System, method and mobile device for displaying wireless mode indicators

• US 8,160,504 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Paas, Julian, Steele, Joel Paul, La, Giang Manh, Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US13/173,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20110256903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.7, 455/67.11, 455/566, 455/412.3, 455/115.3, 455/161.3, 455/226.2, 455/158.2, 455/158.4
• US Class Current: 455/67.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• 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

Embodiments relate to a mobile device comprising: a processor; a display responsive to the processor; a plurality of wireless communication subsystems responsive to the processor; and a memory. The memory is accessible to the processor and stores program code executable by the processor for executing a user interface application. The user interface application is configured to determine a first connection status of the mobile device with respect to a cellular network and a second connection status with respect to a wireless local area network (WLAN). The user interface application, when executed by the processor, is further configured to cause the display to display a selected combination of icons in three display fields in a banner area of the display. The combination of icons is selected from a plurality of icon combinations based on the determined first connection status and the second connection status.

Claims

1. A method of displaying wireless mode indicators on a mobile device capable of communicating through a cellular network and a short-range communication network, the method comprising:

determining a first connection status of the mobile device with respect to the cellular network and a second connection status with respect to the short-range communication network; and

selecting a combination of icons to be displayed in a plurality of display fields in a banner area of a display of the mobile device, the combination of icons being selected from a plurality of icon combinations based on the determined first connection status and second connection status;

wherein the plurality of display fields comprise a signal strength field for displaying a signal strength icon and a network technology field for displaying a network technology icon, and wherein the icon selected to be displayed in the signal strength field varies depending on the icon selected to be displayed in the network technology field.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of display fields comprise a short-range communication field for displaying a short-range communication icon, and wherein the icons selected to be displayed in the signal strength field and the network technology field vary depending on the icon selected to be displayed in the short-range communication field.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the short-range communication icon is an emphasized icon or a de-emphasized icon, corresponding to the second connection status being “

active”

or “

inactive”

, respectively.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, if the second connection status is “

active”

, the icon selected to be displayed in the network technology field varies depending on availability of an unlicensed mobile access (UMA) connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of display fields are located together in a banner area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the network technology field is present or absent, depending on whether the first connection status is “

active”

or “

inactive”

.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the icon selected to be displayed in the signal strength field varies depending on whether the first connection status is “

active”

or “

inactive”

.

8. A mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a display responsive to the processor;

a plurality of wireless communication subsystems responsive to the processor; and

a memory accessible to the processor and storing program code executable by the processor for executing a user interface application, wherein the user interface application is configured to determine a first connection status of the mobile device with respect to a cellular network and a second connection status with respect to a short-range communication network;

wherein the user interface application, when executed by the processor, is further configured to select a combination of icons to be displayed in a plurality of display fields in a banner area of the display, the combination of icons being selected from a plurality of icon combinations based on the determined first connection status and the second connection status; and

wherein the plurality of display fields comprise a signal strength field for displaying a signal strength icon and a network technology field for displaying a network technology icon, and wherein the icon selected to be displayed in the signal strength field varies depending on the icon selected to be displayed in the network technology field.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of display fields comprise a short-range communication field for displaying a short-range communication icon, and wherein the icons selected to be displayed in the signal strength field and the network technology field vary depending on the icon selected to be displayed in the short-range communication field.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the short-range communication icon is an emphasized icon or a de-emphasized icon, corresponding to the second connection status being “

active”

or “

inactive,”

respectively.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein, if the second connection status is “

active”

, the icon selected to be displayed in the network technology field varies depending on availability of an unlicensed mobile access (UMA) connection.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of display fields are located together in a banner area.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the network technology field is present or absent, depending on whether the first connection status is “

active”

or “

inactive”

.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the icon selected to be displayed in the signal strength field varies depending on whether the first connection status is “

active”

or “

inactive”

.

15. A computer readable storage medium storing program instructions which, when executed by a processor of a mobile device capable of communicating through a cellular network and a short-range communication network, cause the processor to perform a method of displaying wireless mode indicators on the mobile device, the method comprising:

determining a first connection status of the mobile device with respect to the cellular network and a second connection status with respect to the short-range communication network; and

selecting a combination of icons to be displayed in a plurality of display fields in a banner area of a display of the mobile device, the combination of icons being selected from a plurality of icon combinations based on the determined first connection status and second connection status;

wherein the plurality of display fields comprise a signal strength field for displaying a signal strength icon and a network technology field for displaying a network technology icon, and wherein the icon selected to be displayed in the signal strength field varies depending on the icon selected to be displayed in the network technology field.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of display fields comprise a short-range communication field for displaying a short-range communication icon, and wherein the icons selected to be displayed in the signal strength field and the network technology field vary depending on the icon selected to be displayed in the short-range communication field.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein the short-range communication icon is an emphasized icon or a de-emphasized icon, corresponding to the second connection status being “

active”

or “

inactive”

, respectively.

18. The medium of claim 15, wherein, if the second connection status is “

active”

, the icon selected to be displayed in the network technology field varies depending on availability of an unlicensed mobile access (UMA) connection.

19. The medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of display fields are located together in a banner area.

20. The medium of claim 15, wherein the network technology field is present or absent, depending on whether the first connection status is “

active”

or “

inactive”

.

21. The medium of claim 15, wherein the icon selected to be displayed in the signal strength field varies depending on whether the first connection status is “

active”

or “

inactive”

.