Handheld electronic device including cross application use of phone related inputs, and associated method

• US 20060058063A1
• Filed: 09/13/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Bocking, Andrew D., Vander Veen, Raymond P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,086,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27463 Predictive input, predictive dialling by comparing the dialled sequence with the content of a telephone directory
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2753 providing data content
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• 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 improved handheld electronic device and an associated method provide added convenience for the user by enabling the user to quickly and easily initiate telephone related functions from applications other than the device'"'"'s phone and address book applications using a dedicated phone related key. The device includes a plurality of use states and each one of the use states has an associated function that is to be initiated upon depression of the phone related key. When the phone related key is depressed, the current use state is determined and the function that is associated with the current use state is executed.

Claims

1. In a handheld electronic device having a phone application, an address book application having a plurality of contact entries and one or more other applications wherein one of said other applications is the currently active application of said handheld electronic device, wherein a screen of first information is present on a display of said handheld electronic device, and wherein a portion of said first information has been selected by a user of said handheld electronic device, a method of using a dedicated phone related key of said handheld electronic device to initiate and execute a phone related function in the handheld electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting that said phone related key has been activated while said screen of first information is present on said display;

determining whether said selected portion includes a phone number

if said selected portion does not include a phone number, determining whether said selected portion is associated with a selected one of said contact entries by using said selected portion to search said contact entries;

if said selected portion is associated with a selected one of said contact entries, making said phone application active and placing a phone call to a phone number forming a part of said selected one of said contact entries.

8. The method according to claim 1, said selected portion being a person'"'"'s name.

9. The method according to claim 8, said one of said other applications being a messaging application for sending and receiving a plurality of messages, said name forming a part of one of said messages.

13. The method according to claim 1, said phone related key being a <

SEND>

key.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. The method according to claim 31, said one of said other applications being one of a messaging application, a browser application, a memo application, a calendar application, and a task application.

6. (canceled)

7. The method according to claim 61, said selected one of said contact entries having a plurality of phone numbers, the method further comprising accepting input from said user to select one of said plurality of phone numbers and placing the phone call to the selected one of said plurality of phone numbers.

10. The method according to claim 61, said selected portion being an email address.

11. The method according to claim 10, said one of said other applications being a messaging application for sending and receiving a plurality of messages, said email address forming a part of one of said messages.

12. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a display displaying a screen of first information, wherein a portion of said first information is selected by a user of said handheld electronic device;

a communications subsystem;

an input apparatus including a dedicated phone related key; and

a processing unit including a processor adapted to respond to inputs from said input apparatus and a memory in electronic communication with said processor, said memory having a phone application, an address book application having a plurality of contact entries, one or more other applications, and one or more routines executable by said processor, said one or more routines, when one of said other applications is the currently active application of said handheld electronic device, being adapted to;

detect that said phone related key has been activated while said screen of first information is present on said display;

determine whether said selected portion includes a phone number;

if said selected portion does not include a phone number, search said contact entries using said selected portion to determine whether said selected portion is associated with a selected one of said contact entries; and

if said selected portion is associated with a selected one of said contact entries, make said phone application active and place a phone call using said communications subsystem to a phone number forming a part of said selected one of said contact entries.

20. The handheld electronic device according to claim 16, said one of said other applications being one of a messaging application, a browser application, a memo application, a calendar application, and a task application.

22. The handheld electronic device according to claim 16, said selected one of said contact entries having a plurality of phone numbers, said routine being further adapted to enable said user to select one of said plurality of phone numbers and place the phone call to the selected one of said plurality of phone numbers.

23. The handheld electronic device according to claim 22, said selected portion being a person'"'"'s name.

24. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, said one of said other applications being a messaging application for sending and receiving a plurality of messages, said name being part of one of said messages.

25. The handheld electronic device according to claim 22, said selected portion being an email address.

26. The handheld electronic device according to claim 25, said one of said other application being a messaging application for sending and receiving a plurality of messages, said email address forming a part of one of said messages.

28. The handheld electronic device according to claim 16, said phone related key being a <

SEND>

key.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)