US008402384B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Scott
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,402,384 B2
`Mar. 19, 2013
`
`(54) DYNAMIC BAR ORIENTED USER
`INTERFACE
`
`(75) Inventor: Sherry] Lee Lorraine Scott, Toronto
`(CA)
`
`(73) Assignee: Research In Motion Limited, Waterloo,
`Ontario (CA)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`USC 154(b) by 1849 days.
`
`2001/0035881 A1* 11/2001 Stoakley et al. ............ .. 345/772
`2002/0126146 A1* 9/2002 Burns et al. ...... ..
`345/752
`2003/0013483 A1* 1/2003 Ausems et al. ............. .. 455/556
`2003/0120957 A1
`6/2003 Pathiyal
`2003/0142125 A1
`7/2003 Salmimaa et al.
`2003/0160815 A1* 8/2003 Muschetto .................. .. 345/733
`2003/0169294 A1* 9/2003 Vatula et al.
`345/764
`2004/0155908 A1* 8/2004 Wagner ..... ..
`345/854
`2004/0155909 A1* 8/2004 Wagner ........ ..
`345/854
`2004/0204133 A1* 10/2004 Andrew et al.
`455/566
`2004/0259598 A1* 12/2004 Wagner et al. .
`455/566
`
`2005/0020316 A1* 1/2005 Mahini . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . . . .. 455/566
`
`2005/0117733 A1* 6/2005 Widger et al. ......... .. 379/221.05
`(Continued)
`
`(21) Appl.No.: 10/983,606
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Nov. 9, 2004
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2006/0101350 A1
`
`May 11,2006
`
`EP
`EP
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1152333 A2
`7/2001
`1265157 A2 11/2002
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G06F 3/048
`(52) US. Cl. ....................... .. 715/779; 715/808; 715/864
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search ................ .. 715/779,
`715/808, 854, 864; 455/566, 564, 556, 557
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`Apple Press, Newton 2.0 User Interface Guidelines, May 1996,
`Addison-Wesley, pp. l-307.*
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner * Phenuel Salomon
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Norton Rose Canada LLP
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,617,526 A
`4/1997 Oran et al.
`
`6,047,197 A *
`4/2000 Jarrad . . . . . . . . . .
`6,172,677 B1* 1/2001 Stautneret al. ..
`
`6,211,858 B1* 4/2001 Moon etal. . . . . . .
`6,486,914 B1* 11/2002 Anderson
`6,522,347 B1* 2/2003 Tsujiet al. . . . . . . .
`6,597,378 B1* 7/2003 Shiraishiet al. .
`6,868,283 B1* 3/2005 Bonansea et al.
`7,221,331 B2* 5/2007 Bearet al. ...... ..
`7,353,466 B2* 4/2008 Crane et al. ..
`
`. . . . .. 455/566
`.... .. 715/716
`
`. . . . .. 715/771
`. 348/333.02
`. . . . .. 715/848
`.... .. 715/764
`.. 455/566
`345/1.1
`.. 715/752
`
`2001/0028365 A1* 10/2001 Ludolph . . . . . .
`. . . . .. 345/764
`2001/0029527 A1* 10/2001 Goshen ....................... .. 709/218
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Method and user interface for controlling an apparatus are
`provided. At least one dynamic bar is provided for displaying
`on a main screen of a graphical user interface for controlling
`the apparatus. Each dynamic bar is associated With respective
`one or more interfaces for applications and/or functions pro
`vided by the apparatus and each dynamic bar has a pop-up
`interface for providing at least one of previeW information
`determined from information managed by the applications
`and/or functions and links to invoke said respective inter
`faces.
`
`13 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`610 N
`
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`
`Page 1 of 19
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`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1001
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`

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`US 8,402,384 B2
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2005/0188320 A1* 8/2005 Bocking ..................... .. 715/752
`2005/0213717 A1* 9/2005 O’Neilet al. ..
`. 379/88.11
`2006/0020904 A1* 1/2006 Aaltonen et a1.
`715/850
`2006/0156256 A1* 7/2006 Lee ........... ..
