METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR LINE SELECTION IN A COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20090221322A1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Yach, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,467,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/733 with a plurality of base stations connected to a plurality of lines for selection in cordless PBX H04W84/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/66 user interface aspects for indicating selection options for a communication line
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing

Abstract

Embodiments of an apparatus and methods for selecting a communication line from two or more lines on a communication device are described herein. The communication device comprises a display module, an input module, a line selection module, and a communication module for making a call over a network to a target recipient. In one broad aspect, upon detecting initiation of the call to the target recipient, a determination of which of the communication lines is a communication line most frequently used on the mobile device is made in the selection of a communication line accessible at the communication device on which an outgoing call may be placed.

Claims

1. A method of placing a call on a communication line selected from at least two communication lines on which outgoing calls are placed using a mobile device, said method comprising:

monitoring for initiation of a call to a target recipient;

upon detecting initiation of the call to the target recipient, determining which of the at least two communication lines is a communication line most frequently used on the mobile device; and

placing the call to the target recipient on the determined communication line of the at least two communication lines which is the communication line most frequently used on the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing line selection information comprising first line selection data identifying the communication line on which the call is placed to the target recipient; and

wherein the line selection information comprising first line selection data is usable in at least one subsequent determination of which of the at least two communication lines is the communication line most frequently used on the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring for reception of a second call at the mobile device;

upon detecting reception of the second call, storing line selection information comprising second line selection data identifying the communication line on which the second call is received at the mobile device;

wherein the line selection information comprising second line selection data is usable in at least one subsequent determination of which of the at least two communication lines is the communication line most frequently used on the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication line most frequently used at the mobile device is determined on the basis of calls placed within a pre-defined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication line most frequently used at the mobile device is determined on the basis of calls placed to a pre-defined subset of one or more target recipients.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication line most frequently used at the mobile device is determined on the basis of calls received within a pre-defined period of time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication line most frequently used at the mobile device is determined on the basis of calls received from a pre-defined subset of one or more potential target recipients.

8. A mobile device, wherein the mobile device provides access to at least two communication lines on which outgoing calls are placed, the mobile device comprising:

an input module programmed to monitor for initiation of a call to a target recipient;

a line selection module programmed to determine which of the at least two communication lines is a communication line most frequently used on the mobile device; and

a communication module programmed to place the call to the target recipient on the determined communication line of the at least two communication lines which is the communication line most frequently used on the mobile device.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the line selection module is further programmed to:

store line selection information comprising first line selection data identifying the communication line on which the call is placed to the target recipient; and

wherein the line selection information comprising first line selection data is usable in at least one subsequent determination of which of the at least two communication lines is the communication line most frequently used on the mobile device.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the line selection module is further programmed to:

monitor for reception of a second call at the mobile device;

upon detecting reception of the second call, store line selection information comprising second line selection data identifying the communication line on which the second call is received at the mobile device;

wherein the line selection information comprising second line selection data is usable in at least one subsequent determination of which of the at least two communication lines is the communication line most frequently used on the mobile device.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the communication line most frequently used at the mobile device is determined on the basis of calls placed within a pre-defined period of time.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the communication line most frequently used at the mobile device is determined on the basis of calls placed to a pre-defined subset of one or more target recipients.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the communication line most frequently used at the mobile device is determined on the basis of calls received within a pre-defined period of time.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the communication line most frequently used at the mobile device is determined on the basis of calls received from a pre-defined subset of one or more potential target recipients.

15. A computer-readable medium upon which instructions are stored for performing, on a mobile device, a method of placing a call on a communication line selected from at least two communication lines on which outgoing calls are placed using a mobile device, said method comprising:

monitoring for initiation of a call to a target recipient;

upon detecting initiation of the call to the target recipient, determining which of the at least two communication lines is a communication line most frequently used on the mobile device; and

placing the call to the target recipient on the determined communication line of the at least two communication lines which is the communication line most frequently used on the mobile device.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

storing line selection information comprising first line selection data identifying the communication line on which the call is placed to the target recipient; and

wherein the line selection information comprising first line selection data is usable in at least one subsequent determination of which of the at least two communication lines is the communication line most frequently used on the mobile device.

17. The medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring for reception of a second call at the mobile device;

upon detecting reception of the second call, storing line selection information comprising second line selection data identifying the communication line on which the second call is received at the mobile device;

wherein the line selection information comprising second line selection data is usable in at least one subsequent determination of which of the at least two communication lines is the communication line most frequently used on the mobile device.

18. The medium of claim 15, wherein the communication line most frequently used at the mobile device is determined on the basis of calls placed within a pre-defined period of time.

19. The medium of claim 15, wherein the communication line most frequently used at the mobile device is determined on the basis of calls placed to a pre-defined subset of one or more target recipients.

20. The medium of claim 15, wherein the communication line most frequently used at the mobile device is determined on the basis of calls received within a pre-defined period of time.

21. The medium of claim 15, wherein the communication line most frequently used at the mobile device is determined on the basis of calls received from a pre-defined subset of one or more potential target recipients.