Handheld electronic device and associated method providing availability data in a messaging environment

• US 20050124363A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wormald, Christopher R., Dunk, Craig A., Klassen, Gerhard D., Phipps, Darcy R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,750,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method are provided in which enhanced information regarding an “availability” of a user of a handheld electronic device is provided to another electronic device in a messaging environment. Such availability data provides step-wise indications of the relative availabilities of one or more users of electronic devices in a messaging environment. The step-wise indications can, for instance, range from an availability level of “currently active” to several levels of nonavailability. The device and method can be incorporated into an existing messaging environment.

Claims

1. A method of enabling communication between a first device and a second device, the first device being a handheld electronic device having a wireless communication capability, the second device being an electronic device, the method comprising:

determining an extent of activity on the first device;

determining from the extent of activity an availability value that is representative at least in part of a degree of relative availability of a user of the first device;

providing a signal to the second device, at least a portion of the signal being representative of the availability value; and

outputting on the second device an output representative of at least a portion of said availability value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting an occurrence of a predetermined event and, responsive to said predetermined event, initiating said providing a signal to the second device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising detecting as the predetermined event an expiration of a predetermined period of time.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising detecting as the predetermined event a telephone event on the first device.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising detecting as the predetermined event an event affecting the wireless communication capability of the first device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting as the output a visual output of at least one of a descriptive icon, a variable icon, and a string value.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the availability value by altering a previously-determined availability value according to the extent of activity.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting as the extent of activity on the first device a relative absence of activity on the first device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting as the extent of activity on the first device a transmission of data between the first device and another device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting as the extent of activity on the first device an existence of a stored predetermined event that is scheduled to occur at a predetermined time and detecting an occurrence of the predetermined time.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting as the output a stepped indication representative of an activity level from among a plurality of predetermined stepped activity levels ranging between a level of at least substantially present activity on the first device and a level of no activity within a preceding predetermined period of time on the first device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the availability value as being representative of a level of nonavailability of the first device from among a plurality of levels of nonavailability of the first device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining the availability value as being representative of a level on nonavailability of the first device corresponding with an occurrence of a telephone event on the first device.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining the availability value as being representative of a level on nonavailability of the first device corresponding with the first device being logged out of a service.

15. A method of enabling communication between a first device and a second device, the first device being a handheld electronic device having a wireless communication capability, the second device being an electronic device, the first device being adapted to enable a determination of an extent of activity on the first device, the extent of activity being employable to enable a determination of an availability value that is representative at least in part of a degree of relative availability of a user of the first device, the method comprising providing to the second device a signal representative at least in part of the availability value.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, responsive to an occurrence of a predetermined event, initiating said providing a signal to the second device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising employing as the predetermined event an expiration of a predetermined period of time.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising employing as the predetermined event a telephone event on the first device.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising employing as the predetermined event an event affecting the wireless communication capability of the first device.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising employing as the availability value a previously-determined availability value altered according to the extent of activity.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising employing as the extent of activity on the first device a relative absence of activity on the first device.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising employing as the extent of activity on the first device a transmission of data between the first device and another device.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising employing as the extent of activity on the first device a stored predetermined event that is scheduled to occur at a predetermined time and an occurrence of the predetermined time.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising employing as the availability value a value representative of a level of nonavailability of the first device from among a plurality of levels of nonavailability of the first device.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising employing as the availability value a value representative of a level on nonavailability of the first device corresponding with an occurrence of a telephone event on the first device.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising employing as the availability value a value representative of a level on nonavailability of the first device corresponding with the first device being logged out of a service.

27. A method of enabling a determination of a value for use in enabling communication between a first device and a second device, the first device being a handheld electronic device having a wireless communication capability, the second device being an electronic device, the method comprising:

enabling a determination of an extent of activity on the first device; and

enabling from the extent of activity a determination of an availability value that is representative at least in part of a degree of relative availability of a user of the first device.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising enabling a detection of an occurrence of a predetermined event and, responsive to said predetermined event, enabling an initiation of said providing a signal to the second device.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising employing as the predetermined event an expiration of a predetermined period of time.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising employing as the predetermined event a telephone event on the first device.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising employing as the predetermined event an event affecting the wireless communication capability of the first device.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising enabling a determination of the availability value by altering a previously-determined availability value according to the extent of activity.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising employing as the extent of activity on the first device a relative absence of activity on the first device.

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising employing as the extent of activity on the first device a transmission of data between the first device and another device.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising employing as the extent of activity on the first device a stored predetermined event that is scheduled to occur at a predetermined time and an occurrence of the predetermined time.

36. The method of claim 27, further comprising enabling outputting as the output a stepped indication representative of an activity level from among a plurality of predetermined stepped activity levels ranging between a level of at least substantially present activity on the first device and a level of no activity within a preceding predetermined period of time on the first device.

37. The method of claim 27, further comprising employing as the availability value a value representative of a level of nonavailability of the first device from among a plurality of levels of nonavailability of the first device.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising employing as the availability value a value representative of a level on nonavailability of the first device corresponding with an occurrence of a telephone event on the first device.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising employing as the availability value a value representative of a level on nonavailability of the first device corresponding with the first device being logged out of a service.

40. A machine readable medium that provides instructions which, when executed on a handheld electronic device with a wireless communication capability, cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations comprising:

determining an extent of activity on the handheld electronic device; and

determining from the extent of activity an availability value that is representative at least in part of a degree of relative availability of a user of the handheld electronic device.

