Incoming Call Interface With Quick Reply and Reminder Options

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current incoming call screens on handheld devices only offer the options to accept or decline a call, requiring additional steps if a user wants to perform alternative actions like replying with an email or setting a reminder, which is time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A data processing system that presents a graphical user interface on a handheld device offering additional options such as "Reply With Email" or "Remind Me Later" based on the device's operational state, location, and user activity, allowing users to select these options directly from the incoming call screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the incoming call screen offers only accept or decline options, then the device interface remains simple, but the user must take additional steps to perform alternative actions like replying with email or setting reminders

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple call handling options (accept, decline, reply with email, set reminder, launch application) into a single incoming call screen interface. This merging of functions allows users to access diverse actions without navigating through multiple screens or menus, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining interface simplicity through integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The incoming call screen is designed as a multi-functional interface that serves multiple purposes: it displays caller information, provides call acceptance/rejection options, enables email replies, sets reminders, and launches related applications. This universal design allows a single interface to handle various user needs without requiring separate specialized screens for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If the user must decline the call first and then separately access other features, then the device interface remains simple, but the process becomes more time consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidloss of time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables users to perform alternative actions (reply with email, set reminder, launch application) directly from the incoming call screen before the call is fully answered or declined. This preliminary action approach allows users to prepare and execute follow-up tasks in advance, eliminating the need for separate sequential steps and reducing overall time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple actions that would traditionally require separate steps (declining call + accessing email + replying) are merged into a single integrated workflow accessible from the incoming call screen. Users can initiate email replies, set reminders, or launch applications directly while viewing the call information, thereby improving productivity by reducing the number of discrete operations required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system provides context-aware reminder options based on device state, then the user experience is enhanced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors device state (location, active applications, Bluetooth connections) and uses this feedback to dynamically present relevant reminder options on the incoming call screen. For example, if the device detects the user is in a car via Bluetooth connection, it offers location-based reminder options. This feedback mechanism enables context-aware adaptability while managing complexity through event-driven updates rather than continuous processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects device context and configures appropriate reminder options without requiring user input or manual configuration. The device self-monitors its state (GPS location, active apps, connectivity) and autonomously presents relevant actions, thereby providing adaptability while minimizing the complexity burden on the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3544274B1Options presented on a device other than accept and decline for an incoming call
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 APPLE INC
  • EP3544274B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3544274B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3544274B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

A method, comprising: receiving an incoming call on a device; presenting, on the device in response to receiving the incoming call and prior to initiating a decline of the incoming call, a plurality of user interface elements indicating to a user of the device a plurality of options to decline the incoming call and launch respective applications for use of the respective applications after the incoming call is declined, wherein the user interface elements indicate the respective applications; detecting a user selection of one of the plurality of options, wherein the user selection includes a tap on the user interface elements; and launching, in response to detecting the user selection, the respective application indicated by the one of the user interface elements.