CONTACT OBJECTS

• US 20110202853A1
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mujkic, Alen
• Application Number:
  US13/027,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202853A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

Communicating with a contact over one of a plurality of communications services accessible via a mobile communications device. Representing a contact'"'"'s association with each of the communication services by a contact object. Displaying the contact object on a display of the device. Receiving a first input directed to the contact object, and in response, displaying the status of the contact with respect to each of the communications services. For a displayed status indicating “available,” or the equivalent thereof, upon receiving a user second input directed to the status, initiating communication with the contact via the service.

Claims

1. A system for communicating with a contact over one of a plurality of communications services accessible via a mobile communications device, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one computer-readable medium in communication with the at least one processor module; and

at least one contact object module

residing on the medium, and

comprising instructions, that upon execution by the at least one processor to are operative to;

represent a contact'"'"'s association with each of a plurality of communication services by a contact object;

display the contact object on a display of the device;

receive a first input directed to the contact object; and

in response to receiving the first input directed to the contact object, display, on the display, the status of the contact with respect to each of a plurality of communication services.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further operative to:

for a displayed status indicating “

available,”

or an equivalent thereof, upon receiving a user second input directed to the “

available,”

or equivalent thereof, displayed status, initiate communication with the contact via the service associated with the available status.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the contact object further specifies a default communication service, and

the instructions are further operative in response to receiving a first input directed to the contact object, to initiate communication with the contact using the default communication service.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the contact object is displayed on a home screen of the device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first input comprises a hover event.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first input comprises a click event.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen and wherein the first input comprises a touch-and-hold event.

8. A computer program product for communicating with a contact over one of a plurality of communications services accessible via a mobile communications device, the computer program product comprising:

at least one computer-readable medium,

at least one contact object module,

residing on the medium, and operative to;

represent a contact'"'"'s association with each of a plurality of communication services by a contact object;

display the contact object on a display of the device;

receive a first input directed to the contact object;

in response to receiving the first input directed to the contact object, display, on the display, the status of the contact with respect to each of a plurality of communication services; and

for a displayed status indicating “

available,”

or an equivalent thereof, upon receiving a user second input directed to the “

available,”

or equivalent thereof, displayed status, initiate communication with the contact via the service associated with the available status.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the instructions are further operative to:

for a displayed status indicating “

available,”

or an equivalent thereof, upon receiving a user second input directed to the “

available,”

or equivalent thereof, displayed status, initiate communication with the contact via the service associated with the available status.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein:

the contact object further specifies a default communication service, and

the instructions are further operative in response to receiving a first input directed to the contact object, to initiate communication with the contact using the default communication service.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the contact object is displayed on a home screen of the device.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the first input comprises a hover event.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the first input comprises a click event.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein display comprises a touch screen and wherein the first input comprises a touch-and-hold event.

15. A processor-implemented method for communicating with a contact over one of a plurality of communications services accessible via a mobile communications device, the processor-implemented method comprising:

representing a contact'"'"'s association with each of a plurality of communication services by a contact object;

displaying the contact object on a display of the device;

receiving a first input directed to the contact object;

in response to receiving the first input directed to the contact object, displaying, on the display, the status of the contact with respect to each of a plurality of communication services; and

for a displayed status indicating “

available,”

or an equivalent thereof, upon receiving a user second input directed to the “

available,”

or equivalent thereof, displayed status, initiating communication with the contact via the service associated with the available status.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further operative to:

for a displayed status indicating “

available,”

or an equivalent thereof, upon receiving a user second input directed to the “

available,”

or equivalent thereof, displayed status, initiate communication with the contact via the service associated with the available status.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein:

the contact object further specifies a default communication service, and

the instructions are further operative in response to receiving a first input directed to the contact object, to initiate communication with the contact using the default communication service.

18. The processor-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the contact object is displayed on a home screen of the device.

19. The processor-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the first input comprises a hover event.

20. The processor-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the first input comprises a click event.

21. The processor-implemented method of claim 15, wherein display comprises a touch screen and wherein the first input comprises a touch-and-hold event.