SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PARAMETER FOR AN APPLICATION OPERATING ON AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20080126957A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Lee, Matthew, May, Darrell, Tysowski, Piotr
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

The invention relates to a system, method and device for modifying a parameter for an application operating on an electronic device. The method comprises the steps of: (a) upon activation of the device, determining a state of initial configuration for the device; (b) if the state indicates that the device requires configuration, providing a GUI interface allowing for changes to be made to the parameter; and (c) if a change is made to the parameter through the interface, updating a storage location with the change. In the method, the device may have communication capabilities with a network; and time zone information relating to the location of the device may be provided from the network or from the device; and the time zone information may be used to update an aspect relating to the parameter.

Claims

1. A method of modifying a parameter for at least one application operating on an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

upon activation of the device, determining a state of initial configuration for the device;

if the state of initial configuration indicates that the device requires configuration, providing a GUI interface allowing for changes to be made to the parameter; and

if a change is made to the parameter through the interface, updating a storage location with the change.

2. The method of modifying a parameter for at least one application operating on an electronic device, further comprising:

once the GUI interface is provided on the device on a first instance, subsequently providing the GUI interface only upon a request; and

changing the state of initial configuration of the device.

3. The method of modifying a parameter for at least one application operating on an electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein for the step of providing a GUI interface, depending on the state of initial configuration, the GUI interface selectively provides a series of GUI screens providing introductory information relating to the device.

4. The method of modifying a parameter for at least one application operating on an electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the introductory information relates to operational parameters of the device and a network in communication with the device.

5. The method of modifying a parameter for at least one application operating on an electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the parameter is accessed by at least two applications for its operation and the at least two applications operate on the device.

6. The method of modifying a parameter for at least one application operating on an electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the parameter relates to a display characteristic for elements generated on a display of the device.

7. The method of modifying a parameter for at least one application operating on an electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the GUI interface utilizes at least one template providing text to be displayed in a GUI screen and options relating to the parameter.

8. The method of modifying a parameter for at least one application operating on an electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the device has CDMA communication capabilities with the network; and

aspects of the GUI interface can be accessed only if a telephone number has been programmed into the device.

9. The method of modifying a parameter for at least one application operating on an electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

the device has wireless communication capabilities; and

time zone information relating to the location of the device is provided from the network; and

the time zone information is used to update an aspect relating to the parameter.

10. The method of modifying a parameter for at least one application operating on an electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the time zone information is derived using triangulation of signals received from the network by the device.

11. The method of modifying a parameter for at least one application operating on an electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the time zone information is derived using country code information associated with the device provided from the network.

12. An electronic device comprising:

at least one software application operating on the device, the at least one application having a parameter relating to its operation;

a module for modifying the parameter for the at least one application, the module operating on the electronic device, the module modifying the parameter by;

upon activation of the device, determining a state of initial configuration of the device;

if the state of initial configuration indicates that the device requires configuration, providing a GUI interface allowing for changes to be made to the parameter; and

if a change is made to the parameter through the interface, updating a record for the parameter;

and

memory to store the state of initial configuration and the record for the parameter.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein depending on the state of initial configuration, the module controls the GUI interface to selectively provide a series of GUI screens providing introductory information relating to the device.

14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the parameter relates to a display characteristic for elements generated on a display of the device.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein

the device has CDMA communication capabilities;

and

aspects of the GUI interface can be accessed only if a telephone number has been programmed into the device.

16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the GUI interface utilizes at least one template providing text to be displayed in a GUI screen and options relating to the parameter.

17. The electronic device as claimed in 16, wherein:

the device has communication capabilities with a network; and

time zone information relating to the location of the device is provided from the network; and

the time zone information is used to update an aspect relating to the parameter.

18. A method of providing time information to a portable communication device, comprising the steps of:

upon activation of the device, determining a state of configuration for the device;

if the state of configuration indicates that the device requires configuration of an internally stored time value, deriving time zone information from location information relating to the device provided from a network communicating with the device; and

updating a parameter relating to an application that utilizes the time information.

19. The method of providing time information to a portable communication device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the time zone information is derived using triangulation of signals received from the network by the device.

20. The method of providing time information to a portable communication device as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

country code data is associated with the device; and

the method further comprises comparing the country code data to a preset time zone record provided with the device to determine a current time zone for the device.