We've all faced the inconvenience of holding a phone to our ear while on hold or waiting for a response during a call. It ties up one hand, limits our ability to perform other tasks, and if we decide to wedge the phone between our head and shoulder, there's always the risk of it tumbling to the ground. Now, Huawei Technologies Co. is offering a potential solution to this problem with its new patent (US20230328172A1), which seeks to revolutionize the way we interact with our phones during calls.
The core issue the patent aims to solve is convenience. It's inconvenient and restrictive to hold a phone against our ear, especially during prolonged waiting periods in a call or during a call failure state when the other party cannot be connected. This has consequences too. A user might miss the time to respond because they're constantly checking if the waiting period is over. Moreover, there's also the increased risk of the phone slipping and damaging the device.
The technology proposed in Huawei's patent promises to alleviate these problems. It's all about helping our phones "understand" the different states of a call. The technology can identify if a user is on hold, in dialog with someone, or in a call failed state and respond accordingly. It can even identify specific audio features or keywords which signal the user's need to respond, such as "please press," "please dial," or "please say."
How will this affect the way we interact with our devices? Imagine being on a customer service call while doing your chores. The phone could be anywhere in the room, while you're free to use both hands. Your phone would "listen" to the call and alert you when it's time for you to speak or when the call has failed. This not only frees hands to do other work but makes operations more convenient, thereby enhancing the user's experience.
To reiterate, this invention could create a scenario where our phones become more than just communication tools. They become smart companions, capable of understanding our calls and responding appropriately. This could change the dynamics of how and when we use our phones, making them fit more seamlessly into our daily lives with less disruption.
However, it's important to remember that this is a patent and while it's a clear indication of what direction Huawei's technological innovation is taking, that doesn't guarantee we'll see it appearing in the market anytime soon. Nonetheless, the possibilities it introduces are fascinating and exemplify the ongoing evolution of our interaction with technology.