Abstract: The disclosure provides a circuit and method for activating an electronic device from a low power state. The activation circuit comprises: a first accelerometer in the device; a second accelerometer which is activated upon receiving a movement signal from the first accelerometer; an input device; and a circuit to provide power to the input device when a series of connected movements signals from at least one of the first and the second accelerometers match a predetermined movement gesture.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device with a body which houses a microprocessor-run software application is disclosed. The software application program requires operator navigation therein during use. Furthermore, the application program is programmed to receive a directional navigation instruction from the operator utilizing a navigation tool. The instruction indicates a direction and degree of navigation with the application program. The application program is further programmed to receive a complimentary instruction from the operator that adapts the instructed degree of navigation to be affected in the application program by the received directional navigation instruction.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and method for managing power and activation of a communication device. The system comprises: a microprocessor controlling the electronic device; an accelerometer; and a power application operating on the microprocessor. The application provides instructions to the microprocessor to place the electronic device in a low power state from a higher power state upon determining from movement data generated by the accelerometer that the electronic device has been returned to around a resting location where the electronic device was previously in a stationary state from a first location that is in a spaced relationship to the resting location.

Abstract: Method and arrangement that provides a power-saving mode for a handheld electronic device having a reduced alphabetic keyboard. The power-saving mode is enabled through disabling a sensor that detects motion of a ball of the trackball navigation tool and disabling the display screen of the handheld electronic device. The power-saving mode may be exited before disablement of the sensor when the display screen is disabled first.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device having a microprocessor housed within a body including a display area and a contact-sensitive area is disclosed. The contact-sensitive area detects contact engagement therewith and produces instruction data based thereupon. A microprocessor-run software program receives instruction data from the contact-sensitive area. The contact-sensitive area has a home zone area and a plurality of activity launch zone areas. The software program is programmed to process the instruction data and determine sweeping contact motion detected on the contact-sensitive area originating at the home zone area and terminating at one of the plurality of activity launch zone areas. The program responsively launches an operator-instructed activity corresponding to the activity launch zone area at which the sweeping contact motion terminated.

Abstract: A handheld wireless communication device cradleable in one hand by an operator during text entry. A display, key field and trackball are all located on a front face of the device. Alphanumeric input keys include several alphabetic keys with letters arranged in a traditional (QWERTY), but non-ITU Standard E.161 telephone letter layout. A microprocessor is provided that receives operator commands from the keys and the trackball navigation tool and which affects corresponding changes to the display based on user input. The keys of the key field are arranged in rows and columns and at least one of the rows and columns is arranged with a long axis thereof radially oriented relative to the trackball navigation tool.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device transitionable between different configurations includes a keyboard panel having a slot, a display panel, a coupler that rotary couples the keyboard panel and the display panel and slidingly engages the slot of the keyboard panel. The display panel is positioned such that is substantially parallel with the keyboard panel in a compact configuration. When the device is transitioned from the compact to translated configuration, the coupler engages the slot. When the device is transitioned from the translated to expanded configuration, the display panel is rotated about the coupler such that the centerpoint of the display panel is closer to the centerpoint of the keyboard panel in the expanded configuration as compared to the translated configuration. The coupler can comprise a rotation control mechanism coupled to a biasing member or can have teeth that engages a track or can be a cam that engages a t-shaped slot.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device having a microprocessor housed within a body including a display area and a contact-sensitive area is disclosed. The contact-sensitive area detects contact engagement therewith and produces instruction data based thereupon. A microprocessor-run software program receives instruction data from the contact-sensitive area. The contact-sensitive area has a home zone area and a plurality of activity launch zone areas. The software program is programmed to process the instruction data and determine sweeping contact motion detected on the contact-sensitive area originating at the home zone area and terminating at one of the plurality of activity launch zone areas. The program responsively launches an operator-instructed activity corresponding to the activity launch zone area at which the sweeping contact motion terminated.

Abstract: A mobile electronic communications device and a method for modifying a scheduling database are provided. The scheduling database can be modified via the mobile electronic communications device in communication with a proximate electronic device comprising a display device, when the mobile electronic communications device is engaging in an oral communications session with a second communications device. Time slot data associated with an available time slot is retrieved from the scheduling database, via the mobile electronic communications device. The time slot data associated with the available time slot is transmitted, via the mobile electronic communications device, to the proximate electronic device to cause the proximate electronic device to display the time slot data associated with the available time slot at the display device. Input data is received at the mobile electronic communications device.

Abstract: A handheld communication device configurable between a telephone mode and an email mode is described. The handheld communication device has a body with a front face at which a user input is located. The user input includes an appearance-adaptable keypad configurable between a telephone keypad when the device is in the telephone mode, and a text entry keypad when the device is in the email mode. The telephone keypad includes a plurality of alphanumeric input keys. The telephone keypad is arranged in a standard telephone keypad layout when the device is in the telephone mode. The text entry keypad includes a plurality of alphabetic input keys. The text entry keypad is arranged in a standard text entry keyboard layout when the device is in the email mode.

