Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Communications Device and Method for Associating Contact Names
with Contact Methods
FIELD
[0001] Example embodiments described herein relate to communications
devices and, in particular, to methods and systems for associating and
highlighting contact names with contact methods on such devices.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Communications devices, in particular handheld mobile
communications devices, are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Such a
device allows a user to contact a second user or device through a
communication network through various contact methods.
[0003] Accordingly, there are numerous contact methods for the user to
contact the second user or device. For instance, the user may choose to e-
mail, phone, Short Message Service (SMS), or fax the second user or device.
Another contact method is known as Personal Identification Number (PIN)
communication. PIN communication is different from and often considered to
be more private than sending messages between email accounts. PIN
messages are sent directly from one device to another without going through
a central corporate server. Instead, the messages are sent through a non-
corporate server such as a telecommunications provider and directly to the
other device. In order for a user to choose the contact method, the user
may be required to scroll through a menu using a scrollwheel or keyboard to
select the appropriate contact method.
[0004] Once a user has finished contacting the second user or device using a
contact method, the user may wish to contact the second user or device
again using the same contact method. For example, a user may email a
second user by scrolling through a menu to choose the appropriate contact
method, in this case the "email" field is chosen. If the user wishes to
contact
the second user again through a new email, the user would have to once
again scroll through a menu to select the email as the appropriate contact
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method. The scrolling may waste valuable time, as is the case when the user
continually contacts the second user using the same contact method.
SUMMARY
[0005] According to example embodiments, there is provided a method for
selecting a communication option for communications from a mobile device
which operates in a wireless communication network, the mobile device
having access to stored address book information that includes contact
names, the method including: storing for at least some of the contact names
an indication of a last communication option used for communicating
therewith; displaying a list of user selectable contact names on a display of
the mobile device; after receiving user input selecting of one of the contact
names from the list, causing a list of user selectable communication options
for communicating with the selected contact name to be generated on the
display; and automatically positioning a selection symbol on the display to
highlight the selectable communication option that corresponds to a last
communication option that was used for communicating with the selected
contact name.
[0006] According to example embodiments, there is provided a mobile device
including a controller including at least one processor, a wireless
transceiver
coupled to the controller for exchanging signals with a wireless
communications network, a user input interface coupled to the controller for
receiving user input, a storage coupled to the controller and storing address
book information identifying contact names and associated address
information for the contact names, and a display coupled to the controller.
The controller is operative to: store for at least some of the contact names
an indication of a last communication option used for communicating
therewith; display a list of user selectable contact names on the display; and
after selection of one of the contact names from the list by a device user
through the user input interface, cause (i) a list of user selectable
communication options for communicating with the selected contact name to
be generated on the display, and (ii) a selection symbol to be positioned on
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,
the display to highlight the selectable communication option that corresponds
to
a communication option that was last used for communicating with the selected
contact name.
[0007] According to further example embodiments, there is provided a method
for selecting a communication method for a mobile device which operates in a
wireless communication network, the mobile device having access to stored
address book information that includes contact names. The method includes:
storing for at least some of the contact names an indication of a last
communication option used for communicating therewith; causing a list of user
selectable functions to be generated on the display for a selected one of the
contact names, the list including a plurality of selectable communication
functions each corresponding to a different communication option for
communicating with the selected contact name; and automatically positioning a
selection symbol on the display to highlight the communication function that
corresponds to the communication option that was last used for communicating
with the selected contact name.
[0007a] According to further example embodiments, there is provided a
method for selecting a communication option for communications from a mobile
device which operates in a wireless communication network, the mobile device
having access to stored address book information that includes contact names,
the method comprising: storing, in association with at least some of the
contact
names in the address book information, an indication of a last communication
option used for communicating therewith; displaying a list of user selectable
contact names on a display of the mobile device; after receiving input
selection
of one of the contact names from the list, causing a list of user selectable
communication options for communicating with the selected contact name to be
generated on the display, wherein at least some of the user selectable
communication options are transport method options representing respective
communication transport methods used for communications between the mobile
device and the selected contact name, and at least some of the transport
method options have multiple associated address options; automatically
positioning a selection symbol on the display to highlight the selectable
communication option that corresponds to a last communication option that was
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used for communicating with the selected contact name; and after receiving
input selection of one of the transport method options that has multiple
associated address options, generating on the display a list of user
selectable
address options; and automatically positioning a further selection symbol on
the
display to highlight the address option that corresponds to a last address
that
was used for communicating with the selected contact name.
