HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING CROSS APPLICATION USE OF PHONE RELATED INPUTS, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

• US 20120064876A1
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Bocking, Andrew D., Vander Veen, Raymond P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,160,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• 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: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27463 Predictive input, predictive dialling by comparing the dialled sequence with the content of a telephone directory
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2753 providing data content
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• 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 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method provide added convenience for the user by enabling the user to quickly and easily initiate telephone related functions from applications other than the device'"'"'s phone and address book applications using a dedicated phone related key. The device includes a plurality of use states and each one of the use states has an associated function that is to be initiated upon depression of the phone related key. When the phone related key is depressed, the current use state is determined and the function that is associated with the current use state is executed.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a processor of a handheld electronic device, having an address book application, a phone application, and an other application, the method comprising:

displaying an information portion in the other application;

receiving selection of the information portion;

detecting activation of a phone related key;

determining if the information portion includes a telephone number and if so,

activating the phone application and placing a call to the telephone number; and

determining if the information portion includes contact related information that does not include a telephone number and if so, determining if the information portion is associated with a contact stored by the address book application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the phone application and placing a call to a telephone number associated with the contact stored by the address book application if the information portion does not include a telephone number and the information portion is associated with the contact.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the contact stored by the address book has a plurality of telephone numbers and if so, receiving selection of one of the plurality of telephone numbers, activating the phone application and placing a call to the selected telephone number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information portion comprises a contact name.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information portion comprises an email address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information portion comprises a hyperlink.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the phone related key is a <

SEND>

key.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the other application comprises one of a messaging application, a browser application, a memo application, a calendar application and a task application.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an error state if the information portion does not include a telephone number or contact related information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising, if an error state is determined, making a notification indicating that a telephone call can not be placed.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor of a handheld electronic device, having an address book application, a phone application, and an other application, that when executed by the processor implement a method comprising:

displaying an information portion in the other application;

receiving selection of the information portion;

detecting activation of a phone related key;

determining if the information portion includes a telephone number and if so,

activating the phone application and placing a call to the telephone number; and

determining if the information portion includes contact related information that does not include a telephone number and if so, determining if the information portion is associated with a contact stored by the address book application.

12. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a memory having stored thereon an address book application, a phone application, and an other application;

a display for displaying an information portion when the other application is active;

an input apparatus including a phone related key;

a processor configured to execute the applications stored on the memory, detect activation of the phone related key while the information portion is selected, determine if the information portion includes a telephone number and if so, activate the phone application and place a call to the telephone number, and determine if the information portion includes contact related information that does not include a telephone number and if so, determine if the information portion is associated with a contact stored by the address book application.

13. The handheld device of claim 12, wherein the phone related key comprises a <

SEND>

key.

15. The handheld device of claim 12, wherein the input apparatus comprises a keyboard.

16. The handheld device of claim 12, comprising cellular telephone capability.

17. The handheld device of claim 12 having data communication functions and voice communication functions.

18. The handheld device of claim 12, wherein the other application comprises one of a messaging application, a browser application, a memo application, a calendar application and a task application.

19. The handheld device of claim 12, wherein the information portion comprises a contact name.

20. The handheld device of claim 12, wherein the information portion comprises an email address.