Seamless call transitions

Abstract

Various user interfaces and other technologies for seamlessly transitioning between calls of different types can be implemented. The technologies can be implemented to give the impression of a single call that is upgraded from one call type to another. A new application can register so that an appropriate user interface control appears for activation when seamless call transition is possible. Transitioning for third-party applications can thus be supported. Cross-platform implementations can be supported.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 while conducting a cellular phone call between a first communication device and a second communication device, determining, by the first communication device, that the second communication device supports a Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) call;   determining that a network connectivity condition indicator indicates that the VoIP call is possible;   providing a user interface option for initiating a seamless transition to the VoIP call in a call progress user interface;   responsive to activation of the user interface option, initiating the VoIP call between the first communication device and the second communication device; and   after the VoIP call is initiated, switching to the VoIP call and ending the cellular phone call.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the second communication device supports the VoIP call comprises querying an application service to determine that a contact associated with the second communication device is recognized. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining that the second communication device supports the VoIP call comprises using information associated with a contacts database of the first communication device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the initiating the VoIP call comprises using a communication application supporting the VoIP call. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 choosing a preferred communication application for a VoIP call type; and   wherein the user interface option for initiating the seamless transition to the VoIP call in the call progress user interface is associated with the preferred communication application for the VoIP call type.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 during a registration process for a third-party communication application, updating a list of communication applications that support a particular call type, wherein the updating comprises adding the third-party communication application to the list.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to determining that the first communication device and the second communication device have an application that supports seamless call transitions in common, designating the application as to be used for call transition.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 updating a status of the second communication device, wherein the status indicates whether the second communication device is active.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to a determination that a call transition is possible, enabling a user interface element for switching to the VoIP call.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 allowing a communication application to set itself as a preferred application for a particular call type.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 before allowing the communication application to set itself as the preferred application for a particular call type, presenting a confirmation user interface.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the particular call type comprises a video call.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 switching to the VoIP call comprises upgrading a voice call to a video call.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 upgrading the voice call to the video call comprises switching audio to speaker.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 presenting language and icons indicative of video in the call progress user interface;   wherein the language and icons indicate that the voice call can be upgraded to the video call.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing a call transition state.   
     
     
         17 . A mobile device comprising:
 a phone call application supporting standard audio phone calls;   a communication application supporting VoIP calls; and   a call controller comprising configuration to seamlessly transition a call from the phone call application to the communication application supporting VoIP calls upon activation of a user interface option to initiate a seamless transition to the VoIP call.   
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 17  wherein:
 the user interface option is presented as part of a call progress user interface. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 seamlessly transitioning to the VoIP call comprises upgrading a voice call to a video call.   
     
     
         20 . One or more computer-readable storage media having encoded therein computer-executable instructions causing a computing system to perform a method comprising:
 while conducting a cellular phone call with no video between a first communication device and a second communication device, determining, by the first communication device, that the second communication device supports a Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) call with video;   determining that a network connectivity condition indicator indicates that the VoIP call with video is possible;   providing a user interface option for initiating a seamless transition to the VoIP call with video in a call progress user interface;   responsive to activation of the user interface option, initiating the VoIP call with video between the first communication device and the second communication device;   after the VoIP call with video is initiated, switching to the VoIP call with video and ending the cellular phone call.