Method and apparatus for line selection in a communication device

• US 20070081641A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Adams, Neil, Kuhl, Larry, Veen, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 7,715,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/93.70
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27457 Management thereof, e.g. manual editing of data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/66 user interface aspects for indicating selection options for a communication line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

The present invention includes embodiments of an apparatus and method for selecting a line from two or more lines on a communication device. The communication device comprises a display module, an input module, a line selection module, and a communication module for making a call over a network to a target recipient. The method comprises the steps of storing line selection information; monitoring the input module for initiation of a call to the target recipient; upon detecting the initiation of the call, selecting a line from the at least two lines in the line selection module, the selected line is dependent on said line selection information; and making the call to the target recipient on the selected line.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a line from at least two lines on a device having a display, an input module, a line selection module, a communication module for making a call over a network to a target recipient, said method comprising the steps of:

storing line selection information;

monitoring the input module for initiation of a call to the target recipient;

upon detecting the initiation of the call, selecting a line from the at least two lines in the line selection module, said selected line being dependent on said line selection information; and

operating the communication module to make the call to the target recipient on said selected line.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said line selection information includes a record for a default line selected from said at least two lines.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said line selection information includes a record indicating which of said at least two lines was last used for the target recipient.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said line selection information includes a record indicating which of said at least two lines is associated with the target recipient, said record being stored in an address book module for the device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said line associated with the target recipient is determined from a target recipient category.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said line selection information includes a record indicating which of said at least two lines is to be selected during a first time period and a second time period, respectively.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said line selection information includes a record indicating a missed incoming for any one of said at least two lines.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said line selection information includes a record indicating a voice mail message for any one of said at least two lines.

9. A device for communicating over a network, said device comprising:

an input module, said input module being responsive to initiation of a call;

a communication module for communicating with a target recipient over the network on one of at least two lines;

a storage module for storing line information; and

a line selection module for selecting one of said at least two lines for communicating with said target recipient, said line selection module being responsive to said line information.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said line selection information includes a record indicating which of said at least two lines comprises a default line, and said line selection module being responsive to said record for selecting one of said at least two lines.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein said line selection information includes a record indicating which of said at least two lines was last used to call said target recipient, and said line selection module being responsive to said record for selecting one of said at least two lines.

12. The device according to claim 9, further comprising an address book module and wherein said line selection information includes a record indicating which of said at least two lines is associated with said target recipient, and said record being stored said address book module, and said line selection module being responsive to said record for selecting one of said at least two lines.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said line stored in association with said target recipient is determined from a target recipient category.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein said line selection information includes a record indicating which of said at least two lines is to be selected during a first time period and a second time period, respectively, and said line selection module being responsive to said record for selecting one of said at least two lines.

15. The device according to claim 9, wherein said line selection information includes a record indicating which of said at least two lines missed an incoming call, and said line selection module being responsive to said record for selecting one of said at least two lines.

16. The device according to claim 9, wherein said line selection information includes a record indicating which of said at least two lines has a voice mail message, and said line selection module being responsive to said record for selecting one of said at least two lines.

17. The device of any one of claims 9, wherein said line selection information includes a record indicating which of the at least two lines is stored in association with an email address for said target recipient, and said line selection module being responsive to said record for selecting one of said at least two lines.

18. A device for communicating over a network with a target recipient, said device comprising:

a communication module for communicating with the target recipient over the network on a selected line;

an input module, said input module being responsive to initiation of a call;

a storage module for storing line selection information; and

an event scheduler for determining said selected line from two or more lines based on said line information.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein said event scheduler includes a plurality of components, each of said components comprising a condition for determining said selected line.

20. A computer program product having a computer-readable medium tangibly embodying computer executable code for selecting a line on a device having at least two lines and including a line selection module, a display, an input module, a communication module for making a call to a target recipient over a network, said executable code comprising:

instructions for storing line selection information;

instructions for monitoring for the input module for initiation of a call to the target recipient;

instructions for, upon detecting initiation of the, retrieving from the line selection module a line selected from the at least two lines in dependence upon said line selection information; and

instructions for making the call to the target recipient on the selected line.