Method and apparatus for controlling a display in an electronic device

• US 20070050730A1
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Scott, Sherryl
• Granted Patent: US 8,707,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/809
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A method and apparatus for presenting information is provided. In an embodiment, an electronic device with wireless telephony features is provided. An embodiment includes a flexible dialog box tailored to the resources limitations of electronic devices.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the display of a portable electronic device having a display comprising the steps of:

rendering a screen on said display, said screen corresponding to a user application;

receiving a user-input command from a user at said device that corresponds to a function associated with said screen;

calling a dialog box application corresponding to said function, said dialog box application having a plurality of configurable fields;

accessing a database containing objects, at a least a portion of said objects reproducing information on said screen such that contents of said screen can be identified based on said objects;

populating fields in said dialog box application with said objects; and

,

rendering said dialog box application over said screen.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said user application is selected from the group consisting of a telephone application;

a messaging application;

a calendar application;

an address book application and a memo application.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said fields include at least two of:

an icon corresponding to said user applications;

a fixed message;

a variable message;

a message-type icon; and

an option button.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said fields comprise at least two option buttons and a default option button pre-selects a lossless action.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said fields comprise at least three option buttons, two of said option buttons having lossless actions and one of said option buttons having a lossy action;

and wherein a default option button is the one of said options buttons having a lossless action that is farthest from said option button having a lossy action.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said database further comprises layout characteristics representing at least one of locations, colours, sizes and fonts for said fields within said dialog box such that a physical layout of said dialog box application is configurable.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said layout characteristics are configurable for each said function.

15. The device according to claim 1 wherein said device includes a modem-radio and is operable to communicate wirelessly with a base station.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said microcomputer is operable to update said database based on command instructions received wirelessly from said base station.

8. A portable electronic device comprising:

a display;

a microcomputer connected to said display and operable to execute a user application;

said microcomputer operable to control said display in order to render at least one screen on said display corresponding to said user application;

a user-input device connected to said microcomputer and operable to forward a received command from a user at said device to said microcomputer;

said command corresponding to a function associated with said screen;

said microcomputer further operable to call a dialog box application corresponding to said function, said dialog box application having a plurality of configurable fields;

said microcomputer further operable to access a database containing objects, at a least a portion of said objects reproducing information on said screen such that contents of said screen can be identified based on said objects;

said microcomputer further operable to populate said fields in said dialog box application with said objects; and

, said microcomputer further operable to control said display in order to render said dialog box application over said screen such that at least a portion of said screen is obscured.

9. The device according to claim 8 wherein said user application is selected from the group consisting of a telephone application;

a messaging application;

a calendar application;

an address book application and a memo application.

10. The device according to claim 8 wherein said fields include at least two of:

an icon corresponding to said user applications;

a fixed message;

a variable message;

a message-type icon; and

an option button.

11. The device according to claim 8 wherein said fields comprise at least two option buttons and a default option button pre-selects a lossless action.

12. The device according to claim 8 wherein said fields comprise at least three option buttons, two of said option buttons having lossless actions and one of said option buttons having a lossy action;

and wherein a default option button pre-selects the one of said options buttons having a lossless action that is farthest from said option button having a lossy action.

13. The device according to claim 12 wherein said database further comprises layout characteristics representing at least one of locations and colours and sizes and fonts for said fields within said dialog box such that a physical layout of said dialog box application is configurable.

14. The device according to claim 13 wherein said layout characteristics are configurable for each said function.

17. A computer-readable medium containing a plurality of programming instructions, said instructions for controlling a display of a portable electronic device;

said instructions including a method comprising the steps of;

rendering a screen on said display, said screen corresponding to a user application;

receiving a user-input command from a user at said device that corresponds to a function associated with said screen;

calling a dialog box application corresponding to said function, said dialog box application having a plurality of configurable fields;

accessing a database containing objects, at a least a portion of said objects reproducing information on said screen such that contents of said screen can be identified based on said objects;

populating fields in said dialog box application with said objects; and

,

rendering said dialog box application over said screen.