Handheld electronic device including cross application use of phone related inputs, and associated method

This invention is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/939,622, filed Sep. 13, 2004, entitled “HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING CROSS APPLICATION USE OF PHONE RELATED INPUTS, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD”, which is herein incorporated by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to handheld electronic devices and, more particularly, to a handheld electronic device that utilizes phone related inputs, for example from <SEND> and <END> keys, across multiple applications executed by the device. The invention also relates to a method of utilizing phone related inputs across multiple applications executed by the device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known. Examples of such handheld electronic devices include, for instance, personal data assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, two-way pagers, cellular telephones, and the like. Such handheld electronic devices are generally intended to be portable and thus are relatively small. Many handheld electronic devices also feature wireless communication capability, although many such handheld electronic devices are stand-alone devices that are functional without communication with other devices.

Many handheld electronic devices include and provide access to a wide range of integrated applications, including, without limitation, email, telephone, short message service (SMS), multimedia messaging service (MMS), browser, calendar and address book applications, such that a user can easily manage information and communications from a single, integrated device. These applications are typically selectively accessible and executable through a user interface that allows a user to easily navigate among these applications.

Many devices that provide telephone functionality include dedicated <SEND> and <END> keys, or the like, for enabling a user to initiate a new call, answer an incoming call, or terminate a call that is in progress. The <SEND> key, however, is typically only able to initiate a call after the user has either: (i) entered or initiated the device's telephone application and entered a phone number or selected a stored phone number (such as in a call log), or (ii) entered or initiated the device's address book application and selected a stored phone number. In such a device, the <SEND> and <END> keys are not able to be used from other active applications to initiate telephone related activity. However, with more and more handheld electronic devices including multiple applications, it would be convenient and useful for a user to be able to quickly and easily initiate telephone related activity from applications other than the telephone and address book applications, particularly those applications that may include contact related information for an individual that the user desires to call. For example, a user may receive an email, SMS message or MMS message from an individual and may, while viewing the email, SMS message or MMS message in the associated application, desire place a call to that individual. With known handheld electronic devices, the individual would need to leave the current application (e.g., email, SMS or MMS), activate the telephone application, either enter that individual's phone number or access that individual's phone number from the address book application, and activate or depress the <SEND> key. These steps, while ultimately achieving the purpose of placing the desired call, are inconvenient and time consuming. Thus, there is a need for a handheld electronic device that will enable a user to utilize phone related inputs, such as the activation (e.g., depression) of the <SEND> key, to execute phone related functions while another application is active and in use.

An improved multi-application handheld electronic device and an associated method provide added convenience for the user by enabling the user to quickly and easily initiate telephone related functions, such as placing a phone call, directly from applications other than the device's phone and address book applications using a dedicated phone related key. A user, when using an application other than the phone or address book application, no longer needs to exit or navigate out of the current application and activate the phone or address book application to initiate telephone functionality, as was the case in the known prior art.

These and other aspects of the invention are provided by a method of using a dedicated phone related key of a handheld electronic device, such as a <SEND> or <END> key, to initiate and execute phone related functions. The handheld electronic device includes a plurality of applications including a phone application, an address book application, and one or more other applications. The device also includes a plurality of use states that are based on the application or portion thereof that is currently active and the information, if any, that is selected by the user. Each one of the plurality of use states has an associated function that is to be initiated upon depression of the phone related key.

The method of the invention includes detecting that the phone related key has been depressed by a user, and then determining the current use state of the handheld electronic device. The current use state is one of the plurality of use states that has an associated function as described above. Also, one of the other applications (other than the phone and address book applications) is the currently active application in the current use state. The method, after determining the current use state, further includes making the phone application active and initiating and executing the function that is associated with the current use state.

According to one aspect of the invention, a portion of information comprising contact related information is selected by the user in the current use state, and the associated function comprises placing a phone call based on the selected portion of information. The contact information may include a phone number, wherein the phone call will be placed to the phone number. Alternatively, the contact related information, such as a person's name or an email address, may be used to search the entries stored by the address hook application to find an associated phone number. Once found, the phone call is placed to the phone number. The other applications of the handheld electronic device may include one or more of a messaging application, such as an email, SMS or MMS application, a browser application, a memo application, a calendar application, and a task application.

