Methods and apparatus for line selection in a communication device

• US 8,270,983 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Yach, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lai, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/040,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20090221268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/435.2, 455/556.2, 455/556.1, 455/445, 379156-166, 379/93.07, 379/93.09, 379/93.24
• US Class Current: 455/445
• 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 2250/66 user interface aspects for indicating selection options for a communication line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42246 where the subscriber uses a multi-mode terminal which moves and accesses different networks with at least one network having a wireline access including cordless PBX

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 at least one broad aspect, priority rankings are determined based on a number of factors and selection of a communication line accessible at the communication device on which an outgoing call may be placed is made based on the priority rankings. A list of communication lines ordered by priority rankings may also be displayed.

Claims

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

monitoring for initiation of a call to a target recipient;

upon detecting the initiation of the call to the target recipient, determining a priority ranking for each of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device;

determining a selected communication line of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device based on the priority rankings; and

placing the call to the target recipient on the determined communication line of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device;

wherein determining the priority ranking for each of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device comprises, for each of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device,

considering each of at least two factors associated with the communication line and a pre-defined weighting score for each factor,

wherein each of the at least two factors associated with the communication line comprise a factor selected from a group of determined factors consisting of;

whether the communication line was last used for calling the target recipient, whether the communication line is associated with the target recipient as identified in an address book, whether the communication line is determined to be a most frequently used communication line on the device, whether the communication line is associated with a message address of one or more messages received at the device, whether the communication line is associated with a time of day, whether the communication line is associated with an appointment record, and whether the communication line is a default communication line,

tracking a tally for the communication line based on the pre-defined weighting scores of each of the at least two factors to be used to compute a total score for each communication line, and

computing the total score for the communication line wherein the total score is the priority ranking.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected communication line determined based on the priority rankings is the communication line of the at least two communications lines associated with the mobile device with the highest priority ranking.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined weighting scores are defined in accordance with a weighting scheme that depends on a context of the call to the target recipient.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a listing that identifies each of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device, ordered by priority rankings; and

identifying a selected communication line from the listing,

wherein the determined selected communication line of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device based on the priority rankings is the identified selected communication line from the listing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two communications lines associated with the mobile device has a call number associated therewith.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined weighting scores of each of the at least two factors are updated periodically.

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

an input module programmed to monitor for initiation of a call to a target recipient;

a line selection module programmed to determine a priority ranking for each of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device, and to determine a selected communication line of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device based on the priority rankings; and

a communication module programmed to place the call to the target recipient on the determined communication line of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device;

wherein determining the priority ranking for each of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device comprises, for each of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device,

considering each of at least two factors associated with the communication line and a pre-defined weighting score for each factor,

wherein each of the at least two factors associated with the communication line comprise a factor selected from a group of determined factors consisting of;

whether the communication line was last used for calling the target recipient, whether the communication line is associated with the target recipient as identified in an address book, whether the communication line is determined to be a most frequently used communication line on the device, whether the communication line is associated with a message address of one or more messages received at the device, whether the communication line is associated with a time of day, whether the communication line is associated with an appointment record, and whether the communication line is a default communication line,

tracking a tally for the communication line based on the pre-defined weighting scores of each of the at least two factors to be used to compute a total score for each communication line, and

computing the total score for the communication line wherein the total score is the priority ranking.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the selected communication line determined based on the priority rankings is the communication line of the at least two communications lines associated with the mobile device with the highest priority ranking.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the pre-defined weighting scores are defined in accordance with a weighting scheme that depends on a context of the call to the target recipient.

10. The device of claim 7, further comprising at least one module programmed to:

display a listing that identifies each of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device, ordered by priority rankings; and

identify a selected communication line from the listing;

wherein the determined selected communication line of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device based on the priority rankings is the identified selected communication line from the listing.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein each of the at least two communications lines associated with the mobile device has a call number associated therewith.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the line selection module is further programmed to:

periodically update the pre-defined weighting scores of each of the at least two factors.

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

monitoring for initiation of a call to a target recipient;

upon detecting the initiation of the call to the target recipient, determining a priority ranking for each of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device;

determining a selected communication line of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device based on the priority rankings; and

placing the call to the target recipient on the determined communication line of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device;

wherein determining the priority ranking for each of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device comprises, for each of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device,

considering each of at least two factors associated with the communication line and a pre-defined weighting score for each factor,

wherein each of the at least two factors associated with the communication line comprise a factor selected from a group of determined factors consisting of;

whether the communication line was last used for calling the target recipient, whether the communication line is associated with the target recipient as identified in an address book, whether the communication line is determined to be a most frequently used communication line on the device, whether the communication line is associated with a message address of one or more messages received at the device, whether the communication line is associated with a time of day, whether the communication line is associated with an appointment record, and whether the communication line is a default communication line,

tracking a tally for the communication line based on the pre-defined weighting scores of each of the at least two factors to be used to compute a total score for each communication line, and

computing the total score for the communication line wherein the total score is the priority ranking.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein the selected communication line determined based on the priority rankings is the communication line of the at least two communications lines associated with the mobile device with the highest priority ranking.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein the pre-defined weighting scores are defined in accordance with a weighting scheme that depends on a context of the call to the target recipient.

16. The medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying a listing that identifies each of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device, ordered by priority rankings; and

identifying a selected communication line from the listing;

wherein the determined selected communication line of the at least two communication lines associated with the mobile device based on the priority rankings is the identified selected communication line from the listing.

17. The medium of claim 13, wherein each of the at least two communications lines associated with the mobile device has a call number associated therewith.