EXPEDITED COMMUNICATION KEY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120309459A1
• Filed: 08/10/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Hardy, Michael Thomas, Lazaridis, Mihal, Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine
• Granted Patent: US 9,031,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/564
• 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 method for initiating a communication with a contact using a communication device, the method comprising:

storing in memory a plurality of communication contact data associated with the contact, the plurality of communication contact data including a preferred communication contact data;

detecting initiation of the communication to the contact; and

initiating the communication with the contact using the preferred communication contact data for the contact.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the preferred communication contact data is one of a work phone number associated with the contact, a home phone number associated with the contact, a mobile phone number associated with the contact, a voice over IP address associated with the contact, an instant message address associated with the contact, and an e-mail address associated with the contact.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the communication includes one of initiating a phone call to the contact and creating an email to the contact.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the preferred communication contact data is associated with a time period.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the preferred communication contact data for the time period comprises a work telephone number for a first period of time in a day and a home telephone number for a second period of time in the day.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the preferred communication contact data for the time period further comprises an email address for a third period of time in the day.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the preferred communication contact data is associated with a contact status.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the contact status comprises one of a personal status and a professional status.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the preferred communication contact data associated with the personal status comprises a home telephone number and the preferred communication contact data associated with the professional status comprises a work telephone number.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection of the preferred communication contact data for the contact.

11. A communication device comprising:

a communication subsystem for communicating with a contact;

memory for storing a plurality of communication contact data associated with the contact, the plurality of communication contact data including preferred communication contact data; and

a processor configured to;

detect initiation of a communication to the contact, and

initiate the communication with the contact using the preferred communication contact data for the contact.

12. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the preferred communication contact data is one of a work phone number associated with the contact, a home phone number associated with the contact, a mobile phone number associated with the contact, a voice over IP address associated with the contact, an instant message address associated with the contact, and an e-mail address associated with the contact.

13. The communication device of claim 11, wherein to initiate the communication with the contact the processor is configured to initiate one of a phone call to the contact and to create an email to the contact.

14. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the preferred communication contact data is associated with a time period.

15. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the preferred communication contact data for the time period comprises a work telephone number for a first period of time in a day and a home telephone number for a second period of time in the day.

16. The communication device of claim 15, wherein the preferred communication contact data for the time period further comprises an email address for a third period of time in the day.

17. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the preferred communication contact data is associated with a contact status.

18. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the contact status comprises one of a personal status and a professional status.

19. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the preferred communication contact data associated with the personal status comprises a home telephone number and the preferred communication contact data associated with the professional status comprises a work telephone number for.

20. The communication device of claim 11, further comprising a user input device operable to receive a selection of the preferred communication contact data for the contact.