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

• US 8,554,859 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• 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:
  US13/615,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20130007174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/204, 455/566, 455/567, 715/772
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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 displaying an instant messaging conversation on a display of an electronic device, the method comprising:

displaying a conversation of instant messages; and

displaying time information in association with at least one of two consecutive messages of the conversation only when a time elapsed between communication of the consecutive messages exceeds a predetermined duration, the predetermined duration being variable according to a frequency of messages being exchanged in the conversation of instant messages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the time information comprises a time stamp.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the time information comprises a relative time stamp representative of time elapsed between communication of the consecutive messages.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the time information is displayed adjacent to the at least one of two consecutive messages.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a handheld electronic device.

6. An electronic device for displaying an instant messaging conversation, the electronic device comprising:

a display;

a memory; and

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

display a conversation of instant messages; and

display time information in association with at least one of two consecutive messages of the conversation only when a time elapsed between communication of the consecutive messages exceeds a predetermined duration, the predetermined duration being variable according to a frequency of messages being exchanged in the conversation of instant messages.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the time information comprises a time stamp.

8. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the time information comprises a relative time stamp representative of time elapsed between communication of the consecutive messages.

9. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the time information is displayed adjacent to the at least one of two consecutive messages.

10. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the electronic device is a handheld electronic device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions embedded thereon for execution by a processor of an electronic device for displaying an instant messaging conversation on a display of the electronic device, such that when executed, the processor:

displays a conversation of instant messages; and

displays time information in association with at least one of two consecutive messages of the conversation only when a time elapsed between communication of the consecutive messages exceeds a predetermined duration, the predetermined duration being variable according to a frequency of messages being exchanged in the conversation of instant messages.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the time information comprises a time stamp.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the time information comprises a relative time stamp representative of time elapsed between communication of the consecutive messages.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the time information is displayed adjacent to the at least one of two consecutive messages.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the electronic device is a handheld electronic device.