(12) United States Patent
`Scott
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,713,466 B2
`*Apr. 29, 2014
`
`USOO8713466B2
`
`DYNAMIC BAR ORIENTED USER
`INTERFACE
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,617,526 A
`6,047,197 A
`6,118,480 A *
`6,172,677 B1 *
`6,211,858 B1
`6,222,538 B1 *
`6,486,914 B1 *
`6,522,347 B1
`6,597,378 B1
`6,868,283 B1
`7,221,331 B2*
`
`4/1997
`Oran et al.
`Jarrad
`4/2000
`9/2000
`Anderson et al. ...... .. 348/207.99
`1/2001
`Stautner et al. ............. .. 715/716
`4/2001
`Moon et al.
`Anderson
`4/2001
`Anderson
`11/2002
`Tsuji et al.
`2/2003
`7/2003
`Shiraishi et al.
`3/2005 Bonansea et al.
`5/2007 Bear et a1. .................... .. 345/11
`(Continued)
`
`.............. .. 348/333.02
`
`................... .. 715/709
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`7/2001
`1152333 A2
`1265157 A2 11/2002
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Apple Press, Newton 2.0 User Interface Guidelines, May 1996,
`Addison-Wesley, pp. 1-307.*
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner * Phenuel Salomon
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Norton Rose Fulbright
`Canada LLP
`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.
`
`26 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`(54)
`
`(71)
`
`(72)
`
`Applicant: Research In Motion Limited, Waterloo
`(CA)
`
`Inventor: Sherryl Lee Lorraine Scott, Toronto
`(CA)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: BlackBerry Limited, Waterloo, Ontario
`(CA)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis
`claimer.
`
`EP
`EP
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 13/770,190
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Feb. 19, 2013
`
`(65)
`
`(63)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2013/0167066 A1
`
`Jun. 27, 2013
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 10/983,606, ?led on
`Nov. 9, 2004, now Pat. No. 8,402,384.
`
`(2013.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 3/0482
`US. Cl.
`USPC .......................... .. 715/779; 715/808; 715/864
`Field of Classi?cation Search
`USPC ........ .. 715/779, 808, 854, 564, 566; 455/564,
`455/ 566
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`606
`
`\
`\
`.
`3 5 Call Voice Mail
`‘ No new email messages, 50 unread
`10 View SMS
`£2 10 Contacts Online Start to Chat...
`new]!
`
`300
`
`Page 1 of 20
`
`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1001
`
`