According to another aspect of the invention, in the current use state the user is connected to an active phone call. When the phone related key, such as a <SEND> key, is depressed, the handheld electronic device activates a conference call routine for conferencing another call in to the current call.

According to another aspect of the invention, an improved handheld electronic device is provided that includes an input apparatus including a dedicated phone related key such as a <SEND> or <END> key, a processor, and a memory. The memory stores a phone application, an address book application, and one or more other applications executable by the processor. The memory also stores use state information inducing a plurality of use states of the handheld electronic device and a phone related function associated with each use state that is to be initiated upon depression of the phone related key. The memory further stores one or more routines executable by the processor that include instructions for implementing the various embodiments of the method for using a dedicated phone key to initiate and execute phone related functions across applications as described above.

A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following Description of the Preferred Embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an improved handheld electronic device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the handheld electronic device of FIG. 1 ;

FIGS. 3A , 3 B, 4 A, 4 B, 5 A and 5 B are exemplary views of a portion of the display of the handheld electronic device of FIGS. 1 and 2 according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting a routine executed by the processor of the handheld electronic device of FIGS. 1 and 2 for initiating functions based on phone-related inputs according to the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart depicting a particular embodiment of the routine shown in FIG. 6 .

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

An improved handheld electronic device 4 in accordance with the invention is depicted generally in FIGS. 1 and 2 . The handheld electronic device 4 includes a housing 8 , a display 12 , an input apparatus 16 , and a processor 20 ( FIG. 2 ) which may be, without limitation, a microprocessor (μP). The processor 20 is responsive to inputs received from the input apparatus 16 and provides outputs to the display 12 . While for clarity of disclosure reference has been made herein to the exemplary display 12 for displaying various types of information, it will be appreciated that such information may be stored, printed on hard copy, be computer modified, or be combined with other data, and all such processing shall be deemed to fall within the terms “display” or “displaying” as employed herein. Examples of handheld electronic devices are included in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,452,588 and 6,489,950, which are incorporated by reference herein. The handheld electronic device 4 is of a type that includes a cellular telephone capability and, as will be described in greater detail below, allows for cross application use of phone related inputs to initiate phone functions. As used herein, the terms “phone” and “telephone” shall refer to any type of voice communication initiated and conducted over a wired and/or wireless network.

As can be understood from FIG. 1 , the input apparatus 16 includes a keyboard 24 having a plurality of keys 26 , and a rotatable thumbwheel 28 . As used herein, the expression “key” and variations thereof shall refer broadly to any of a variety of input members such as buttons, switches, and the like without limitation. The keys 26 and the rotatable thumbwheel 28 are input members of the input apparatus 16 , and each of the input members has a function assigned thereto. Keys 26 include a <SEND> key 30 and an <END> key 32 , the functions of which will be described in greater detail below. The keys 30 , 32 may include suitable text and/or graphics (as shown) disposed (e.g., printed) thereon. As used herein, the expression “function” and variations thereof can refer to any type of process, task, procedure, routine, subroutine, function call, or other type of software or firmware operation that can be performed by the processor 20 of the handheld electronic device 4 .

As is shown in FIG. 2 , the processor 20 is in electronic communication with memory 44 . Memory 44 can be any of a variety of types of internal and/or external storage media such as, without limitation, RAM, ROM, EPROM(s), EEPROM(s), and the like, that provide a storage register for data storage such as in the fashion of an internal storage area of a computer, and can be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory. The memory 44 further includes a number of applications executable by processor 20 for the processing of data. The applications can be in any of a variety of forms such as, without limitation, software, firmware, and the like, and the term “application” herein shall include one or more routines, subroutines, function calls or the like, alone or in combination.

