displayed. Note that the term “graphics” includes any object that can be displayed to a user, including without limitation text, web pages, icons (such as user-interface objects including soft keys), digital images, videos, animations and the like. 
     In addition to the telephone module  138 , the address book module  140  and/or the imaging module  142 , the one or more applications  136  may include any applications installed on the device  100 , including without limitation, a browser, email, instant messaging, text messaging, word processing, keyboard emulation, widgets, JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voice recognition, voice replication, location determination capability (such as that provided by the Global Positioning System (GPS)), etc. 
     In conjunction with the RF circuitry  108 , the audio circuitry  110 , the speaker  111 , the microphone  113 , the display system  112 , the display controller  156 , the click wheel  114  and/or the click wheel controller  158 , the telephone module  138  may be used to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to a telephone number, access one or more telephone numbers in the address book  144 , modify a telephone number that has been entered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct a conversation and disconnect or hang up when the conversation is completed. The telephone module  138  may also be used to receive a second call while a first call is already ongoing, without disconnecting the first call, or conduct a conference call. 
     In conjunction with the display system  112 , the display controller  156 , the click wheel  114  and/or the click wheel controller  158 , the address book module  140  may be used to manage an address book or contact list  144 , including adding a name to the address book  144 , deleting a name from the address book  144 , associating a phone number or other information with a name, associating an image with a name, categorizing and sorting names, and so forth. 
     In conjunction with the display system  112 , the display controller  156 , the click wheel  114 , the click wheel controller  158 , and the optical sensor(s)  164 , the imaging module may be used to capture still images or video (including a video stream)  146  and store them into memory  102 , modify characteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image or video from memory  102 . 
     In some embodiments, the device  100  is a device where operation of a predefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusively through a touch screen in the display system  112  and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/or a touchpad as the primary input/control device for operation of the device  100 , the number of physical input/control devices (such as push buttons, dials, and the like) on the device  100  may be reduced. In one embodiment, the device  100  includes a touch screen, a touchpad, a push button for powering the device on/off and locking the device, a volume adjustment rocker button and a slider switch for toggling ringer profiles. The push button may be used to turn the power on/off on the device by depressing the button and holding the button in the depressed state for a predefined time interval, or may be used to lock the device by depressing the button and releasing the button before the predefined time interval has elapsed. In an alternative embodiment, the device  100  also may accept verbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions through the microphone  113 . 
     The predefined set of functions that may be performed exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad include navigation between user interfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by the user, navigates the device  100  to a main, home, or root menu from any user interface that may be displayed on the device  100 . In such embodiments, the touchpad may be referred to as a “menu button.” In some other embodiments, the menu button may be a physical push button or other physical input/control device instead of a touchpad. 
     In some embodiments, the device  100  is a device where operation of a predefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusively or primarily through the click wheel  114 . By using the click wheel  114  as the primary input/control device for operation of the device  100 , the number of other physical input/control devices (such as push buttons, dials, and the like) on the device  100  may be reduced. 
     Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces and associated processes that may be implemented on a portable communications device  200 .  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a portable communication device  200 . The device  200  includes a click wheel  210  and a display  212 . The click wheel constitutes a physical interface for receiving user commands (such as selection of one of more items and/or icons that are displayed on the display  212 ) and/or navigation commands (which may, for example, control scrolling through the items and/or icons that are displayed on the display  212 ). The user may use the click wheel  210  by touching it (making a point of contact) and then moving the point of contact while maintaining contact. Such angular displacement may indicate a navigation command to scroll through the items and/or icons that are displayed on the display  212 . By pressing down on the click wheel  210 , or on a click wheel button  208  (e.g., at the center of the click wheel), the user may select one or more items and/or icons that are displayed on the display  212 . Thus, a pressing down gesture may indicate a user command corresponding to selection. 
     The device  200  may display a menu or hierarchy of the applications that may be executed or run on the device  200 . For example, the displayed menu or hierarchy for the applications may include ‘Favorites’ for popular applications for this user, ‘Recent’ for calls that have been made, answered, and/or missed within a first pre-determined time period (such as the last day, week or month), ‘Contacts’ (which corresponds to the address book  144  in  FIG. 1 ), ‘Dial’ (which corresponds to the telephone module  138  in  FIG. 1 ) and ‘SMS’. The menu or hierarchy may also include ‘Music’, ‘Extras’, ‘Settings’ and ‘Now playing’ icons (not shown in the Figures) that correspond to a music player module. The display  212  may also convey other information, such as an icon that indicates a remaining stored power level for the device  200 . 
