ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF MESSAGING MEETING INVITEES

• US 20100241970A1
• Filed: 05/03/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: KHAN, Atif, MAY, Darrell R., BOCKING, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,177,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications

Abstract

A method of composing an email message at an electronic device and an electronic device operable to carry out the method are provided. The method includes receiving an email command from a user input of the electronic device through a calendar user interface, the email command relating to at least one of a plurality of intended attendees of a calendared meeting, and providing an email composition interface in response to receiving the email command. The email composition interface includes a user-editable portion of an address field. The user-editable portion of the address field is automatically populated with email address information for the at least one of the plurality of intended attendees.

Claims

1. A method of composing an email message at an electronic device having a processor, a memory maintaining a calendar application and a message application, an input device and a display, the method comprising:

providing a first calendar user interface on said display, said first calendar user interface comprising at least a time and a location for an existing calendared event;

displaying a list of a plurality of invitees of said calendared event, said list allowing individual selection of each invitee;

receiving a selection of one of said plurality of invitees of said calendared event from said input device;

responsive to said selection, providing an updated user interface superimposed on said first calendar user interface, said updated user interface comprising a selectable email command for said selected invitee;

receiving selection of said email command from said input device; and

providing an email composition interface on said display in response to receiving selection of said email command, said email composition interface including a user-editable portion of an address field,

wherein said user-editable portion of said address field is automatically populated with email address information for said selected invitee.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving said calendared event as a calendar entry in said calendar application prior to said receiving selection of said email command, said calendared event including at least a date, a time and email address information for each of said plurality of invitees.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein receiving said calendared event comprises:

receiving an invitation to an event at said electronic device, said invitation including said email address information for each of said plurality of invitees;

receiving an accept command from said input device in response to receipt of said invitation; and

saving said meeting and said email address information for each of said plurality of invitees as said calendar entry, for viewing using said first calendar user interface.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein receiving said calendared event comprises:

composing at said electronic device, an invitation to an event, said invitation including said email address information for each of said plurality of invitees;

sending said invitation to each of said plurality of invitees using respective said email address information for each of said plurality of invitees; and

saving said meeting and said email address information for each of said plurality of invitees as said calendar entry.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a user-editable portion of a subject field is automatically populated with information identifying said calendared event.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said updated user interface further comprises an email all command.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first calendar user interface occupies said entire display and said updated user interface occupies only a portion of said display.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first calendar user interface and said updated user interface are representative of said calendar application, and wherein providing said email composition interface comprises executing said message application.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said electronic device is a portable handheld electronic device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said updated user interface comprises a menu, said menu including said selectable email command.

11. An electronic device having a calendar application and email capability, the electronic device comprising:

a memory for maintaining said calendar application and a message application;

a display;

an input device; and

a processor connected to said memory, said display and said input device, said processor operable to control said display to provide a first calendar user interface comprising at least a time and a location for an existing calendared event;

said processor further operable to control said display for displaying a list of a plurality of invitees of said calendared event, said list allowing individual selection of each invitee;

said processor further operable to receive a selection of one of said plurality of invitees of said calendared event from said input device;

said processor further operable, responsive to said selection, to control said display to provide an updated user interface superimposed on said first calendar user interface, said updated calendar user interface comprising a selectable email command;

said processor further operable to receive selection of said email command from said input device, and to control said display to provide an email composition interface in response to receiving selection of said email command, said email composition interface including a user-editable portion of an address field, wherein said user-editable portion of said address field is automatically populated with email address information for said selected invitee.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said electronic device is a portable electronic device.

13. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said electronic device is a portable handheld electronic device.

14. The electronic device according to claim 11, further comprising a transmitter and receiver connected to said processor for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data.

15. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said updated user interface further comprises an email all command.

16. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said first calendar user interface occupies said entire display and said updated user interface occupies only a portion of said display.

17. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said first calendar user interface and said updated user interface are representative of said calendar application, and wherein providing said email composition interface comprises executing said message application.

18. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said updated user interface comprises a menu, said menu including said selectable email command.

19. The electronic device according to claim 11, further comprising an exit key for exiting any application.

20. A computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for an electronic device having a processor, a memory maintaining a calendar application and a message application, an input device and a display, the set of instructions for:

providing a first calendar user interface on said display, said first calendar user interface comprising at least a time and a location for an existing calendared event;

displaying a list of a plurality of invitees of said calendared event, said list allowing individual selection of each invitee;

receiving a selection of one of said plurality of invitees of said calendared event from said input device;

responsive to said selection, providing an updated user interface superimposed on said first calendar user interface, said updated user interface comprising a selectable email command for said selected invitee;

receiving selection of said command from said input device; and

providing an email composition interface on said display in response to receiving selection of said command, said email composition interface including a user-editable portion of an address field,

wherein said user-editable portion of said address field is automatically populated with email address information for said selected invitee.