Event list menu for accessing menu items in a hierarchical menu

• US 20050020316A1
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mahini, Hassan
• Application Number:
  US10/627,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20050020316A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

An events list menu provides quick and easy access to menus associated with desired functions or features of a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device dynamically updates the event list menu responsive to designated events and displays the event list menu responsive to user input. In one embodiment of the invention, the user may display the event list by pressing a shortcut key or a combination of keys. Each event in the event list is associated with a menu item in a hierarchical menu. The associated menu item is invoked when the user selects an event from the event list.

Claims

1. A method of accessing functions in a mobile communication device comprising:

dynamically updating an event list responsive to designated events;

displaying said event list to a user on a display;

associating a menu item in a hierarchical menu with each event in said event list; and

invoking the associated menu item in said hierarchical menu responsive to selection of an event from said event list by said user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein dynamically updating an event list responsive to designated events comprises adding events to said event list when a new event occurs.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein dynamically updating an event list responsive to designated events comprises deleting events from said event list responsive to user actions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said event list is displayed responsive to entry of a shortcut command by said user.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising sorting said event list before said event list is displayed.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said event list is sorted in time order.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said event list is sorted based on priorities assigned to said events on said event list.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said priorities are assigned to said events on said event list by a user.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein said event list is sorted based on usage statistics associated with said events on said event list.

10. A mobile communication device comprising:

a display for displaying menu items in a hierarchical menu for selection by a user;

a memory for storing an event list;

a processor to;

dynamically update said event list responsive to designated events;

display said event list on a display for viewing by a user;

associate a menu item in a hierarchical menu with each event in said event list; and

invoke the associated menu item in said hierarchical menu responsive to selection by said user of an event from said event list.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 10 wherein the processor adds events to said event list when a new designated event occurs.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 10 wherein the processor deletes events from said event list responsive to user actions.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 10 wherein the processor displays said event list responsive to entry of a shortcut command by said user.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 10 wherein said processor sorts said event list before said event list is displayed.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 14 wherein said processor sorts said event list in time order.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 14 wherein said processor sorts said event list based on priorities assigned to said events on said event list.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 16 wherein said priorities are assigned to said events on said event list by a user.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 10 wherein said processor sorts said event list based on usage statistics associated with said events on said event list.

19. A circuit for controlling a user interface including a display, said circuit comprising a processor programmed to:

generate and dynamically update an event list responsive to designated events;

display said event list on said display for viewing by a user;

associate a menu item in a hierarchical menu with each event in said event list; and

invoke the associated menu item in said hierarchical menu responsive to selection by said user of an event from said event list.

20. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the processor adds events to said event list when a new designated event occurs.

21. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the processor deletes events from said event list responsive to user actions.

22. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the processor displays said event list responsive to entry of a shortcut command by said user.

23. The circuit of claim 19 wherein said processor sorts said event list before said event list is displayed.

24. The circuit of claim 23 wherein said processor sorts said event list in time order.

25. The circuit of claim 23 wherein said processor sorts said event list based on priorities assigned to said events on said event list.

26. The circuit of claim 25 wherein said priorities are assigned to said events on said event list by a user.

27. The circuit of claim 19 wherein said processor sorts said event list based on usage statistics associated with said events on said event list.

28. A computer program stored in a computer readable medium for controlling a user interface in a mobile communication device, said program including instructions to cause said mobile communication device to:

generate and dynamically update an event list responsive to designated events;

display said event list on a display for viewing by a user;

associate a menu item in a hierarchical menu with each event in said event list; and

invoke the associated menu item in said hierarchical menu responsive to selection by said user of an event from said event list.