Advanced voice and data operations in a mobile data communication device

• US 8,406,389 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Mousseau, Gary, Lazaridis, Mike, Yach, David, Vander Veen, Raymond, Major, Harry, Asthana, Atul
• Primary Examiner(s): Sing, Simon
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEZUAYEHU, SOLOMON G
• Application Number:
  US11/458,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20070242809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,441 Days
• Field of Search: 455/415, 455/413, 455/405, 455/558, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/88.18
• US Class Current: 379/88.18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 where the data service is an information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system and method for integrating voice and data operations into a single mobile device capable of simultaneously performing data and voice actions. The mobile device working in a network capable of exchanging both cell phone calls and data items to the mobile device. By wearing an earphone or an ear-bud device the user is capable of dealing with voice conversations while working with data centric information related to the current caller. By providing a data-centric device with voice capabilities there is a new range of features that allow incoming data events to trigger outgoing voice events.

Claims

1. A method of processing data in a mobile communication device having a voice component and a data component, said method comprising:

receiving a voice call at the mobile communications device voice component, the voice call initiated by a calling party;

launching a call log by the mobile communication device after the mobile communication device receives the call, said call log for receiving and storing input related to the voice call;

displaying a call log input screen on a display of the mobile communication device, the input screen populated with available information, if any, relating to the calling party;

automatically, launching and displaying by the mobile communication device a browser on at least a portion of said display of the mobile communication device, and importing by the mobile communication device at least a portion of said available information to said browser;

accessing an external network from said browser via the mobile communication device data component during said voice call to obtain external network information relating to the calling party;

receiving said external network information at said browser and displaying said external network information; and

accepting input to transfer at least a portion of said external network information received at said browser to said call log on the mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the call log is launched automatically upon receiving the call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the call log permits manual input of information related to the calling party.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising searching at least one database for information related to the calling party.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the available information comprises information found in the database search.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the available information comprises caller identification information associated with the calling party.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising searching at least one database for information related to the calling party.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one database is an address book stored in a memory of the mobile communication device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one database search is based at least in part on the received caller identification information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the caller identification information comprises a phone number, and wherein the search of at least one database comprises checking the caller identification phone number against phone numbers stored on the mobile communication device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the caller identification information comprises a name, and wherein the search of the at least one database comprises checking the name against other names stored on the mobile communication device.

12. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a voice component for receiving voice calls and caller identification information, if any, associated with the voice calls;

a data component configured to launch a call log on the mobile communication device, said call log launched upon receipt of a voice call initiated by a calling party and for receiving and storing input related to the voice call;

a display for displaying a call log input screen, the call log input screen populated with available information, if any, relating to the calling party;

a browser configured, automatically, to be displayed on at least a portion of said display, to import at least a portion of said caller identification information to said browser, and to access said external network via said data component during said received voice call to obtain external network information relating to the calling party; and

a user interface to accept input to transfer at least a portion of said external network information obtained by said browser to said call log on the mobile communication device.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 12, wherein the data component launches the call log automatically in response to receipt of the voice call.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 12, wherein the data component permits manual input of information related to the calling party.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 12, further comprising a controller configured to search at least one database for information related to the calling party.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 15, wherein the available information comprises information found in the database search.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 12, wherein the available information comprises caller identification information associated with the calling party.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 17, further comprising a controller configured to search at least one database for information related to the calling party.

19. A method of utilizing received caller identification information on a dual mode mobile device having a data component for storing, retrieving, receiving and displaying data and a voice component for receiving calls, the method comprising:

receiving, via the voice component, a voice call containing caller identification information;

determining a data component to launch based on call preferences;

launching the determined data component by the dual mode mobile device after said device receives the call;

automatically, launching a browser by the dual mode mobile device and including at least a portion of said caller identification information therein;

accessing an external network via said browser and the data component during said voice call to obtain external network information relating to the calling party;

receiving said external network information at said browser; and

accepting user input to transfer at least a portion of said external network information received at said browser to said data component on the dual mode mobile device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the launching of the determined data component is in response to a configured user preference stored on a memory of the mobile communication device.