Abstract: A method and structure for avoiding undesirable interruptions by incoming calls during face-to-face conversations or oral presentations. A speaker recognition circuit is trained to recognize the user's voice, even in the presence of other voices and ambient noise. A number of speaker recognition algorithms may be employed within the scope of the invention. The phone is configured to constantly monitor the aural phone environment, while recording in a FIFO memory a short interval of digitized sound. When an incoming call is received, the Caller ID is checked against a pre-defined Priority List of numbers to be directed to the user's attention as in the prior art. If the Caller ID is not on the Priority List, speaker recognition verifies whether the user has been speaking within the past few seconds, and, if so, directs the incoming call to voice mail without interrupting the user. Other sensor input and criteria can also be used to determine how to route an incoming communication.

Abstract: A method and structure for avoiding undesirable interruptions by incoming calls during face-to-face conversations or oral presentations. A speaker recognition circuit is trained to recognize the user's voice, even in the presence of other voices and ambient noise. A number of speaker recognition algorithms may be employed within the scope of the invention. The phone is configured to constantly monitor the aural phone environment, while recording in a FIFO memory a short interval of digitized sound. When an incoming call is received, the Caller ID is checked against a pre-defined Priority List of numbers to be directed to the user's attention as in the prior art. If the Caller ID is not on the Priority List, speaker recognition verifies whether the user has been speaking within the past few seconds, and, if so, directs the incoming call to voice mail without interrupting the user. Other sensor input and criteria can also be used to determine how to route an incoming communication.