Multitasking graphical user interface

• US 6,608,637 B1
• Filed: 04/23/1997
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Beaton, Brian Finlay, Smith, Colin Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US08/842,015
• Time in Patent Office: 2,309 Days
• Field of Search: 345/330, 345/331, 345/332, 345/333, 345/335, 345/329, 345/253, 345/751, 345/754, 345/762, 345/744, 455/566, 455/567, 455/89, 329/93.23, 329/93.17, 329/368, 329/434
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• 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

A telecommunications device permits a user to perform several communication related tasks concurrently. The telecommunications device includes a user input device, a display having a tools portion and a windows portion, and a processing element. The processing element includes an element configured to represent the communication related tasks as objects in the tools portion, an element configured to launch different ones of the communication related tasks based upon selection of corresponding ones of the communication related task objects by the user via the user input device, and an element configured to change the window portion based on the user selection without changing the tools portion.

Claims

1. A mobile telephone configured to communicate with a wireless voice network, for permitting a user to perform a plurality of communication related tasks concurrently, the mobile telephone comprising:

a user input device;

a display having a tools portion and a window portion; and

a processing element connected to the user input device and the display and configured to communicate with the wireless voice network including

means for representing the communication related tasks as objects in the tools portion and for providing the user with simultaneous access to the plurality of communications related tasks,

means for launching different ones of the communication related tasks based upon selection of corresponding ones of the communication related task objects by the user via the user input device,

means for communicating with the wireless voice network based on launching the different ones of the communication related tasks, and

means for changing the window portion based on the user selection without changing the tools portion.

2. The mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the user input device is a touch screen element on the display, and wherein the launching means comprises

means for executing one of the communication related tasks based on the user touching a corresponding one of the communication related task objects on the touch screen element.

3. The mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the launching means comprises

means for executing a plurality of communication related tasks concurrently when a corresponding plurality of the communication related task objects are selected by the user.

4. The mobile telephone of claim 3, wherein the executing means includes

means for sending and receiving voice calls and sending and receiving notes.

5. The telecommunication device of claim 3, further comprising means for managing the plurality of communication related tasks to suspend, resume, or stop at least one of the plurality of communication related tasks.

6. The mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the processing element further includes

means for partitioning the display into the window portion and the tools portion.

7. The mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the changing means includes

means for providing access to the communication related task objects in the tools portion regardless of the user selection.

8. The mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the mobile telephone is a Global System for Mobile Communications mobile telephone.

9. A graphical user interface manager for controlling a mobile telephone configured to communicate with a wireless voice network, wherein the mobile telephone includes a display, having a window portion and a tools portion, to permit a user to perform a plurality of communication related tasks concurrently, the graphical user interface manager comprising:

means for representing the communication related tasks as objects in the tools portion and for providing the user with simultaneous access to the plurality of communications related tasks;

means for launching different ones of the communication related tasks to communicate with the wireless voice network based upon selection of corresponding ones of the communication related task objects by the user; and

means for changing the window portion based on the user selection without changing the tools portion.

10. The graphical user interface manager of claim 9, wherein the mobile telephone display is a touch screen display, and wherein the launching means comprises

means for executing one of the communication related task based on the user touching a corresponding one of the communication related task objects on the touch screen display.

11. The graphical user interface manager of claim 9, wherein the launching means comprises

means for executing a plurality of the communication related tasks concurrently when a corresponding plurality of the communication related task objects are selected by the user.

12. The graphical user interface manager of claim 11, wherein the executing means includes

means for sending and receiving voice calls and sending and receiving notes.

13. The graphical user interface manager of the claim 9, further including

means for partitioning the mobile telephone display into the window portion and the tools portion.

14. The graphical user interface manager of claim 9, wherein the changing means includes

means for providing access to the communication related task objects in the tools portion regardless of the user selection.