[0007b] According to further example embodiments, there is provided a mobile
device comprising: a controller including at least one processor; a wireless
transceiver coupled to the controller for exchanging signals with a wireless
communications network; a user input interface coupled to the controller for
receiving user input; a storage coupled to the controller and for storing
address
book information identifying contact names and associated address information
for the contact names; and a display coupled to the controller; the controller
being operative to: store, in association with at least some of the contact
names
in the address book information, an indication of a last communication option
used for communicating therewith; display a list of user selectable contact
names on the display; after selection of one of the contact names from the
list
by a device user through the user input interface, cause (i) a list of user
selectable communication options for communicating with the selected contact
name to be generated on the display, and (ii) a selection symbol to be
positioned on the display to highlight the selectable communication option
that
corresponds to a communication option that was last used for communicating
with the selected contact name, wherein at least some of the user selectable
communication options are transport method options for communications
between the mobile device and the selected contact name, and at least some of
the transport method options have multiple associated address options for
communicating with the selected contact name; and after receiving input
selection of one of the transport method options that has multiple associated
address options, generate on the display a list of user selectable address
options; and automatically position a further selection symbol on the display
to
highlight the address option that corresponds to a last address that was used
for communicating with the selected contact name.
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[0007c] According to further example embodiments, there is provided a
method for selecting a communication option to initiate communication from a
communications device having access to stored contact information including at
least one contact name, the method comprising: after receiving input selection
of one of the at least one contact name, generating on a display of the
communications device, a list of selectable communication options to initiate
communication with the selected contact name, wherein at least some of the
selectable communication options are transport methods, used to communicate
with the selected contact name, and at least some of the transport method
options have multiple associated address options; automatically positioning a
selection symbol at the selectable communication option that corresponds to a
last communication option used to communicate with the selected contact
name; and after receiving input selection of one of the transport methods that
has multiple associated address options, generating on the display a list of
selectable address options; and automatically positioning a further selection
symbol at the address option that corresponds to a last address that was used
to communicate with the selected contact name.
[0007d] According to further example embodiments, there is provided a
communications device comprising: at least one processor; a user input
interface coupled to the processor for receiving user input; a storage coupled
to
the processor and for storing address book information identifying contact
names and associated address information for at least one contact name; and a
display coupled to the processor; the processor being operative to: after
receiving input selection of one of the at least one contact name, generate on
the display of the communications device, a list of selectable communication
options to initiate communication with the selected contact name, wherein at
least some of the selectable communication options are transport methods,
used to communicate with the selected contact name, and at least some of the
transport method options have multiple associated address options;
automatically position a selection symbol at the selectable communication
option that corresponds to a last communication option used to communicate
with the selected contact name; and after receiving input selection of one of
the
transport methods that has multiple associated address options, generate on
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the display a list of selectable address options; and automatically position a
further selection symbol at the address option that corresponds to a last
address that was used to communicate with the selected contact name.
[0007e] According to further example embodiments, there is provided a
computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored
thereon that when executed implement a method for selecting a communication
option to initiate communication from a communications device having access to
stored contact information including at least one contact name, the method
comprising: after receiving input selection of one of the at least one contact
name, generating on a display of the communications device, a list of
selectable
communication options to initiate communication with the selected contact
name, wherein at least some of the selectable communication options are
transport methods, used to communicate with the selected contact name, and
at least some of the transport method options have multiple associated address
options; automatically positioning a selection symbol at the selectable
communication option that corresponds to a last communication option used to
communicate with the selected contact name; and after receiving input
selection of one of the transport methods that has multiple associated address
options, generating on the display a list of selectable address options; and
automatically positioning a further selection symbol at the address option
that
corresponds to a last address that was used to communicate with the selected
contact name.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Example embodiments will now be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying drawings, through which like reference numerals
are used to indicate similar features.
