Handheld electronic device and associated method providing time data in a messaging environment

• US 8,745,149 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Klassen, Gerhard D., Wormald, Christopher R., Kuhl, Lawrence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lai, Michael C
• Application Number:
  US13/615,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20130002681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 455/566, 455/567, 715/772
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/02 manually operated with input through keyboard and computation using a built-in program, e.g. pocket calculators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method are provided in which time data regarding certain aspects of a messaging conversation on a handheld electronic device are made available to a user. Such time data is provided, for instance, in situations where an interruption has occurred during a messaging conversation. Time data can also be provided to a user on demand in certain circumstances.

Claims

1. A method of displaying an instant messaging conversation on a display of an electronic device, the method comprising:

displaying a conversation of instant messages;

displaying a first time information for an instant message in the conversation in response to a first input; and

automatically changing the first time information for the instant message to a second time information as time progresses and displaying the second time information instead of the first time information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time information comprises an absolute time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second time information further comprises additional information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the additional information comprises an indication of a day on which the instant message was sent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first time information and the second time information comprises a relative time.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second time information comprises an absolute time after expiration of a predetermined duration of time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time information is displayed for only a predetermined duration of time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first comprises detecting a pointing device in proximity to the instant message.

9. An electronic device for displaying an instant messaging conversation, the electronic device comprising:

a display;

a memory; and

a processor electronically coupled with the display and the memory, the processor configured to;

display a conversation of instant messages;

display a first time information for an instant message in the conversation in response to a first input; and

automatically change the first time information for the instant message to a second time information as time progresses and display the second time information instead of the first time information.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first time information comprises an absolute time.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the second time information further comprises additional information.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the additional information comprises an indication of a day on which the instant message was sent.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first time information and the second time information comprises a relative time.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the second time information comprises an absolute time after expiration of a predetermined duration of time.

15. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first time information is displayed for only a predetermined duration of time.

16. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first input comprises detecting a pointing device in proximity to the instant message.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions embedded thereon for execution by a processor of an electronic device such that, when executed, cause the processor to:

display a conversation of instant messages;

display a first time information for an instant message in the conversation in response to a first input; and

automatically change the first time information for the instant message to a second time information as time progresses and display the second time information instead of the first time information.