USER INTERFACE FOR A HANDHELD DEVICE

• US 20070280179A1
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Van Belle, Theodore, Zinn, Scotte, Bocking, Andrew, Hardy, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,037,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
• 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 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• 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

A user interface and method for composing a message to be sent over a wireless network environment using a handheld device is disclosed. According to the method, upon receipt of a user request to compose a message, a screen is displayed with a recipient field for a recipient address, an associated label to indicate that the recipient field is for a recipient address, and a message body field for holding message content. The method further includes, upon each keystroke entry of text to the recipient field, looking up entries from an address book which match the text, and displaying a selection menu representing addresses from at least a portion of the entries.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless handheld device, comprising:

upon receipt of a user request to use a given messaging service, displaying a screen with (i) a recipient field for a recipient address, (ii) an associated label to indicate said recipient field is for a recipient address, and (iii) a message body field for holding message content;

thereafter, upon each keystroke entry of text to said recipient field, looking up entries from an address book which match said text and displaying a selection menu representing addresses from at least a portion of said entries.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

upon user selection of one address from said selection menu, filling said recipient field with said one address.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

thereafter, upon user request, wirelessly sending a message to said one address.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising ceasing to display said selection menu upon said user selection of one address from said selection menu.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said selection menu includes a global address list entry and further comprising, upon selection of said global address list entry, wirelessly transmitting a query to lookup said text in a remotely residing global address list.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, where a keystroke entry represents a first space in text entered to said recipient field, displaying said text in a display field where said first space is replaced with an “

@”

symbol.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising, where a keystroke represents a subsequent space in said recipient field, displaying said text in said display field where each said subsequent space is replaced with a “

.”

symbol.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising, where a keystroke entry is a keystroke sequence which represents a given space in text entered to said recipient field and an override indication, displaying said text in a display field where said given space is not replaced another character.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said display field is said recipient field.

10. The method of claim 2 further comprising, upon user selection of one address from said selection menu:

displaying a screen with (i) said recipient field, (ii) said associated label, (iii) said message body field, (iv) a second recipient field, and (v) a second associated label to indicate said second recipient field is for a second recipient address.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising, upon each keystroke entry of text to said second recipient field, looking up entries from said address book which match text input to said second recipient field and displaying a second selection menu representing addresses from at least a portion of entries which match text input to said second recipient field.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein said one address is a recipient name associated with an address according to a protocol of said given messaging service.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising, upon selection of one address from said selection menu, where said one address is a recipient name and if said recipient name is not associated with an address according to a protocol of said given messaging service, generating a warning.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said messaging service is an e-mail service.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising accepting user input to specify a second recipient field as a “

To;

”

field, a “

Cc;

”

field or a “

Bcc;

”

field.

16. The method of claim 3 wherein said messaging service is a short messaging service.

17. The method of claim 3 wherein said messaging service is an instant messaging service.

18. The method of claim 3 wherein said messaging service is a personal identification number (PIN) messaging service.

19. The method of claim 3 wherein said messaging service is a multi-media messaging service.

20. A handheld device comprising:

a persistent store;

a keyboard for text entry;

a display;

a wireless transmitter;

a controller operable to;

upon receipt of a user request to use a messaging service, display a screen with (i) a recipient field for a recipient address, (ii) an associated label to indicate said recipient field is for a recipient address, and (iii) a message body field for holding message content;

thereafter, upon each keystroke entry of text to said recipient field, look up entries from an address book which match said text and display a selection menu representing addresses from at least a portion of said entries.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein said controller is further operable to, upon user selection of one address from said selection menu, fill said recipient field with said one address.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein said controller is further operable to, upon user request, wirelessly send a message to said one address.

23. The device of claim 20 wherein said controller is further operable to, where a keystroke entry represents a first space in text entered to said recipient field, display said text in a display field where said first space is replaced with an “

@”

symbol.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein said controller is further operable to, where a keystroke represents a subsequent space in said recipient field, display said text in said display field where each said subsequent space is replaced with a “

.”

symbol.

25. The device of claim 20 wherein said controller is further operable to, upon user selection of one address from said selection menu:

display a screen with (i) said recipient field, (ii) said associated label, (iii) said message body field, (iv) a second recipient field, and (v) a second associated label to indicate said second recipient field is for a second recipient address.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein said controller is further operable to, upon each keystroke entry of text to said second recipient field, look up entries from said address book which match text input to said second recipient field and display a second selection menu representing addresses from at least a portion of entries which match text input to said second recipient field.

27. The device of claim 20 wherein said messaging service is an e-mail service and wherein said controller is further operable to accept user input to specify a second recipient field as a “

To;

”

field, a “

Cc;

”

field or a “

Bcc;

”

field.