Access to Contacts

• US 20100153886A1
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Hautala, Ismo Tapio
• Granted Patent: US 9,313,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/847
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• 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 1/72472 wherein the items are sorted according to specific criteria, e.g. frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A user interface comprises a display and a controller, said controller being arranged to display an arrangement of at least one contact icon associated with a contact and to display a control icon, said control icon associated with a function.

Claims

1. A user interface comprising a display and a controller, said controller being arranged to display an arrangement of at least one contact icon being associated with a contact and to display a control icon, said control icon being associated with a function.

2. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein said controller is arranged to execute said function upon receiving input representing a selection of said control icon.

3. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein said controller is arranged to display said arrangement upon receipt of a specific input.

4. A user interface according to claim 3, wherein said specific input is a keypress or a gesture on a touchpad or touch display.

5. A user interface according to claim 3, wherein said controller is arranged to display said arrangement irrespective of a current operating mode.

6. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein said controller is arranged to display a list of a plurality of contacts upon receipt of a second specific input.

7. A user interface according to claim 6, wherein said controller is arranged to display said list of a plurality of contacts simultaneously with the arrangement.

8. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein said function associated with said control icon is related to a contact associated with a marked contact icon.

9. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein said function associated with said control icon is related to an operating mode.

10. A user interface according to claim 9, wherein said operating mode is dependant on a currently executed application and wherein said function is related to said application.

11. A user interface according to claim 6, wherein said controller is arranged to receive input representing a selection of a contact from the list of plurality of contacts and in response thereto add an icon representing said selected contact to the arrangement of contact icons and the control icon.

12. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said contact icons is associated with a group of contacts.

27. An apparatus comprising or arranged to comprise a user interface according to claim 1.

13. A method for allowing access to contacts comprising displaying an arrangement of at least one contact icon being associated with a contact and displaying a control icon, said control icon being associated with a function.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising executing said function upon receiving input representing a selection of said control icon.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising displaying said arrangement upon receipt of a specific input.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said specific input is a keypress or a gesture on a touchpad or touch display.

17. A method according to claim 15, further comprising displaying said arrangement irrespective of a current operating mode.

18. A method according to claim 13, further comprising displaying a list of a plurality of contacts upon receipt of a second specific input.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising displaying said list of a plurality of contacts simultaneously with the arrangement.

20. A method according to claim 13, wherein said function associated with said control icon is related to a contact associated with a marked contact icon.

21. A method according to claim 13, wherein said function associated with said control icon is related to an operating mode.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said operating mode is dependant on a currently executed application and wherein said function is related to said application.

23. A method according to claim 18, further comprising receiving input representing a selection of a contact from the list of plurality of contacts and in response thereto adding an icon representing said selected contact to the arrangement of contact icons and the control icon.

24. A method according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said contact icons is associated with a group of contacts.

29. An apparatus implementing or arranged to implement a method according to claim 13.

25. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for controlling a user interface comprising a display, said computer readable medium comprising software code for displaying an arrangement of at least one contact icon being associated with a contact and software code for displaying a control icon, said control icon being associated with a function.

30. An apparatus implementing or arranged to implement a computer readable medium according to claim 25.

26. A user interface comprising display means and control means for displaying an arrangement of at least one contact icon being associated with a contact and for displaying a control icon, said control icon being associated with a function.

28. An apparatus comprising or arranged to comprise a user interface according to claim 26.