Advanced user interface operations in a dual-mode wireless device

• US 7,664,515 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mousseau, Gary P., Lazaridis, Mihal
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US10/497,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20050020286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,629 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system and method are provided for mobile stations for enhancing the ease of use of a mobile station. Through the system and method, a user may more easily view the phone number of a caller identification card. The user may be alerted when the user tries to send messages while out of GPRS coverage, or the mobile station may recognize extension numbers in address book user interface applications to assist with a dialing operation.

Claims

1. A method of displaying network capabilities within a wireless network, comprising the steps of:

detecting by a mobile station that the mobile station has voice-only or voice and data support on a base station within a network;

providing a first visual indicator to a mobile station'"'"'s user when voice-only or voice and data support is present within the network based on detected current network capability;

wherein the first visual indicator is a network-level indication in that the first visual indicator indicates which radio standard is accessible to the mobile station;

detecting by the mobile station via the base station, when the network is capable of supporting greater data communications based on detected current network capability, and

providing a second visual indicator to the mobile station'"'"'s user when greater data exchanges are available through the mobile station;

wherein the second visual indicator is a network-level indication in that the second visual indicator indicates that a second radio standard is accessible to the mobile station and indicates which radio standard is accessible to the mobile station.

2. The method of claim 1 where the wireless network is a GSM wireless network with optional GPRS data overlay support;

wherein the first indicator is a textual GSM indication that the mobile station is within a GSM wireless network;

wherein the second indictor is a textual GPRS indication that the mobile station is within the optional GPRS data overlay support wireless network.

3. The method according to one of the claims 1 or 2, where the mobile station is a dual-mode PDA handheld device capable of exchanging large data messages and supporting HTML data exchanges with Internet web sites.

4. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 2, wherein the station is a dual-mode mobile station that is capable of both voice and data communications.

5. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 2, wherein the mobile station has access to capabilities of multiple networks, said method further comprising the step of:

automatically determining which network to use to perform a communication operation based upon cost effectiveness consideration.

6. A method for displaying capability of a current network connection on a mobile station that is capable of roaming between networks of varying capability, comprising the steps of, accessing a network using network access methods available through the mobile station;

determining the text messaging capabilities available to a mobile station'"'"'s user based on the network access method used to connect the mobile station to the wireless network and a detected current network capability; and

displaying on a main screen of the mobile station a representation of the determined text messaging capability to the mobile station'"'"'s user;

wherein the representation indicates which radio standard is accessible to the mobile station related to the determined text messaging capability.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the network is accessed using network access methods built into the mobile station.

8. The method according to one of the claims 6 or 7, wherein the representation of the determined text messaging capability is a network capability indicator, wherein the network capability indicator indicates the text messaging capability of a single network.

9. The method according to one of the claims 6 to 7, wherein the representation of the determined text messaging capability is a network capability indicator, wherein the network capability indicator indicates the text messaging capability of at least two networks to which the mobile station currently has access.