[0009] Figure 1 shows a block diagram of an example of a mobile
communications device to which example embodiments of an associating and
highlighting module can be applied;
[0010] Figure 2 shows a further operational block diagram representation of
the mobile communications device of Figure 1;
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[0011] Figure 3 shows, in diagrammatic form, a front view of an example of
the device of Figure 1;
[0012] Figure 4 shows an example of a messages list user interface screen
shown on a display of the device;
[0013] Figure 5 shows an example of an address list user interface screen
shown on a display of the device;
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[0014] Figure 6 shows an example of an address list user interface screen
shown on a display of the device, together with an options menu;
[0015] Figure 7 shows a diagrammatic view of an electronic mail message
graphical user interface screen;
[0016] Figure 8 shows a diagrammatic view of a menu with an email address
option field highlighted;
[0017] Figure 9 shows a diagrammatic view of a menu with an SMS address
option field highlighted; and
[0018] Figure 10 shows a diagrammatic view of a menu with a phone contact
option field highlighted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The following description of one or more specific embodiments does
not limit the implementation of the invention to any particular computer
programming language, operating system, system architecture or device
architecture. Moreover, although some embodiments may include mobile
devices, not all embodiments are limited to mobile devices; rather, various
embodiments may be implemented within a variety of communications
devices or terminals, including handheld devices, mobile telephones,
personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal computers, audio-visual
terminals, televisions, and other devices.
[0020] Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an
example of an electronic communications device 10 to which example
embodiments of the associating and highlighting module described herein
can be applied. The communications device 10 is a two-way mobile
communication device having voice and messaging communications
capabilities. Depending on the functionality provided by the device 10, in
various embodiments the device 10 may be a data communication device, a
multiple-mode communication device configured for both data and voice
communication, a mobile telephone, a PDA enabled for wireless
communication, a computer system with a wireless modem or wireless
network card, or a computer or phone device with a fixed connection to a
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network, among other things. The device 10 is in at least one example
embodiment a handheld device having a case that is dimensioned to fit into a
purse, pocket or belt-mounted device holster.
[0021] In the example embodiment shown in Figure 1, the device 10 includes
a communication subsystem 11 acting as the interface between the device
and the wireless communications network 50. The communication
subsystem 11 may include one or more receivers, transmitters, and
associated components such as one or more antenna elements, and a
processing module such as a digital signal processor (DSP). As will be
10 apparent to those skilled in the field of communications, the particular
design
of the communication subsystem 11 will be dependent upon the
communication network(s) in which the device 10 is intended to operate.
[0022] The device 10 includes a controller that includes at least one
microprocessor 38 that controls the overall operation of the device. The
microprocessor 38 interacts with the communications subsystem 11 and also
interacts with further device subsystems such as a display 22, flash memory
24, random access memory (RAM) 26, one or more auxiliary input/output
(I/O) subsystems or devices 28 (e.g. a scrollwheel 28a), serial port 30,
keyboard or keypad 32, speaker 34, microphone 36, a short-range
communications subsystem 40, and any other device subsystems generally
designated as 42.
[0023] Figure 3 shows, in diagrammatic form, a front view of an example
handheld embodiment of the device 10 of Figure 1. The device 10 includes a
display screen 44 of the display 22, alphanumeric keyboard or keypad 32 and
scrollwheel 28a.
[0024] Referring again to Figure 1, operating system software 54 and various
software applications 58 used by the microprocessor 38 are, in one example
embodiment, stored in a persistent store such as flash memory 24 or similar
storage element. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the operating
system 54, software applications 58, or parts thereof, may be temporarily
loaded into a volatile store such as RAM 26. It is contemplated that received
= communication signals may also be stored to RAM 26.
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[0025] The microprocessor 38, in addition to its operating system functions,
in
example embodiments enables execution of software applications 58 on the
device. A predetermined set of software applications 58 which control basic
device operations, including data and voice communication applications for
example, will normally be installed on the device 10 during manufacture.
Further software applications 58 may also be loaded onto the device 10
through the wireless communication network 50, an auxiliary I/O subsystem
28, serial port 30, short-range communications subsystem 40 or any other
suitable subsystem 42, and installed by a user in the RAM 26 or a non-
volatile store for execution by the microprocessor 38. Such flexibility in
application installation increases the functionality of the device and may
provide enhanced on-device functions, communication-related functions, or
both. For example, secure communication applications may enable electronic
commerce functions and other such financial transactions to be performed
using the device 10.