`

`US 8,713,466 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
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`
`7/2007 Stoakley et a1.
`7,249,326 B2
`4/2008 Crane et al.
`7,353,466 B2
`6/2008 Wagner et al.
`7,386,279 B2
`3/2013 Scott
`8,402,384 B2
`2001/0028365 A1* 10/2001 Ludolph ..................... .. 345/764
`10/ 2001 Goshen
`2001/0029527 A1
`11/2001 Stoakley et a1.
`2001/0035881 A1
`2002/0015024 A1*
`. 345/173
`2/2002 Westerman et a1.
`2002/0126146 A1*
`9/2002 Burns et al. ................. .. 345/752
`2003/0013483 A1
`1/2003 Ausems et al.
`6/2003 Pathiyal
`2003/0120957 A1
`2003/0142125 A1
`7/2003 Salmimaa et al.
`2003/0160815 A1*
`8/2003 Muschetto .................. .. 345/733
`2003/0169294 A1
`9/ 2003 Vatula et a1.
`8/2004 Wagner
`2004/0155908 A1
`2004/0155909 A1*
`8/2004 Wagner ....................... .. 345/854
`2004/0204133 A1
`10/ 2004 Andrew et al.
`12/2004 Wagner et al.
`2004/0259598 A1
`2005/0020316 A1*
`1/2005 Mahini ....................... .. 455/566
`6/2005 Widger et al.
`2005/0117733 A1
`8/2005 Booking
`2005/0188320 A1
`2005/0213717 A1* 9/2005 O’Neil et 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
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`EP
`WO
`
`1434411 A1 * 6/2004 .......... .. H04M1/247
`1434411 A1
`6/2004
`03100591 A2 12/2003
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
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`Of?ce Action, issued in Chinese Patent Application No.
`200510120010X, Feb. 22, 2008.
`State Intellectual Property Of?ce of People’S Republic of China,
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`200510120010X, Jul. 25, 2008.
`European Patent Of?ce, Extended European Search Report dated
`Jun. 26, 2007, issued in European Patent Application No. 06125884.
`4-2414.
`Ipulse, Response to Search and Examination Report, ?led in respect
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`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
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`European Patent Of?ce, Examination Report, issued in respect of
`European Patent Application No. 06125884 .4, 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,
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`Barker Brettell, Response to Summons to Attend Oral Proceedings,
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`European Patent Of?ce, Decision to Refuse a Patent Application,
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`Barker Brettell, Response to Notice of Appeal, ?led in respect of
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`European Patent Of?ce, Search Report dated Apr. 15, 2005, issued in
`European Patent Application No. 04105647.4-2414.
`
`Ipulse, Response to Search Report dated Jul. 8, 2005, ?led in Euro
`pean Patent Application No. 04105647 .4-2414.
`European Patent Of?ce, Examination Report dated Aug. 8, 2005,
`issued in European Patent Application No. 04105647.4-2414.
`Ipulse, Response to Examination Report dated Jan. 3, 2006, ?led in
`European Patent Application No. 04105647.4-2414.
`European Patent Of?ce, Summons to Attend Oral Hearings dated
`Mar. 31, 2006, issued in European Patent Application No. 04105647.
`4-2414
`Ipulse, Response to Summons dated Jun. 26, 2006, ?led in European
`Patent Application No. 04105647.4-2414.
`European Patent Of?ce, Decision to Grant dated Feb. 1, 2007, issued
`in European Patent Application No. 04105647.4-2414.
`Intellectual Property India, First Examination Report dated Feb. 14,
`2013, issued in Indian Patent Application No. 2961/DEL/2005.
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`issued May 30, 2008 in Singapore Patent Application No.
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`Feb. 14, 2011, issued in Canadian Patent Application No. 2,525,296.
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`in US. Appl. No. 10/983,606.
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`28, 2007, issued in US. Appl. No. 10/983,606.
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`in US. Appl. No. 10/983,606.
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`dated Jun. 25, 2008, issued in US. Appl. No. 10/983,606.
`Ogilvy Renault, Reply Brief Jul. 11, 2008, ?led in US. Appl. No.
`10/ 983,606.
`United States Patent and Trademark Of?ce, Decision on Appeal dated
`Feb. 8, 2011, issued in US. Appl. No. 10/983,606.
`Ogilvy Renault, Response dated Apr. 8, 2011, ?led in US. Appl. No.
`10/ 983,606.
`United States Patent and Trademark Of?ce, Of?ce Action dated May
`26, 2011, issued in US. Appl. No. 10/983,606.
`Norton Rose, Response dated Oct. 25, 2011, ?led in US. Appl. No.
`10/ 983,606.
`United States Patent and Trademark Of?ce, Of?ce Action dated Nov.
`28, 201 1, issued in US. Appl. No. 10/983,606.
`Norton Rose, Response dated Mar. 28, 20 12, issued in US. Appl. No.
`10/ 983,606.
`United States Patent and Trademark Of?ce, Of?ce Action dated May
`1, 2012, issued in US. Appl. No. 10/983,606.
`Norton Rose, Response dated Apr. 27, 2012, ?led in US. Appl. No.
`10/ 983,606.
`Norton Rose, Response dated Aug. 1, 2012, ?led in US. Appl. No.
`10/ 983,606.
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`10/ 983,606.
`United States Patent and Trademark Of?ce, Notice of Allowance
`dated Nov. 19,2012, issued in US. Appl. No. 10/983,606.
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`2013, in Indian Patent Application No. 2961/DEL/2005.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 2 of 20
`
`

`

`U.S . Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 1 0f 11
`
`US 8,713,466 B2
`
`l — — — _ _ — — — — — _ _ — — — — — — _ — — — — — — _ _ — — — — — _ _ — ——|
`
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`
`Page 3 of 20
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 2 or 11
`
`US 8,713,466 B2
`
`SIM
`262
`
`A
`v
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`264
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`Page 4 of 20
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 3 0f 11
`
`US 8,713,466 B2
`
`308
`
`402
`
`150 Messages, 30 New
`/F\\ From: Andrew
`I Subject: New BB
`407
`From: Jack
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`FIG. 4
`
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`
`Page 5 of 20
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 4 0f 11
`
`US 8,713,466 B2
`
`308
`
`FIG. 5
`
`300
`
`
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`Page 6 of 20
`
`

`

`U S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 5 0f 11
`
`US 8,713,466 B2
`
`302
`
`WWI
`£04
`email m
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`5C1“ gnraaij A
`
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`
`Page 7 of 20
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 6 0f 11
`
`US 8,713,466 B2
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`Page 8 of 20
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 7 0f 11
`
`US 8,713,466 B2
`
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`Page 9 of 20
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 8 0f 11
`
`US 8,713,466 B2
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`Page 10 of 20
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 9 0f 11
`
`US 8,713,466 B2
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`Page 11 of 20
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 10 0f 11
`
`US 8,713,466 B2
`
`Select Bar
`
`I—
`
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`
`Page 12 of 20
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 11 0f 11
`
`US 8,713,466 B2
`
`Move Focus
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`
`Page 13 of 20
`
`

`

`US 8,713,466 B2
`
`1
`DYNAMIC BAR ORIENTED USER
`INTERFACE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of US. application Ser.
`No. 10/983,606, ?led Nov. 9, 2004, and issued as US. Pat.
`No. 8,402,384, on Mar. 19, 2013, both of which are hereby
`incorporated by reference in their entireties.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to communication
`devices, and more particularly to a graphical user interface for
`controlling such devices.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`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.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`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
`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
`pro gramming 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
`
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`US 8,713,466 B2
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`3
`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;
`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 with 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
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`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
`type of a conventional “smart car ” 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
`
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`US 8,713,466 B2
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`5
`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.
`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 communi
`cations, 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
`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
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`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
`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 exam