ALERT METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CALL APPOINTMENTS IN A CALENDAR APPLICATION BASED ON COMMUNICATION CONDITIONS OF A MOBILE STATION

• US 20080132221A1
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Willey, William Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/421
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location

Abstract

Alert methods and apparatus for call appointments in a calendar application based on communication conditions of a mobile station are disclosed. Calendar information for an appointment in the calendar application is received and stored in memory. The calendar information is associated with a date and time of the appointment. In response to identifying an out-of-coverage condition of the mobile communication device within a predetermined time period of the date and time of the appointment, a warning indication is produced at a user interface of the mobile communication device. The warning indication may be or include a message which instructs a user of the mobile communication device to relocate the mobile communication device for removing the out-of-coverage condition, and may also include an audible or vibrating alert. The warning indication may be provided only if a telephone number or other suitable call information is identified within the calendar information.

Claims

1. A method of processing calendar information in a mobile communication device, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving and storing calendar information for an appointment in a calendar application of the mobile communication device, the calendar information being associated with a date and time of the appointment; and

causing a warning indication to be produced at a user interface of the mobile communication device in response to identifying an out-of-coverage condition within a predetermined time period of the date and time of the appointment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

refraining from causing the warning indication to be produced at the user interface if the out-of-coverage condition is not identified within the predetermined time period of the date and time of the appointment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning indication comprises a message which instructs a user of the mobile communication device to relocate the mobile communication device for removing the out-of-coverage condition.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning indication includes an audible or vibrating alert.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying whether the calendar information includes call appointment information for the appointment which comprises a call appointment with use of the mobile communication device;

if the call appointment information is identified to be included in the calendar information;

allowing the warning indication to be displayed in response to identifying the out-of-coverage condition within the predetermined time period; and

if the call appointment information is not identified to be included in the calendar information;

refraining from causing the warning indication to be displayed in response to identifying the out-of-coverage condition within the predetermined time period.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying whether the calendar information includes a telephone number for the appointment which comprises a call appointment with use of the mobile communication device;

if the telephone number is identified to be included in the calendar information;

allowing the warning indication to be displayed in response to identifying the out-of-coverage condition within the predetermined time period; and

if the telephone number is not identified to be included in the calendar information;

refraining from causing the warning indication to be displayed in response to identifying the out-of-coverage condition within the predetermined time period.

7. A mobile communication device, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory accessible by the one or more processors;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

a user interface which includes a visual display and a plurality of keys;

the one or more processors being operative to;

receive and store calendar information for an appointment in a calendar application stored in the memory, the calendar information being associated with a date and time of the appointment; and

cause a warning indication to be produced at the user interface in response to identifying an out-of-coverage condition within a predetermined time period of the date and time of the appointment.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 7, where the one or more processors are further operative to:

refrain from causing the warning indication to be produced at the user interface if the out-of-coverage condition is not identified within the predetermined time period of the date and time of the appointment.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein the warning indication comprises a message which instructs a user of the mobile communication device to relocate the mobile communication device for removing the out-of-coverage condition.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 7, further comprising:

the user interface further comprising at least one of an audible alert mechanism and a vibrating alert mechanism; and

wherein the warning indication includes at least one of an audible alert via the audible alert mechanism and a vibrating alert via the vibrating alert mechanism.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

identify whether the calendar information includes call appointment information for the appointment which comprises a call appointment with use of the mobile communication device;

if the call appointment information is identified to be included in the calendar information;

allow the warning indication to be displayed in response to identifying the out-of-coverage condition within the predetermined time period; and

if the call appointment information is not identified to be included in the calendar information;

refrain from causing the warning indication to be displayed in response to identifying the out-of-coverage condition within the predetermined time period.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

identify whether the calendar information includes a telephone number for the appointment which comprises a call appointment with use of the mobile communication device;

if the telephone number is identified to be included in the calendar information;

allow the causing of the warning indication to be displayed in response to identifying the out-of-coverage condition within the predetermined time period; and

if the telephone number is not identified to be included in the calendar information;

refrain from causing the warning indication to be displayed in response to identifying the out-of-coverage condition within the predetermined time period.

13. A communication system, comprising:

a wireless communication network;

a mobile communication device operative in the wireless communication network;

the mobile communication device including;

one or more processors;

memory accessible by the one or more processors;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

a user interface which includes a visual display and a plurality of keys;

the one or more processors being operative to;

receive and store calendar information for an appointment in a calendar application stored in the memory, the calendar information being associated with a date and time of the appointment; and

cause a warning indication to be produced at the user interface in response to identifying an out-of-coverage condition with the wireless communication network within a predetermined time period of the date and time of the appointment.

14. The communication system of claim 13, where the one or more processors of the mobile communication device are further operative to:

refrain from causing the warning indication to be produced at the user interface if the out-of-coverage condition is not identified within the predetermined time period of the date and time of the appointment.

15. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the warning indication comprises a message which instructs a user of the mobile communication device to relocate the mobile communication device for removing the out-of-coverage condition.

16. The communication system of claim 13, further comprising:

the user interface of the mobile communication device further comprising at least one of an audible alert mechanism and a vibrating alert mechanism; and

wherein the warning indication includes at least one of an audible alert via the audible alert mechanism and a vibrating alert via the vibrating alert mechanism.

17. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors of the mobile communication device are further operative to:

identify whether the calendar information includes call appointment information for the appointment which comprises a call appointment with use of the mobile communication device;

if the call appointment information is identified to be included in the calendar information;

allow the warning indication to be displayed in response to identifying the out-of-coverage condition within the predetermined time period; and

if the call appointment information is not identified to be included in the calendar information;

refrain from causing the warning indication to be displayed in response to identifying the out-of-coverage condition within the predetermined time period.

18. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors of the mobile communication device are further operative to:

identify whether the calendar information includes a telephone number for the appointment which comprises a call appointment with use of the mobile communication device;

if the telephone number is identified to be included in the calendar information;

allow the warning indication to be displayed in response to identifying the out-of-coverage condition within the predetermined time period; and

if the telephone number is not identified to be included in the calendar information;

refrain from causing the warning indication to be displayed in response to identifying the out-of-coverage condition within the predetermined time period.