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

• US 8,750,914 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Klassen, Gerhard D., Wormald, Christopher R., Phipps, Darcy R., Dunk, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEAN, RAYMOND S
• Application Number:
  US10/942,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20050124363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,554 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455517-519, 709204-207, 709223-226, 709227-229, 709230-232, 709238-244
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method are provided in which enhanced information regarding an “availability” of a user of a handheld electronic device is provided to another electronic device in a messaging environment. Such availability data provides step-wise indications of the relative availabilities of one or more users of electronic devices in a messaging environment. The step-wise indications can, for instance, range from an availability level of “currently active” to several levels of nonavailability. The device and method can be incorporated into an existing messaging environment.

Claims

1. A method of representing availability of a first device, the first device being a handheld electronic device having a wireless communication capability, the method comprising:

detecting an activity on the first device;

determining, for the detected activity, that a current availability level is to be altered by a value corresponding to a plurality of levels regardless of what the current availability level is, the current availability level being one of at least three availability levels;

determining the current availability level for the first device;

altering the current availability level by the plurality of levels according to the value; and

providing an indication of a new availability level to enable other devices to alter at least one variable icon in a graduated fashion to indicate the new availability level of the first device by filling in at least a portion of the at least one variable icon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected activity comprises an expiration of a predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected activity comprises a telephone event on the first device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected activity comprises an event affecting the wireless communication capability of the first device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is received by a second device and the second device outputs an output representative of at least a portion of said new availability level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected activity comprises a relative absence of activity on the first device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected activity comprises a transmission of data between the first device and another device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected activity comprises an existence of a stored predetermined event that is scheduled to occur at a predetermined time and the method further comprises detecting an occurrence of the predetermined time.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising outputting as the output a stepped indication representative of an activity level from among at least three predetermined stepped activity levels ranging between a level of at least substantially present activity on the first device and a level of no activity within a preceding predetermined period of time on the first device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the current availability value is representative of a level of non-availability of the first device from among a plurality of levels of non-availability of the first device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the level on non-availability of the first device corresponds to an occurrence of a telephone event on the first device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the level on non-availability of the first device corresponds to the first device being logged out of a service.

37. The method of claim 5, further comprising outputting as the output a visual output of at least one of a descriptive icon, the variable icon, and a string value.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected activity comprises a profile change on the handheld electronic device.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected activity relates to a calendar event on the handheld electronic device.

44. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected activity comprises composition of a message on the handheld electronic device.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected activity comprises reading a message on the handheld electronic device.

13. A non-transitory machine readable medium stored on a handheld electronic device with wireless communication capability storing instructions which, when executed on the handheld electronic device cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations comprising:

detecting an activity on the handheld electronic device;

determining, for the detected activity, that a current availability level is to be altered by a value corresponding to a plurality of levels regardless of what the current availability level is, the current availability level being one of at least three availability levels;

determining the current availability level for the handheld electronic device;

altering the current availability level by the plurality of levels according to the value; and

providing an indication of a new availability level to enable other devices to alter at least one variable icon in a graduated fashion to indicate the new availability level of the handheld electronic device by filling in at least a portion of the at least one variable icon.

14. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said detected activity comprises an expiration of a predetermined period of time.

15. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said detected activity comprises a telephone event on the handheld electronic device.

16. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said detected activity comprises an event affecting the wireless communication capability of the handheld electronic device.

17. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said operations further comprise outputting a visual output of at least one of a descriptive icon, the variable icon, and a string value.

18. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said detected activity comprises a relative absence of activity on the handheld electronic device.

19. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said detected activity comprises a transmission of data between the handheld electronic device and another electronic device.

20. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said detected activity comprises an existence of a stored predetermined event that is scheduled to occur at a predetermined time and said operations further comprise detecting an occurrence of the predetermined time.

21. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said operations further comprise outputting a stepped indication representative of an activity level from among at least three predetermined stepped activity levels ranging between a level of at least substantially present activity on the handheld electronic device and a level of no activity within a preceding predetermined period of time on the handheld electronic device.

22. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein the current availability value is representative of a level of non-availability of the handheld electronic device from among a plurality of levels of non-availability of the handheld electronic device.

23. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 22, wherein said level on non-availability of the handheld electronic device corresponds to an occurrence of a telephone event on the handheld electronic device.

24. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 22, wherein said level on non-availability of the handheld electronic device corresponds to the handheld electronic device being logged out of a service.

39. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein the detected activity comprises a profile change on the handheld electronic device.

42. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein the detected activity relates to a calendar event on the handheld electronic device.

45. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein the detected activity comprises composition of a message on the handheld electronic device.

48. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein the detected activity comprises reading a message on the handheld electronic device.

25. A handheld electronic device with a wireless communication capability comprising:

a processor apparatus including a processor and a memory;

an input apparatus;

an output apparatus; and

the memory including a routine stored therein, the routine being operable to;

detect an activity on the handheld electronic device;

determine, for the detected activity, that a current availability level is to be altered by a value corresponding to a plurality of levels regardless of what the current availability level is, the current availability level being one of at least three availability levels;

determine the current availability level for the handheld electronic device;

alter the current availability level by the plurality of levels according to the value; and

provide an indication of a new availability level to enable other devices to alter at least one variable icon in a graduated fashion to indicate the new availability level of the handheld electronic device by filling in at least a portion of the at least one variable icon.

26. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the detected activity comprises an expiration of a predetermined period of time.

27. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the detected activity comprises a telephone event on the handheld electronic device.

28. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the detected activity comprises an event affecting the wireless communication capability of the handheld electronic device.

29. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the routine is further operable to output a visual output of at least one of a descriptive icon, the variable icon, and a string value.

30. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the detected activity comprises a relative absence of activity on the handheld electronic device.

31. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the detected activity comprises a transmission of data between the handheld electronic device and another electronic device.

32. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the detected activity comprises an existence of a stored predetermined event that is scheduled to occur at a predetermined time and the routine is further operable to detect an occurrence of the predetermined time.

33. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the indication comprises a stepped indication representative of an activity level from among at least three predetermined stepped activity levels ranging between a level of at least substantially present activity on the handheld electronic device and a level of no activity within a preceding predetermined period of time on the handheld electronic device.

34. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the current availability level is representative of a level of non-availability of the handheld electronic device from among a plurality of levels of non-availability of the handheld electronic device.

35. The handheld electronic device of claim 34, wherein the level on non-availability of the handheld electronic device corresponds to an occurrence of a telephone event on the handheld electronic device.

36. The handheld electronic device of claim 34, wherein the level on non-availability of the handheld electronic device corresponds to the handheld electronic device being logged out of a service.

40. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the detected activity comprises a profile change on the handheld electronic device.

43. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the detected activity relates to a calendar event on the handheld electronic device.

46. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the detected activity comprises composition of a message on the handheld electronic device.

49. The handheld electronic device of claim 25, wherein the detected activity comprises reading a message on the handheld electronic device.