Handheld electronic device and associated method providing time data in a messaging environment

• US 8,301,713 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Klassen, Gerhard D., Wormald, Christopher R., Kuhl, Lawrence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lai, Michael C
• Application Number:
  US13/111,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20110216071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/204, 455/566, 455/567, 715/772
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/02 manually operated with input through keyboard and computation using a built-in program, e.g. pocket calculators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method are provided in which time data regarding certain aspects of a messaging conversation on a handheld electronic device are made available to a user. Such time data is provided, for instance, in situations where an interruption has occurred during a messaging conversation. Time data can also be provided to a user on demand in certain circumstances.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

outputting an electronic conversation comprising a plurality of indications, each indication being representative of at least a portion of a corresponding messaging communication between the electronic device and a second electronic device;

identifying a first messaging communication between the electronic device and the second electronic device occurring at a first time, the first messaging communication having a corresponding first indication representative of at least a portion of the first messaging communication and which is one of the plurality of indications;

determining that a predetermined duration of time has elapsed since the first time without additional communication between the electronic device and the second electronic device during that duration of time;

detecting an input to the electronic device following said identifying and determining steps, said input occurring at a second time; and

responsive to said detecting an input, outputting in the electronic conversation, a time stamp representative of the second time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is a resumption message.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising outputting in the electronic conversation a second indication representative of at least a portion of the resumption message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the time stamp is disposed between the first indication and the second indication.

5. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions embedded thereon for execution by a processor of an electronic device such that, when executed, cause the processor to:

output an electronic conversation comprising a plurality of indications, each indication being representative of at least a portion of a corresponding messaging communication between the electronic device and a second electronic device;

identify a first messaging communication between the electronic device and the second electronic device occurring at a first time, the first messaging communication having a corresponding first indication representative of at least a portion of the first messaging communication and which is one of the plurality of indications;

determine that a predetermined duration of time has elapsed since the first time without additional communication between the electronic device and the second electronic device during that duration of time;

detect an input to the electronic device following said identifying and determining steps, said input occurring at a second time; and

responsive to said detecting an input, output in the electronic conversation, a time stamp representative of the second time.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein the input is a resumption message.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6, further comprising computer executable instructions such that, when executed, the processor outputs in the electronic conversation a second indication representative of at least a portion of the resumption message.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the time stamp is disposed between the first indication and the second indication.

9. An electronic device for displaying an instant message conversation, the instant message conversation comprising a plurality of instant messages exchanged between the electronic device and a second electronic device, the electronic device comprising:

a display;

a memory; and

a processor electronically coupled with the display and the memory, the processor configured to;

output an electronic conversation comprising a plurality of indications, each indication being representative of at least a portion of a corresponding messaging communication between the electronic device and the second electronic device;

identify a first messaging communication between the electronic device and the second electronic device occurring at a first time, the first messaging communication having a corresponding first indication representative of at least a portion of the first messaging communication and which is one of the plurality of indications;

determine that a predetermined duration of time has elapsed since the first time without additional communication between the electronic device and the second electronic device during that duration of time;

detect an input to the electronic device following said identifying and determining steps, said input occurring at a second time; and

responsive to said detecting an input, output in the electronic conversation, a time stamp representative of the second time.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the input is a resumption message.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to output in the electronic conversation a second indication representative of at least a portion of the resumption message.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the time stamp is disposed between the first indication and the second indication.