Advanced voice and data operations in a mobile data communication device

• US 8,971,504 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mousseau, Gary Phillip, Lazaridis, Mihal, Yach, David Paul, Vander Veen, Raymond, Major, Harry Richmond, Asthana, Atul
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEZUAYEHU, SOLOMON G
• Application Number:
  US13/772,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20130165184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.02, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/466, 455/454, 455/154.2
• US Class Current: 379/88.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 where the data service is an information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system and method for integrating voice and data operations into a single mobile device capable of simultaneously performing data and voice actions. The mobile device working in a network capable of exchanging both cell phone calls and data items to the mobile device. By wearing an earphone or an ear-bud device the user is capable of dealing with voice conversations while working with data centric information related to the current caller. By providing a data-centric device with voice capabilities there is a new range of features that allow incoming data events to trigger outgoing voice events.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating dialing of a phone number subsequent to receipt of a data item at a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

displaying the data item on a viewing screen;

detecting selection to respond to receipt of the data item, displayed on the viewing screen, with a phone call;

determining whether a phone number has been selected in the data item;

if the phone number has been selected, dialing the selected phone number to initiate an outgoing phone call; and

if the phone number has not been selected, searching in the data item for a valid phone character by scanning characters in both directions from a viewing-screen cursor sitting on a character item to detect the phone number in the data item, and dialing the detected phone number to initiate the outgoing phone call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining comprises determining whether a viewing-screen cursor is sitting on an address field of the data item.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said searching further comprises determining whether the viewing-screen cursor is sitting on a number character.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said searching further comprises determining whether the number character is part of a valid phone number.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said searching further comprises determining whether the valid phone number is a complete phone number.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising dialing the complete phone number if the valid phone number is a complete phone number.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising presenting the complete phone number for confirmation.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising dialing the complete phone number responsive to confirmation of presentation of the complete phone number.

9. A method for initiating an outgoing phone call to a number in a body of a data item, said method comprising:

displaying the data item on a viewing screen;

detecting selection to call a phone number responsive to display of the data item on the viewing screen;

determining whether a phone number has been selected in the data item;

if the phone number has been selected, dialing the selected phone number to initiate an outgoing phone call;

if the phone number has not been selected,

scanning for a number forming a valid phone character in the data item by scanning characters in both directions from a viewing-screen cursor sitting on the data item;

parsing the number forming the valid phone character to obtain a complete phone number; and

dialing the complete phone number to initiate the outgoing phone call.

10. An apparatus for a mobile communication device for facilitating dialing of a phone number subsequent to receipt of a data item, said apparatus comprising:

a viewing screen configured to display the data item;

a processor configured to;

detect selection to respond to receipt of the data item, displayed on the viewing screen, with a phone call;

determine whether a phone number has been selected in the data item;

if the phone number has been selected, dial the selected phone number to initiate an outgoing phone call; and

if the phone number has not been selected, search in the data item for a valid phone character and, therefrom, detect the phone number by scanning characters in either direction of a viewing-screen cursor sitting on a character to detect a phone number in the data item and dialing the detected phone number to initiate the outgoing phone call.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said processor is further configured to determine whether a viewing-screen cursor is sitting on an address field of the data item.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the search in the data item for the valid phone character by said processor further comprises a determination of whether a viewing-screen cursor is sitting on a number character.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the search in the data item for the phone number by said processor further comprises a determination whether the valid phone character is part of a valid phone number.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the search in the data item by said processor further comprises a determination of whether the valid phone number is a complete phone number.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said processor, subsequent to the search, is further configured to dial the complete phone number when the valid phone number is a complete phone number.

16. Non-transitory computer-readable media configured, when executed by a computing device, to facilitate dialing of a phone number subsequent to receipt of a data item at a mobile communication device, by causing the computing device to:

display the data item on a viewing screen;

detect selection to respond to receipt of the data item, displayed on the viewing screen, with a phone call;

determine whether a phone number has been selected in the data item;

if the phone number has been selected, dial the selected phone number to initiate an outgoing phone call; and

if the phone number has not been selected, search in the data item for a valid phone character by scanning characters in both directions from a viewing-screen cursor sitting on a character item to detect a phone number in the data item and dialing the detected phone number to initiate the outgoing phone call.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 wherein determination of whether the phone number has been selected comprises determination of whether a viewing-screen cursor is sitting on an address field of the data item.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 wherein said search in the data item further comprises determination of whether the viewing-screen cursor is sitting on a number character.