`. 715/857
`2010/0042951 A1* 2/2010 Ogren ......................... .. 715/841
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1434 411 A1 * 6/2004
`1434411 A1
`6/2004
`W0 03/100591 A 12/2003
`W0 03/100591 A2 * 12/2003
`
`EP
`EP
`W0
`W0
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`European Search and Examination Report for European Patent
`Application No. 061258844, mailed Jun. 26, 2007.
`Ipulse, Response to Search and Examination Report, ?led in respect
`ofEuropean Patent Application No. 061258844, dated Sep. 5, 2007.
`European Patent Of?ce, Examination Report, issued in respect of
`European Patent Application No. 06125884 .4, dated Jun. 19, 2008.
`
`Ipulse, Response to Examination Report, ?led in respect of European
`Patent Application No. 06125884 .4, dated Dec. 19, 2008.
`European Patent Of?ce, Examination Report, issued in respect of
`European Patent Application No. 061258844, dated Jan. 16, 2009.
`Ipulse, Response to Examination Report, ?led in respect of European
`Patent Application No. 061258844, dated Jun. 1, 2009.
`European Patent Of?ce, Summons to Attend Oral Proceedings,
`issued in respect of European Patent Application No. 061258844,
`dated Sep. 29, 2010.
`Barker Brettell, Response to Summons to Attend Oral Proceedings,
`?led in respect of European Patent Application No. 061258844,
`dated Dec. 22, 2010.
`European Patent Of?ce, Decision to Refuse a Patent Application,
`issued in respect of European Patent Application No. 061258844,
`dated Apr. 13, 2011.
`Barker Brettell, Response to Notice of Appeal, ?led in respect of
`European Patent Application No. 06125884 .4, dated Aug. 23, 2011.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 2 of 19
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 19, 2013
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`US 8,402,384 B2
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`1
`DYNAMIC BAR ORIENTED USER
`INTERFACE
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to communication
`devices, and more particularly to a graphical user interface for
`controlling such devices.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
`
`With the proliferation of communications services avail
`able on Wireless mobile devices, it becomes increasingly
`complex to create a single device that can excel at many
`different functions. Many critics claim that a Wireless tele
`phone device can never make a good handheld personal digi
`tal assistant (PDA) device and a handheld PDA device Will
`never make a good Wireless telephone. It is also said that only
`teenagers are using Instant Messaging (IM) services or Short
`Message Services (SMS) to exchange messages With friends
`and acquaintances and that such users should get an entirely
`different Wireless mobile device. HoWever, many users of
`Wireless handheld devices desire to have multiple services
`and functionality on a single device.
`Representing multiple services and functions to a user on a
`single Wireless mobile device presents a number of chal
`lenges to the designer of a user interface, particularly a
`graphical user interface (GUI), for controlling the device.
`Wireless devices are usually small relative to less portable
`computing devices such as laptops and desktop computers.
`Inherently then, a visual display such as an LCD or other
`screen component of the Wireless mobile device has a small
`display area.
`Typically, GUIs for Wireless mobile devices comprise a
`main or home screen and one or more sub-screens that may be
`navigated from the main screen. Noti?cation icons are often,
`rendered on a portion of the main screen to indicate a neW
`event such as the receipt of a neW IM message, electronic mail
`(e-mail) or other service events such as a calendar reminder or
`alarm and other status information such as time, date and
`battery life. For each type of service or function available via
`the device, a graphical image or icon is often rendered on a
`major portion of the main screen, Which icon may be selected
`by moving a focus or cursor about the interface and selecting
`the desired item to launch a speci?c GUI for the selected
`service or function.
`There is a demand to have information made available to a
`user quicker than previously available in order to optimiZe the
`control of the Wireless device. An application icon or infor
`mation or text (e. g. name or title) describing the application is
`generally static and as such is not particularly useful for
`representing changing information associated With the appli
`cation activated by the icon. Representing current informa
`tion to a user via a predominantly iconic GUI is dif?cult.
`Further, organiZing such information in a useful manner to
`permit a user to better control the device is also problematic.
`Accordingly, there is a resulting need for a method and
`apparatus that addresses one or more of these shortcomings.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`The invention relates to a method, graphical user interface
`and apparatus for controlling an apparatus.
