ENTERING CONTACTS IN A COMMUNICATION MESSAGE ON A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20110047250A1
• Filed: 11/02/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Rybak, Rafal
• Granted Patent: US 8,675,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• 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 4/12 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

Embodiments described herein provide a user with the ability to enter and validate contact addresses when composing a message on a mobile device. The user may access at least one of a local contact address data store and a remote contact address data store when entering and validating contact addresses.

Claims

1. A method of contact address entry for messages composed on a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

detecting entry of a contact address in an address field in a message;

checking a local contact address data store for a stored contact address that matches the entered contact address, and if there is no stored contact address that matches the entered contact address, identifying the entered contact address as a potentially incorrect contact address;

generating a list of stored contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address, wherein the potentially incorrect contact address comprises at least one of a misspelling or a transposing of characters of at least one contact address in the local contact address data store; and

providing in a user interface the list of stored contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a manual correction of the potentially incorrect contact address.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising checking the entered contact address for proper syntax.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising contacting a remote contact service, to allow browsing of a remote contact address data store and entering of the contact address.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

prior to the detecting, allowing entering of a few characters of one of a desired contact address and a name associated with the desired contact address, and providing in the user interface a list of matching contact addresses found in the remote contact address data store.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accepting the potentially incorrect contact address as a correct contact address, receiving a manual correction of the potentially incorrect contact address, or remotely looking up a correct contact address for the potentially incorrect contact address.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a search of a remote contact address data store to locate contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address after identifying that the entered contact address does not have a matching entry in the remote contact address data store, and providing a list of the contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address located in the search of the remote contact address data store, wherein the potentially incorrect contact address comprises at least one of a misspelling of at least one contact address in the remote contact address data store or a transposition of characters in at least one contact address in the remote contact address data store.

8. A computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by a processor of a mobile communication device, the instructions for implementing a method of contact address entry for messages composed on the mobile communication device, the method comprising:

detecting entry of a contact address in an address field in a message;

checking a local contact address data store for a stored contact address that matches the entered contact address, and if there is no stored contact address that matches the entered contact address, identifying the entered contact address as a potentially incorrect contact address;

generating a list of stored contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address, wherein the potentially incorrect contact address comprises at least one of a misspelling or a transposing of characters of at least one contact address in the local contact address data store; and

providing in a user interface the list of stored contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address.

9. A mobile communication device comprising:

a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device;

a communication subsystem connected to the main processor, the communication subsystem being configured for wirelessly sending and receiving data;

a message application configured to interface with the communication subsystem to send and receive wireless messages;

a local contact address data store; and

a contact lookup module configured to;

detect entry of a contact address in an address field in a message;

check a local contact address data store for a stored contact address that matches the entered contact address, and if there is no stored contact address that matches the entered contact address, identify the entered contact address as a potentially incorrect contact address;

generate a list of stored contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address, wherein the potentially incorrect contact address comprises at least one of a misspelling or a transposing of characters of at least one contact address in the local contact address data store; and

provide in a user interface the list of stored contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to receive a manual correction of the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to check the entered contact address for proper syntax.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to contact a remote contact service, to allow browsing of a remote contact address data store and entering of the contact address.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 12, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to:

prior to said detecting, allow entering of a few characters of one of a desired contact address and a name associated with the desired contact address, and provide in the user interface a list of matching contact addresses found in the remote contact address data store.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to:

accept the potentially incorrect contact address as a correct contact address, receive a manual correction of the potentially incorrect contact address, or remotely look up a correct contact address for the potentially incorrect contact address.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to perform a search of a remote contact address data store to locate contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address after identifying that the entered contact address does not have a matching entry in the remote contact address data store, and to provide a list of the contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address located in the search of the remote contact address data store, wherein the potentially incorrect contact address comprises at least one of a misspelling or a transposing of characters in at least one contact address in the remote contact address data store.

16. A system comprising:

a mobile device comprising;

a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile device;

a communication subsystem connected to the main processor, the communication subsystem being configured for wirelessly sending and receiving data;

a message application configured to interface with the communication subsystem to send and receive wireless messages, and to receive contact data;

a local contact address data store; and

a contact lookup module configured to;

detect entry of a contact address in an address field in a message;

check a local contact address data store for a stored contact address that matches the entered contact address, and if there is no stored contact address that matches the entered contact address, identify the entered contact address as a potentially incorrect contact address;

generate a list of stored contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address, wherein the potentially incorrect contact address comprises at least one of a misspelling or a transposing of characters of at least one contact address in the local contact address data store; and

provide in a user interface the list of stored contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address; and

a remote contact service for providing the contact data to the mobile device, the contact data including at least one contact address;

wherein communication between the mobile device and the remote contact service is made over a wireless network.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to receive a manual correction of the at least one potentially incorrect contact address.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to check the entered contact address for proper syntax.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote contact service is provided by a contact server associated with one of a corporate enterprise and a website.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to contact the remote contact service, to allow browsing of a remote contact address data store and entering of the contact address.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to:

prior to said detecting, allow entering of a few characters of one of a desired contact address and a name associated with the desired contact address, and provide in the user interface a list of matching contact addresses found in the remote contact address data store.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to:

accept the potentially incorrect contact address as a correct contact address, receive a manual correction of the potentially incorrect contact address, or remotely look up a correct contact address for the potentially incorrect contact address.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to perform a search of a remote contact address data store to locate contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address after identifying that the entered contact address does not have a matching entry in the remote contact address data store, and to provide a list of the contact addresses similar to the potentially incorrect contact address located in the search of the remote contact address data store, wherein the potentially incorrect contact address comprises at least one of a misspelling or a transposing of characters in at least one contact address in the remote contact address data store.