Method of responding to an incoming communication received by a handheld device

• US 8,369,843 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Fux, Vadim, Fedotenko, Denis
• Primary Examiner(s): GONZALES, APRIL GUZMAN
• Application Number:
  US11/460,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20080037744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,385 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/563, 455/466, 455/445, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/415, 379/52, 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/88.08, 379/88.11, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/412, 704/264, 370/230
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/642 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A method for replying to an incoming communication received by a handheld electronic device comprises detecting an incoming communication, detecting a selection of one of a number of predetermined responses to the incoming communication and, responsive to detecting a selection, providing the one of said number of predetermined responses. An improved handheld electronic device implementing the method is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for replying to an incoming communication received by a handheld electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting an incoming communication, said detecting an incoming communication comprising;

determining a sender of said incoming communication; and

providing to a user a plurality of predetermined responses for selection, at least some of said plurality of predetermined responses being provided as a result of said determination of said sender, said at least some of said plurality of predetermined responses specific to said sender of said incoming communication;

detecting a selection of one of said plurality of predetermined responses to said incoming communication by detecting a movement of the handheld electronic device;

responsive to said detecting a selection, providing said one of said number of predetermined responses as a response to said incoming communication; and

determining a format of said incoming communication, and providing as at least a portion of said plurality of predetermined responses a number of predetermined responses in said format.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting as said incoming communication an audible incoming communication, and outputting on a display of the handheld electronic device as said at least some of said plurality of predetermined responses a representation of each of a plurality of predetermined audible responses for selection.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting a selection of one of a plurality of predetermined responses further comprises detecting an actuation of an input device of said handheld electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said detecting an actuation of an input device includes detecting at least one of an actuation of a key on said handheld electronic device, an actuation of a thumbwheel on said handheld electronic device, an actuation of a touch screen on said handheld electronic device, and an actuation of a position sensor of said handheld electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting a movement of the handheld electronic device includes detecting at least one of a movement of the handheld electronic device from one orientation to another orientation, and a movement of the handheld electronic device from one position to another position.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting a movement of the handheld electronic device includes detecting the movement with a GPS sensor.

7. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a processor unit comprising a processor, an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a memory having a routine stored therein, the processor unit being structured to;

detect an incoming communication by;

determining a sender of said incoming communication; and

providing to a user a plurality of predetermined responses for selection, at least some of said plurality of predetermined responses being provided as a result of said determination of said sender, said at least some of said plurality of predetermined responses specific to said sender of said incoming communication;

detect a selection of one of said plurality of predetermined responses to said incoming communication by detecting a movement of the handheld electronic device;

responsive to detecting a selection, provide said one of said plurality of predetermined responses as a response to said incoming communication; and

determine a format of said incoming communication, and provide as at least a portion of said plurality of predetermined responses a number of predetermined responses in said format.

8. The handheld electronic device of claim 7 wherein said processor unit is structured to detect as said incoming communication an audible incoming communication, and output on a display of the handheld electronic device as said at least some of said number of predetermined responses a representation of each of a plurality of predetermined audible responses for selection.

9. The handheld electronic device of claim 7 wherein said processor unit is further structured to detect as said selection an actuation of an input device of said handheld electronic device.

10. The handheld electronic device of claim 9 wherein said processor unit is structured to detect as said selection one of an actuation of a key on said handheld electronic device, an actuation of a thumbwheel on said handheld electronic device, an actuation of a touch screen on said handheld electronic device, and an actuation a position sensor of said handheld electronic device.

11. The handheld electronic device of claim 7 wherein said processor unit is further structured to detect as said detecting a movement of the handheld electronic device at least one of a movement of the handheld electronic device from one orientation to another orientation, and a movement of the handheld electronic device from one position to another position.

12. The handheld electronic device of claim 7 further comprising a GPS sensor, and wherein the processor unit is further structured to detect the movement with the GPS sensor.