[0026] In a data communication mode, a received signal such as a text
message or web page download will be processed by the communication
subsystem 11 and input to the microprocessor 38, which further process the
received signal for output to the display 22 through the graphics subsystem
44, or alternatively to an auxiliary I/O device 28. A user of device 10 may
also compose data items within a software application 58, such as email
messages and calendar entries for example, using the keyboard 32 in
conjunction with the display 22 and possibly an auxiliary I/O device 28 (e.g.
the scrollwheel 28a). Such composed items may then be transmitted and
received over a communication network through the communication
subsystem 11.
[0027] The serial port 30 (which may be for example a universal serial bus
(USB) port) in Figure 1 may enable a user to set preferences through an
external device or software application and would extend the capabilities of
the device by providing for information or software downloads to the device
10 other than through a wireless communication network.
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[00281 The short-range communications subsystem 40 is a further component
which may provide for communication between the device 10 and different
systems or devices, which need not necessarily be similar devices. For
example, the subsystem 40 may include an infrared device and associated
circuits and components or a BluetoothTM communication module to provide
for communication with similarly enabled systems and devices.
[0029] Wireless communication network 50 is, in an example embodiment, a
wireless wide area packet data network, which provides radio coverage to
mobile devices 10. Wireless communication network 50 may also be a voice
and data network such as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication)
and GPRS (General Packet Radio System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple
Access), or various other third generation networks such as EDGE (Enhanced
Data rates for GSM Evolution) or UMTS (Universal Mobile
Telecommunications Systems). In some example embodiments, network 50
is a wireless local area network (WLAN), such as for example a network
compliant with one or more of the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. In some
example embodiments, the device 10 is configured to communicate in both
data and voice modes over both wireless WAN and WLAN networks and to
roam between such networks.
100301 Also stored in a persistent storage of the device such as flash memory
24 is address book information 310 and associated historic communication
information 312. Such information may also be at least partially stored at
least some of the time in memory of a SIM card used with the device, in
volatile device memory, and/or at a location accessible to the device 10 over
network 50.
100311 Under instructions from various software applications 58 resident on
the device 10, the processor 38 is configured to implement various functional
components or modules 300, some of which are represented in Figure 3, for
interacting with the device subsystems described above. In an example
embodiment, the software resident on the device 10 includes applications for
implementing an address book 304, a telephone 306, and electronic
messaging 302, and personal information management 314 (PIM). In some
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embodiments, some or part of the functionality of the functional modules 300
can be implemented through firmware or hardware components instead of,
or in combination with, computer software instructions executed by the
microprocessor 38 (or other processors).
[0032] The electronic messaging module 302 enables the device 10 to send
and receive messages, such as email messages, over one or more wireless
networks 50. Examples of electronic messaging include email, PIN and/or
SMS.
[0033] The address book 304 enables address book information 310, such as
telephone numbers, PIN numbers, and email and/or instant text messaging
addresses, to be stored and accessed on the device 10. The telephone
module 306 enables the device 10 to transmit and receive voice and data
over one or more wireless networks 50.
[0034] The PIM 314 enables the device 10 to organize the personal
information and applications of the user, including the address book 304.
The PIM 314 is often used to synchronize between the device 10 and another
application, such as a desktop email client application. The PIM 314 may also
enable the device 10 to store an association between a contact name and a
contact method in the historic communications information 312. In some
embodiments, some or all of the functionality of the messaging, address
book and phone applications could be incorporated into the PIM module 314.
In the presently described embodiment, the microprocessor 38 is configured
through one or more of the applications and modules described above to
implement the user interface methods and procedures described below.
[0035] Figure 3 shows, in diagrammatic form, an example of handheld
communications device 10 on which a plurality of user selectable icons are
shown on a display screen 44 of device display 22. The icons are each
associated with functions that can be performed by the device 10. For
example, Figure 3 shows a "Messages" icon 60 for accessing electronic
messaging functions of the device (associated with electronic messaging
module 302), a "Phone" icon 62 for accessing phone functionality (associated
with telephone module 306), and an "Address Book" icon 64a for accessing
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address book functions (associated with address book module 304). As
shown, the icon 64a is highlighted or focused by a caret or selection symbol
66 which can be navigated by a device user among the displayed icons
through rotation of the scrollwheel 28a (or other navigational input device).
The scrollwheel 28a is also depressible, such that depression of the
scrollwheel 28a when an icon is highlighted or focused by selection symbol
66 results in launching of the underlying function.
