User interface for a handheld device

• US 7,953,804 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Van Belle, Theodore, Bocking, Andrew, Zinn, Scotte
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayard; Djenane M
• Application Number:
  US11/421,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20070283044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/204, 709/201, 709/203, 709/230, 707/1, 707/6, 715/231, 715/739, 715/745
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A user interface and method for composing a message to be sent over a wireless network environment using a handheld device is disclosed. According to the method, upon receipt of a user request to compose a message, a screen is displayed with an input recipient field for a recipient address, an associated label to indicate that the input recipient field is for a recipient address, and an input message body field for holding message content. The method further includes, upon each keystroke entry of text to the input recipient field, looking up entries from an address book which match the text, and displaying a selection menu representing addresses from at least a portion of the entries.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless handheld device, comprising:

upon receipt of a request to use a messaging service, displaying (i) an input recipient field for a recipient address, and (ii) a message composition field for holding message content;

thereafter, upon each keystroke entry of text into said input recipient field, concurrently;

looking up entries from an address book which match said text; and

replacing a first space in text entered to said input recipient field with an “

@”

symbol and replacing a subsequent space in said text with a “

.”

symbol to thereby represent said text as an email address; and

displaying a selection menu comprising said email address and any entries from said address book which match said text.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting selection of an item in said selection menu, said item comprising one of;

an address book entry and said email address;

filling said input recipient field with said email address, if said detecting detects selection of said email address; and

filling said input recipient field with said address book entry, if said detecting detects selection of said address book entry.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising ceasing to display said selection menu upon said selection of an item from said selection menu.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said selection menu includes an entry the selection of which triggers a wirelessly transmitted query to lookup said text in a remotely residing global access list.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising, upon said detecting selection of an item in said selection menu:

displaying a second input recipient field for a second recipient address; and

upon each keystroke entry of text to said second input recipient field, concurrently;

looking up entries from said address book which match text input to said second input recipient field; and

replacing a first space in text input to said second input recipient field with an “

@”

symbol and replacing a subsequent space in said text input to said second input recipient field with a “

.”

symbol to thereby represent said text as a second email address; and

displaying a second selection menu comprising said second email address and any from said address book which match said text input to said second input recipient field.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said address book entry is a recipient name associated with an address according to a protocol of said messaging service.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein said address book entry is a recipient name and if said recipient name is not associated with an address according to a protocol of said messaging service, generating a warning.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said messaging service is an e-mail service.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising accepting input to specify a second input recipient field as a “

To;

”

field, a “

Cc;

”

field or a “

Bcc;

”

field.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said messaging service is a short messaging service.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said messaging service is an instant messaging service.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said messaging service is a personal identification number (PIN) messaging service.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said messaging service is a multi-media messaging service.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said displaying said selection menu comprises displaying such that one of said email address and one of said any entries, is selectable from said selection menu.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said text entered into said input recipient field includes at least one space and wherein each address displayed in said selection menu comprises said text including said at least one space.

16. A handheld device comprising:

a persistent store;

a keyboard for text entry;

a display;

a controller operable to;

upon receipt of a request to use a messaging service, display (i) an input recipient field for a recipient address, and (ii) a message body composition field for holding message content;

thereafter, upon each keystroke entry of text to said input recipient field, concurrently;

look up entries from an address book which match said text; and

replace a first space in text entered to said input recipient field with an “

@”

symbol and replace a subsequent space in said text with a “

.”

symbol to thereby represent said text as an email address; and

display a selection menu comprising said email address and any entries from said address book which match said text.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said controller is further operable to:

detect selection of an item in said selection menu, said item comprising one of;

an address book entry and said email address;

fill said input recipient field with said email address, if selection of said email address is detected; and

fill said input recipient field with said address book entry, if selection of said address book entry is detected.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein said controller is further operable to:

detect selection of an item from said selection menu, said item comprising one of;

an address book entry and said email address;

display a second input recipient field for a second recipient address and

upon each keystroke entry of text to said second input recipient field, concurrently;

look up entries from said address book which match text input to said second input recipient field; and

replace a first space in text input to said second input recipient field with an “

@”

symbol and replace a subsequent space in said text input to said second input recipient field with a “

.”

symbol to thereby represent said text as a second email address; and

display a second selection menu comprising said second email address and any entries from said address book which match said text input to said second input recipient field.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein said messaging service is an e-mail service and wherein said controller is further operable to accept input to specify a second input recipient field as a “

To;

”

field, a “

Cc;

”

field or a “

Bcc;

”

field.

20. The handheld device of claim 16 wherein said text entered into said input recipient field includes at least one space and wherein each address displayed in said selection menu comprises said text including said at least one space.