User interface and method for persistent viewing of a user selected folder on a mobile device

• US 8,411,100 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Bocking, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K
• Application Number:
  US12/335,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20090264158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 345/589, 706/45, 709/203, 709/248, 715/206, 715/826
• US Class Current: 345/589
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A mobile device includes a display having a plurality of display modes including a folder view display mode wherein a plurality of folders are viewable. An input device is operable to change the display mode of the display between the folder view display mode and other display modes. A memory within the mobile device stores a folder that has been previously identified for persistent viewing. A processor controls the operation of the mobile device such that after the folder previously identified for persistent viewing is stored in memory, when the folder view display mode is entered, the folder is automatically displayed on the display.

Claims

1. A method for automatic redisplay of a previously-selected folder in a data-enabled wireless mobile device having a user interface, the method comprising:

entering an expandable and navigable folder structure displayable in a folder view display mode of the data-enabled wireless mobile device, wherein at least one folder within the expandable and navigable folder structure is displayable on the user interface; and

automatically redisplaying the previously-selected folder on the user interface of the data-enabled wireless mobile device, wherein the previously-selected folder is contained within at least one higher-level folder within the expandable and navigable folder structure.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises a folder other than a top level folder of the folder structure.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises a top level folder of the folder structure.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises one or more subfolders in a hierarchical structure and further wherein the folder with one or more subfolders is displayed as a collapsed folder.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein contents of the previously-selected folder are automatically displayed when the folder view display mode is entered.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises a Mailbox folder of the folder structure.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises an Outbox folder of the folder structure.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises a Sent Items folder of the folder structure.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises a Deleted Items folder of the folder structure.

10. A data-enabled wireless mobile device having a user interface for automatic redisplay of a previously-selected folder, the data-enabled wireless mobile device comprising:

means for entering an expandable and navigable folder structure displayable in a folder view display mode of the data-enabled wireless mobile device, wherein at least one folder within the expandable and navigable folder structure is displayable on the user interface; and

means for automatically displaying the previously-selected folder on the user interface of the data-enabled wireless mobile device, wherein the previous-selected folder is contained within at least one higher-level folder of an expandable and navigable folder structure.

11. The data-enabled wireless mobile device as recited in claim 10 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises a folder other than a top level folder of the folder structure.

12. The data-enabled wireless mobile device as recited in claim 10 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises a top level folder of the folder structure.

13. The data-enabled wireless mobile device as recited in claim 10 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises one or more subfolders in a hierarchical structure and further wherein the folder with one or more subfolders is displayed as a collapsed folder.

14. The data-enabled wireless mobile device as recited in claim 10 wherein contents of the previously-selected folder are automatically displayed when the folder view display mode is entered.

15. The data-enabled wireless mobile device as recited in claim 10 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises one of a Mailbox folder, an Inbox folder, an Outbox folder, a Sent Items folder, a Deleted Items folder and a Drafts folder of the folder structure.

16. A data-enabled wireless mobile device comprising:

a display having a plurality of display modes including a folder view display mode wherein a folder structure having one or more folders is viewable, expandable and navigable;

an input device operable to change the display mode of the display between the folder view display mode and other display modes;

a memory adapted to store a previously-selected folder for automatic redisplay; and

a processor coupled to the display, the input device, and the memory for controlling the operation of the data-enabled wireless mobile device such that when the folder view display mode is entered, the previously-selected folder is automatically displayed on the display.

17. The data-enabled wireless mobile device as recited in claim 16 wherein the input device further comprises an input key adapted to interact with a menu on the display.

18. The data-enabled wireless mobile device as recited in claim 16 wherein the input device further comprises a track wheel adapted to interact with a menu on the display.

19. The data-enabled wireless mobile device as recited in claim 16 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises one or more subfolders in a hierarchical structure and further wherein the folder with one or more subfolders is displayed as a collapsed folder.

20. The data-enabled wireless mobile device as recited in claim 16 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises a top level folder of the folder structure.

21. The data-enabled wireless mobile device as recited in claim 16 wherein contents of the previously-selected folder are automatically displayed when the folder view display mode is entered.

22. The data-enabled wireless mobile device as recited in claim 16 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises a folder other than a top level folder of the folder structure.

23. The data-enabled wireless mobile device as recited in claim 16 wherein the previously-selected folder contains communication events of a particular type.

24. The data-enabled wireless mobile device as recited in claim 16 wherein the previously-selected folder comprises one of a Mailbox folder, an Inbox folder, an Outbox folder, a Sent Items folder, a Deleted Items folder and a Drafts folder of the folder structure.