[0036] According to example embodiments, the device 10 is configured to
track the communication option (for example, email, SMS, PIN or phone) last
used by the device to contact a specific contact, and then allow the device
user to easily select that communication option the next time the device user
uses the device to communicate with that specific contact. By way of
example, Figure 4 shows an example of a user interface screen 44 of the
device 10 in the situation where the user has selected the "Messages" icon
60 from Figure 3. In response to user selection of the "Messages" icon 60, a
message list 70 identifying the electronic messages 70 that are available for
viewing on the device 10 is presented on the display screen 44. For each
message item in the list 70, a status icon (for example a closed or open
envelope), a time stamp (for example "11:41a" for message item 72), a
sender or receiver name ("John Smith" for item 72) and a message subject
line ("Lunch") are displayed. The device user can scroll through the
messages and highlight a message of interest with a selection indicator 74
using scrollwheel 28a or other navigational input, and depressing the
scrollwheel 28a can open a highlighted message item for viewing on the
screen 44.
[0037] In an example embodiment, when a specific message item (such as
item 72 for example) in the message list 70 is highlighted by the selection
indicator 74 and the device user presses a predetermined "hot" key, for
example a "C" key on keyboard 32, the address book function of the device
10 is launched and, as shown in Figure 5, an address list 76 of names having
corresponding entries in the address book information 310 is displayed on
display screen 44. In the user interface screen shown in Figure 5, a device
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=
user can scroll through the displayed names of the address list 76 using
scrollwheel 28a or other navigational input. In the illustrated example, when
the address list 76 is launched by using a hot key (ex. "C" key) from a
message list interface screen such as shown in Figure 4 where a message 72
associated with a specific sender or recipient ("John Smith") is highlighted,
then the address list 76 is automatically initially displayed as shown in
Figure
5 with the selection indicator 74 located over the name ("John Smith") of
that specific contact in the address list 76 (in the case where the specific
party has an entry in the address book information 310).
[0038] The contact names in the address list 76 each have associated entry in
the address book information 310 that is stored at or accessible to the device
10. The address book entry for each contact name can include all or parts of
the following for the named contact: last name; first name; email address;
company name; company address; job title; work phone number (work);
alternative work phone number (work 2); home phone number; mobile
number; pager number; fax number; PIN address; etc. In some cases, the
contact name may have multiple email addresses associated with it, multiple
PIN addresses, multiple mobile phone numbers, etc. Additionally, historic
communication information 312 that identifies the communication method or
option that was last used to contact an address book entry is part of or is
linked to at least some of the address book entries. In example
embodiments, the historic communication information 312 that is associated
with a contact name may specify whether the last contact was by voice
phone or through electronic messaging, and in the case of electronic
messaging may specify the communication method used for the last
electronic message sent to the associated contact (for example email, text
message (SMS), instant messaging, fax, and/or PIN messaging). Where a
contact name has multiple address options for some or all of the various
communications methods (for example multiple email addresses, multiple
PIN addressees, and or multiple phone numbers), then the historic
communication information 312 identifies the last address that was used for
communicating with the contact name. In cases where a contact entry in the
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address book has not yet been contacted, a default communication option
may be initially assigned such as "email" for example.
[0039] Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, when a specific contact name (ex.
"John Smith") is highlighted in the address list 76 and the device user
selects
the highlighted name by depressing the scrollwheel 28a (or other
predetermined input key), an options list or menu 106 of selectable functions
that may be performed by the device 10 in respect of the highlighted name is
displayed on the display screen 44 (see Figure 6). In the illustrated
embodiment, the options menu 106 includes a number of communication
function options for initiating contact with the highlighted name, including,
for example an 'Email" function 120; a "PIN function" 122; a "Call" function
124; and an text messaging "SMS" function 126. In some cases, multiple
function options for the same type of transport method could be displayed -
for example "Email to address No.1"; "Email to address No.2", etc. A
selection indicator 118 can be scrolled through the options menu 106 (by
rotating scrollwheel 28a, for example) to selectively highlight the functions
that are presented in the options menu 106. In the presently described
embodiment, when generating the options menu 106 for a highlighted
contact name, the processor 32 checks the historic communication
information 312 associated with the highlighted name to determine the
communication option that was last used when contacting that name, and
automatically positions the selection indicator 118 to highlight the
communication function in options menu 106 that corresponds to the last
used communication option. For example, in the embodiment shown in
Figure 6, the last time "John Smith" was contacted through the device 10
email was used, and thus when the options menu 106 is generated, the
selectable function "Email John Smith" 120 is automatically highlighted with
selection indicator 118. In order to select the highlighted function, the
device
user depresses the scrollwheel 28a (or in some embodiments, presses
another predetermined input key). Alternatively, if desired the device user
can rotate and then depress the scrollwheel 28a (or use an alternative
navigational input and selection mechanism, depending on the device 10) to
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=
highlight and then select an alternative communication function from the
option list 106.
