Abstract: Within a communication device having a plurality of displays, a method of controlling the displays can include, responsive to receiving an event from an application within a display manager, determining whether a single event or multiple events are pending (430). If a single event is pending, the method can include instructing the application to write data corresponding to the received event to a primary display of the communication device (435). The display manager can write data corresponding to the received event to a secondary display (445). If multiple events are pending, the method can include preventing the application from writing data to the primary display (470). The display manager can write data corresponding to the multiple events to the primary display and the secondary display without involvement of the application (475). The display manager further can launch a specific application in response to an event (500).

Abstract: A portable communication device (10) having a customizable skin and theme on a display (30) of the communication device can include a transceiver (38 and 44), a display coupled to the transceiver, a memory (32 or 14) having stored therein at least two skin and theme types (24) and at least one encapsulated data entry associated with each of the skin and theme types, and a processor (12) coupled to the transceiver and the display. The processor can be programmed to dynamically update the display in the communication device based upon a selection of at least one among the skin and theme types and based upon at least one encapsulated data entry associated with a selected skin and theme type.

Abstract: Within a communication device having a plurality of displays, a method of controlling the displays can include, responsive to receiving an event from an application within a display manager, determining whether a single event or multiple events are pending (430). If a single event is pending, the method can include instructing the application to write data corresponding to the received event to a primary display of the communication device (435). The display manager can write data corresponding to the received event to a secondary display (445). If multiple events are pending, the method can include preventing the application from writing data to the primary display (470). The display manager can write data corresponding to the multiple events to the primary display and the secondary display without involvement of the application (475). The display manager further can launch a specific application in response to an event (500).

Abstract: A data structure (338) for use in providing a user interface appearance comprises idle screen data (350) corresponding to a first screen appearance and main menu screen data (352) corresponding to a second screen appearance, wherein the idle screen data and the main menu screen data are compiled versions of a text markup language. A method (FIG. 4) for generating the data structure comprises specifying a skin element set (400) and a theme element set (402) and associating each of the displayable items of the theme set with a display location (404) to create a theme description, and compiling to create a binary theme file (406) for customizing a user interface. A communication device (200) uses the data structure for displaying a user interface presentation.

Abstract: A portable communication device (10) having a customizable skin and theme on a display (30) of the communication device can include a transceiver (38 and 44), a display coupled to the transceiver, a memory (32 or 14) having stored therein at least two skin and theme types (24) and at least one encapsulated data entry associated with each of the skin and theme types, and a processor (12) coupled to the transceiver and the display. The processor can be programmed to dynamically update the display in the communication device based upon a selection of at least one among the skin and theme types and based upon at least one encapsulated data entry associated with a selected skin and theme type.

Abstract: A mobile communication device containing voice recognition capability is first enabled to perform voice recognition (102). The user then speaks the name of the party the user wishes to call (104), the name corresponding to a record the user has programmed into a memory of the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device then uses the output (106) of the voice recognition process to search the memory for a corresponding record (108). The record contains at least two calling numbers, each associated with a different mode of communication, such as dispatch and telephone communication. For a brief period of time after locating the record, the mobile communication device waits (118) for the user to initiate a call in the first communication mode (120) by, for example, pressing a dispatch call button (124). If, after a preselected duration of time has passed and no input is received from the user, the mobile communication device defaults to a second communication mode and makes a call (122).