Expedited communication graphical user interface system and method

• US 7,447,520 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US11/460,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20060258393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/403, 455/418, 455/550.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 345/173, 345/168, 345/349, 345/418, 345/700, 715/505, 715/530, 715/501.1, 715/854, 715/821, 715/827, 715/839
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• 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,

wherein the mobile device program code, upon execution causes the mobile device to;

detect selection of one of the graphical keys displayed on the graphical user interface and, if the corresponding mobile device keyboard subsystem key of the selected graphical key is not associated with an expedited communication function, display an 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 mobile device program code comprises further program instructions executable by the processing subsystem and stored in the memory subsystem and upon execution cause the mobile device to:

detect selection of one of the graphical keys displayed on the graphical user interface and, 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.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the expedited communication function comprises initiating a telephone call.

4. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the expedited communication function comprises initiating an e-mail message.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of graphical keys are arranged in similar disposition to the mobile device keyboard subsystem keys.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises visual indicia to indicate mobile device keyboard subsystem keys associated with expedited communication functions.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the visual indicia comprises shaded graphical keys associated with expedited communication functions.

8. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the visual indicia comprises bolded graphical keys associated with expedited communication functions.

9. 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;

detecting selection of one of the graphical keys displayed on the graphical user interface; and

displaying an 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 method of claim 9, further comprising:

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.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising arranging the graphical keys in similar disposition to the mobile device keyboard subsystem keys.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying on the display subsystem visual indicia to indicate mobile device keyboard subsystem keys associated with expedited communication functions.

13. The method of claim 12, 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.

14. The method of claim 12, 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.

15. 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;

means for detecting selection of one of the graphical keys displayed in the graphical user interface; and

means for displaying an 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.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the means for displaying a graphical key representation of the keyboard keys arranges the graphical keys in similar disposition to the keyboard keys.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, further comprising:

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.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the means for displaying a graphical key representation of the keyboard keys displays visual indicia to indicate keyboard keys associated with expedited communication functions comprises means for shading the graphical keys associated with expedited communication functions.

19. A computer readable medium embedded with 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

detect selection of one of the graphical keys displayed on the graphical user interface; and

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

20. Computer readable medium embedded with mobile device executable software code of claim 19, further comprising instructions that upon execution by a mobile device to cause the mobile device to:

detect selection of one of the graphical keys displayed on the graphical user interface; and

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.