Method for predicting messaging addresses for an electronic message composed on an electronic device

• US 8,341,230 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine, Lazaridis, Mihal, Griffin, Jason Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): TANG, KAREN C
• Application Number:
  US12/609,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

A method for predicting messaging addresses for an electronic message composed on an electronic device is provided. In accordance with one embodiment, the method comprises: receiving a request to compose an electronic message; automatically filtering the contacts based on filter criteria comprising a type of the electronic message to generate a first list of contacts; displaying a message composition user interface screen on a display screen of the electronic device, the message composition user interface screen including one or more address fields for inputting message recipients; displaying the first list of contacts, the message recipients being selectable from the first list of contacts; and selecting a messaging address in accordance with selection of a contact from the first list of contacts and populating an active address field in the message composition user interface screen with the selected contact.

Claims

1. A method for predicting messaging addresses for an electronic message composed on an electronic device, the electronic device having access to contact information for a number of contacts, the method comprising:

receiving a request to compose an electronic message;

automatically filtering the contacts based on filter criteria comprising a type of messaging address to generate a first list of contacts identifying only contacts having a messaging address type which corresponds to a type of electronic message under composition;

displaying a message composition user interface screen on a display screen of the electronic device, the message composition user interface screen including one or more address fields for inputting message recipients;

displaying the first list of contacts, the message recipients being selectable from the first list of contacts;

displaying a second list of contacts which do not match the type of messaging address of the first criteria, the message recipients being non-selectable from the second list of contacts;

detecting selection of a contact from the first list of contacts; and

populating an active address field in the message composition user interface screen with a messaging address corresponding to the selected contact.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the electronic message to the selected messaging address in response to respective input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter criteria further comprises usage criteria based on historical usage data associated with the contacts.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the usage criteria is a most used messaging address, the contacts being filtered to identify the last used contact.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the usage criteria is a last used messaging address, the contacts being filtered to identify the last used contact.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the usage criteria is recently used messaging addresses, the contacts being filtered to identify a predetermined number of recently used contacts.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the usage criteria is frequently used messaging addresses, the contacts being filtered to identify a predetermined number of frequently used contacts.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the usage criteria is based on historical usage data of a contact identifier other than a messaging address associated with the contacts, wherein the usage criteria is a last used contact identifier, recently used contact identifiers, a most used contact identifier, or frequently used contact identifiers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter criteria is the type of messaging address only, wherein the contacts are filtered to identify only contacts having a messaging address type which corresponds to a type electronic message under composition, wherein the messaging address is a unique identifier associated with a recipient electronic device, and the type of message is a device-to-device message sent to the unique identifier.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second list of contacts is displayed below the first list of contacts.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein contact entries in the second list of contacts are displayed in a format different from the contact entries in the first list of contacts.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input in the address field after an initial display of the first list of contacts on the display screen of the electronic device;

re-filtering the contacts based on the filter criteria and input in the address field, wherein the contacts are filtered to identify contacts matching the filter criteria and the input in the address field; and

re-displaying the first list of contacts in accordance with the re-filtered contacts on the display screen of the electronic device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the input in the address field is a selection input of an address field, a character input of one or more initial characters, or both.

14. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

updating the usage data in accordance with the one or more messaging addresses to which the electronic message was sent; and

storing the updated usage data in a memory of the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first list of contacts is displayed on the display screen of the electronic device at the same time as the message composition user interface screen.

16. A mobile communication device having access to contact information for a number of contacts, the contact information including messaging addresses for at least some of the contacts, the device comprising:

a controller;

an input device connected to the controller for receiving input;

a communication subsystem connected to the controller for exchanging data over a wireless network;

a memory connected to the controller having stored thereon filter criteria comprising a type of messaging address;

a display screen connected to the controller;

the controller being operable to;

receive a request to compose an electronic message;

automatically filter the contacts based on the filter criteria to generate a first list of contacts identifying only contacts having a messaging address type which corresponds to a type of electronic message under composition;

cause a message composition user interface screen to be displayed on the display screen, the message composition user interface screen including one or more address fields for inputting message recipients;

cause the first list of contacts to be displayed, the message recipients being selectable from the first list of contacts;

cause a second list of contacts to be displayed which do not match the type of messaging address of the first criteria, the message recipients being non-selectable from the second list of contacts;

detect selection of a contact from the first list of contacts; and

populate an active address field in the message composition user interface screen with a messaging address corresponding to the selected contact.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the controller is further operable to send the electronic message to the selected messaging address in response to respective input.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the filter criteria further comprises usage criteria based on historical usage data associated with the contacts.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the usage criteria is a most used messaging address, the contacts being filtered to identify the last used contact.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the usage criteria is a last used messaging address, the contacts being filtered to identify the last used contact.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the usage criteria is recently used messaging addresses, the contacts being filtered to identify a predetermined number of recently used contacts.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein the usage criteria is frequently used messaging addresses, the contacts being filtered to identify a predetermined number of frequently used contacts.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein the usage criteria is based on historical usage data of a contact identifier other than a messaging address associated with the contacts, wherein the usage criteria is a last used contact identifier, recently used contact identifiers, a most used contact identifier, or frequently used contact identifiers.

24. The device of claim 16, wherein the filter criteria is the type of messaging address only, wherein the contacts are filtered to identify only contacts having a messaging address type which corresponds to a type electronic message under composition, wherein the messaging address is a unique identifier associated with a recipient electronic device, and the type of message is a device-to-device message sent to the unique identifier.

25. The device of claim 16, wherein the second list of contacts is displayed below the first list of contacts.

26. The device of claim 16, wherein contact entries in the second list of contacts are displayed in a format different from the contact entries in the first list of contacts.

27. The device of claim 16, the controller being further operable to:

receive an input in the address field after an initial display of the first list of contacts on the display screen of the electronic device;

re-filter the contacts based on the filter criteria and input in the address field, wherein the contacts are filtered to identify contacts matching the filter criteria and the input in the address field; and

re-display the first list of contacts in accordance with the re-filtered contacts on the display screen of the electronic device.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the input in the address field is a selection input of an address field, a character input of one or more initial characters, or both.

29. The device of claim 18, further comprising:

updating the usage data in accordance with the one or more messaging addresses to which the electronic message was sent; and

storing the updated usage data in a memory of the electronic device.

30. The device of claim 16, wherein the first list of contacts is displayed on the display screen of the electronic device at the same time as the message composition user interface screen.