Abstract: An improved system and method for managing data on a handheld electronic device includes a server that periodically pushes data to a particular handheld electronic device, with the data being stored on the handheld electronic device by way of a routine running in the background whereby such reception and storage is generally transparent to a user. The data can be any type of data and may be data that is desired by the user or that fits a profile or preference of the user. The profile can, for instance, be predetermined and/or can be customized by the user and/or can reflect a preference of the user. The data pushed to the handheld electronic device can also be related in some fashion to a geographic disposition of the handheld electronic device. Such pushing of data and storage is managed by a routine running in the background of the handheld electronic device. The routine enables current data to be maintained on the handheld electronic device for ready access by a user.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a processor apparatus. The input apparatus includes a multi-axis input device such as a rollerball, trackball, joystick or touchpad, allowing the focus of a user interface program to be moved about a display from one screen object presented on that display to another. Up to four screen objects are presented on the display, each of those screen objects being positioned towards a corner of the display to enable a user to blindly operate the multi-axis input device, making use of a capture effect in which the focus of a user interface program is resisted from moving beyond an edge of the display, to guide movement of the focus to a given one of the up to four screen objects.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for controlling a display of an electronic device is provided. In an embodiment, the device is a portable electronic device with the combined features of wireless email and telephony. The portable electronic device also includes a camera. The device includes a trackball which can be used to control the image shown in the viewfinder when the device is being used as a camera.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a processor apparatus. The input apparatus includes a multi-axis input device such as a rollerball, trackball, joystick or touchpad, allowing the focus of a user interface program to be moved about a display from one screen object presented on that display to another. Up to four screen objects are presented on the display, each of those screen objects being positioned towards a corner of the display to enable a user to blindly operate the multi-axis input device, making use of a capture effect in which the focus of a user interface program is resisted from moving beyond an edge of the display, to guide movement of the focus to a given one of the up to four screen objects.

Abstract: In a data processing system, a method of recommending articles and products to a user is disclosed. The method creates a frequency vector in relation to the content of an article, frequency vectors in relation each of one or more products from intermediate data. The method compares the vectors to determine a content similarity measure, and provides as output a list of one or more products having the highest content similarity measures. The method may also determine a correlation measure. An electronic data processing system for recommending articles and products to a user is also disclosed. The system includes modules to receive article information and product information, a correlation module to determine a content similarity measure between the article and each of the products and, a multiplexer module for providing a list comprising the article and the products associated having the highest content similarity measure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing recommendations for articles, includes receiving information regarding one or more articles; displaying a portion of the information received relating to the one or more articles, on a display device; receiving input from a user relating to the displayed information, from an input device, and displaying information on one or more new articles based on the user input.

Abstract: A system and method for recommending on-line articles and documents to users is disclosed. The system provides recommendations for articles with a display including at least one view showing a plurality of data items regarding one or more articles, an input device, a receiver module for receiving information regarding one or more articles, and a processor module, for determining replacement information to be displayed, based on the user input. The system may include a plurality of views and a changer module to switch between the views. The plurality of views includes a text view where the one or more articles are presented in a list and a grid view where the plurality of items are presented in a grid. A computer-implemented method of providing recommendations for articles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for controlling a display of an electronic device is provided. In an embodiment, the device is a portable electronic device with the combined features of wireless email and telephony. The portable electronic device also includes a camera. The device includes a trackball which can be used to control the image shown in the viewfinder when the device is being used as a camera.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a mobile device comprising: a processor; a display responsive to the processor; a plurality of wireless communication subsystems responsive to the processor; and a memory. The memory is accessible to the processor and stores program code executable by the processor for executing a user interface application. The user interface application is configured to determine a first connection status of the mobile device with respect to a cellular network and a second connection status with respect to a wireless local area network (WLAN). The user interface application, when executed by the processor, is further configured to cause the display to display a selected combination of icons in three display fields in a banner area of the display. The combination of icons is selected from a plurality of icon combinations based on the determined first connection status and the second connection status.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a mobile device comprising: a processor; a display responsive to the processor; a plurality of wireless communication subsystems responsive to the processor; and a memory. The memory is accessible to the processor and stores program code executable by the processor for executing a user interface application. The user interface application is configured to determine a first connection status of the mobile device with respect to a cellular network and a second connection status with respect to a wireless local area network (WLAN). The user interface application, when executed by the processor, is further configured to cause the display to display a selected combination of icons in three display fields in a banner area of the display. The combination of icons is selected from a plurality of icon combinations based on the determined first connection status and the second connection status.