     Attention is now directed toward  FIG. 3 , a flow diagram illustrating a process  300  of displaying a graphical user interface for conveying information regarding multiple telephone call participants (which may include calling parties as well as called parties) in accordance with some embodiments. A first communication link is established between the user of the device and a first party ( 302 ). The first communication link (e.g., a first phone call) is established in response to a first action by the user. The first action may be the user accepting an incoming call from the first party, or the user making an outgoing call that is directed to and accepted by the first party. After the first communication link is established, information corresponding to the first party is displayed on the display of the device ( 304 ). The information is displayed at an intensity that is above a predefined intensity threshold. In some embodiments, the intensity at which the information is displayed is perceived by users as a fading effect or lack thereof. For example, a lower intensity (below the predefined intensity threshold) is perceived as a fading or translucence of the information on the display, and a higher intensity (above the predefined intensity threshold) is perceived as the opposite. 
     In some embodiments, the displayed information corresponding to the first party includes a picture associated with the first party. That picture may be a picture of the first party, or some other image that is associated with the first party. The picture may be retrieved from memory  102  ( FIG. 1 ) associated with the device, where the picture is stored. In some embodiments, the first party is associated with a picture in an address book or contacts list  144  of the user device. In some other embodiments, the information may include a real-time video of an area in the vicinity of the first party, as captured by an optical sensor of a device associated with the first party and streamed by the first party device to the user device. If there is no picture or video stream associated with the first party, and if the phone number of the first party is associated with a name in the address book  144 , the information displayed may include a name of the first party,. The information may otherwise include a phone number of the first party and an elapsed time of the first communication link. 
     While the first communication link is still ongoing, a second communication link is established between the user of the device and a second party ( 306 ). The second communication link (e.g., a second phone call) is established in response to a second action by the user. The second action may be the user accepting an incoming call from the second party, or the user making an outgoing call that is directed to and accepted by the second party. Upon establishing the second communication link, the user is switched away from the first communication link to the second communication link; the first communication link is put on hold. 
     After the second communication link is established, information corresponding to the second party is displayed on the display of the device ( 308 ). The second party information may be displayed while the first party information is still displayed on the display. Additionally, the information corresponding to the second party is visually highlighted. Similar to the information corresponding to the first party, the information corresponding to the second party may include a picture or video stream associated with the second party. If there is no picture or video stream associated with the second party, then the information displayed on the device may include a name of the second party. The information may otherwise include the phone number of the second party and an elapsed time of the second communications link. In some embodiments, there is a visible gap between the displayed information corresponding to the second party and the displayed information corresponding to the first party. The visual gap indicates that the first and second parties are on separate communication links. 
     The visual highlighting facilitates visual differentiation or disambiguation between the information corresponding to the first party and information corresponding to the second party. More particularly, the information corresponding to the second party is made visually more prominent than the information corresponding to the first party, as an indication that the second party is communicating with the user on an active communication link and the first party is on a communication link that is on hold. In some embodiments, the visual highlighting includes displaying the second party information at an intensity that is greater than the intensity of the displayed first party information. For example, the first party information may be displayed at an intensity less than the threshold and the second party information may be displayed at an intensity greater than the threshold. In some embodiments, the visual highlighting may include increasing the brightness, color, intensity, or thickness of a periphery around the second party information (e.g., turning the same periphery into a white color). 
     The user may want to return to communicating with the first party on the first communications link but without terminating the second communications link. The user may activate a call switching operation on the device, and the user is switched from the second link to the first link. After the switch, the visual highlighting of the information corresponding to the first and second parties is reversed; the first party information is visually highlighted relative to the second party information. For example, the first party information may be displayed at an intensity higher than the threshold and the second party information may be displayed at an intensity less than the threshold. The visual highlighting of the first party information provides an indication that the first party on the active first communication link is active and that the second party on the second communications link is on hold. 
     A common communication link may be established between the first party, the second party, and the user ( 310 ). The common communication link (e.g., a conference call) is established in response to a third action by the user. For example, the third action may be the user activation of a conference call operation on the device. The common link may be established by joining the first and second communication links into one communication link. 