[0040] Assuming that the user chooses to select the highlighted "Email John
Smith" function 120 by depressing the scrollwheel 28a, a compose email user
interface 130 as shown in Figure 7 will be displayed on display screen 44 with
the target recipient address field automatically populated with the
highlighted
contact's information, assisting the device user with composing and sending
an email to the contact.
[0041] As indicated above, in some circumstances a selected contact will have
multiple associated email addresses. In one example embodiment, the
different email address options are presented as different selectable options
in option menu 106, for example "Email1 John Smith"; "Email2 John Smith",
the last used email address is by default highlighted with selection indicator
118, and selection of the highlighted email option results in generation of
the
email compose interface of Figure 7 with the appropriate email address. In
alternative embodiments, where multiple email address options exist, only a
single "Email Contact Name" option 120 will appear in the options menu 106,
and user selection of the email option causes a further email option user
interface window 150 to be generated on the display screen 44, as shown in
Figure 8. In the illustrated example, the email options window 150 displays,
based on the stored contact information for John Smith in the address book
information 310, two different email address options. A device user can,
through rotation of scrollwheel 28a (or other suitable navigational input)
move a selection symbol 152 through the address options to selectively
highlight one of the options so that it can then be selected by depressing the
scrollwheel 28a (or pressing another suitable option selection key) to cause
the device 10 to generate a compose email interface 130 (Figure 7) for
sending an email to the selected address. In example embodiments, when
the email address option window 150 is generated in respect of a highlighted
contact name, a check of the stored communication information 312 for the
contact is performed to determine what email address are known for the
contact and of those addresses, which was the last one that was used for
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=
emailing the contact. The known addresses are then presented as options in
the window 150, and the selection symbol 152 is automatically positioned to
highlight the last used email address for the named contact.
100421 Referring again to Figure 6, in the event that the last known transport
method used for contacting "John Smith" had been PIN messaging, then the
"PIN John Smith" function 122 would have been highlighted by selection
indicator 118 when options menu 106 was generated, and selection of the
highlighted function would result in an interface screen for composing a PIN
message to John Smith's PIN address (as stored in address book information
31) being generated on display screen 44. In the event that multiple PIN
addresses existed for the contact name, then a PIN address selection window
similar to that shown Figure 8 can be generated to permit the user to select
the appropriate PIN address (with the last used PIN address being
highlighted by default
100431 In the event that the last known transport method used for
contacting "John Smith" had been text messaging through, for example SMS
communications, then the "SMS John Smith" function 126 would have been
highlighted by selection indicator 118 when options menu 106 was
generated, and selection of the highlighted function would result in an
interface screen for composing an SMS message to John Smith's SMS
address (as stored in address book information 31) being generated on
display screen 44. Again, in some circumstances there may be multiple
phone numbers associated with a contact name that could be used to SMS
text message the contact name. In example embodiments, when multiple
SMS addresses for a contact name exist and the user selects the "SMS
option" 126 from options menu 106 an SMS address option dialog window
160 is generated listing the available SMS addresses (which are typically
telephone numbers) as selectable options (See Figure 9). The SMS address
option window functions in a manner similar to the email address option
widow 150 discusses above, with the telephone number last used to SMS
message the contact name being highlighted by default with a selection
indicator 162. In the event that the is not a last used number on record for
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=
the named contact, the slection indicator 162 by default will highlight the
first mobile phone number on record for the named contact (as SMS
messages are more typically sent to mobile devices than to stationary
phones).
[0044] In the event that the last known transport method for communicating
with the contact is through phone communications, then the "Call John
Smith" telephone function 124 would have been highlighted by selection
indicator 118 when options menu 106 was generated. In one example
embodiment, once a user selects a highlighted "telephone call" function 224,
the processor 38 immediately initiates a telephone call from the device and
through the communications network to the telephone number stored in the
address information for the contact. In some embodiments, a confirmation
screen may be presented requesting the device user to confirm that the call
is to be initiated. Often the address book entry for a particular contact will
have more than one telephone possible number associated with that contact,
including for example one or more work numbers, a cell number, and/or a
pager number. Thus, as suggested above, in at least some example
embodiments, the device 10 is configured to track in the historic
communication information 312 the telephone number last used when
initiating telephone contact with a contact.