Abstract: An improved system and method for managing data on a handheld electronic device includes a server that periodically pushes data to a particular handheld electronic device, with the data being stored on the handheld electronic device by way of a routine running in the background whereby such reception and storage is generally transparent to a user. The data can be any type of data and may be data that is desired by the user or that fits a profile or preference of the user. The profile can, for instance, be predetermined and/or can be customized by the user and/or can reflect a preference of the user. The data pushed to the handheld electronic device can also be related in some fashion to a geographic disposition of the handheld electronic device. Such pushing of data and storage is managed by a routine running in the background of the handheld electronic device. The routine enables current data to be maintained on the handheld electronic device for ready access by a user.

Abstract: An improved system and method for managing data on a handheld electronic device includes a server that periodically pushes data to a particular handheld electronic device, with the data being stored on the handheld electronic device by way of a routine running in the background whereby such reception and storage is generally transparent to a user. The data can be any type of data and may be data that is desired by the user or that fits a profile or preference of the user. The profile can, for instance, be predetermined and/or can be customized by the user and/or can reflect a preference of the user. The data pushed to the handheld electronic device can also be related in some fashion to a geographic disposition of the handheld electronic device. Such pushing of data and storage is managed by a routine running in the background of the handheld electronic device. The routine enables current data to be maintained on the handheld electronic device for ready access by a user.

Abstract: A system and method for recommending on-line articles and documents to users is disclosed. The method provides an article widget user interface and a full-screen widget user interfaces to allow a user to rate articles, to preview articles, to filter articles based on category, article length, or other characteristics. A recommender system is configured to provide a continually refreshing list of recommended articles to the user via the user interfaces. The system comprises a module configured to monitor the user's explicit and implicit interactions with the user interfaces, and provides a refreshed list of recommended articles accordingly. The recommender system may be configured to use a package of approaches including rule-based, content-based or collaborative filtering approaches including Slope, Co-Visitation, Mwinnow and Clustering/Co-clustering.

Abstract: Described are a system and method of navigating graphical user interface comprising a plurality of visual elements. The system comprises an input component for receiving an input and generating a navigational input based on the input, a visual element analyzer for analyzing visual elements to determine if the visual elements have an associated blockade condition, and for passing navigational inputs. The system further comprises a blockade condition analyzer for analyzing visual elements with an associated blockade to determine if the navigational input satisfies the blockade condition and an output component for receiving the navigational inputs passed from the visual element analyzer and for generating the input based on the navigational input.

Abstract: A home screen user interface permits a user to select an application icon to trigger a quick preview of event data maintained by the associated application. The home screen presents a background and a predetermined number of application icons arranged on the home screen to enable viewing of a majority of the background. At least some of the application icons are operable to invoke respective user interfaces for event applications that manage respective data communication, voice communication and calendar events. Upon a user selecting an application icon corresponding to the respective event application, event data is displayed, preferably after a time delay, on a portion of the home screen.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for managing delivery of pushed web content to communication devices. In an embodiment, the method comprises: uniquely identifying a communication device to which the pushed web content is to be delivered; establishing a pushed web content service linking the pushed web content to the communication device; receiving a pushed web content service request; and permitting delivery of content to the communication device via the pushed web content service based on verification of the identity of a trusted pushed web content provider. The method may further comprise uniquely identifying the pushed web content provider with an assignable unique pushed web content identification.

Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to methods, systems and devices for accessing an icon on a display by shifting emphasis from one icon list to another icon list on the display. The icon may be a user profile application icon that can be used to access a user profile application.

Abstract: A method for moving icons on a display of a mobile device, either on the display or into a folder is provided. When an icon has been selected to be moved, its appearance is altered with respect to the other icons so as to provide a visual cue to the user regarding the move and the altered icon is overlaid on the other icons as it moves thereover. The icon may be displayed with a move cursor indicating where the icon will be placed if the current position is selected. A method is also provided for creating new folders on the display using a dialog box that is configured to enable a name and icon for the folder to be chosen and/or selected. Default names and folder icons may be used and alternative icons may also be presented in the dialog box to enable a preview of the choices.

Abstract: A method and application for previewing themes for a mobile device are provided. Theme files comprising theme preview files are stored on the mobile device for each theme that can be activated. The theme preview files comprise an image representing the appearance of the theme when activated. The images may be displayed in a preview pane in a theme option. The theme preview files may also be displayed in a list for those themes that are not stored on the mobile device but are available to be downloaded. The list can be updated as new themes become available by polling a new theme service. A theme builder for creating theme definitions and theme preview files, and web interfaces for previewing and downloading new themes are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for visually alerting a user of a newly-received data message at a mobile station. A detector detects delivery of the message at the mobile station. And, in response to the detection of the delivery, a display driver causes display on a display device of an animated icon to alert the user of the newly-received message.