The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 13, 2013
Filed:
Feb. 18, 2011
Raman Kumar Sarin, Redmond, WA (US);
Monica Estela Gonzalez Veron, Seattle, WA (US);
Kenneth Paul Hinckley, Redmond, WA (US);
Sumit Kumar, Bellevue, WA (US);
James Kai Yu Lau, Bellevue, WA (US);
Joseph H. Matthews, Iii, Woodinville, WA (US);
Jae Pum Park, Bellevue, WA (US);
Raman Kumar Sarin, Redmond, WA (US);
Monica Estela Gonzalez Veron, Seattle, WA (US);
Kenneth Paul Hinckley, Redmond, WA (US);
Sumit Kumar, Bellevue, WA (US);
James Kai Yu Lau, Bellevue, WA (US);
Joseph H. Matthews, III, Woodinville, WA (US);
Jae Pum Park, Bellevue, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a mobile phone and a method for answering such a phone automatically without user input. In one embodiment, the mobile phone detects that a call is being received. A proximity sensor is then used to detect the presence of a nearby object. For example, this allows a determination to be made whether the mobile phone is within a pocket of the user while the phone is ringing. Then a determination is made whether the proximity sensor changes states. For example, if a user removes the phone from their pocket, the proximity sensor switches from detecting something proximal to detecting that the phone is no longer in the user's pocket. Next, a determination is made whether the proximity sensor is again next to an object, such as an ear. If so, the mobile phone can be automatically answered without further user input.