WO2020030721A1

WO2020030721A1 - Mobile telephony handsets

Info

Publication number: WO2020030721A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/071274
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew SANDBROOK
Original assignee: Cpr Global Tech Ltd
Priority date: 2018-08-07
Filing date: 2019-08-07
Publication date: 2020-02-13
Also published as: GB201812847D0

Abstract

A mobile telephone handset unit (1, 2) with physical fixed keys for the digits 1 to 0 has an additional key (3) which, when actuated on receipt of an incoming call automatically adds the number from which the incoming call is made to a list of blocked numbers, and wherein the operating software of the mobile telephone handset is programmed to respond to the call blocker button in this way.

Description

MOBILE TELEPHONY HANDSETS

This invention relates to mobile telephony handsets and, in particular, to basic mobile telephone units which are used essentially for making and receiving telephone calls, as opposed to smartphone units which have substantially greater functionality.

A problem with any telephone is that of unwanted calls. These may be from cold callers or simply from people that the person called does not wish to speak to.

It is known to block incoming calls to a smartphone using the Android operating system. In order to do so, the person called needs to go through a series of steps when an unwanted call is received in order then to add the number, via the software in the operating system, to a list of blocked numbers. Thereafter, any attempt to call the smartphone will be defeated by the Android operating system.

Such an approach is complex and only works if the user can remember how to carry out the relevant sequence of operations.

According to the present invention, a mobile telephone handset unit with physical fixed keys for the digits 1 to 0 has an additional key which, when actuated on receipt of an incoming call automatically adds the number from which the incoming call is made to a list of blocked numbers, and wherein the operating software of the mobile telephone handset is programmed to respond to the call blocker button in this way.

The mechanical arrangement of the additional key may vary widely with the particular design but is conveniently a press-button adjacent the array of number buttons. A highly convenient location for the button is between the array of numbers used when dialling and the button which is pressed by the user when the telephone unit is signalling that there is an incoming call with its ringing tone, in order to answer the call.

The software is preferably programmed to enable the incoming call to be blocked immediately if the display indicates that the person calling is someone whom the person called does not wish to speak to, or it may be actuated as soon as the person called has answered the call and, for example, found that the caller is a cold caller seeking to sell goods or services which the person called does not want, or is a computer-generated message.

Preferably the software is programmed so that both incoming calls and incoming short messages are blocked.

Such a telephone handset is easy to operate and effective to reduce irritation.

By way of example, the attached drawing shows a standard flip phone construction consisting of body 1 with a screen unit 2 hinged thereto. In the drawing, the screen is shown with a standard time and date message displayed.

On the body of the phone is an array of standard key buttons 1 to 0, ^* and #, together with conventional keys to accept a call or terminate a call, each bearing a stylised telephone handset with a colour to indicate which is which, green for accept and red to stop.

As indicated on the drawing, the body 1 of the unit has a red button 3 with the inscription“BLOCK NOW” marked on it. If an undesired incoming call arises, when that incoming call is identified by the number from which the incoming call is being made, pressing the BLOCK NOW button adds that number to an internally stored list of blocked caller identifiers, and thereafter if the same caller tries again using the same caller identifier, the call is automatically blocked and the mobile unit does not ring.

Claims

1. A mobile telephone handset unit with physical fixed keys for the digits 1 to 0 and characterised by an additional key which, when actuated on receipt of an incoming call, automatically adds the number from which the incoming call is made to a list of blocked numbers, and wherein operating software in the mobile telephone handset is programmed to respond to the call blocker button in this way.

2. A mobile telephone handset unit according to claim 1 wherein the additional key is a press-button adjacent the fixed keys for the digits 1 to 10.

3. A mobile telephone handset unit according to claim 2 wherein the press

button is located between the physical fixed keys for the digits 1 to 10 and a press button which is pressed by a user to answer an incoming call.

4 A mobile telephone handset unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3

wherein the software is programmed to enable the incoming call to be blocked immediately if a display on the unit indicates that the person calling is someone whom the person called does not wish to speak to, or to be blocked once the person called has answered the call.