Openwave Systems Inc.

Paul A Smethers

Russell S Greer

Bruce K Martin, Jr

Peter F King

Bruce V Schwartz

Andrew L Laursen

Lawrence M Stein

Craig William Payne

Jared Martin Oberhaus

A microbrowser in a mobile telephone or other hand-held mobile device generates a Graphical User Interface (GUI) having features that make the device more user-friendly. In one mode, the GUI includes a softkey indicator indicating a corresponding softkey action and an input field for receiving a user-input character string, such as a telephone number. In response to typing in the input field, a softkey action previously associated with the input field, such as a dial action, is automatically selected, and the softkey indicator is automatically changed to indicate the selected action. In another mode, the GUI displays an input field and a menu listing performable actions. In response to a user input representing a single action by the user and designating one of the performable actions, the designated action is selected and the input field is activated, enabling the user to input characters associated with the designated action.

Graphical user interface features of a browser in a hand-held wireless communication device

Improved approaches are disclosed for processing overloaded keys substantially more in accordance with user's expected behavior. With the improved approaches, users are less likely to undergo unexpected processing in response to overloaded key presses. In one embodiment, the processing ignores certain overloaded key presses and/or imposes delays to ensure that users have an opportunity to appreciate when an overloaded key has switched to another function. These approaches are particularly well suited for small-scale mobile devices having reduced size displays and overloaded keys such as mobile phones (e.g., cellular phones), two-way pagers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), or other two-way mobile communication devices.

Method and system for processing overloaded keys of a mobile device

A method and apparatus for implementing a heuristic user interface for a mobile device that assists a user with the management and utilization of contact identifiers (e.g. phone numbers, facsimile numbers, email addresses and uniform resource identifiers (URIs)). Content stored on or being processed by a mobile device is analyzed for the presence of predetermined classes of contact identifiers. When a contact identifier belonging to one of the predetermined classes is encountered, it is presented to the user of the mobile device on the display screen and the user interface of the mobile device is provisioned (e.g., softkey assignments and screen displays) for the particular class of contact identifier encountered. The encountered contact identifiers may be used as direct contact identifiers or indirect contact identifiers. Direct contact identifiers are used to initialize the appropriate application for the class of identifier encountered (e.g. an email application for an email contact identifier) and establish contact with an associated entity (e.g. an email addressee). Indirect contact identifiers are used to retrieve locally and remotely held records containing the encountered contact identifiers.

Heuristically assisted user interface for a wireless communication device

Improved techniques for synchronizing different electronic mail mailboxes (accounts) of a user are disclosed. The user is able to effectively see and interact with only a single 'virtual' mailbox, which is the synchronized combination of the two different electronic mailboxes. The electronic mailboxes are used to receive, store, read and send electronic mail over a network to electronic mailboxes associated with recipients. The electronic mail can include electronic messages that contain text, graphics or video. The synchronization of the two different electronic mailboxes can be performed automatically in a two-way manner without user interaction. The synchronization can also be performed securely even though electronic messages are transmitted over a public network.

Mail synchronization of remote and local mail systems

Improved approaches are disclosed for processing overloaded keys substantially more in accordance with user's expected behavior. With the improved approaches, users are less likely to undergo unexpected processing in response to overloaded key presses. In one embodiment, the processing ignores certain overloaded key presses and/or imposes delays to ensure that users have an opportunity to appreciate when an overloaded key has switched to another function. These approaches are particularly well suited for small scale mobile devices having reduced size displays and overloaded keys such as mobile phones (e.g., cellular phones), two-way pagers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), or other two-way mobile communication devices.

Improved approaches are disclosed for efficiently navigating a cursor to an edit location within previously entered text so that the text can be edited. These improved approaches enable users to position a cursor within previously entered text more quickly and with greater ease than conventionally possible. These approaches are particularly well suited for small scale mobile devices having reduced size displays and limited keys such as mobile phones (e.g., cellular phones), two-way pagers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), or other two-way mobile communication devices.

Method and system for efficiently navigating a text entry cursor provided by a mobile device

Improved techniques that enable wireless devices to implement bookmarks with improved transmission efficiency, reduced user navigation and/or reduced amounts of memory resources are disclosed. One aspect of the improved techniques pertains to use of a compact request from a wireless device to an intermediate server when requesting a document or file by selection of a bookmark. Another aspect of the improved techniques is the ability of a user to select a bookmark to request the associated document or file with reduced user interaction (e.g., a single button action). Still another aspect of the improved techniques is that memory resources of the wireless devices need not be consumed to store network addresses (e.g., URLs) for the bookmarks.

Remote bookmarking for wireless client devices

A method and apparatus for facilitating access to a plurality of applications resident on a two-way mobile communication device. Existing keys or buttons of the two-way mobile communication device activate (or launch) resident applications. Additionally, the two-way mobile communication device presents the user with a displayed map on its display screen to specifically indicate which keys or buttons keys launch which resident applications.

Application launcher for a two-way mobile communications device

Improved techniques for providing electronic mail services across a network are disclosed. A mail server and its clients communicate through a network. Although the mail server centrally manages the electronic mail services, the clients are able to themselves locally perform certain electronic mail services when the network is unavailable. Accordingly, clients seeking to perform electronic mail services no longer endure significant delays when the network is unavailable. The network can be unavailable for a variety of reasons, including: congestion, out of range, network failure, etc. The network can be wired or wireless. The invention is particularly well suited for networks having sporadic connectivity, high latencies or excessive traffic.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Paul A Smethers