Utilizing the contents of a message

• US 6,262,735 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1998
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Etelapera, Esa
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US09/185,782
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 345/335, 345/357, 345/145, 345/333, 345/348, 345/326, 379/93.05
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications

Abstract

The scope of the present invention is a device and a method for the utilizing of information contained in a character-based message in a device having several different applications. In the method a character-based message is received, and the message is displayed to the user. The user is allowed to point out a position in the message, whereby a certain character combination is searched for in the message in the proximity of the position pointed out by the user. Upon finding the character combination, the usability, in one of the applications of said applications, of the character combination found in the message is recognized, and based upon the recognition a command is generated for activating said application and for using the information contained in said character combination found in the message in said application.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing, in a device having several different applications, information contained in a character-based message, which method comprises

receiving a character-based message,

displaying the received message to the user,

wherein the method comprises

allowing the user to point out a position in the received message,

searching for a certain character combination in the received message in the proximity of the position pointed out by the user,

upon finding the character combination, detecting the usability, in one of the applications of said applications, of the character combination found in the received message, and

based upon the detection generating a command for activating said application and for using the information contained in said character combination found in the received message in said application.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises

displaying the generated command to the user,

allowing the user to select the command for the executing of the command, and

in response to the selecting of the command activating said application and utilizing the information contained in said character combination found in the message in said application.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the method comprises

transferring, in response to the selecting of the command, information about the operation to be executed and about the data to be used in the operation to said application, in which case

the application is activated and it executes said operation utilizing said information.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein it comprises

displaying the message to the user divided on lines,

allowing the user to point out a position on a line in the message, and

performing said search for a character combination on the line pointed out by the user.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein

the pointing out of a position in the message is done using a cursor which can be moved by the user.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises

displaying a generated command to the user in a command-menu, and

in response to a command given by the user to open the command-menu for viewing, starting said actions for searching of a character combination and for detection of its usability and for generating of a command, and after generating of the command opening the command-menu comprising said command for viewing by the user.

7. A device for handling applications, comprising

a processor (30) for controlling several different applications,

a memory (60) for storing applications as software,

means (10, 51, 70) for receiving character-based messages, and

a display (10) for presenting the character-based message to the user, wherein the device further comprises

means (12, 20) for allowing the user to point out a position in the message,

searching means (50, 51) for searching for a certain character combination in said character-based message in the proximity of the position pointed out by the user,

detection means (50, 51) for detecting, in response to said searching means finding said character combination, the usability of said character combination found in the message for use in one of the applications of said applications, and

means (50, 56) for generating a command (57) based upon the detection by said detection means, for activating said application (52-55) and for utilizing in said application the information contained in the character combination found in the message.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein it comprises

means (11, 13, 20) for selecting said command (57) to be executed, and

means (50, 52a, -55a, 30) for activating said application and for utilizing the information contained in the character combination found in the message in said application.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein it is a mobile communication device comprising means (70) for wireless communication.

10. A device according to claim 7, wherein it comprises at least two of the applications selected from a group of applications including phone call application, facsimile application, short message application, electronic mail application, web connection application, calendar application and memo/notepad application.