15. A method of controlling a mobile telephone configured to communicate with a wireless voice network, wherein the mobile telephone includes a display, having a window portion and a display portion, to permit a user to perform a plurality of communication related tasks concurrently, the method comprising the steps of:

representing the communication related tasks as objects in the tools portion;

providing the user with simultaneous access to the plurality of communications related tasks;

launching different ones of the communication related tasks based upon selection of corresponding ones of the communication related task objects by the user;

communicating with the wireless voice network based on launching the different ones of the communication related tasks;

changing the window portion based on the user selection; and

maintaining the tools portion unchanged regardless of the user selection.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the telecommunications device display is a touch screen display, and wherein the launching step comprises the substep of

executing one of the communication related tasks based on the user touching a corresponding one of the communication related task objects on the touch screen display.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the launching step comprises the substep of

executing a plurality of the communication related tasks concurrently when a corresponding plurality of the communication related task objects are selected by the user.

18. A method of concurrently performing a plurality of communication tasks on a mobile telephone configured to communicate with a wireless voice network, wherein the mobile telephone includes a display screen displaying a plurality of communication task objects corresponding to the plurality of communication tasks, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first user selection signal, the first user selection signal representing a selection of a first one of the plurality of communication task objects by a user;

executing a first one of the plurality of communication tasks corresponding to the selected first communication task object;

communicating with the wireless voice network based on executing the first one of the plurality of the communication tasks;

providing the user with simultaneous access to the plurality of communication task objects;

receiving a second user selection signal while executing the first communication task, the second user selection signal representing a selection of a second one of the plurality of communication task objects by the user;

executing a second one of the plurality of communication tasks corresponding to the selected second communication task object while continuing to execute the first communication task; and

communicating with the wireless voice network based on the second one of the plurality of communication tasks.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first communication task object is a voice call object for establishing a voice call, and wherein the first communication task executing step comprises the substeps of

opening a voice call window on the display screen,

entering an identity of a recipient of the voice call, and

establishing the voice call with the voice call recipient.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second communication task object is a note object for sending a note, and wherein the second communication task executing step comprises the substeps of

opening a note window on the display screen,

entering note text for the note, the note being pre-addressed to the voice call recipient, and

sending the note.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second communication task executing step further comprises the substep of

changing a recipient of the note to identify a recipient other than the voice call recipient.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the second communication task object is a voice call object, and wherein the second communication task executing step comprises the substeps of

opening a voice call window on the display screen,

entering an identity of another voice call recipient,

establishing the voice call with the another voice call recipient.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the second communication task executing step further comprises the substeps of

prompting the user to select either to place the voice call recipient on hold or to terminate the voice call with the voice call recipient, and

receiving a selection signal from the user.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the first communication task object is a note object for sending a note, and wherein the first communication task executing step comprises the substeps of

opening a note window on the display screen,

entering note text and an identity of a note recipient, and

sending the note to the note recipient.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the second communication task object is a voice call object for establishing a voice call, and wherein the second communication task executing step comprises the substeps of

opening a voice call window on the display screen,

entering an identity of a recipient of the voice call, and

establishing the voice call with the voice call recipient.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the second user selection signal receiving step comprises the substeps of

receiving a voice call from a caller,

opening a voice call window informing the user of an identity of the caller, and

receiving the second user selection signal in response to the received voice call, the second user selection signal being an indication of an acceptance or a denial of the received voice call.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the second communication task executing step comprises the substep of

permitting the user to converse with the caller when the second user selection signal indicates an acceptance.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the first user selection signal receiving step comprises the substeps of

receiving a voice call from a caller,

opening a voice call window informing the user of an identity of the caller, and

receiving the first user selection signal in response to the received voice call, the first user selection signal being an indication of an acceptance or a denial of the received voice call.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first communication task executing step comprises the substep of

permitting the user to converse with the caller when the first user selection signal indicates an acceptance.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the second user selection signal receiving step comprises the substeps of

receiving a second voice call from a second caller,

opening a voice call window informing the user of an identity of the second caller, and

receiving the second user selection signal in response to the received second voice call, the second user selection signal being an indication of an acceptance or a denial of the received second voice call.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the second communication task executing step comprises the substep of

permitting the user to converse with the second caller when the second user selection signal indicates an acceptance.