US008554859B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Klassen et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,554,859 B2
`*Oct. 8, 2013
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`HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND
`ASSOCIATED METHOD PROVIDING TIME
`DATA IN A MESSAGING ENVIRONMENT
`
`Inventors: Gerhard D. Klassen, Waterloo (CA);
`Christopher R. Wormald, Kitchener
`(CA); Lawrence E. Kuhl, Waterloo
`(CA)
`Assignee: BlackBerry Limited, Waterloo (CA)
`Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis
`claimer.
`
`Appl. No.: 13/615,431
`Filed:
`Sep. 13, 2012
`
`Prior Publication Data
`|US 2013/0007174 A1
`Jan. 3, 2013
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Continuation of application No. 13/111,675, filed on
`May 19, 2011, now Pat. No. 8,301,713, which is a
`continuation of application No. 10/944,925, filed on
`Sep. 20, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,970,849.
`Provisional application No. 60/504,379, filed on Sep.
`19, 2003.
`
`Int. Cl.
`G{}6F 15/16
`U.S. CI.
`USPC ........... 709/206: 709/204; 709/207; 455/566:
`455/567; 715/772
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC ................. 709/206, 207, 204; 455/566,567;
`71.5/772
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`CA
`EP
`
`|U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,301,609 B1 10/2001
`Aravamudan et al.
`6,484.196 B1 11/2002
`Maurille
`Schwoegler et al.
`6,590,529 B2
`7/2003
`Murray .......................... 340/7.2
`6,603,389 B1* 8/2003
`6,636,243 B1 10/2003 MacPhail
`6,889,063 B2 * 5/2005 Yamada ........................ 455/567
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2475.319 A1
`8/2003
`0743762 A2 11/1996
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Lastoria, Gianluca, Search Report from corresponding European
`Application No. 10172832.7; search completed Oct. 1, 2010.
`Varma, S.; Search Report from corresponding PCT Application No.
`PCT/CA2004/001712; search completed Dec. 1, 2004.
`Primary Examiner – Ario Etienne
`Assistant Examiner – Michael C Lai
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm – Brett J. Slaney, Blake,
`Cassels & Graydon LLP
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`An improved handheld electronic device and an associated
`method are provided in which time data regarding certain
`aspects of a messaging conversation on a handheld electronic
`device are made available to a user. Such time data is pro
`vided, for instance, in situations where an interruption has
`occurred during a messaging conversation. Time data can also
`be provided to a user on demand in certain circumstances.
`15 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`50
`
`× Hi Honey, how was your day?
`K Bruiol, Lorry embarrossed me in front of
`everybody.
`> Whdi (, Jerk!
`K Yegh, but I got him back laier with 0 kgrgie chop!
`ºffle, ºn
`cg= > - Hey, Won; io go Oul *-?m?,
`368
`Sure, sounds fun.
`74
`> Greqi, I'll pick you up in on hour.
`K Can't waii
`
`Page 1 of 14
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`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1014
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`US 8,554,859 B2
`Page 2
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`(56)
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`References Cited
`
`|U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5/2006
`Isaacs et al.
`7,043,530
`Hwang et al. ................. 455/566
`8/2006
`7,099,700
`9/2006
`7,111,044
`Lee ................
`. 709/204
`Appelman et al. ............ 709/206
`2/2007
`7,181,497
`6/2007
`Lazaridis et al.
`7,236,472
`12/2007
`Mathewson et al. .......... 709/206
`7,305,441
`Thompson et al.
`6/2002
`2002/0075303
`7/2002
`2002/0087649
`Horvitz
`1/2003
`2003/0001890
`Brin .....….. 345/753
`3/2003
`2003/0060240
`Graham et al.
`6/2003
`2003/0.104841
`Yamamoto
`7/2003
`2003/0134616
`Thomsen et al.
`
`
`
`7/2004
`2004/0137967 A1
`2004/0205775 A1 * 10/2004
`2004/0228531 A1 1 1/2004
`2005/0080866 A1 * 4/2005
`
`Bodley et al.
