Handheld electronic device and associated method providing availability data in a messaging environment

• US 7,315,747 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Phipps, Darcy R., Wormald, Christopher R., Dunk, Craig A., Klassen, Gerhard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith; S.
• Application Number:
  US10/942,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20050113118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/414.3, 455/517, 455/556.2, 455/466, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• 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 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method are provided in which enhanced information regarding an “availability” of a user of a handheld electronic device is provided to another electronic device in a messaging environment. Such availability data provides step-wise indications of the relative availabilities of one or more users of electronic devices in a messaging environment. The step-wise indications can, for instance, range from an availability level of “currently active” to several levels of nonavailability. The device and method can be incorporated into an existing messaging environment.

Claims

1. A method of enabling communication of enhancement data between a first device and a second device, the first device being a handheld electronic device having a wireless communication capability, the second device being an electronic device, the first device and the second device being capable of communication with one another in a first communications band, the method comprising:

enabling a communication wherein the first device transmits a first signal indicating that the first device is capable of communicating enhancement data;

enabling a determination responsive to said communication that the first device and the second device are capable of communicating enhancement data, wherein the first device awaits receipt of a second signal indicating that the second device is capable of communicating enhancement data;

enabling a communication between the first device and the second device in a second communications band; and

enabling a transmission of enhancement data between the first device and the second device in the second communications band.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling said transmission of enhancement data in the second band as an adjunct to communication between the first device and the second device in the first communications band.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling an exchange between the first device and the second device of a first identification of the first device and a second identification of the second device, the first identification and the second identification each being identifiers that enable the first device and the second device, respectively, to be identified on the second communications band.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is a handheld electronic device.

5. A method of enabling communication of enhancement data between a first device and a second device, the first device being an electronic device having a wireless communication capability on at least a first communications band, the second device being an electronic device having a wireless communication capability on at least the first communications band, the method comprising:

enabling a communication between the first device and the second device, wherein the first device transmits a first signal to the second device on the first communications band indicating that the first device is capable of communicating enhancement data;

enabling a determination responsive to said communication that the first device and the second device are capable of communicating enhancement data, wherein the first device awaits receipt of a second signal from the second device on the first communications band indicating that the second device is capable of communicating enhancement data and indicating whether the second device is capable of communicating enhancement data on a second communications band; and

enabling a transmission of enhancement data between the first device and the second device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising enabling as said transmission of enhancement data a transmission of enhancement data between the first device and the second device on the second communications band if the first device is capable of communicating enhancement data on the second communications band and if the second signal indicates that the second device is capable of communicating enhancement data on the second communications band.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising enabling an exchange between the first device and the second device of a first identification of the first device and a second identification of the second device, the first identification and the second identification each being identifiers that enable the first device and the second device, respectively, to be identified on the second communications band, if the first device is capable of communicating enhancement data on the second band, and if the second signal indicates that the second device is capable of communicating enhancement data on the second band.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

enabling a determination of an extent of activity on the first device; and

enabling a determination from the extent of activity of an availability value that is representative at least in part of a degree of relative availability of a user of the first device, at least a portion of said enhancement data being representative of the availability value.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the first device is a handheld electronic device, and wherein the second device is a handheld electronic device.

10. A method of enabling communication of enhancement data between a first device and a second device, the first device being a handheld electronic device having a wireless communication capability, the second device being an electronic device, the first device and the second device being capable of communication with one another in a first communications band, the method comprising:

enabling a communication between the first device and the second device in a second communications band; and

enabling between the first device and the second device a transmission in the second communications band of enhancement data reflective of a stepped availability of a user of one of the first device and the second device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising enabling an exchange between the first device and the second device of a first identification of the first device and a second identification of the second device, the first identification and the second identification each being identifiers that enable the first device and the second device, respectively, to be identified on the second communications band.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

enabling a determination of an extent of activity on the one of the first device and the second device; and

enabling a determination from the extent of activity of an availability value that is representative of at least the stepped availability.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the second device is a handheld electronic device.