     After the common communication link is established, the information corresponding to the first and second parties are displayed at the same time without visually highlighting one relative to the other ( 312 ). The information corresponding to the first and second parties are displayed together without making one more visually prominent than the other. For example, both the first party information and the second party information may be displayed at the same intensity. The absence of visual highlighting indicates to the user that both the first and second parties are communicating with the user on the same common communication link. In some embodiments, the first party information and the second party information are displayed adjacent to each other. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the information is displayed such that a periphery of the first party information is in contact with a periphery of the second party information, to further emphasize that both the first and second parties are communicating with the user on the same common communication link. 
     The user may wish to end the common communication link and communicate with the parties of the common communication link in separate communication links. That is, the user may wish to break up the conference call into separate calls with each of the parties. The user may select an option on the device to end the common communication link, establish first and second communication links with the first and second parties, respectively, and make one of the two links active while putting the other on hold. The information corresponding to the party on the active communication link is visually highlighted relative to the other, as described above. 
     In some embodiments, while the first communication link is ongoing, a second communication link may be joined with the first link into a common communication link without first switching to the second link and putting the first link on hold. That is, a common communication link may be established without first having both an active communication link and an on-hold communication link. In this case, the second party information need not be displayed and visually highlighted first before displaying both the first and second party information together without visually highlighting one relative to the other. 
     Attention is now directed to  FIGS. 4A-4F , which are exemplary graphical user interfaces for conveying information regarding multiple callers in accordance with some embodiments. In  FIG. 4A , the portable communications device  200  is displaying on the display  212  a graphical user interface (GUI) for accepting a call. The GUI includes a prompt  402  indicating a first incoming call from a first caller (hereinafter “Caller  1 ”) and a prompt to accept or decline the call. 
     The GUI also includes an instructional image  404 . The instructional image  404  includes a virtual representation of the click wheel  210  and the click wheel button  208 . The instructional image  404  also includes icons, such as an accept call icon  406  and a decline/end call icon  408 , displayed on particular positions on the instructional image  404 . An icon represents a particular operation that may be activated by the user via the click wheel  210  or the click wheel button  208 . The positions on the instructional image  404  on which the icons are displayed corresponds to positions on the click wheel  210  or click wheel button  208 . The user activates an operation represented by an icon by pressing or making contact with the click wheel  210  or click wheel button  208  on the position corresponding to the position on the instructional image  404  where the icon is displayed. For example, the accept call icon  406  is displayed on the west position on the click wheel representation of the instructional image  404 . Thus, if the user wishes to accept the incoming call as indicated by the prompt  402 , the user presses or makes contact with the click wheel  210  at the west position. Similarly, to decline the call, the user presses or makes contact with the click wheel  210  at the east position, as indicated by the decline call icon  408  displayed on the east position of the click wheel representation of the instructional image  404 . 
     If the user accepts the call, the GUI changes to an active call GUI as shown in  FIG. 4B . An image  410  associated with Caller  1  (hereinafter “Image  1 ”) and information  412  associated with the first call are displayed on the display  212 . The first call information  412  may include the name and/or phone number of Caller  1  and the elapsed time of the call. In some embodiments, the instructional image  404  displays the decline/end call icon  408  at the center position corresponding to the click wheel button  208 . Thus, if the user wishes to end the first call, the user presses or makes contact with the click wheel button  208 . The image shown as Image  1   410  is an image that is associated with Caller  1  in the device  200 . The association may come from an address book entry for Caller  1  in the device  200 , where the user links Caller  1  with a particular image. Image  1  need not be a picture of Caller  1 ; the image may be any image that the user associates with Caller  1  in the device  200 . If there is no image associated with Caller  1  in the device  200 , the name and/or phone number of Caller  1 , or an image placeholder, such as a generic silhouette, may be displayed at the location where Image  1   410  would have been displayed. 
     While the call with Caller  1  is active, another incoming call may be received, and the GUI changes to a call waiting GUI as shown in  FIG. 4C . A prompt  414  indicating a second incoming call from a second caller (hereinafter “Caller  2 ) is displayed. Meanwhile, Image  1   410  and the first call information  412  may be shifted aside or below and reduced in size to make room for the prompt  414 . In some embodiments, Image  1   410  and the first call information  412  may be displayed at a lower intensity while the second call prompt  414  is displayed. On the instructional image  404 , the accept call icon  406  and the decline/end call icon  408  are displayed to indicate to the user the click wheel positions that will activate these operations. In some embodiments, a conference call icon  420  is also displayed on the instructional image  404  to indicate to the user the click wheel position that, when pressed by the user, will join the first and second calls into a conference call. When the user activates the conference call option, the second call is accepted and joined with the first call, forming a conference call between the user, Caller  1 , and Caller  2 . 
