Overview

Dialer is an Android system application that provides a distraction-optimized (DO) experience for Bluetooth calling, contact browsing, and call management. A fully functional implementation of Dialer is provided in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). This implementation can be used as is or with a customized visual theme.

Dialer display modes
Figure 1. Dialer portrait and landscape modes

Terminology

These terms are used throughout this section:

  • Android Open Source Project (AOSP). An open source operating system for mobile devices and a corresponding open source project led by Google.

  • Distraction Optimized (DO). User flow that adheres to User Experience Restrictions (UXR) and that is safe during driving.

  • Heads Up Notification (HUN). An incoming notification that appears on a display.

  • User Experience Restrictions (UXR). Applications that display a user interface dependent upon driving state must adhere to UXR.

  • User Interface (UI). The means by which users control interactions with applications.

  • Vehicle Optimized (VO). User flow that is not required to follow UXR and is not considered safe during driving, but that has been optimized for use in a car.

Purpose

This section explains how to build a fully-compliant Android UXR telecom system with Android Automotive.

Features

Dialer provides these capabilities:

State Capability Task
While driving,
Distraction Optimized features		 Bluetooth calling
  • Make a call from the dialpad.
  • Make a call from the Contact list.
  • Make a call from the Recent Call list.
  • Make a call from the Contact Detail page.
  • Receive an incoming call through a heads up notification and then respond.
  • Return a missed call from the Notification center.
  • Call management, Pause, Mute, Hold, Swap, and Set Audio Route.
Contact and call log browsing
  • Display top-level categories.
  • Browse all Favorite contacts.
  • Browse the Recent Call list.
  • Browse the Contact list.
  • View the Contact Details page.
  • Navigate to a Contact address.
Search with voice or handwriting (on a keyboard)
  • Show matching search results.
  • View the contact details of filtered contacts.
While parked, everything above and: Settings

When safe, users can access Settings to:

  • Change the sort order of Contact list.
  • Change the start page, which will be effective after the next restart.
Search, using keyboard While parked, users can perform searches.
Connect to Bluetooth If no phones are connected through Bluetooth when parked, users can press the Connect to Bluetooth button to navigate to the system Bluetooth Settings page to pair and then connect a device.

Tasks

This table describes the tasks of each stakeholder.

Car Manufacturers (OEMs) Google
Build a fully-compliant Android UXR telecom system with Android Automotive.

Provide:

  • A Dialer implementation in AOSP.
  • Documentation for key tasks such as customization and review/certification processes.