Entering contacts in a communication message on a mobile device

• US 8,675,845 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2010
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Rybak, Rafal
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Huy C
• Application Number:
  US12/917,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20110047250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/556.2, 709/206, 379/142.06
• US Class Current: 379/142.06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide a user with the ability to enter and validate contact addresses when composing a message on a mobile device. The user may access at least one of a local contact address data store and a remote contact address data store when entering and validating contact addresses.

Claims

1. A method of contact address entry for messages composed on a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

detecting entry of a contact address in an address field in a message;

checking a local contact address data store for a stored contact address that matches the entered contact address; and

after determining that there is no stored contact address that matches the entered contact address,

identifying at least one stored contact address in the local contact address data store where for each identified stored contact address, the entered contact address contains at least one of a misspelling or a transposing of characters of the identified stored contact address,

generating a list of the at least one identified stored contact address, and

providing the list in a user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a manual correction of the entered contact address.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising checking the entered contact address for proper syntax.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising contacting a remote contact service to allow browsing of a remote contact address data store and entering of the contact address.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

prior to said detecting, allowing entering of a few characters of one of a desired contact address and a name associated with the desired contact address, and providing in the user interface a list of matching contact addresses found in the remote contact address data store.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if there is no stored contact address that matches the entered contact address:

accepting the entered contact address as a correct contact address, receiving a manual correction of the entered contact address, or remotely looking up a correct contact address for the entered contact address.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a search of a remote contact address data store to locate contact addresses similar to the contact address after identifying that the entered contact address does not have a matching entry in the remote contact address data store, and providing a second list of the contact addresses similar to the entered contact address located in said search of the remote contact address data store;

wherein for each of the contact addresses in the second list, the entered contact address contains at least one of a misspelling of the contact address or a transposing of characters in the contact address.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by a processor of a mobile communication device, the instructions for implementing a method of contact address entry for messages composed on the mobile communication device, the method comprising:

detecting entry of a contact address in an address field in a message;

checking a local contact address data store for a stored contact address that matches the entered contact address; and

after determining that there is no stored contact address that matches the entered contact address,

identifying at least one stored contact address in the local contact address data store where for each identified stored contact address, the entered contact address contains at least one of a misspelling or a transposing of characters of the identified stored contact address,

generating a list of the at least one identified stored contact address, and

providing the list in a user interface.

9. A mobile communication device comprising:

a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device;

a communication subsystem connected to the main processor, the communication subsystem being configured for wirelessly sending and receiving data;

a message application configured to interface with the communication subsystem to send and receive wireless messages;

a local contact address data store; and

,

a contact lookup module configured to;

detect entry of a contact address in an address field in a message;

check a local contact address data store for a stored contact address that matches the entered contact address; and

after determining that there is no stored contact address that matches the entered contact address,

identify at least one stored contact address in the local contact address data store where for each identified stored contact address, the entered contact address contains at least one of a misspelling or a transposing of characters of the identified stored contact address,

generate a list of the at least one identified stored contact address, and

provide the list in a user interface.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to receive a manual correction of the entered contact address.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to check the entered contact address for proper syntax.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to contact a remote contact service to allow browsing of a remote contact address data store and entering of the contact address.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 12, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to:

prior to said detecting, allow entering of a few characters of one of a desired contact address and a name associated with the desired contact address, and provide in the user interface a list of matching contact addresses found in the remote contact address data store.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to, if there is no stored contact address that matches the entered contact address:

accept the entered contact address as a correct contact address, receive a manual correction of the entered contact address, or remotely look up a correct contact address for the entered contact address.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to:

perform a search of a remote contact address data store to locate contact addresses similar to the entered contact address after identifying that the entered contact address does not have a matching entry in the remote contact address data store, and to provide a second list of the contact addresses similar to the entered contact address located in said search of the remote contact address data store;

wherein for each of the contact addresses in the second list, the entered contact address contains at least one of a misspelling or a transposing of characters in the contact address.

16. A system comprising:

a mobile device comprising;

a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile device;

a communication subsystem connected to the main processor, the

communication subsystem being configured for wirelessly sending and receiving data;

a message application configured to interface with the communication subsystem to send and receive wireless messages, and to receive contact data;

a local contact address data store; and

a contact lookup module configured to;

detect entry of a contact address in an address field in a message;

check a local contact address data store for a stored contact address that matches the entered contact address; and

after determining that there is no stored contact address that matches the entered contact address,

identify at least one stored contact address in the local contact address store where for each identified stored contact address, the entered contact address contains at least one of a misspelling or a transposing of characters of the identified stored contact address, generate a list of the at least one identified stored contact address, and

provide the list in a user interface; and

a remote contact service for providing the contact data to the mobile device;

wherein communication between the mobile device and the remote contact service is made over a wireless network.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to receive a manual correction of the entered contact address.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to check the entered contact address for proper syntax.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote contact service is provided by a contact server associated with one of a corporate enterprise and a website.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to contact the remote contact service to allow browsing of a remote contact address data store and entering of the contact address.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to:

prior to said detecting, allow entering of a few characters of one of a desired contact address and a name associated with the desired contact address, and provide in the user interface a list of matching contact addresses found in the remote contact address data store.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to, if there is no stored contact address that matches the entered contact address:

accept the entered contact address as a correct contact address, receive a manual correction of the entered contact address, or remotely look up a correct contact address for the entered contact address.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact lookup module is further configured to:

perform a search of a remote contact address data store to locate contact addresses similar to the entered contact address after identifying that the entered contact address does not have a matching entry in the remote contact address data store, and to provide a second list of the contact addresses similar to the entered contact address located in said search of the remote contact address data store;

wherein for each of the contact addresses in the second list, the entered contact address contains at least one of a misspelling or a transposing of characters in the contact address.