     If the user accepts the second call (but does not activate the conference call option), an image  416  associated with Caller  2  (hereinafter “Image  2 ”) and information  418  associated with the second call are displayed, as shown in  FIG. 4D . The second call information  418  includes the name and/or phone number of Caller  2  and the elapsed time of the second call. Image  2   416  is displayed apart from Image  1   410 , with a visible gap  417  between the two. Image  2   416  may be visually highlighted relative to Image  1   410 , as represented by the solid periphery around Image  2   416  and the dotted line periphery around Image  1   410 . In some embodiments, Image  2   416  is displayed at a higher intensity than Image  1   410 . In some other embodiments, both Image  1   410  and Image  2   416  are enclosed in respective peripheries, and the periphery of Image  2   416  is displayed at a greater intensity, brightness, and/or thickness than the periphery of Image  1   410 . 
     On the instructional image  404 , aside from the decline/end call icon  408 , a conference call icon  420  and a switch calls icon  422  may be displayed. As described above, the conference call icon  420  corresponds to a conference call option. When the conference call option is activated, the first call, which is on hold, is joined with the second call to form a conference call. The switch calls icon  422  corresponds to a switch calls option which, when activated by the user, makes the first call the active call and puts the second call on hold; the active call is switched from the second call to the first call. In some embodiments, the user indicates the call to make active by pressing the click wheel  210  on the position corresponding to the instructional image position where the switch calls icon  422  is displayed, and making an angular gesture on the click wheel  210  to the left or right, depending on the call that the user wishes to make active. 
     When the active call is switched to the first call, the visual highlighting of the images  410  and  416  are switched as well, as shown in  FIG. 4E . That is, Image  1   410  is visually highlighted relative to Image  2   416 . In some embodiments, Image  1   410  is displayed at a higher intensity than Image  2   416 . In some other embodiments, both Image  1   410  and Image  2   416  are enclosed in respective peripheries, but the periphery of Image  1   410  is displayed at a greater intensity, brightness, and/or thickness than the periphery of Image  2   416 . As in  FIG. 4D , Image  2   416  and Image  1   410  are displayed with a visible gap  417  between the two. The decline/end call icon  408 , conference call icon  420 , and switch calls icon  422  may be displayed on the instructional image  404 . 
     When the conference call option is activated, and the first and second calls are joined into a conference call and the conference call GUI is displayed, as shown in  FIG. 4F . The GUI includes Image  1   410  and Image  2   416 , representing the participants in the conference call aside from the user. Neither Image  1   410  nor Image  2   416  are visually highlighted relative to the other; both are displayed at substantially the same intensity or visual prominence. Furthermore, they are displayed more closely together than in the call waiting mode; the gap  417  is smaller or disappears altogether. In some embodiments, they are displayed adjacent to each other, with an edge of Image  1   410  in contact with an edge of Image  2   416 . The contacting edges  426  provide an indication that Caller  1  and Caller  2  are both participating in the conference call. Additionally, information  424  associated with the conference call, such as the elapsed time, is displayed. On the instructional image  404 , a decline/end call icon  408  and a switch calls icon  422  is displayed. Activation of the switch calls option breaks up the conference call into separate calls with Caller  1  and Caller  2  and puts one of the calls on hold. 
     It should be appreciated that while the description above describes the embodiments in the context of two parties (other than the user) on two communication links and a common communication link involving the two parties, the embodiments described above may be adapted to three or more parties on three or more communication links and a common communication link involving three or more parties. 
     The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20061026
Publication Date: 20120103
Grant Date: 20120103
Priority Date: 20061026
Inventors: JOBS STEVEN P.
CHRISTIE GREG
ORDING BAS
CHAUDHRI IMRAN
FORSTALL SCOTT
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04N7/147", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/233", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/663", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L65/403", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N7/147", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L65/403", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/663", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/576", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72403", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/576", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72403", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/233", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M2250/62", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M2250/62", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 39223031