Method for sorting and displaying data on a portable electronic device

• US 20070266005A1
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Blommesteijn, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 8,161,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 with dynamic range variability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass

Abstract

A method of sorting and displaying data on a portable electronic device includes: determining geographical coordinates of the portable electronic device, providing search criteria to the portable electronic device, performing a search in a database based on the search criteria resulting in a list of database records, determining a search area of the portable electronic device and displaying selected records from the list of database records on a display screen of the portable electronic device. Each of the selected records is located within a search radius, which originates at the geographical coordinates of the portable electronic device, and within the search area, which is determined based on a pointing direction of the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A method of sorting and displaying data on a portable electronic device comprising:

determining geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device;

providing search criteria to said portable electronic device, said search criteria including a search radius, said search radius originating at said geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device;

sending said search criteria to a server;

performing a search in a database on said server based on said search criteria, said search resulting in a list of database records;

returning said list of database records to said portable electronic device;

determining a search area of said portable electronic device;

displaying selected records from said list of database records on a display screen of said portable electronic device, said selected database records having geographic coordinates located within said search area; and

wherein said search area is determined based on a pointing direction of said portable electronic device.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said search area is a sector of a circle that is defined by said search radius.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pointing direction is a pointing direction of a forward end of said portable electronic device.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said search criteria further includes at least one search parameter.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said search parameter is a category of said database records.

6. A method of sorting and displaying data on a portable electronic device comprising:

determining geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device;

determining a pointing direction of said portable electronic device;

calculating a search area based on said pointing direction and a search radius, said search radius originating at said geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device;

sending search criteria including said search area to a server;

performing a search in a records database on said server based on said search criteria;

returning records meeting said search criteria to said portable electronic device; and

displaying said records on a display screen of said portable electronic device.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said search area is a sector of a circle that is defined by said search radius.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said pointing direction is a pointing direction of a forward end of said portable electronic device.

9. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said search criteria further includes at least one search parameter.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said search parameter is a category of said database records.

11. A portable electronic device comprising:

positioning system hardware for determining geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device;

magnetic sensor hardware for determining a pointing direction of said portable electronic device;

a processor for performing a search in a records database, said search being performed based on search criteria; and

a screen for displaying records meeting said search criteria;

wherein said search criteria includes a search area defined at least in part by a search radius having an origin at said geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device.

12. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said processor is included in said portable electronic device.

13. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said search criteria is sent to a server, said search is performed on said server and records meeting said search criteria are returned to said portable electronic device.

14. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said search area is a sector of a circle having a radius equal to said search radius and being bisected by said pointing direction.

15. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said pointing direction is a pointing direction of a forward end of said portable electronic device.

16. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said search criteria further includes at least one search parameter.

19. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said search parameter is a category of said records database.