`In accordance With a ?rst aspect of the invention, there is
`provided a method for controlling an apparatus comprising:
`providing at least one dynamic bar for displaying on a main
`screen of a graphical user interface for controlling the appa
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
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`ratus, each dynamic bar associated With respective one or
`more interfaces for applications and/ or functions provided by
`the apparatus, said each dynamic bar having an pop -up inter
`face for providing at least one of previeW information deter
`mined from information managed by the applications and/or
`functions and links to invoke said respective interfaces; and
`invoking said respective interfaces to control said apparatus
`in response to user input.
`In accordance With a second aspect of the invention, there
`is provided an apparatus comprising: a storage medium hav
`ing stored therein a plurality of programming instructions
`designed to enable the apparatus to: provide at least one
`dynamic bar for displaying on a main screen of a graphical
`user interface for controlling the apparatus, each dynamic bar
`associated With respective one or more interfaces for appli
`cations and/or functions provided by the apparatus, said each
`dynamic bar having an pop-up interface for providing at least
`one of previeW information determined from information
`managed by the applications and/or functions and links to
`invoke said respective interfaces; and invoke said respective
`interfaces to control said apparatus in response to user input;
`and a processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the
`programming instructions.
`These and other aspects Will be apparent to persons of
`ordinary skill in the art including a computer program product
`such as a machine readable medium storing computer pro
`gram code executable to perform a method aspect of the
`invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Embodiments of present invention Will noW be described
`by Way of example With reference to attached ?gures,
`Wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram Which illustrates pertinent com
`ponents of a Wireless communication device Which commu
`nicates Within a Wireless communication netWork in accor
`dance With the prior art;
`FIG. 2 is a more detailed diagram of a preferred Wireless
`communication device of FIG. 1 in accordance With the prior
`art;
`FIG. 3 is an illustration of an example of a main screen of
`a graphical user interface, in accordance With an embodiment
`of the invention, for a Wireless communication device such as
`the devices of FIGS. 1 and 2;
`FIG. 4 is an illustration of the main screen of
`FIG. 3 folloWing a user action;
`FIG. 5 is an illustration of an example of a main screen of
`a graphical user interface, in accordance With a further
`embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 6 is an illustration of the main screen of FIG. 5
`folloWing a user action;
`FIG. 7 is an illustration of an example of a main screen, in
`accordance With another embodiment of the invention, for a
`Wireless communication device such as the devices of FIGS.
`1 and 2;
`FIGS. 8 and 9 are illustrations of the main screen of FIG. 7
`folloWing respective user actions; and
`FIG. 10 is an illustration of an example of a main screen, in
`accordance With another embodiment of the invention, for a
`Wireless communication device such as the devices of FIGS.
`1 and 2;
`FIGS. 11A to 11D are illustrations of particular vieWs of
`the main screen of FIG. 10;
`FIGS. 12A to 12D are detailed illustrations of the screen of
`F11D in accordance With an embodiment of the invention;
`
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`FIGS. 13A to 13C are respective illustrations of FIGS. 11A
`to 11C. following user action in accordance With an embodi
`ment of the invention;
`FIG. 14 is an illustration of an example of a main screen, in
`accordance With another embodiment of the invention, for a
`Wireless communication device such as the devices of FIGS.
`1 and 2;
`FIGS. 15A to 15C are illustrations of particular vieWs of
`the main screen of FIG. 14 in accordance With an embodiment
`of the invention;
`FIGS. 16 and 17 are ?oWcharts for operations of a user
`interface in accordance With embodiments of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system 100
`Which includes a mobile station 102 Which communicates
`through a Wireless communication netWork 104 symbolized
`by a station. Mobile station 102 preferably includes a visual
`display 112, a keyboard 114, and perhaps one or more auxil
`iary user interfaces (UI) 116, each of Which are coupled to a
`controller 106. Controller 106 is also coupled to radio fre
`quency (RF) transceiver circuitry 108 and an antenna 110.
