Selective viewing of information

• US 8,621,389 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Lee, Matthew Richard, Marui, Keizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORR, HENRY W
• Application Number:
  US11/617,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20080163110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,559 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed that provides for the displaying, on display screen of an electronic device, a list of contact names, and further provides for the designating, by sequentially scrolling through the list of contact names, individual contact names in the list of contact names and wherein designation of an individual contact name reveals available information about the contact.

Claims

1. A method for selectively displaying contact information on a display screen of a handheld electronic device, said method comprising:

displaying a list of contact names on the display screen of the handheld electronic device;

detecting output from a navigation tool;

scrolling sequentially through said list of contact names in response to the detected output from the navigation tool;

designating a first contact name in the list of contact names in response to sequentially scrolling through said list of contact names;

revealing available information about the first contact name in response to the designation of the first contact name for a predetermined time;

detecting further output from the navigation tool;

scrolling sequentially through the revealed available information in response to the detected further output from the navigation tool;

detecting additional further output from the navigation tool;

only designating an adjacent contact name after all of the revealed available information about the first contact name has been sequentially scrolled through without requiring revealing available information about the adjacent contact name in response to the detected additional further output from the navigation tool.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said revealing comprises expanding an area on the display screen between the first individual contact name and the second individual contact name and displaying said available information in the expanded area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said revealing comprises displaying on the display screen the available information over top of contact names other than the first individual contact name.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said revealing comprises displaying the available information in a pop-up window on the display screen.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising concealing the available information in response to the designation of the second individual contact name.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a prompt in response to said designation of the portion of the available information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said available information includes an email address and said prompt comprises an email message containing the contact name as an intended recipient if the designated portion is the email address.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said available information includes a telephone number.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically dialing the telephone number if the designated portion is the telephone number.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the output from the navigation tool comprises detecting output from a trackball.

11. A handheld electronic device programmed for selectively displaying contact information thereon, said handheld electronic device comprising:

a navigation tool;

a display screen for displaying a list of contact names; and

a microprocessor having a control program associated therewith for controlling operation of said handheld electronic device, said control program being configured to;

display a list of contact names on the display screen of the handheld electronic device;

detect output from the navigation tool;

scroll sequentially through said list of contact names in response to the detected output from the navigation tool;

designate an individual contact name in the list of contact names in response to sequentially scrolling through said list of contact names;

reveal available information about the first individual contact name in response to the designation of the individual contact name for a predetermined time;

detect further output from the navigation tool;

scroll sequentially through the revealed available information in response to the detected further output from the navigation tool;

detect additional further output from the navigation tool; and

only designating an adjacent contact name after all of the revealed available information about the first contact name has been sequentially scrolled through without requiring revealing available information about the adjacent contact name in response to the detected additional further output from the navigation tool.

12. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein said control program being configured to reveal available information comprises said control program being configured to expand an area between the first individual contact name and the second individual contact name and display said available information about the individual contact name in said area.

13. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein said control program is further configured to conceal said available information of the first individual contact name in response to the designation of the second individual contact name.

14. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein said control program being configured to reveal available information comprises said control program being configured to display on the display screen the available information over top of contact names other than the first individual contact name.

15. The handheld device of claim 11, wherein said control program being configured to reveal available information comprises said control program being configured to display the available information in a pop-up window on the display screen.

16. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein said control program is further configured to display a prompt in response to said designation of the portion of the available information.

17. The handheld electronic device of claim 16, wherein said available information includes an email address and said prompt is an email message containing the contact name as an intended recipient if the designated portion is the email address.

18. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein said available information includes a telephone number.

19. The handheld electronic device of claim 18, wherein said control program is further configured to automatically dial the telephone number if the designated portion is the telephone number.

20. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein said navigation tool is a trackball.