`Heikes et al. ................. 71.9/318
`Fernandez et al.
`Kent et al. ..................... 709/207
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1/2002
`1176840 A1
`EP
`* 12/2000
`2350746 A.
`GB
`7/2003
`2384.150 A
`GB
`12/1990
`200311 145 A
`JP
`4/2001
`WO 01/300.91 A1
`WO
`3/2002
`WO 02/21413 A2
`WO
`8/2002
`WO 02/065250 A2
`WO
`7/2004
`WO WO 2004/064362 A1
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 2 of 14
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2013
`Oct. 8, 2013
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`Sheet 1 of 7
`Sheet 1 of 7
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`US 8,554,859 B2
`US 8,554,859 B2
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`Page 3 of 14
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2013
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`Sheet 2 of 7
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`US 8,554,859 B2
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`
`
`12
`
`INPUT
`APPARATUS
`
`/- 16
`
`OUTPUT
`APPARATUS
`
`8
`
`MEMORY
`
`60- ROUINE
`
`FIG.2
`
`104
`160
`
`DEVICE
`
`º `s
`"-º
`
`60
`DEVICE R.
`
`62
`
`FIG 3
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`Page 4 of 14
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2013
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`Sheet 3 of 7
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`US 8,554,859 B2
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`tº
`
`72
`
`?—38
`66
`74 × Hi Honey, how was your day? / ?.78
``-2 Brufoll lorry emborrossed º front of
`everybody 2.'º-70 & 68
`tº "Whoi d'ºrºlº-58
`?º
`74–3 Yeah, but | go him back lo?er with a korole chop!
`2:44 pm
`56–5-
`good for You º 's
`\!.
`68 80
`
`72
`
`FIG.4
`
`
`
`
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your day?
`K Bruiol, Lorry embarrassed me in front of
`76
`everybody.
`}
`Whqi (, Jerk!
`2”
`K Yeoh, but I got him back later with a korole chop
`2:44 pm
`good for you
`
`68
`º Hey, won to go out ionight?
`
`Page 5 of 14
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2013
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`US 8,554,859 B2
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your doy?
`K Bruid?! Lorry embarrassed me in front of
`everybody.
`Hide Menu
`> Whqi (, Jerk!
`Find
`K Yeoh, but I got him back aler wi?h select
`84-2:44 pm
`000 for you
`Cledr conversdijon
`y 92—4:56 pm
`9
`View Conidc? Lisi
`}>
`insert Time?%
`Hey, won; to go out tonight?
`End Conversation
`X-
`K. Sure, sounds fun.
`> Great, I'll pick you up in on hour.
`< Con't wait TU
`68
`
`FIG.6a
`
`
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your day?
`K Bruid?. Larry embarrossed me in front of
`everybody.
`> Whqi (, Jerk!
`K Yeah, but I got him back later wilh a korole chop!
`2:44 pm 84
`> good for you
`4:56 pm --92
`> Hey, won to go out ionight?
`K Sure, sounds fun.
`> Gregl, I'll pick you up in on hour.
`5:04 Pm-95
`
`K Con' Wolis
`
`58
`
`FIG.6b
`
`Page 6 of 14
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2013
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`US 8,554,859 B2
`
`
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your day?
`K Bruid! Lorry embarrassed me in front of
`everybody.
`}
`What q Jerk!
`K Yeoh, but I got him buck lo?er with a kurdle chop!
`> Hey, won to go Oul fonight? --180
`188
`2:44 pm —-184
`2.
`4:56 Pm-192
`K Sure, sounds fun,
`> Great, I'll pick you up in on hour.
`K Can't Woit
`
`FIG 7
`
`Page 7 of 14
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2013
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
`
`US 8,554,859 B2
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your day?
`K Bruiol, Lorry emborrossed me in front of
`everybody.
`> Whol a Jerk!/282
`284 & Yeah, but º back later with a karole chop!
`>>[24 pm)'Hey, won to go out onight? TS-286
`<>{{5 pm º sounds fun-N-29 4
`280
`Great, I'll)pick you up in On hour.