`Typically, controller 106 is embodied as a central process
`ing unit (CPU) Which runs operating system softWare in a
`memory component (not shoWn). Controller 106 Will nor
`mally control overall operation of mobile station 102,
`Whereas signal processing operations associated With com
`munication functions are typically performed in RF trans
`ceiver circuitry 108. Controller 106 interfaces Witch device
`display 112 to display received information, stored informa
`tion, user inputs, and the like Keyboard 114, Which may be a
`telephone type keypad, full alphanumeric keyboard or full or
`condensed QWERTY keypad, is normally provided for enter
`ing data for storage in mobile station 102, information for
`transmission to netWork 104, a telephone number to place a
`telephone call, commands to be executed on mobile station
`102, and possibly other or different user inputs.
`Mobile station 102 sends communication signals to and
`receives communication signals from the Wireless netWork
`104 over a Wireless link via antenna 110. RE transceiver
`circuitry 108 performs functions similar to those of a base
`station and a base station controller (BSC) (not shoWn),
`including for example modulation/demodulation and possi
`bly encoding/decoding and encryption/decryption. It is also
`contemplated that RF transceiver circuitry 108 may perform
`certain functions in addition to those performed by a BSC. It
`Will be apparent to those skilled in art that RF transceiver
`circuitry 108 Will be adapted to particular Wireless netWork or
`netWorks in Which mobile station 102 is intended to operate.
`Mobile station 102 includes a battery interface (IF) 134 for
`receiving one or more rechargeable batteries 132. Battery 132
`provides electrical poWer to electrical circuitry in mobile
`station 102, and battery IF 132 provides for a mechanical and
`electrical connection for battery 132. Battery IF 132 is
`coupled to a regulator 136 Which regulates poWer to the
`device. When mobile station 102 is fully operational, an RF
`transmitter of RF transceiver circuitry 108 is turned on only
`When it is sending to netWork, and is otherWise turned off or
`placed in a loW-poWer mode to conserve poWer. Similarly, an
`RF receiver of RF transceiver circuitry 108 is typically peri
`odically turned off to conserve poWer until it is needed to
`receive signals or information (if at all) during designated
`time periods.
`Mobile station 102 operates using a Subscriber Identity
`Module (SIM) 140 Which is connected to or inserted in
`mobile station 102 at a SIM interface (IF) 142. SIM 140 is one
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`type of a conventional “smart card” used to identify an end
`user (or subscriber) of mobile station 102 and to personaliZe
`the device, among other things. Without SIM 140, the mobile
`station terminal is not fully operational for communication
`through the Wireless netWork. By inserting SIM 140 into
`mobile station 102, an end user can have access to any and all
`of his/her subscribed services. SIM 140 generally includes a
`processor and memory for storing information. Since SIM
`140 is coupled to SIM IF 142, it is coupled to controller 106
`through communication lines 144. In order to identify the
`subscriber, SIM 140 contains some user parameters such as
`an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). An
`advantage of using SIM 140 is that end users are not neces
`sarily bound by any single physical mobile station. SIM 140
`may store additional user information for the mobile station
`as Well, including date book (or calendar) information and
`recent call information.
`Mobile station 102 may consist of a single unit, such as a
`data communication device, a multiple-function communica
`tion device With data and voice communication capabilities a
`personal digital assistant (PDA) enabled for Wireless commu
`nication, or a computer incorporating an internal modem.
`Alternatively, mobile station 102 may be a multiple-module
`unit comprising a plurality of separate components, including
`but in no Way limited to a computer or other device connected
`to a Wireless modem. In particular, for example, in the mobile
`station block diagram of FIG. 1, RF transceiver circuitry 108
`and antenna 110 may be implemented as a radio modem unit
`that may be inserted into a port on a laptop computer. In this
`case, the laptop computer Would include display 112, key
`board 114, one or more auxiliary UIs 116, and controller 106
`embodied as the computer’s CPU. It is also contemplated that
`a computer or other equipment not normally capable of Wire
`less communication may be adapted to connect to and effec
`tively assume control of RF transceiver circuitry 108 and
`antenna 110 of a single-unit device such as one of those
`described above. Such a mobile station 102 may have a more
`particular implementation as described later in relation to
`mobile station 202 of FIG. 2.
`FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a preferred mobile
`station 202. Mobile station 202 is preferably a tWo-Way com
`munication device having at least voice and advanced data
`communication capabilities, including the capability to com
`municate With other computer systems. Depending on the
`functionality provided by mobile station 202, it may be
`referred to as a data messaging device, a tWo-Way pager, a
`cellular telephone With data messaging capabilities, a Wire
`less Internet appliance, or a data communication device (With
`or Without telephony capabilities). Mobile station 202 may
`communicate With any one of a plurality of ?xed transceiver
`stations 200 Within its geographic coverage area.
`Mobile station 202 Will normally incorporate a communi
`cation subsystem 211, Which includes a receiver, a transmit
`ter, and associated components, such as one or more (prefer
`ably embedded or internal) antenna elements and, local
`oscillators (LOs), and a processing module such as a digital
`signal processor (DSP) (all not shoWn). Communication sub
`system 211 is analogous to RF transceiver circuitry 108 and
`antenna 110 shoWn in FIG. 1. As Will be apparent to those
`skilled in ?eld of communications, particular design of com
`munication subsystem 211 depends on the communication
`netWork in Which mobile station 202 is intended to operate.
`NetWork access is associated With a subscriber or user of
`mobile station 202 and therefore mobile station 202 requires
`a Subscriber Identity Module or “SIM” card 262 to be
`inserted in a SIM IF 264 in order to operate in the netWork.
`SIM 262 includes those features described in relation to FIG.
`
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`1. Mobile station 202 is a battery-poWered device so it also
`includes a battery IF 254 for receiving one or more recharge
`able batteries 256. Such a battery 256 provides electrical
`poWer to most if not all electrical circuitry in mobile station
`202, and battery IF 254 provides for a mechanical and elec
`trical connection for it. The battery IF 254 is coupled to a
`regulator (not shoWn) Which provides poWer V+ to all of the
`circuitry.
`Mobile station 202 includes a microprocessor 238 (Which
`is one implementation of controller 106 of FIG. 1) Which
`controls overall operation of mobile station 202. Communi
`cation functions, including at least data and voice) commu
`nications, are performed through communication subsystem
`211. Microprocessor 238 also interacts With additional device
`subsystems such as a display 222, a ?ash memory 224, a
`random access memory (RAM) 226, auxiliary input/output
`(I/O) subsystems 228, a serial port 230, a keyboard 232, a
`speaker 234, a microphone 236, a short-range communica
`tions subsystem 240, and any other device subsystems gen
`erally designated at 242. Some of the subsystems shoWn in
`FIG. 2 perform communication-related functions, Whereas
`other subsystems may provide “resident” or on-device func
`tions. Notably, some subsystems, such as keyboard 232 and
`display 222, for example, may be used for both communica
`tion related functions, such as entering a text message for
`transmission over a communication netWork, and device
`resident functions such as a calculator or task list. Operating
`system softWare used by microprocessor 238 is preferably
`stored in a persistent store such as ?ash memory 224, Which
`may alternatively be a read-only memory (ROM) or similar
`storage element (not shoWn). Those skilled in the art Will
`appreciate that the operating system, speci?c device applica
`tions, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a
`volatile store such as RAM 226.
`Microprocessor 238, in addition to its operating system
`functions preferably enables execution of softWare applica
`tions on mobile station 202. A predetermined set of applica
`tions Which control basic device operations, including at least
`data and voice communication applications, Will normally be
`installed on mobile station 202 during its manufacture. A
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`preferred application that may be loaded onto mobile station
`202 may be a personal information manager (PIM) applica
`tion having the ability to organiZe and manage data items
`relating to the user such as, but not limited to, instant mes
`saging (IM), e-mail, calendar events, voice mails, appoint
`ments, and task items. Naturally, one or more memory stores
`are available on mobile station 202 and SIM 262 to facilitate
`storage of PIM data items and other information.