[0045] By way of example, Figure 10 shows a possible user interface call
options window 230 displayed on device display screen 44 in response to
user selection of the "Call John Smith" function 124 shown in Figure 6. The
call options window displays, based on the stored contact information for
John Smith in the address book information 310, three different telephone
number options, including a first work number option 232, a second work
number option 234a and a pager number option 236. Again, a device user
can, through rotation of scrollwheel 28a (or other suitable navigational
input)
move a selection symbol 238 through the options 232, 234a and 236 to
selectively highlight one of the options so that it can then be selected by
depressing the scrollwheel 28a (or pressing another suitable option selection
key) to cause the device 10 to initiate a call through network 50 to the
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highlighted number. In example embodiments, when the call option window
230 is generated in respect of a highlighted contact, a check of the stored
communication information 312 for the contact is performed to determine
what telephone numbers are known for the contact and of those numbers,
which was the last one that was used for calling the contact. The known
numbers are then presented as options in the call option window 230, and
the selection symbol 238 is automatically positioned to highlight the last
used
telephone number for the contact such that a call to that number can be
easily initiated by selecting the highlighted option through depression of the
scrollwheel 28a (or pressing another suitable selection key). In some
embodiments, the telephone options displayed in the call option window 230
can be integrated in the options menu 106 instead of being displayed in a
separate call option window.
100461 Thus, it will be appreciated that for each contact name in the address
book 310, various different communication transport mechanisms or
methods can exist as options for communicating between the device and that
contact name (for example, telephone and various electronic messaging
transport methods such as SMS messaging, PIN messaging, Email).
Furthermore, associated with each of the communication transport method
options there can be a number of different possible address options
(example, multiple phone numbers for telephone calls or SMS messaging,
multiple email address for email). In at least one example embodiment,
when a contact name is selected from an address book list, an option menu
106 is generated listing different user selectable communications options
(120, 122, 124, 126) for communicating with the selected contact name,
with the communications transport method option that was last used being
focused or highlighted with a selection indicator 118 as the default
communication option. In at least some example embodiments, all or at least
some of the communications options listed in the option menu 106 are
communication transport method options, and at least some of the transport
method options each have multiple associated address options. In order to
facilitate user selection of the multiple address options, when a transport
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CA 02541620 2006-04-03
=
=
method option is selected from the options menu 106, an address option
selection menu (see for example menus 150, 160, 230) is generated listing
user selectable address options to be used for the selected transport method.
The address that was last used for communicating with the selected contact
using the selected transport method is focused or highlighted with a selection
indicator 152, 162, 238 as the default address. In some embodiments, where
there is no "last used" communication transport method or address
information available for a selected contact name, the device can be
preconfigured to select a default option to highlight based on other
preconfigured criteria.
[0047] Turning again to Figure 6, as indicated above, the user can move the
onscreen selection indicator 118 to highlight and then select a different
communications method option other than the default option. For example,
in the illustrated embodiment, the last used communication method for
communicating with contact John Smith was email, and accordingly the
"Email John Smith" communications method option 120 is highlighted as the
default option when the option menu 106 is initially generated. However, the
user has the option to slect a different option, for example the "Call John
Smith" option 124, in which case the phone number selection menu 238 of
Figure 10 is generated, with the last used telephone number for John Smith
highlighted by selection symbol 238 as the default telephone number.
Accordihgly, in at least some example embodiments, when an options screen
displaying multiple selectable addresses for a selected communications
method are displayed, the address most recently used for the selected
communications method for the subject client name is highlighted as the
default address even when the selected communications method itself was
not most recently used communications method.