41. The machine readable medium of claim 40, wherein said operations further comprise providing a signal to another electronic device, at least a portion of the signal being representative of the availability value.

42. The machine readable medium of claim 41, wherein said operations further comprise detecting an occurrence of a predetermined event and, responsive to said predetermined event, initiating said providing a signal to said another electronic device.

43. The machine readable medium of claim 42, wherein said operations further comprise detecting as the predetermined event an expiration of a predetermined period of time.

44. The machine readable medium of claim 42, wherein said operations further comprise detecting as the predetermined event a telephone event on the handheld electronic device.

45. The machine readable medium of claim 42, wherein said operations further comprise detecting as the predetermined event an event affecting the wireless communication capability of the handheld electronic device.

46. The machine readable medium of claim 40, wherein said operations further comprise outputting as the output a visual output of at least one of a descriptive icon, a variable icon, and a string value.

47. The machine readable medium of claim 40, wherein said operations further comprise determining the availability value by altering a previously-determined availability value according to the extent of activity.

48. The machine readable medium of claim 40, wherein said operations further comprise detecting as the extent of activity on the handheld electronic device a relative absence of activity on the handheld electronic device.

49. The machine readable medium of claim 40, wherein said operations further comprise detecting as the extent of activity on the handheld electronic device a transmission of data between the handheld electronic device and said another electronic device.

50. The machine readable medium of claim 40, wherein said operations further comprise detecting as the extent of activity on the handheld electronic device an existence of a stored predetermined event that is scheduled to occur at a predetermined time and detecting an occurrence of the predetermined time.

51. The machine readable medium of claim 40, wherein said operations further comprise outputting as the output a stepped indication representative of an activity level from among a plurality of predetermined stepped activity levels ranging between a level of at least substantially present activity on the handheld electronic device and a level of no activity within a preceding predetermined period of time on the handheld electronic device.

52. The machine readable medium of claim 40, wherein said operations further comprise determining the availability value as being representative of a level of nonavailability of the handheld electronic device from among a plurality of levels of nonavailability of the handheld electronic device.

53. The machine readable medium of claim 52, wherein said operations further comprise determining the availability value as being representative of a level on nonavailability of the handheld electronic device corresponding with an occurrence of a telephone event on the handheld electronic device.

54. The machine readable medium of claim 52, wherein said operations further comprise determining the availability value as being representative of a level on nonavailability of the handheld electronic device corresponding with the handheld electronic device being logged out of a service.

55. A handheld electronic device with a wireless communication capability comprising:

a processor apparatus including a processor and a memory;

an input apparatus;

an output apparatus; and

the memory including a routine stored therein, the routine being adapted to determine an extent of activity on the handheld electronic device, and the routine being further adapted to determine from the extent of activity an availability value that is representative at least in part of a degree of relative availability of a user of the handheld electronic device.

56. The handheld electronic device of claim 55, wherein the routine is further adapted to provide a signal to another electronic device, at least a portion of the signal being representative of the availability value.

57. The handheld electronic device of claim 56, wherein the routine is further adapted to detect an occurrence of a predetermined event and, responsive to said predetermined event, initiate said signal to said another electronic device.

58. The handheld electronic device of claim 57, wherein the routine is further adapted to detect as the predetermined event an expiration of a predetermined period of time.

59. The handheld electronic device of claim 57, wherein the routine is further adapted to detect as the predetermined event a telephone event on the handheld electronic device.

60. The handheld electronic device of claim 57, wherein the routine is further adapted to detect as the predetermined event an event affecting the wireless communication capability of the handheld electronic device.

61. The handheld electronic device of claim 55, wherein the routine is further adapted to output as the output a visual output of at least one of a descriptive icon, a variable icon, and a string value.

62. The handheld electronic device of claim 55, wherein the routine is further adapted to determine the availability value by altering a previously-determined availability value according to the extent of activity.

63. The handheld electronic device of claim 55, wherein the routine is further adapted to detect as the extent of activity on the handheld electronic device a relative absence of activity on the handheld electronic device.

64. The handheld electronic device of claim 55, wherein the routine is further adapted to detect as the extent of activity on the handheld electronic device a transmission of data between the handheld electronic device and said another electronic device.

65. The handheld electronic device of claim 55, wherein the routine is further adapted to detect as the extent of activity on the handheld electronic device an existence of a stored predetermined event that is scheduled to occur at a predetermined time and detecting an occurrence of the predetermined time.

66. The handheld electronic device of claim 55, wherein the routine is further adapted to output as the output a stepped indication representative of an activity level from among a plurality of predetermined stepped activity levels ranging between a level of at least substantially present activity on the handheld electronic device and a level of no activity within a preceding predetermined period of time on the handheld electronic device.

67. The handheld electronic device of claim 55, wherein the routine is further adapted to determine the availability value as being representative of a level of nonavailability of the handheld electronic device from among a plurality of levels of nonavailability of the handheld electronic device.

68. The handheld electronic device of claim 67, wherein the routine is further adapted to determine the availability value as being representative of a level on nonavailability of the handheld electronic device corresponding with an occurrence of a telephone event on the handheld electronic device.

69. The handheld electronic device of claim 67, wherein the routine is further adapted to determining the availability value as being representative of a level on nonavailability of the handheld electronic device corresponding with the handheld electronic device being logged out of a service.