`The PIM application preferably has the ability to send and
`receive data items via the Wireless netWork. In a preferred
`embodiment, PIM data items are seamlessly integrated, syn
`chroniZed, and updated via the Wireless netWork, With the
`mobile station user’s corresponding data items stored and/or
`associated With a host computer system thereby creating a
`mirrored host computer on mobile station 202 With respect to
`such items. This is especially advantageous Where the host
`computer system is the mobile station user’s o?ice computer
`system. Additional applications may also be loaded onto
`mobile station 202 through netWork 200, an auxiliary I/O
`subsystem 228, serial port 230, short-range communications
`subsystem 240, or any other suitable subsystem 242, and
`installed by a user in RAM 226 or preferably a non-volatile
`store (not shoWn) for execution by microprocessor 238. Such
`?exibility in application installation increases the functional
`ity of mobile station 202 and may provide enhanced on
`device functions, communication-related functions, or both.
`For example, secure communication applications may enable
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`electronic commerce functions and other such ?nancial trans
`actions to be performed using mobile station 202.
`In a data communication mode, a received signal such as a
`text message, an e-mail message, or Web page doWnload Will
`be processed by communication subsystem 211 and input to
`microprocessor 238. Microprocessor 238 Will preferably fur
`ther process the signal for output to display 222, to auxiliary
`I/O device 228 or both as described further herein beloW With
`reference to FIGS. 3-9. A user of mobile station 202 may also
`compose data items, such as e-mail messages, for examples,
`using keyboard 232 in conjunction With display 222 and
`possibly auxiliary I/O device 228. Keyboard 232 is preferably
`a telephone type keypad, full alphanumeric keyboard or full
`or condensed QWERTY keypad. These composed items may
`be transmitted over a communication netWork through com
`munication subsystem 211.
`For voice communications, the overall operation of mobile
`station 202 is substantially similar, except that the received
`signals Would be output to speaker 234 and signals for trans
`mission Would be generated by microphone 236. Alternative
`voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message
`recording subsystem, may also be implemented on mobile
`station 202. Although voice or audio signal output is prefer
`ably accomplished primarily through speaker 234, display
`222 may also be used to provide an indication of the identity
`of a calling party, duration of a voice call, or other voice call
`related information, as some examples.
`Serial port 230 in FIG. 2 is normally implemented in a
`personal digital assistant (PDA)-type communication device
`for Which synchronization With a user’s desktop computer is
`a desirable, albeit optional, component. Serial port 230
`enables a user to set preferences through an external device or
`softWare application and extends the capabilities of mobile
`station 202 by providing for information or softWare doWn
`loads to mobile station 202 other than through a Wireless
`communication netWork. The alternate doWnload path may,
`for example, be used to load an encryption key onto mobile
`station 202 through a direct and thus reliable and trusted
`connection to thereby provide secure device communication.
`Short-range communications subsystem 240 of FIG. 2 is an
`additional optional component Which provides for communi
`cation betWeen mobile station 202 and different systems or
`devices, Which need not necessarily be similar devices. For
`example, subsystem 240 may include an infrared device and
`associated circuits and components, or a BluetoothTM com
`munication module to provide for communication With simi
`larly-enabled systems and devices. BluetoothTM is a regis
`tered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
`In accordance With an embodiment of the invention,
`mobile station 202 is con?gured for sending and receiving
`data items and includes a PIM for organiZing and managing
`data items relating to the user such as, but not limited to,
`instant messaging (IM), e-mail, calendar events, calendar
`appointments, and task items, etc. By Way of example, mobile
`station 202 is con?gured for voice (Which may include push
`to talk over cellular (POC)) and data services, voice mail
`service, e-mail service, SMS and chat services to Which the
`user subscribes. To provide a user-friendly environment to
`control the operation of mobile station 202, PIM together
`With the operation system and various softWare applications
`resident on the station 202 provides a GUI having a main
`screen from Which to access various services via applications
`stored on said device or available to it.
`Referring noW to FIG. 13, there is an illustration of an
`exemplary main screen 300, in accordance With an embodi
`ment of the invention, for display 222 of mobile station 202
`providing a graphical user interface for controlling mobile
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`station 202. Main screen 300 is divided into three main por
`tions, namely an application portion 302 for displaying and
`manipulating icons (eg 312) for various softWare applica
`tions and functions enabled by mobile station 202 and a
`mobile station status portion 306 for displaying status, infor
`mation such as time, date, battery and signal strength, etc.
`Main screen 300 may not represent all application icons at
`once in application portion 302. A user may be required to
`navigate or scroll through the icons