Methods and apparatus for line selection in a communication device

• US 8,185,150 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Yach, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lai, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/040,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20090221291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/435.2, 455/556.2, 455/556.1, 455/551, 379156-166, 379/93.07, 379/93.09, 379/93.2, 379/93.24
• US Class Current: 455/551
• 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 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• 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 1/72472 wherein the items are sorted according to specific criteria, e.g. frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/66 user interface aspects for indicating selection options for a communication line
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

Embodiments of an apparatus and methods for selecting a communication line from two or more lines on a communication device are described herein. The communication device comprises a display module, an input module, a line selection module, and a communication module for making a call over a network to a target recipient. In one broad aspect, a determination of which of the communication lines is the communication line associated with the selected one of at least two appointment categories for an appointment is made in the selection of a communication line accessible at the communication device on which an outgoing call may be placed.

Claims

1. A method of placing a telephone call on a communication line selected from at least two communication lines on which outgoing telephone calls are placed using a mobile device, said method comprising:

associating one of the at least two communication lines with a selected one of at least two calendar appointment categories, wherein each of the at least two communication lines has a phone number associated therewith;

identifying a calendar appointment record comprising data identifying a target recipient, wherein the calendar appointment record is associated with the selected one of at least two calendar appointment categories;

monitoring for initiation of a telephone call to the target recipient;

upon detecting the initiation of the telephone call to the target recipient, determining which of the at least two communication lines is the communication line associated with the selected one of the at least two calendar appointment categories; and

placing the telephone call to the target recipient on the determined communication line of the at least two communication lines which is the communication line associated with the selected one of the at least two calendar appointment categories.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing line selection information comprising data identifying, for each of the at least two calendar appointment categories, which communication line of the at least two communication lines is associated therewith.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a record of the calendar appointment category with which the calendar appointment record is associated prior to the act of identifying a calendar appointment record.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data identifying the target recipient in the calendar appointment record comprises at least one data item associated with the target recipient selected from a group consisting of a name, an e-mail address, and a phone number.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting selection of the data identifying the target recipient in the calendar appointment record in a user interface of the mobile device; and

initiating the telephone call to the target recipient upon detecting selection of the data identifying the target recipient in the calendar appointment record.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

highlighting the data identifying the target recipient in the calendar appointment record as a user-selectable link in a user interface of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating the data identifying the target recipient to a phone number for the target recipient, using data contained in an address book, prior to placing the telephone call to the target recipient.

8. A mobile device, wherein the mobile device provides access to at least two communication lines on which outgoing telephone calls are placed, the mobile device comprising:

an input module coupled to a calendar module, the input module programmed to associate one of the at least two communication lines with a selected one of at least two calendar appointment categories, wherein each of the at least two communication lines has a phone number associated therewith;

wherein the calendar module is programmed to identify a calendar appointment record comprising data identifying a target recipient, wherein the calendar appointment record is associated with the selected one of at least two calendar appointment categories;

the input module further programmed to monitor for initiation of a telephone call to the target recipient;

a line selection module programmed to determine, upon detecting the initiation of the telephone call to the target recipient, which of the at least two communication lines is the communication line associated with the selected one of the at least two calendar appointment categories; and

a communication module programmed to place the telephone call to the target recipient on the determined communication line of the at least two communication lines which is the communication line associated with the selected one of the at least two calendar appointment categories.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the line selection module is further programmed to:

store line selection information comprising data identifying, for each of the at least two calendar appointment categories, which communication line of the at least two communication lines is associated therewith.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the calendar module is further programmed to:

store a record of the calendar appointment category with which the calendar appointment record is associated prior to the act of identifying a calendar appointment record.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the data identifying the target recipient in the calendar appointment record comprises at least one data item associated with the target recipient selected from a group consisting of a name, an e-mail address, and a phone number.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the calendar module is further programmed to:

detect selection of the data identifying the target recipient in the calendar appointment record in a user interface of the mobile device; and

initiate the telephone call to the target recipient upon detecting selection of the data identifying the target recipient in the calendar appointment record.

13. The device of claim 8, further comprising an address book module, and wherein the communication module is further programmed to:

associate the data identifying the target recipient to a phone number for the target recipient, using data contained in an address book managed by the address book module, prior to placing the telephone call to the target recipient.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium upon which instructions are stored for performing, on a mobile device, a method of placing a telephone call on a communication line selected from at least two communication lines on which outgoing calls are placed using a mobile device, said method comprising:

associating one of the at least two communication lines with a selected one of at least two calendar appointment categories, wherein each of the at least two communication lines has a phone number associated therewith;

identifying a calendar appointment record comprising data identifying a target recipient, wherein the calendar appointment record is associated with the selected one of at least two calendar appointment categories;

monitoring for initiation of a telephone call to the target recipient;

upon detecting the initiation of the telephone call to the target recipient, determining which of the at least two communication lines is the communication line associated with the selected one of the at least two calendar appointment categories; and

placing the telephone call to the target recipient on the determined communication line of the at least two communication lines which is the communication line associated with the selected one of the at least two calendar appointment categories.

15. The medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

storing line selection information comprising data identifying, for each of the at least two calendar appointment categories, which communication line of the at least two communication lines is associated therewith.

16. The medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

storing a record of the calendar appointment category with which the calendar appointment record is associated prior to the act of identifying a calendar appointment record.

17. The medium of claim 14, wherein the data identifying the target recipient in the calendar appointment record comprises at least one data item associated with the target recipient selected from a group consisting of a name, an e-mail address, and a phone number.

18. The medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting selection of the data identifying the target recipient in the calendar appointment record in a user interface of the mobile device; and

initiating the telephone call to the target recipient upon detecting selection of the data identifying the target recipient in the calendar appointment record.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

highlighting the data identifying the target recipient in the calendar appointment record as a user-selectable link in a user interface of the mobile device.

20. The medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

associating the data identifying the target recipient to a phone number for the target recipient, using data contained in an address book, prior to placing the telephone call to the target recipient.