EXPEDITED COMMUNICATION KEY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090213088A1
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: HARDY, MICHAEL THOMAS, SCOTT, SHERRYL LEE LORRAINE, LAZARIDIS, MIHAL
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• 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 1/72516 with means for out-of-range alerting

Abstract

A method of performing expedited communication functions on a mobile device includes monitoring the duration-of key press on a keyboard of the mobile device and determining if the monitored duration of the key press is greater than a threshold duration. If the monitored duration of the key press is determined to be less than a threshold duration, then a primary key function associated with the pressed key is activated. If the monitored duration of the key press is determined to be greater than a threshold duration, then an expedited communication function associated with the pressed key is activated.

Claims

1. A process for facilitating performance of a communication function, said process comprising:

displaying a graphical representation of keys associated with an expedited communication function;

invoking one of an expedited communication function and a non-expedited communication function;

if an expedited communication function is invoked, then automatically accessing data used pursuant to the expedited communication function;

if a nonexpedited communication function is invoked, then accessing data using user contact input data;

carrying out the one of the expedited communication function and the non-expedited communication function.

2. The process of claim 1 further comprising, prior to said carrying out, of determining if a communication function associated with accessed data is available.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein said carrying out comprises carrying out the expedited communication function if the expedited communication function is invoked during said invoking and the expedited communication function is determined during said determining to be available.

4. The process of claim 2 wherein said carrying out comprises carrying out the non-expedited function if the expedited function is invoked during said invoking and the expedited communication function is determined during said determining not to be available.

5. The process of claim 2 wherein said carrying out comprises carrying out the non-expedited communication function if the non-expedited function is invoked during said invoking.

6. The process of claim 1 further comprising, prior to said carrying out, referencing communication preference data.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the communication preference data comprises a rule set.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the rule set comprises a time-based rule set.

9. The process of claim 7 wherein the rule set comprises a contact-status-based rule set.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein said displaying comprises displaying the graphical representation at a graphical user interface.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein said displaying comprises displaying keys of a keyboard at the graphical user interface.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein said invoking comprises pressing a key of the keys displayed during said displaying for less than a selected threshold to invoke the non-expedited communication function.

13. The process of claim 1 wherein said invoking comprises pressing a key of the keys displayed during said displaying for greater than a selected threshold to invoke the expedited communication function.

14. The process of claim 1 further comprising determining if the expedited communication function is available.

15. An apparatus for facilitating performance of a communication function, said apparatus comprising:

a displayer configured to display a graphical representation of keys associated with an expedited communication function;

an invoker configured to invoke on of an expedited communication function and a non-expedited communication function responsive to pressing of a key of the graphical representation of keys, the expedited communication function being invoked if the key is pressed for greater than a threshold period and a communication mode associated therewith is available.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said displayer is configured to display a graphical representation of a keyboard.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said displayer comprises a graphical user interface.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said invoker is configured to invoke the non-expedited communication function if the key is pressed for greater than the threshold period and the communication mode associated therewith is unavailable.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said invoker is configured to invoke the non-expedited communication function if the key is pressed for less than the threshold period and the communication mode associated therewith is available.

20. A method for facilitating communication-function performance of a mobile device, said method comprising:

invoking a communication function responsive to an activation event;

automatically accessing contact data used pursuant to the communication function when the communication function comprises an expedited communication function;

determining if a communication mode associated with the contact data is available;

executing the expedited communication function if the communication mode is available; and

determining if an alternate communication mode associated with the contact data is available.