Method and apparatus for operation of a computing device

• US 9,141,278 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Andersson Reimer, Nils Roger, Jeppsson, Tim Kjell
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGGETT, ANDREA C.
• Application Number:
  US13/630,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20130191765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 715/762, 715/963
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A method and computing device are provided for facilitating data entry to a computing device. Data from first and second data sources is combined to provide a single view with contextual information for the user.

Claims

1. A method of generating a graphical user interface on a display of a computing device, the method comprising:

in response to an input to the device, generating an area of the user interface to display data from a first data source, wherein the area includes a first column that provides date information, a second column that provides time in a form of hour information, and a third column that provides that provides time in a form of minutes information, and the area includes a plurality of rows;

retrieving data from a second data source, the data from the second data source includes date information, hour information, and minutes information for previously-scheduled events;

determining date information, hour information, and minutes information displayed in at least one of the plurality or rows overlaps date information, hour information, and minutes information for at least one of the previously-scheduled events;

displaying a representation of the data from the second data source within said area

wherein the display of the representation of data from the second data source is superimposed on a portion of the at least one of the plurality or rows such that the data from the first source is visible through the data from the second data source and the graphical user interface correlates the data from the first and second data sources to provide contextual data.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising concurrently displaying the representation of data from the second data source with data from the first data source.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising subsequent to the concurrent display of the representation of data from the first and second data sources and, in response to an input to the device, permitting a writing of data to the first data source.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first data source is a scheduler module of the computing device and the second data source is a calendar module of the computing device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the displayed data from the first data source comprises first and second data input fields.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first and second data input fields define time and date fields respectively.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the data from the second data source includes previously stored data from a plurality of calendars and indicating availability of a plurality of users within the displayed time and date fields.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the data from the second data source is displayed as a colour, the colour providing a visual indicator to the presence of prestored data from second data source relevant to the displayed time and date fields.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising:

identifying a first set of the data from the first data source;

selecting a subset of the first set of the data from the first data source for display within an available space within the display area;

displaying at least a portion of the first set of data as a moving image within the display area; and

subsequently displaying the subset within the display area.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the display of at least a portion of the first set of data as a moving image prompts a user to subsequently scroll through the displayed subset to access data fields within the first set but not initially displayed in the displayed subset.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the subset of the first set is selected from within the first set such that the first set of data comprises data that sequentially leads into and follows the displayed subset.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the graphical display comprises generating a drop down field within the display and populating that drop down field.

13. An electronic device comprising a user interface and a processer, the processor being configured, in response to an input to the device:

generate an area of the user interface to display data from a first data source, wherein the area includes a first column that provides date information, a second column that provides time in a form of hour information, and a third column that provides that provides time in a form of minutes information, and the area includes a plurality of rows;

effect a retrieval of data from a second data source, the data from the second data source includes date information, hour information, and minutes information for previously-scheduled events;

determine date information, hour information, and minutes information displayed in at least one of the plurality or rows overlaps date information, hour information, and minutes information for at least one of the previously-scheduled events;

display a representation of the data from the second data source within said area

wherein the display of the representation of data from the second data source is superimposed on a portion of the at least one of the plurality of rows such that the data from the first source is visible through the data from the second data source and the graphical user interface correlates the data from the first and second data sources to provide contextual data.

14. An electronic device-readable medium bearing code which, when executed by one or more processors comprised in an electronic device, causes the electronic device to carry out the method steps of:

in response to an input to the device, generating an area of the user interface to display data from a first data source, wherein the area includes a first column that provides date information, a second column that provides time in a form of hour information, and a third column that provides that provides time in a form of minutes information, and the area includes a plurality of rows;

retrieving data from a second data source, the data from the second data source includes date information, hour information, and minutes information for previously-scheduled events;

determining date information, hour information, and minutes information displayed in at least one of the plurality or rows overlaps date information, hour information, and minutes information for at least one of the previously-scheduled events;

displaying a representation of the data from the second data source within said area

wherein the display of the representation of data from the second data source is superimposed on a portion of the at least one of the plurality of rows such that the data from the first source is visible through the data from the second data source and the graphical user interface correlates the data from the first and second data sources to provide contextual data.