As is also shown in FIG. 2 , processor 20 is in electronic communication with communications subsystem 45 . Communications functions for handheld electronic device 4 , including data and voice communications, are performed through communications subsystem 45 . Communications subsystem 45 includes a transmitter and a receiver (possibly combined in a single transceiver component) and one or more antennas. Other known components, such as a digital signal processor and a local oscillator, may also be part of communications subsystem 45 . The specific design and implementation of communications subsystem 45 is dependent upon the communications network in which handheld electronic device 4 is intended to operate. For example, handheld electronic device 4 may include a communications subsystem 45 designed to operate with the Mobiltex™, Dat TAC™ or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile data communication networks and also designed to operate with any of a variety of voice communications networks, such as AMPS, TDMA, CDMA, PCS, GSM, and other suitable networks. Other types of data and voice networks, both separate and integrated, may also be utilized with handheld electronic device 4 . Together, processor 20 , memory 44 and communications subsystem 45 may, along with other components (having various types of functionality), be referred to as a processing unit.

In FIG. 1 the display 12 is depicted as displaying a home screen 43 that includes a number of applications depicted as discrete icons 46 , including an icon representing a phone application 48 , an address book application 50 for storing information for a plurality of contacts, a messaging application 52 which includes email, SMS and MMS applications, a calendar application 54 , a memo application 56 for enabling a user to create documents and to record notes, lists and the like, a task application 58 for enabling a user to create and manage lists of tasks, and a browser application 60 for accessing and navigating the Internet. As is known in the art, address book application 50 allows the user of handheld electronic device 4 to store contact related information for a number of contacts, including, among other things, the contact's name, phone number, home and office addresses, email address, and other information that may be used to contact the person.

In FIG. 1 , the home screen 43 is currently active and would constitute a portion of an application. In addition, display 12 shown in FIG. 1 shows a pop-up box 62 that indicates that there is currently a phone call coming into handheld electronic device 4 . Pop-up box 62 provides certain information relating to the incoming call, including, for example, the caller's phone number and identifying information if the caller and phone number are stored as a contact by address book application 50 of handheld electronic device 4 . Other applications, such as phone application 48 , address book application 50 , messaging application 52 , calendar application 54 , memo application 56 , task application 58 or browser application 60 , can be initiated from the home screen 43 by providing an input through the input apparatus 16 , such as by rotating the thumbwheel 28 and providing a selection input by translating the thumbwheel 28 in the direction indicated by the arrow 64 in FIG. 1 .

According to the invention, certain predetermined functions of handheld electronic device 4 are initiated when either <SEND> key 30 or <END> key 32 is pressed by a user depending on the current use state of handheld electronic device 4 . As used herein, the term use state refers to the application and/or portion thereof that is currently active and in use on handheld electronic device 4 and the information, if any, that is selected or highlighted by the user using input apparatus 16 . Table 1 below shows a number of use states of handheld electronic device 4 and the corresponding function that will be implemented by handheld electronic device 4 upon activation (e.g., depression) of <SEND> key 30 in each use state according to one embodiment of the invention. It will be appreciated that Table 1 is not meant to be exhaustive, and instead other use states and corresponding functions are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Table 2 below shows a number of use states of handheld electronic device 4 and the corresponding function that will be implemented by handheld electronic device 4 upon depression of <END> key 32 in each state according to one embodiment of the invention. As was the case with Table 1, it will be appreciated that Table 2 is not meant to be exhaustive, and instead other use states and corresponding functions are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

