Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing manual selection of a communication network for a mobile station are described. A plurality of communication networks are identified by scanning a coverage area within which the mobile station is operating. A plurality of network identifiers corresponding to the plurality of communication networks are then retrieved from memory of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) in accordance with an Enhanced Operator Name String (EONS) protocol. Preferably, each network identifier is retrieved based on a Mobile Country Code (MCC), a Mobile Network Code (MNC), and a Location Area Code (LAC). The plurality of network identifiers are visually displayed for user selection, and at least two of the network identifiers may be substantially the same. The user selected communication network is registered with and the network identifier associated with this network is visually displayed.

Abstract: Home network name displaying methods and apparatus for multiple home networks are disclosed. A mobile station scans to receive a plurality of Mobile Country Code (MCC) and Mobile Network Code (MNC) pairs corresponding to a plurality of communication networks within a coverage area. The mobile station selects and registers with a communication network associated with one of the received MCC and MNC pairs for communication. After the network is selected, the received MCC and MNC pair is compared with a plurality of home network MCC and MNC pairs which are associated with a single home network display name. Based on identifying a match between the received MCC and MNC pair and any one of the home network MCC and MNC pairs, the home network display name is visually displayed in a display of the mobile station. If no match exists, an alternate name is selected for display.

Abstract: A method for selecting a communication option for communications from a mobile device which operates in a wireless communication network, the mobile device having access to stored address book information that includes contact names, the method including: storing for at least some of the contact names an indication of a last communication option used for communicating therewith; displaying a list of user selectable contact names on a display of the mobile device; after receiving user input selecting of one of the contact names from the list, causing a list of user selectable communication options for communicating with the selected contact name to be generated on the display; and automatically positioning a selection symbol on the display to highlight the selectable communication option that corresponds to a last communication option that was used for communicating with the selected contact name.

Abstract: A method for selecting a symbol for presentation on a display of a handheld electronic device, comprising: receiving a signal from a key on the handheld electronic device actuated by a user to select a default symbol, the default symbol being one of a plurality of symbols available through actuation of the key; if the actuation of the key is an initial actuation of the key, presenting the plurality of symbols on the display and receiving a signal to select the default symbol from among the plurality of symbols; and, presenting the default symbol on the display.

Abstract: At a wireless communication device having memory storing multiple sets of electronic mail (email) messages, each of the sets of email messages having been received via a distinct email service account, multiple selectable icons are displayed. Each icon is for invoking a computer program for presenting a distinct one of the sets of email messages at the wireless communication device upon its selection. Each icon may include or be limited to a textual component which may identify the relevant email service and may indicate a number of unread messages. The icon may be automatically downloaded to the device from a remote location based on a specified network address, such as a uniform resource locator (URL).

Abstract: At a computing device such as a wireless communication device, a software component receives a set of constraints for selecting objects representative of time dependent event objects. The constraints may be generated automatically by a software module for displaying a visual representation of different types of time dependent events, e.g., in a GUI having a calendar-type view. The set of constraints may for example define a time range within which events occur or a maximum number of time dependent events occurring before or after a specified time. Each of a plurality of software objects maintaining a distinct set of time dependent event objects representing a distinct type of time dependent event provides a set of time dependent event objects meeting the set of constraints. The sets of time dependent event objects are merged into an ordered list based on an ordering criterion and provided to the software module for display.

Abstract: A method and communications device is provided for determining a list of possible additional recipients to add to an electronic message that is composed by a user of the communications device for transmission to another communications device. Once the user indicates that there is an additional recipient for the distribution list of the electronic message, the device employs the method to create the list of possible additional recipients. The method may be implemented on a computer program product.

Abstract: A method for selecting a wireless network for a wireless device comprising: receiving a command from a user through a clickable thumbwheel and a graphical user interface (“GUI”) presented on a display of the wireless device to scan for and identify available networks; displaying a choice of the available networks on the display; and, receiving a command from the user through the clickable thumbwheel and the GUI to switch operation of the wireless device from a current network to an available network in the choice of the available networks.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel device and method for controlling the display of electronic information. The device can be based on the computing environment of an enhanced personal digital assistant with cellular telephone and electronic message capabilities. The device is operable to present, on its display, user customizable information, such as wallpaper, in conjunction with non-customizable information, such as icons. The device is also operable to perform a transformation such that the user customizable information and non-customizable information are more legible than if no transformation had occurred.

Abstract: A handheld communication device includes a single notification element, which may be, for instance, a plurality of light emitting diodes packaged together, and a microprocessor for controlling the single notification element such that the single notification element presents a temporal color pattern to indicate a state of the handheld communication device.

Abstract: A category may be associated, in a personal information manager (PIM) application, with a data item by associating a category pattern with the data item. Where the PIM application already associates keyword patterns with data items for enabling keyword searching, the category pattern may have a format of an ordered plurality of elements that satisfies at least one rule for the format of the keyword patterns. Optionally, the first element of the ordered plurality of elements may be an element predetermined to be specific to pluralities of elements associated with categories. Advantageously, this approach to the association of a category with a data item allows for the association of more than one category with a single data item. Such an allowance provides for more accurate synchronization with a PIM application on a desktop that also allows the association of more than one category with a data item.

Abstract: A mobile device for synchronizing contact data stores comprising: a host having: a database for storing contact records; and a contact application communicating with the database and being capable of altering the contact records; a client having: a client contact application capable of altering the contact records; and a client data manager communicating with the client contact application for storing contact records; a state machine; a client listener to determine when a change has been made and propagate the change to the host; and a host listener to determine when a client record has been changed in the database and propagate the change to the client, wherein the database and the client data manager are synchronized through the state machine. Also, a method for synchronizing contact record storage by notification and propagation of changes through the state machine upon changes occurring in the database and client data manager.

Abstract: A method for viewing communications events on a mobile device which includes a user interface, a communications event handler, and a communications event database is disclosed herein. The communications event handler interfaces with the database and the user interface to provide a user of the mobile device with a communications event history associated with the correspondent of an incoming communications event. Additionally the communications event handler interfaces with the database and the user interface to provide a user of the mobile device with a communications event history for a specified correspondent. When a communication event is received, the communication events history associated with the correspondent is presented on the user interface. This gives the advantage that the user of the mobile device is, able to determine the context of the communicaion event.

Abstract: Home network name displaying methods and apparatus for multiple home networks are disclosed. A mobile station scans to receive a plurality of Mobile Country Code (MCC) and Mobile Network Code (MNC) pairs corresponding to a plurality of communication networks within a coverage area. The mobile station selects and registers with a communication network associated with one of the received MCC and MNC pairs for communication. After the network is selected, the received MCC and MNC pair is compared with a plurality of home network MCC and MNC pairs which are associated with a single home network display name. Based on identifying a match between the received MCC and MNC pair and any one of the home network MCC and MNC pairs, the home network display name is visually displayed in a display of the mobile station. If no match exists, an alternate name is selected for display.