Activities/applications menu for a mobile communication device

• US 20070234235A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Scott, Sherryl
• Application Number:
  US11/393,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20070234235A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/825
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A mobile communication device having an interface for performing a function is provided. The interface comprises a reduced set of functions which are accessed by actuating one or more of the input devices, the reduced set of functions comprising a set of application-sensitive functions which are derived from a full-function set of functions associated with the application.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a housing having a display and a plurality of input devices, and

an interface for performing a function associated with an application on the mobile communication device, the interface comprising a reduced set of functions on the display which is accessed by actuating one or more of the input devices, the reduced set of functions comprising a set of application-sensitive functions which are derived from a full-function set of functions associated with the application.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the set of application-sensitive functions is a menu.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2 wherein the menu comprises a nested menu displayed by actuating the one or more input devices when an application-sensitive function is selected from the menu.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 3 wherein the nested menu comprises one or more context-sensitive commands associated with the application.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 4 wherein the one or more context-sensitive commands within the nested menu is invoked by actuating the one or more input devices.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein one of the one or more input devices is a dedicated input device for displaying the set of application-sensitive functions on the mobile communication device.

7. A user interface for performing a function associated with an application in a mobile communication device, the interface comprising:

a display;

a plurality of input devices on the mobile communication device, and

a reduced set of functions on the display which is accessed by actuating one or more of the input devices, the reduced set of functions comprising a set of application-sensitive functions which are derived from a full-function set of functions associated with the application.

8. The user interface of claim 7 wherein the set of application-sensitive functions is a menu.

9. The user interface of claim 8 wherein the menu comprises a nested menu.

10. The user interface of claim 9 wherein the nested menu comprises one or more context-sensitive commands associated with the application.

11. The user interface of claim 7 wherein one of the one or more input devices is a dedicated input device for displaying the set of application-sensitive functions on the mobile communication device.

12. The user interface of claim 7 further comprising icons, corresponding to the function to be performed by the user, adjacent to each function.

13. A method of performing a function associated with an application on a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

selecting the application from an application interface;

actuating an input device on the mobile communication device to display a reduced set of functions comprising a set of application-sensitive functions which are derived from a full-function set of functions associated with the application;

selecting a function from the set of application-sensitive functions;

actuating the input device; and

performing the function.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the set of application-sensitive functions is a menu.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the menu comprises a nested menu which is displayed by actuating the input device when an application-sensitive function is selected from the menu.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the nested menu comprises one or more context-sensitive commands associated with the application.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising invoking the one or more context-sensitive commands within the nested menu by actuating the input device.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the input device is a dedicated input device for displaying the set of application-sensitive functions on the mobile communication device.