Entering contacts in a communication message on a mobile device

• US 20060135135A1
• Filed: 11/25/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited), Lionex Diagnostics and Therapeutics GmbH
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Rybak, Rafal
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide a user with the ability to enter and validate contact addresses when composing a message on a mobile device. The user may access at least one of a local contact address data store and a remote contact address data store when entering and validating contact addresses.

Claims

1. A method of contact address entry for messages composed by a user on a mobile communication device, wherein the method comprises:

a) allowing the user to enter at least one contact address in an address field in the message;

b) checking for at least one potentially incorrect contact address by identifying at least one manually entered contact address that does not have a matching entry in a local contact address data store; and

,

c) validating the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) includes allowing the user to check a remote contact address data store for a matching entry for the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) includes allowing the user to manually correct the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of:

step (b) includes providing the user with a list of similar contact addresses found in the local contact address data store compared to the at least one potentially incorrect contact address, and step (c) includes providing the user with a list of similar contact addresses found in the remote contact address data store compared to the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) includes checking the at least one entered contact address for proper syntax.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) includes contacting a remote contact service to allow the user to browse a remote contact address store to enter the at least one contact address.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (a) includes allowing the user to enter a few characters of one of a desired contact address and a name associated with the desired contact address and providing the user with a list of matching contact addresses found in the remote contact address data store.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) includes providing a validation means for allowing the user to either accept the at least one potentially incorrect contact address as a correct contact address, correct the at least one potentially incorrect contact address or remotely lookup a correct contact address for the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

9. A computer program product for allowing a user of a mobile device to enter contact addresses when composing a message on the mobile device, the computer program product comprising a computer readable medium embodying program code means executable by a processor of the mobile device for implementing a contact address entry method as specified in claim 1.

10. A mobile communication device comprising:

a) a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device;

b) a communication subsystem connected to the main processor, the communication subsystem being adapted for wirelessly sending and receiving data;

c) a message application that interfaces with the communication subsystem to send and receive messages, and to receive contact data from a remote contact service;

d) a local contact address data store; and

,

e) a contact lookup module for allowing a user to enter at least one contact address in an address field in a message composed using the message application, check for at least one potentially incorrect contact address by identifying at least one manually entered contact address that does not have a matching entry in the local contact address data store; and

, validate the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the contact lookup module allows the user to check a remote contact address data store for a matching entry for the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the contact lookup module allows the user to manually correct the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 12, wherein during at least one of checking and validation, the contact lookup module is adapted to provide the user with a list of similar contact addresses found in a contact address data store compared to the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the contact lookup module checks the entered contact addresses for proper syntax.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the contact lookup module is adapted to contact a remote contact service to allow the user to browse a remote contact address store to enter the at least one contact address.

16. A system comprising:

a) a mobile device including;

i) a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile device;

ii) a communication subsystem connected to the main processor, the communication subsystem being adapted for wirelessly sending and receiving data;

iii) a message application that interfaces with the communication subsystem to send and receive messages, and to receive contact data;

iv) a local contact address data store; and

,

v) a contact lookup module for allowing a user to enter at least one contact address in an address field in a message composed on the mobile device, check for at least one potentially incorrect contact address by identifying at least one manually entered contact address that does not have a matching entry in the local contact address data store; and

, validate the at least one potentially incorrect contact address;

b) a remote contact service for providing the contact data to the mobile device, the contact data including at least one contact address; and

,

c) a wireless network for providing communication between the mobile device and the remote contact service.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact lookup module allows the user to check a remote contact address data store for a matching entry for the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact lookup module allows the user to manually correct the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein during at least one of checking and validation, the contact lookup module is adapted to provide the user with a list of similar contact addresses found in a contact address data store compared to the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact lookup module checks the entered at least one contact address for proper syntax.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote contact service is provided by a contact server associated with one of a corporate enterprise and a website.