Expedited communication graphical user interface system and method

• US 7,103,388 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• 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: Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean A
• Application Number:
  US10/788,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20050130642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/403, 455/550.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/418, 345/173, 345/418, 345/349, 345/168, 345/700, 715/505, 715/530, 715/501.1, 715/854, 715/821, 715/827, 715/839
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• 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 1/7243 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: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast

Abstract

A method for managing expedited communication functions for a mobile device having a processing subsystem, a memory subsystem, a display subsystem, a communication subsystem, and a keyboard subsystem includes displaying a graphical key representation of mobile device keyboard subsystem keys, arranging the graphical keys in similar disposition to the mobile device keyboard subsystem keys, and displaying visual indicia to indicate mobile device keyboard subsystem keys associated with expedited communication functions.

Claims

1. A mobile device operable to initiate and receive communications over one or more wireless communication networks, the mobile device comprising:

a processing subsystem, a memory subsystem, a display subsystem, a communication subsystem, and a keyboard subsystem, the processing subsystem coupled to the memory subsystem, display subsystem, keyboard subsystem and communication subsystem, and operable to store and retrieve data in the memory subsystem, to execute instructions stored in the memory subsystem, receive input data from the keyboard subsystem, and to cause the communication subsystem to transmit and receive data over the communication network; and

mobile device program code comprising program instructions executable by the processing subsystem and stored in the memory subsystem and upon execution cause the mobile device to display on the display subsystem a graphical user interface to facilitate the processing of expedited communication data, the graphical user interface comprising;

a graphical key representation of mobile device keyboard subsystem keys, the graphical key representation comprising a plurality of graphical keys arranged in similar disposition to the mobile device keyboard subsystem keys; and

visual indicia to indicate mobile device keyboard subsystem keys associated with expedited communication functions, and

the mobile device program code, upon execution cause the mobile device to;

receive user input and select one of the graphical keys displayed on the graphical user interface;

if the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key of the selected graphical key is associated with an expedited communication function, display associated expedited communication data; and

if the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key of the selected graphical key is not associated with an expedited communication function, display a user input dialog for associating an expedited communication function with the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the visual indicia comprises shaded graphical keys associated with expedited communication functions.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the visual indicia comprises bolded graphical keys associated with expedited communication functions.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the expedited communication function comprises initiating a telephone call.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the expedited communication function comprises initiating an e-mail message.

6. A method for managing expedited communication functions for a mobile device having a processing subsystem, a memory subsystem, a display subsystem, a communication subsystem, and a keyboard subsystem, comprising:

displaying on the display subsystem a graphical key representation of mobile device keyboard subsystem keys, the graphical key representation comprising a plurality of graphical keys;

arranging the graphical keys in similar disposition to the mobile device keyboard subsystem keys;

displaying on the display subsystem visual indicia to indicate mobile device keyboard subsystem keys associated with expedited communication functions;

selecting one of the graphical keys displayed on the graphical user interface in response to the user input; and

displaying a user input dialog for associating an expedited communication function with the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key if the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key of the selected graphical key is not associated with an expedited communication function.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying on the display subsystem visual indicia to indicate mobile device keyboard subsystem keys associated with expedited communication functions comprises shading the graphical keys associated with expedited communication functions.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying on the display subsystem visual indicia to indicate mobile device keyboard subsystem keys associated with expedited communication functions comprises bolding the graphical keys associated with expedited communication functions.

9. A mobile device operable to initiate and receive communications over one or more wireless communication networks, the mobile device comprising:

a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys;

means for displaying a graphical key representation of the keyboard keys and arranging a plurality of graphical keys in similar disposition to the keyboard keys, and for displaying visual indicia to indicate keyboard keys associated with expedited communication functions;

means for selecting one of the graphical keys displayed in the graphical user interface in response to a user input; and

means for displaying associated expedited communication data if the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key of the selected graphical key is associated with an expedited communication function; and

means for displaying a user input dialog for associating an expedited communication function with the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key if the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key of the selected graphical key is not associated with an expedited communication function.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the means for displaying a graphical key representation of the keyboard keys and arranging a plurality of graphical keys in similar disposition to the keyboard keys, and for displaying visual indicia to indicate keyboard keys associated with expedited communication functions comprises means for shading the graphical keys associated with expedited communication functions.

11. Mobile device executable software code stored in a machine readable medium, the mobile device executable software code comprising instructions that upon execution by a mobile device to cause the mobile device to:

display on the display subsystem a graphical key representation of mobile device keyboard subsystem keys, the graphical key representation comprising a plurality of graphical keys;

arrange the graphical keys in similar disposition to the mobile device keyboard subsystem keys;

display on the display subsystem visual indicia to indicate mobile device keyboard subsystem keys associated with expedited communication functions;

select one of the graphical keys displayed on the graphical user interface in response to a user input;

if the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key of the selected graphical key is associated with an expedited communication function, display associated expedited communication data; and

if the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key of the selected graphical key is not associated with an expedited communication function, display a user input dialog for associating an expedited communication function with the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key.

12. A method for managing expedited communication functions for a mobile device having a processing subsystem, a memory subsystem, a display subsystem, a communication subsystem, and a keyboard subsystem comprising:

displaying on the display subsystem a graphical key representation of mobile device keyboard subsystem keys, the graphical key representation comprising a plurality of graphical keys;

arranging graphical keys in similar disposition to the mobile device keyboard subsystem keys;

displaying on the display subsystem visual indicia to indicate mobile device keyboard subsystem keys associated with expedited communication functions;

receiving a user input;

selecting one of the graphical keys displayed on the graphic user interface in response to the user input;

displaying associated expedited communication data if the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key of the selected graphical key is associated with an expedited communication function; and

displaying a user input dialog for associating an expedited communication function with the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key if the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key of the selected graphical key is not associated with an expedited communication function.