Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a display of a portable electronic device are provided. The method comprises generating a screen comprising a list on the display. The list comprises one or more row elements, with each row element comprising one or more column sub-elements. At least a portion of one of the column sub-elements of at least one of the row elements is truncated. Upon selection of a row element, the screen is enabled for scrolling of that row element. Enabling scrolling comprises loading the truncated portion of the selected row element into a pre-buffer. The method further comprises receiving a scrolling input, and updating the screen on the display to scroll the row element, bringing the truncated portion into view. The selected row is scrolled while maintaining the series of column sub-elements in the row without reference to other rows.

Abstract: A method of checking a new entry in a calendar application having a cache that includes a first subset of existing entries falling within a first date range. Also, an electronic device implementing the method. The method includes determining whether the date of the new entry falls within the first date range. If so, the method determines whether the new entry directly conflicts with or is adjacent to one of the existing entries in the first subset, and provides a notification if appropriate. If the date is outside the first date range, the method creates a new calendar cache including a second subset of existing entries falling within a second date range around the new entry date, determines whether the new calendar entry directly conflicts with or is adjacent to one of the existing calendar entries in the second subset, and provides a notification if appropriate.

Abstract: A method of storage of an e-mail includes either receiving the e-mail at a portable electronic device or sending the e-mail from the portable electronic device. The e-mail is marked for saving at the portable electronic device and transmitted by radio communication for receipt by a server and for storage of the e-mail in a backup database.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying notification settings on a mobile electronic device is provided, the mobile electronic device comprising a processing unit, a display, a memory, an input device, and at least one notification device. It is determined that the at least one notification device has been activated using a given notification setting. A menu list is responsively changed to include a notification setting change option, the menu list associated with the input device and stored in the memory, such that when the input device is activated, the display is controlled by the processing unit to provide a representation of the menu list such that the notification setting option can be selected and the given notification setting changed.

Abstract: A method of searching for Personal Information Management information of a handheld electronic device includes accepting input of one or more search criteria, such as text search criteria and/or name search criteria; accepting input of a representation of a plurality of different databases or applications of the handheld electronic device including Personal Information Management information to be searched; and conducting a search of the different databases or applications based upon the one or more search criteria and the representation of different databases or applications. The method determines one or more search results from the search and displays those search results.

Abstract: A method of storage of an e-mail includes either receiving the e-mail at a portable electronic device or sending the e-mail from the portable electronic device. The e-mail is marked for saving at the portable electronic device and transmitted by radio communication for receipt by a server and for storage of the e-mail in a backup database.

Abstract: A method of checking a new entry in a calendar application having a cache that includes a first subset of existing entries falling within a first date range. Also, an electronic device implementing the method. The method includes determining whether the date of the new entry falls within the first date range. If so, the method determines whether the new entry directly conflicts with or is adjacent to one of the existing entries in the first subset, and provides a notification if appropriate. If the date is outside the first date range, the method creates a new calendar cache including a second subset of existing entries falling within a second date range around the new entry date, determines whether the new calendar entry directly conflicts with or is adjacent to one of the existing calendar entries in the second subset, and provides a notification if appropriate.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a log of communications initiated or received at a portable electronic device of a first party. The communications include at least one of short message service (SMS) messages, personal identification number (PIN) messages and cellular telephone calls. The method includes receiving a data record for each of the communications, extracting information from the data record, and storing the information in a log file.