`K Can't wdit 290 \º
`
`
`
`
`
`292
`
`? = 1 \
`
`.
`
`*
`
`FIG. 8a
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your day?
`K Bruid?, Lorry embarrassed me in front of
`everybody.
`}~
`Whdi O Jerk!
`280
`286
`K Yeah, but
`got him)back º 0 koro?e chop!
`Hey, won to go 'out fonight?
`2973/14% ºl Sure, Sounds fun.--294
`> Greqi, I'll)pick º in Gn hour.
`K Can't waii 260
`288
`
`FIG 8b
`
`Page 8 of 14
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2013
`
`Sheet 7 of 7
`
`US 8,554,859 B2
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your day?
`K Bruiol, Lorry embarrossed me in front of
`everybody.
`}
`Whdi q Jerk!
`< Yeah, but I got him back later wi?h o karole chop! (3)
`cg= > - Hey, WOni io go out *-?m?,
`º
`si,
`378
`368
`ure, Sounds fun.
`> Greqi, I'll pick you up in on hour.
`K Con't waii
`
`FIG.9
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your day?
`< Brutal. Larry emborrossed me in froni of
`everybody.
`}~
`Whdi O Jerk!
`K Yeah, but I got him back luler with o karole chop!
`> Hey, won io go out fonight?
`K Sure, sounds fun.
`> Greof, I'll pick you up in on hour.
`cg= < Can'i waii
`LESS THAN ONE MINUTE AGO
`
`468
`
`474
`
`FIG. 1 ()
`
`50
`
`478
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`Page 9 of 14
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`US 8,554,859 B2
`
`1
`HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND
`ASSOCIATED METHOD PROVIDING TIME
`DATA IN A MESSAGING ENVIRONMENT
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applica
`tion No. 13/111,675 filed on May 19, 2011 (now U.S. Pat. No.
`8,301,713) which is a continuation of U.S. patent application
`No. 10/944,925 filed on Sep. 20, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No.
`7,970,925) which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
`Application No. 60/504,379 entitled filed on Sep. 19, 2003,
`all of which are hereby incorporated into the present applica
`tion by reference.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The invention relates generally to handheld electronic
`devices and, more particularly, to a handheld electronic
`device and a method for providing information representative
`of the times of certain communications in a messaging envi
`rOnment.
`2. Background of the Invention
`Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known.
`Examples of such handheld electronic devices include, for
`instance, personal data assistants (PDAs), handheld comput
`ers, two-way pagers, cellular telephones, and the like. Such
`handheld electronic devices are generally intended to be por
`table, and thus are relatively small. Many handheld electronic
`devices also feature wireless communication capability,
`although many such handheld electronic devices are stand
`alone devices that are functional without communication
`with other devices. With advances in technology, handheld
`electronic devices are being configured to include greater
`numbers of features while having relatively smaller form
`factors.
`Electronic devices, including handheld electronic devices,
`are capable of numerous types of communication. One type
`of communication is “messaging”, and one type of messaging
`is “instant messaging” which enables a first device to send a
`message on a more or less instantaneous basis to a second
`device. With most all instant messaging, a given electronic
`device is provided with an interface that outputs the various
`communications that have occurred between the electronic
`device and another electronic device during a messaging
`“conversation”. A sample output on an electronic device that
`is representative of the various communications that have
`occurred during a conversation may be as follows:
`Hi Honey, how was your day?
`<Brutal! Larry embarrassed me in front of everybody.
`What a Jerk!
`<Yeah, but I got him back later with a karate chop! G)
`good for you.
`In this example, incoming messages are indicated by a
`greater than “X” mathematical symbol, and outgoing mes
`sages are indicated by a less than “*” mathematical symbol. If
`the conversation continues quickly, i.e., substantially without
`interruption, the messages do not need a time stamp on them.
`In the environment of a handheld electronic device, it would
`be desirable to avoid unnecessary time stamps and other
`unnecessary output since it occupies too much valuable space
`on the limited display of the handheld electronic device.
