Hands-Free Voice-Call Answering via Motion and Biometric Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of mobile communication devices often struggle to answer incoming voice-calls while engaged in physical activities, as they need to interact with the device's user interface, which can be inconvenient and lead to missed calls.

Innovation Solution

A voice-call answering application that allows users to automatically answer incoming calls by applying specific movements or biometric samples, such as raising the device to their ear or providing a biometric signature, without requiring direct interaction with the user interface, utilizing sensors like accelerometers, gyroscopes, and cameras to detect and validate these actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a user interacts with the user interface to answer a call, then the call can be answered reliably, but the user cannot perform physical activities concurrently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall answering convenienceVSAvoidconcurrent physical activity capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical button-pressing interaction with sensor-based detection systems (accelerometers, gyroscopes, cameras) that automatically detect user intent to answer a call through natural movements or biometric samples, eliminating the need for manual UI interaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically detecting and processing call-answering intent through sensor data from the device itself, without requiring active user engagement with the interface, allowing the device to serve the user's needs autonomously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If the user pushes a button to answer the call, then the call answering is simple and direct, but the user may miss calls when engaged in physical activities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall answering efficiencyVSAvoidcall answering reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring sensor data and pre-processing movement patterns or biometric samples in real-time, so that when a call comes in, the system is already prepared to automatically recognize and respond to the user's intent to answer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously analyzing sensor data from accelerometers, gyroscopes, and cameras to detect user movements and biometric samples, providing real-time feedback that triggers automatic call answering when predefined patterns are recognized

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the device requires user interface interaction, then the calling function is controlled precisely, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidcall answering time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual UI interaction with automated sensor-based detection, substituting mechanical button-pressing with optical, acoustic, and motion sensing technologies that instantly detect and process call-answering intent

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, cameras) as intermediaries between the user's natural movements/biometrics and the call-answering function, translating physical actions into control signals without requiring direct UI engagement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables hands-free and seamless call answering, allowing users to manage calls without interrupting their activities, with customizable templates for different situations and environments, ensuring calls are answered promptly and efficiently.

Implementation Method 1

one or more sensors that detect a movement of the mobile device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

one or more sensors that detect a movement of the mobile device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGyroscope: Gyroscope

Implementation Method 3

or receiving a biometric sample from a user of the mobile device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotography: Photography

Data Source

PatentUS10136271B2Automatically answering an incoming voice-call on a mobile device with no-touch user interface interaction

Publication Date: 2018.11.20 T MOBILE US INC

AI summary

This disclosure describes techniques for automatically answering an incoming voice-call on a mobile device. A voice-call answering application, executed on the mobile device, may allow a user to answer an incoming voice-call by applying a movement or a biometric sample that is preconfigured to answer the incoming voice-call. In some examples, the user may preconfigure the voice-call answering application to recognize different movements or biometric samples based on a time of day, a day of the week, a geographic location, or a type of motion.