[0048] In some example embodiments, the last used communication
transport method and the addresses last used for each of the transport
methods that are tracked for the each of the client users are the
method/address that were last used in communications that were initiated by
the mobile device 10. In other words, when selecting what is the last used
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CA 02541620 2006-04-03
communications method that should be highlighted as the default option in
option menu 106 and what is the last used address that should be
highlighted as the default option in address election menus 150, 160, 238,
only outgoing communications initiated by the mobile device 10 are
considered and the addresses/communications methods used in incoming
communications from the selected contact name are irrelevant. For example,
in the situation where the user of mobile device emailed John Smith but then
subsequently received an incoming SMS message from John Smith, the next
time that the options menu 106 was displayed forJohn Smith the
communication method that would be highlighted in options menu 106 would
be the email option 120 (the last used communication method for
communications initiated by the mobile device 10 to John Smith).
100491 However, in at least some example embodiments, the relevant historic
communication information 312 that is tracked for contact names in the
address book 310 can also include the last address/communication method
used by the contact name for incoming communications, such that when
selecting what is the last used communications method that should be
highlighted as the default option in option menu 106 and what is the last
used address that should be highlighted as the default option in address
election menus 150, 160, 238, the most recent communication
method/address used in any communication with the selected contact name
(incoming or outgoing) is highlighted as the default. For example, in the
situation where the user of mobile device emailed John Smith but then
subsequently received an incoming phone call from John Smith's work 2
number, the next time that the options menu 106 was displayed for John
Smith the default communication method that would be highlighted in
options menu 106 would be the Call option 124 (the last used communication
method for any communications between the mobile device 10 and John
Smith), and if the Call option was selected, the highlighted telephone number
in the address selection screen 230 would be John Smith's work 2 number
(the last used phone address for the last phone communication between the
mobile device 10 and John Smith). By way of another example, if an email
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CA 02541620 2006-04-03
communication is sent from the mobile device 10 to the contact John Smith
at his email address1 (Jsmith@rim.com), and John Smith subsequently
replies from his email address2 (Jsmith@rogers.com) (both of which are
addresses that are associated with John Smith in address book 310), the
next time that email is selected as the communication method for contacting
John Smith and the email address options window 150 (Figure 8) is
generated, the default address that will be highlighted by selection symbol
152 is email address2 (Jsmith@rogers.com) (the last email address used in
an email communication between the device 10 and John Smith).
[0050] In some embodiments, whether the last communication
method/addresses that are used as the default are the last
method/addresses used for only outgoing communications initiated by the
device 10, or whether the last communication method/addresses that are
used as the default are the last method/addresses used for either of outgoing
communications initiated by the device 10 or incoming communications
received by the device 10 is a user configurable option. In some
configurations, such option can be set for individual contact names, and even
for the addresses used for the transport methods.
[0051] Turning again to Figure 6, in the situation where the device user
elects
100521 In some example embodiments, when tracking the communication
option used for previous communications with a contact, the processor 38 is
configured to only consider what transport method was last used for
electronic messaging to the highlighted contact, and to ignore telephone
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CA 02541620 2006-04-03
of whether the most recent communication to the contact was through voice
telephone. In at least some such configurations, the actual telephone number
used for the contact is still tracked in transport information 312 so that
phone options menu 230 can be generated with the last used number
highlighted in the event that the user selects the Call function 124 from
options menu 106.
100531 In the embodiment described above, the user interface of Figure 5
showing the list of names 76 stored in address book information 310 has
been generated in response to user activation of a hot key when viewing the
messages list 70 of Figure 4. However, the user interface methods described
above need not be limited to situations where the address book list 76 is
displayed in response to activation of a hot key. For example, the home
screen for the device 10 as shown in Figure 3 could include a "compose" icon
67, selection of which would launch a user interface screen similar to that
shown in Figure 5 which included a list of contact names that the methods
described above could be performed in respect of. Similarly, selection of the
"address book" icon 64a and/or phone icon 62 could in some embodiments
launch a user interface screen similar to that shown in Figure 5 which
included a list of contact names that the methods described above could be
performed in respect of. Furthermore, the address selection windows 150,
160, 238 can in some embodiments be reached through a sequence of user
activities that vary from the sequences described above - for example, the
device user may first select a compose email option before selecting the
contact name to use as the addressee, and then select the contact name,
resulting in generation of the email address option window 150 being
generated in, respect of the selected contact name with the last used email
address for the contact name being highlighted as the default email address.
[0054] In at least some embodiments, the device 10 can be configured by a
user to always highlight a default communications method option, regardless
of the last communications method that was used. In some embodiments,
the default can be globally set, and/or set for selected contact names or
groups of contacts.
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[00551 While the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing
specification, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
variations
may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, being
limited only by the appended claims.
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