Abstract: A handheld wireless communication device configured to be hand cradleable by an operator during text entry. A display, key field and trackball navigation tool are located on a front face of the device. At least some keys of the key field are arranged in key-columns and each of the key-columns is vertically offset from adjacent key-columns. Alphanumeric input keys include several alphabetic keys with letters arranged in a traditional (QWERTY), but non-ITU Standard E.161 telephone letter layout. A microprocessor is provided that receives operator commands from the keys and the trackball navigation tool and which affects corresponding changes to the display based on user input. The elongate body is longer than wide and the display 322, key field 650 and the trackball navigational tool 328 are located in consecutive series along the length of the elongate body.

Abstract: In one embodiment, there is provided a mobile communications device comprising: a processor; a communications subsystem operable to exchange signals with a wireless network; a storage element having application modules and data stored thereon, the data comprising at least user application data associated with the application modules and service data including data for establishing communications with the wireless network; and a security module operable to detect policy messages received by the device, and to perform a security action if a first policy message to enforce a first data protection policy is received and a subsequent policy message to enforce a second data protection policy is not received within a predetermined duration from the time at which the first policy message is received; wherein the security action comprises erasing or encrypting at least some of the data on the storage element.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system, circuit and method for activating an electronic device from a low power state. The circuit comprises: a microprocessor; a first accelerometer; a second accelerometer which is activated upon receiving a movement signal from the first accelerometer, indicating a movement of the electronic device; a threshold circuit connected to an output of the second accelerometer to allow only signals generated by the second accelerometer that exceed a threshold to pass; an input device; and a monitoring circuit connected to the input device and an output of the threshold circuit. The monitoring circuit comprises a latch circuit utilizing signals from the threshold circuit and a reset signal from the microprocessor to generate a trigger signal to activate the input device. The monitoring circuit selectively generates an activation signal to activate the electronic device to a higher power state utilizing a notable signal received from the input device.

Abstract: A handheld wireless communication device configured to be hand cradleable by an operator during text entry. A display, key field and trackball navigation tool are located on a front face of the device. At least some keys of the key field are arranged in key-columns and each of the key-columns is vertically offset from adjacent key-columns. Alphanumeric input keys include several alphabetic keys with letters arranged in a traditional (QWERTY), but non-ITU Standard E.161 telephone letter layout. A microprocessor is provided that receives operator commands from the keys and the trackball navigation tool and which affects corresponding changes to the display based on user input. At least one key of the key field is positioned adjacent to the trackball navigation tool and the at least one key has an arcuate-shaped edge conformance fitting to an arcuate-shaped boundary about the trackball navigation tool.

Abstract: System and method that provides audible feedback through a speaker of a handheld electronic device upon actuation of a navigation tool. The audible feedback produced by the speaker is capable of being modified based upon the location, speed, and other characteristics of the movement of a cursor on the display of a handheld electronic device. The sound produced by the speaker can originate from an audio file stored or otherwise available on the handheld electronic device.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and method for managing power and activation of a communication device. The system comprises: a microprocessor controlling the electronic device; an accelerometer; and a power application operating on the microprocessor. The application provides instructions to the microprocessor to place the electronic device in a low power state from a higher power state upon determining from movement data generated by the accelerometer that the electronic device has been returned to around a resting location where the electronic device was previously in a stationary state from a first location that is in a spaced relationship to the resting location.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and method for detecting activation of a communication device via passive means. For the system and method, the device comprises a casing for housing a display and a keyboard; a microprocessor controlling aspects of the keyboard and display; a passive usage sensor; and a power application operating on the microprocessor. The power application monitors the usage sensor for a signal indicating movement of the device from a resting location when the device is in a low power mode and upon detection of the signal for provides power to at least one additional element in the device.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for displaying search results on an electronic device. The method includes: displaying at least a portion of a first set of search results; capturing one or more images using a camera device of the electronic device, the camera device being directed in a same direction as a display of the electronic device, the image comprising one or more subjects; determining corresponding points of regard in the one or more images for at least one of the one or more subjects, the points of regard being indicative of areas on the display at which a gaze of the corresponding subject is directed; determining one or more search results associated with the points of regard; and displaying further search results based on information associated with the one or more search results associated with the points of regard.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a wireless device is being held comprising: activating a vibration motor in the wireless device to vibrate the wireless device for a predetermined period; receiving at least one acceleration measurement from an accelerometer in the wireless device during the predetermined period; and comparing the at least one acceleration measurement to at least one stored acceleration measurement, the at least one stored acceleration measurement corresponding to a held wireless device.

Abstract: A mobile communications device, server, and method for providing security on a mobile communications device are described.