Foldable Phone Call Prompting Across Dual Screens

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Solution Overview

Problem

When a flexible screen electronic device receives a call request, if the screen folded away from the user's line of sight, the user cannot perceive incoming call information, leading to missed calls.

Innovation Solution

The device determines a target screen based on the call type and hardware components, displaying incoming call information on that screen and prompt information on the other screen to guide the user to use appropriate hardware for the call.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If incoming call information is displayed on a single screen (first screen), then the display is simple and clear, but the user cannot perceive the call request when the screen is folded away from line of sight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall perception reliabilityVSAvoiddisplay control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display is segmented into two separate screens (first screen and second screen). When the flexible screen is folded, the first screen displays incoming call information while the second screen displays prompt information, ensuring the user can perceive the call request regardless of which screen is visible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from a single-dimension display (one screen) to a two-dimension display (two screens). By utilizing both screens simultaneously to display different types of information, the system ensures call perception reliability without significantly increasing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If incoming call information is displayed on both screens, then the user can always see the call request, but the information display becomes redundant and confusing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall perception reliabilityVSAvoidinformation clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions (screens) have different display functions optimized for their purpose. The first screen is dedicated to displaying incoming call information (caller ID, call options), while the second screen displays prompt information guiding the user to flip the device. This local differentiation eliminates redundancy while maintaining clarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The information display is segmented into two distinct types: incoming call information on the first screen and prompt information on the second screen. This segmentation ensures each screen presents only the necessary information for its specific function, avoiding confusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the device always displays incoming call information on the first screen, then the display logic is simple, but the user may miss calls when the first screen is not visible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay logic simplicityVSAvoidcall notification reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The display system dynamically adapts its behavior based on the folding state of the flexible screen. When folded, the system automatically distributes information across both screens; when unfolded, it can display on the appropriate screen. This dynamic adaptation maintains simple display logic while significantly improving call notification reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If prompt information is displayed on the non-target screen, then the user is guided to the correct screen, but the non-target screen consumes power displaying information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser guidanceVSAvoidscreen power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The prompt information function is extracted from the main incoming call information display and placed on the second screen. This allows the first screen to focus on displaying critical call information while the second screen provides guidance, optimizing the overall system efficiency and user guidance without excessive power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4210307B1Incoming call prompting method and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4210307B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4210307B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4210307B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

This application provides an incoming call prompting method and an electronic device, and relates to the field of terminal technologies, to guide, on a flexible screen, a user to use a proper screen to process a call request from a contact, thereby reducing missed calls. The method includes: An electronic device receives a call request from a contact; when a flexible screen of the electronic device is in a folded state, the electronic device determines, in response to the call request, a target screen corresponding to the call request, where the target screen is a first screen or a second screen of the flexible screen; and the electronic device displays an answer button on the target screen, and the electronic device displays prompt information of the call request on a non-target screen, where the prompt information is used to prompt a user to answer the current call request by using the answer button displayed on the target screen.