Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry and also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided.

Abstract: A messaging method in a system including a wireless network, a routing server, and a plurality of mobile stations. A first mobile station has first communications applications and a first PIN and a second mobile station has second communications applications and a second PIN. The method includes sending an invitation including the first PIN from the first mobile station to the second mobile station using one of the first communications applications, and sending an acceptance including the second PIN from the second mobile station to the first mobile station using one of the second communications applications. The method further includes creating first messages including the second PIN and sending them to the second mobile station through the wireless network, and creating second messages including the first PIN and sending them to the first mobile station through the wireless network. The routing server routes the messages based on the PINs.

Abstract: A mobile communication device having a user interface for invoking a command displays a reduced set of commands accessed by actuating an input device on the mobile communication device, the reduced set of commands comprises a set of context-sensitive commands derived from a full-function set of commands associated with an application. The input device may be a dedicated input device, such as a trackball, for accessing the set of context-sensitive commands.

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: A mobile communication device having a user interface for invoking an text editing command is provided. The interface comprises a reduced set of commands which is accessed by actuating an input device on the mobile communication device, the reduced set of commands comprising a set of context-sensitive commands derived from a full-function set of commands associated with a text-based application. The input device may be a dedicated input device, such as a trackball, for accessing the set of context-sensitive commands.

Abstract: Apparatus for indicating mobile electronic device status comprising a database for storing mobile electronic device status information and associated colour information; a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs); a processor for retrieving the colour information based on the mobile electronic device status and transmitting a signal based on the colour information to the set of LEDs; wherein the set of LEDs provide a light corresponding to the colour information to illuminate an area of the mobile communication device to indicate the mobile electronic device status.

Abstract: A mobile communication device having an interface for performing a function is provided. The interface comprises a reduced set of functions which are accessed by actuating one or more of the input devices, the reduced set of functions comprising a set of application-sensitive functions which are derived from a full-function set of functions associated with the application.

Abstract: A method of enabling input on a handheld electronic device, which includes an input apparatus having a number of input members that are capable of being actuated, wherein at least one of the input members has a plurality of selectable output alternatives, includes detecting as a first input an actuation of an input member, generating a first output, detecting as a second input an actuation of an input member having a plurality of selectable output alternatives comprising at least a primary punctuation and a secondary punctuation, determining that said first output has a predetermined characteristic, preferring as a second output said secondary punctuation, and outputting said second output.

Abstract: A device and a method of organizing journaling items from applications processed by an electronic device are provided. The method comprises: defining a journal having a parameter for storing journaling items; defining contexts for the parameter by creating a context for each record using data from an application operating on the device which matches a relevant aspect of the parameter; upon detection of a new journaling item processed by the device, determining whether the new journaling item matches any of the contexts, and if so, updating the journal with details associated with the journaling item; and determining whether any previously processed journaling items processed by the device matches any of the contexts, and if so, updating the journal with details associated with the any previously received item. The device incorporates modules to perform the method.

Abstract: A device for and a method of dynamically refreshing presentation of icons for objects processed on an electronic device are provided. The method comprises: establishing a triggering event to initiate refreshment of a layout of the icons displayed on a display in the device; upon detection of the triggering event, creating a ranking of the objects processed by the device utilizing activity logs providing their recent levels of activity; identifying a most frequently processed object from the ranking; and automatically refreshing the layout of icons to highlight an icon associated with the most frequently processed object. The device incorporates modules to perform the method.

Abstract: A wireless handheld communication device having a housing containing a display screen located above a physical keyboard. The keyboard includes a plurality of physical keys and corresponding indicia. Some of the keys are associated with alphabetic characters corresponding to a QWERTY array of letters A-Z and some are associated with numeric characters 0-9 corresponding to a telephone keypad arrangement. At least some of the keys associated with numeric characters are overlaid on the physical keys associated with alphabetic characters. A microprocessor is included that runs the device in at least a telephony mode, an email mode and at least one additional mode. The microprocessor displays a key-function map on the display screen indicative of enabled functions associated with particular physical keys of the keyboard which are different from any function signified by the indicia associated with the respective particular physical key.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for presenting information is provided. In an embodiment, an electronic device with wireless telephony features is provided. An embodiment includes a flexible dialog box tailored to the resources limitations of electronic devices.

Abstract: A device and a method of responding to a received interrupt event received by a communication device is provided. The method comprises accessing data associated with a calendar application and/or a location application to determine a current state of availability of a user of the device using data; determining whether a response action is to be sent in response to the event when the device is note available; and sending the response action. The device incorporates modules to perform the method.

Abstract: A method for managing expedited communication functions for a mobile device having a processing subsystem, a memory subsystem, a display subsystem, a communication subsystem, and a keyboard subsystem includes displaying a graphical key representation of mobile device keyboard subsystem keys, arranging the graphical keys in similar disposition to the mobile device keyboard subsystem keys, and displaying visual indicia to indicate mobile device keyboard subsystem keys associated with expedited communication functions.

Abstract: An electronic handheld device is described having an options module for providing a user with at least one option in the handheld device, each option associated with an enabling mode of operation of the handheld device. The device also includes an enabling module for implementing, in response to a particular option being selected by a user, an associated enabling mode of operation. Each enabling mode of operation makes the handheld device more accessible to a person having a corresponding disability.

Abstract: 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 provided 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 interfaces.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for composing an email to be sent by a mobile device is disclosed. A screen including one or more fields for receiving user input to define a content of the email is adapted to expand at least a one of the fields to present additional options to define the content.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable, handheld housing, and a display and keypad carried by the housing. In particular, the keypad may include a plurality of symbol keys each having indicia of at least one respective symbol thereon, and an alternate function key. A user input device and a controller may also be carried by the portable, handheld housing. The controller may be connected to the display and the keypad, and it may generate a menu of possible desired words based upon actuation of the symbol keys, and generate a word cursor in the menu for scrolling through the possible desired words based upon the user input device. The controller may also change the word cursor to a symbol cursor based upon actuation of the alternate function key for scrolling through symbols in the possible desired words based upon the user input device.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable, handheld housing, and a display and keypad carried by the portable, handheld housing. The keypad may include a plurality of multi-symbol keys each having indicia of a plurality of respective symbols thereon, and a predetermined multi-symbol key may have a comma/apostrophe symbol and at least one other symbol thereon. A controller may also be carried by the portable, handheld housing and connected to the display and the keypad. The controller may be for generating a menu of possible desired words including at least one word with a comma and at least one word with an apostrophe based upon activation of the predetermined multi-symbol key having the comma/apostrophe symbol and at least one other symbol thereon.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method provide a visual indication that a particular input routine from among a plurality of input routines is active on the handheld electronic device. The visual indication of the active input routine can be provided as a visual depiction on a display of the handheld electronic device or can be provided in other fashions. The visual indication can be disposed at a generally fixed location on the display or can be disposed in the vicinity of a movable cursor on the display, and can even take the place of the cursor. Such a visual indication can be provided for all of the various input routines that are activatable on the handheld electronic device or only for certain of the input routines.