Mobile device communication profile system and method

• US 7,373,142 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin; Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu; Michael T
• Application Number:
  US10/787,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20050130641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/564, 455/415, 455/414.1, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 455/418
• 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 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• 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

Abstract

A processor-implemented method of managing communications to contacts from a mobile device includes storing a list of contacts, associating with each contact one or more communication modes, and associating with each contact a communication profile defining one or more preferred communication modes from the one or more communication modes. Upon indicating an initiation of a communication to the contact, a preferred communication mode from the communication profile is selected to communicate with the contact.

Claims

1. A mobile device operable by a user to initiate communications in both an expedited and a non-expedited manner over one or more wireless communication networks with one or more contacts, the mobile device comprising:

a processing subsystem and a memory subsystem, the processing subsystem coupled to the memory subsystem and operable to store and retrieve data in the memory subsystem, to execute instructions stored in the memory subsystem; 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;

store in the memory subsystem one or more contact data set records associated with the one or more contacts, each contact data set record having one or more associated communication contact data;

store in the memory subsystem one or more communication preference data sets, each associated with the one or more contact data sets, each communication preference data set defining preferred communication modes for communicating with one or more contacts associated with the one or more contact data sets, the contact preference data of a communication preference data set defining a set of selection rules based on a selection variable, and the communication preference data sets definable by the user of the mobile device; and

upon receiving a command to initiate an expedited communication function to a contact associated with a contact data set, automatically execute the communication according to a preferred communication mode defined by the communication preference data set associated with the contact data set, wherein the automatic execution does not occur upon receiving a command to initiate a non-expedited communication function.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the preferred communication modes for each communication preference data set are determined subject to each set of selection rules.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the set of selection rules comprises selection rules based on time.

4. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the set of selection rules comprises selection rules based on contact status.

5. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the contact status comprises a business status and a personal status.

6. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the set of selection rules comprises selection rules that specify preferred communication modes based on the time of day.

7. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the contact data sets and the communication preference data sets are stored in an address book application.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the communication contact data comprises at least one of a telephone number and an electronic address.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device program code comprises farther instructions executable by the processing subsystem and stored in the memory subsystem and upon execution cause the mobile device to display indicia of a presently preferred communication mode for executing the communication to the contact.