As seen in Tables 1 and 2, a number of use states and corresponding functions involve execution across two or more applications of handheld electronic device 4 . For example, in use case number 2 of Table 1, handheld electronic device 4 begins in, for example, the email, browser, SMS or MMS application with a phone number hyperlink selected, and activates the phone application to place a call to the phone number of the hyperlink based simply on the depression of <SEND> key 30 . FIGS. 3A and 3B are exemplary views of a portion of display 12 before and after <SEND> key 30 is depressed in use state number 2 of Table 1. Similarly, in use state number 7 of Table 1, handheld electronic device 4 begins in the email, SMS or MMS application with a name highlighted, utilizes the address book application to find a corresponding phone number, and activates the phone application to place a call to the corresponding number, all based simply on the depression of <SEND> key 30 . FIGS. 4A and 4B are exemplary views of a portion of display 12 before and after <SEND> key 30 is depressed in use state number 7 of Table 1. As will be appreciated, the selected portion in FIG. 4A (cross hatched) may be another type of contact related information, such as an email address (e.g., jsmith@xyzcompany.com). Also similar is use case number 2 of Table 2, in which a user is on a current telephone call but is, at the same time, utilizing an application other than the phone application, such as the email, browser, SMS or MMS application. In this case, when <END> key 32 is depressed, handheld electronic device 4 activates the phone application to end the call, plays an audible hang-up tone, and momentarily flashes the active call screen with a “disconnected” message. FIGS. 5A and 5B are exemplary views of a portion of display 12 before and after <END> key 32 is depressed in use case 2 of Table 2.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a routine for initiating various phone-related functions of handheld electronic device 4 based on phone-related inputs, e.g., inputs from <SEND> key 30 and <END> key 32 , according to the invention. As seen in FIG. 6 , at 100 , <SEND> key 30 or <END> key 32 is depressed by the user and such depression is detected by processor 20 . Next, at 105 , processor 20 determines the current use state of handheld electronic device 4 . Then, at 110 , once the current use state is established, processor 20 initiates and executes the function or functions associated with the established use state of handheld electronic device 4 and either <SEND> key 30 or <END> key 32 , whichever was depressed at 100 . As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, memory 44 may store a table or the like that associates each use state with the predetermined function or functions that are executed upon depression of <SEND> key 30 or <SEND> key 32 in that use state.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a particular implementation of the routine shown in FIG. 6 that implements the use states of Tables 1 and 2. In this embodiment, the information in Tables 1 and 2 is stored in memory 44 . At 115 , <SEND> key 30 or <END> key 32 is depressed and such depression is detected by processor 20 . Next, at 120 , processor 20 determines the current use state of handheld electronic device 4 . At 125 , a determination is made as to whether the established use state is a use state wherein one or more portions of information displayed on display 12 are selected by the user using input apparatus 16 . If the answer is no, then at 130 , processor 20 initiates and executes the function or functions associated with the established use state and either <SEND> key 30 or <END> key 32 , whichever was depressed. If the answer at 125 is yes, a determination is made at 135 as to whether the selected portion of information is contact related, meaning it is a phone number, an email address, a name or other contact related information appearing in, for example, a header of an email, SMS or MMS message or a portion of another application, that may also be stored by the address book application of handheld electronic device 4 . If the answer at 135 is no, then, as shown at 140 , an error state is determined because the selected information cannot be utilized to place a phone call or obtain information required to place a phone call according to the invention. If, however, the answer at 135 is yes, another determination is made at 145 as to whether the selected portion of information is a telephone number or telephone number hyperlink. If it is, then the routine proceeds to 130 , where the phone application of handheld electronic device 4 is activated and places a phone call to the telephone number. If the selected portion of information is not a telephone number, but rather is some other type of contact related information, then at 150 , a determination is made as to whether the selected portion of information is associated with a contact entry stored by the address book application of handheld electronic device 4 . If not, then, at 155 , an error condition is detected and the user is preferably notified that a phone call cannot be placed based on the selected information. Otherwise, at 160 , a determination is made as to whether the contact entry associated with the selected portion of information includes at least one telephone number. If not, then the routine proceeds to 155 . If there is at least one telephone umber, then, at 165 , a determination is made as to whether there is more than one telephone number for the contact entry. If there is more than one telephone number, then, at 170 , the user is prompted to select one of the numbers after which the routine proceeds to 130 , where the phone application of handheld electronic device 4 is activated and places a phone call to the selected telephone number. If at 165 the answer is no, then the routine simply proceeds to 130 and the phone application of handheld electronic device 4 is activated and places a call to the telephone number.

Thus, the invention provides a handheld electronic device capable of executing multiple applications that delivers added convenience for the user by enabling the user to quickly and easily initiate telephone related functions, such as placing a telephone call, directly from applications other than the device's phone and address book applications using a dedicated phone related key.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.