Call Handling Lag Time for Accidental Selection Reversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile devices lack a mechanism to allow users to easily undo accidental selections when accepting or rejecting incoming phone calls, particularly in situations where the device is in a confined space or under high ambient noise, leading to unintended call actions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a mobile device with a processor and storage instructions that present a user interface with options to accept or reject calls, initiating a pre-determined lag time after the first selection, allowing a second selection to revert the initial choice before the lag time ends, thereby enabling users to change their decision before the call is completed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a user interface presents options to accept or reject phone calls with immediate execution, then the response speed is fast, but the reliability of user intention is reduced due to accidental selections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of user intentionVSAvoidresponse speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system initiates a lag time period after the first selection before executing the call acceptance or rejection. This preliminary action allows the user to reconsider and change their selection if it was accidental, thereby improving reliability without permanently sacrificing response speed. The lag time acts as a buffer between selection and execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a lag time is introduced after selection to allow reconsideration, then the reliability of user intention is improved, but the loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of user intentionVSAvoidtime loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies a partial lag time that is sufficient to prevent accidental selections but kept as short as possible to minimize time loss. The lag time is not indefinite but a predetermined short period that balances reliability improvement with time efficiency. This partial action approach ensures the benefit of preventing errors without excessive delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If a second selection is allowed to revert the first selection during lag time, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of undoing accidental selectionVSAvoidcomplexity of selection mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The selection process is segmented into distinct phases: first selection phase, lag time period, and execution phase. During the lag time, the system monitors for a second selection without requiring complex state management. The segmentation allows the system to handle the undo function through simple temporal separation rather than complex logical structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the timing of selections. During the lag time period, the interface remains responsive to second selections, but after the lag time expires, it proceeds with execution. This dynamic temporal behavior provides ease of operation for undoing accidental selections while maintaining relatively simple device logic through time-based state transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3366030B1Rejecting or accepting a phone call
Publication Date: 2022.12.28 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3366030B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3366030B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3366030B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an embodiment, rejecting or accepting a phone call is disclosed. In an embodiment, a device is disclosed. The device comprises a processor, a storage comprising a set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the device to in response to received call present at a user interface of the device a first option and a second option of the call. In response to a first selection between the first option and the second option, the device initiates a lag time of pre-determined length before performing the first selection; and in response to a second selection between the first option and the second option, performs the second selection, wherein the second selection is configured to revert the first selection. The options may be rejecting or accepting the incoming phone call.