Abstract: A mobile communication device uses a condensed text message store wherein individual messages of a thread are stored in such a manner that the thread can later be reconstructed for display. By storing individual messages rather than thread objects including duplicative content, device memory is conserved. Network bandwidth can also be preserved by sending only individual messages between the device and a central server (which server may also utilize a condensed message store).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying notification settings on a mobile electronic device is provided, the mobile electronic device comprising a processing unit, a display, a memory, an input device, and at least one notification device. It is determined that the at least one notification device has been activated using a given notification setting. A menu list is responsively changed to include a notification setting change option, the menu list associated with the input device and stored in the memory, such that when the input device is activated, the display is controlled by the processing unit to provide a representation of the menu list such that the notification setting option can be selected and the given notification setting changed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a display of a portable electronic device are provided. The method comprises generating a screen comprising a list on the display. The list comprises one or more row elements, with each row element comprising one or more column sub-elements. At least a portion of one of the column sub-elements of at least one of the row elements is truncated. Upon selection of a row element, the screen is enabled for scrolling of that row element. Enabling scrolling comprises loading the truncated portion of the selected row element into a pre-buffer. The method further comprises receiving a scrolling input, and updating the screen on the display to scroll the row element, bringing the truncated portion into view. The selected row is scrolled while maintaining the series of column sub-elements in the row without reference to other rows.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing at least one database including first data records of a portable electronic device with at least one other database including second data records. The method includes receiving information representative of the first data records and comparing the information representative of the first data records with information representative of the second data records to determine if changes made to either the first data records or the second data records are not reflected in the other of the first and second data records. If changes made to the second data records are not reflected in the first data records, only partial content of ones of changed second data records is transmitted to the portable electronic device. The partial content includes key fields of data sufficient to uniquely identify the ones of the changed second data records in which the key fields of data are contained.

Abstract: An enhanced email system incorporating mobile wireless communication devices includes program logic for efficiently managing (i.e., at least partially synchronizing) “messages sent” files in the mobile device and in a related message server. The exemplary program logic also more efficiently handles resending of previously sent email messages from the mobile wireless communication device (especially in the context of synchronized messages sent files) by sending to the message server only abbreviated unique message ID in the first instance. In this way, wireless bandwidth is conserved as is the device battery.

Abstract: An electronic device and a method implemented within the electronic device for controlling notification of calendar event messages by receiving a message having an attachment; examining the message to identify the attachment; and in the event that the attachment relates to a calendar event then activating the notification.

Abstract: An enhanced email system incorporating mobile wireless communication devices includes program logic for efficiently managing (i.e., at least partially synchronizing) “messages sent” files in the mobile device and in a related message server. The exemplary program logic also more efficiently handles resending of previously sent email messages from the mobile wireless communication device (especially in the context of synchronized messages sent files) by sending to the message server only abbreviated unique message ID in the first instance. In this way, wireless bandwidth is conserved as is the device battery.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing at least one database including at least one updated data record with at least one other database including a corresponding data record. The method includes comparing at least one field of data of the updated data record with a corresponding field of the data record prior to updating, generating change information including at least the location of a change and an indication representative of the change for the field of the updated data record, and transmitting the change information for assembly in the corresponding data record.

Abstract: A method of checking a new entry in a calendar application having a cache that includes a first subset of existing entries falling within a first date range. Also, an electronic device implementing the method. The method includes determining whether the date of the new entry falls within the first date range. If so, the method determines whether the new entry directly conflicts with or is adjacent to one of the existing entries in the first subset, and provides a notification if appropriate. If the date is outside the first date range, the method creates a new calendar cache including a second subset of existing entries falling within a second date range around the new entry date, determines whether the new calendar entry directly conflicts with or is adjacent to one of the existing calendar entries in the second subset, and provides a notification if appropriate.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing databases at a portable electronic device with corresponding databases at a second electronic device, the method including determining which one of the databases at the portable electronic device is to be synchronized based on a directed acyclic graph representing database dependencies, and synchronizing the one of the databases at the portable electronic device with a corresponding one of the databases at the second electronic device.

Abstract: A method of checking a new entry in a calendar application having a cache that includes a first subset of existing entries falling within a first date range. Also, an electronic device implementing the method. The method includes determining whether the date of the new entry falls within the first date range. If so, the method determines whether the new entry directly conflicts with or is adjacent to one of the existing entries in the first subset, and provides a notification if appropriate. If the date is outside the first date range, the method creates a new calendar cache including a second subset of existing entries falling within a second date range around the new entry date, determines whether the new calendar entry directly conflicts with or is adjacent to one of the existing calendar entries in the second subset, and provides a notification if appropriate.

Abstract: A method of scheduling a recurring calendar event using an electronic device includes receiving constraints for the recurring calendar event, determining an occurrence of the recurring calendar event, determining a free time period that meets the constraints, for scheduling a next occurrence of the recurring calendar event, and scheduling the next occurrence of the recurring calendar event during the free time period that meets the constraints.