`In some messaging circumstances, however, it may be
`desirable for information regarding certain timing aspects of
`conversation to be available to a user. Nevertheless, the lim
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`ited space available on a display of a handheld electronic
`device has made a solution difficult. It thus would be desirable
`to provide an improved handheld electronic device and an
`associated method that provide time data in a messaging
`environment.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`An improved handheld electronic device and an associated
`method are provided in which time data regarding certain
`aspects of a messaging conversation on a handheld electronic
`device are made available to a user. Such time data is pro
`vided, for instance, in situations where an interruption has
`occurred during a messaging conversation. Time data can also
`be provided to a user on demand in certain circumstances.
`Accordingly, an aspect of the invention is to provide an
`improved handheld electronic device and a method in which
`data regarding the times at which certain communications
`have occurred in a messaging environment are made available
`to a user.
`Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved
`handheld electronic device and a method that enables a user to
`be made aware of certain timing aspects of a conversation in
`a messaging environment.
`Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved
`handheld electronic device and a method in which data
`regarding the times at which certain communications have
`occurred are made available to a user while limiting the
`amount of display area that is occupied by such data.
`Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved
`handheld electronic device and a method in which data can be
`provided regarding the elapsed time since a communication.
`Accordingly, an aspect of the invention is to provide an
`improved method of providing an output on at least one of a
`first electronic device and a second electronic device, with the
`first electronic device being adapted to be in electronic com
`munication with a second electronic device. The general
`nature of the method can be stated as including determining
`that a first messaging communication has occurred at a first
`time between the first device and the second device, output
`ting a first indication that is representative of at least a portion
`of the first communication, determining that a predetermined
`period of time has elapsed since the first time substantially
`without further communication between the first device and
`the second device and, responsive to determining that a pre
`determined period of time has elapsed, outputting a first time
`stamp representative of the first time.
`Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved
`method of providing an output on at least one of a first elec
`tronic device and a second electronic device, with the first
`electronic device being adapted to be in electronic commu
`nication with a second electronic device. The general nature
`of the method can be stated as including determining that a
`first messaging communication has occurred at a first time
`between the first device and the second device, outputting a
`first indication that is representative of at least a portion of the
`first communication, detecting a predetermined input and,
`responsive to detecting a predetermined input, outputting a
`first time stamp representative of the first time.
`Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved
`method of providing an output on at least one of a first elec
`tronic device and a second electronic device, with the first
`electronic device being adapted to be in electronic commu
`nication with a second electronic device. The general nature
`of the method can be stated as including determining that a
`first messaging communication has occurred at a first time
`between the first device and the second device, outputting a
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`first indication that is representative of at least a portion of the
`first communication, determining that a first period of time
`has elapsed since the first time substantially without further
`communication between the first device and the second
`device and, responsive to determining that a first period of 5
`time has elapsed, outputting a first time stamp representative
`of the first period of time.
`Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved
`handheld electronic device of a type that is adapted to be in
`electronic communication with another electronic device.
`The general nature of the handheld electronic device can be
`stated as including a processor apparatus, an input apparatus,
`and an output apparatus. The processor apparatus includes a
`processor and a memory and is adapted to receive input from
`the input apparatus and to provide output to the output appa
`ratus. The processor apparatus also is adapted to determine
`that a first messaging communication has occurred at a first
`time between the handheld electronic device and the other
`electronic device. The output apparatus is adapted to output a
`first indication that is representative of at least a portion of the
`first communication. The processor apparatus is adapted to
`determine that a predetermined period of time has elapsed
`since the first time substantially without further communica
`tion between the handheld electronic device and the other
`electronic device. Responsive to a determination that a pre
`determined period of time has elapsed, the output apparatus is
`adapted to output a first time stamp representative of the first
`time.
`
`4
`depicted schematically in FIG. 2. The exemplary handheld
`electronic device 4 includes a housing 8 upon which are
`disposed an input apparatus 12, an output apparatus 16 and a
`processor apparatus 20. The input apparatus 12 includes a
`keypad 24 that can be said to include a plurality of keys 28.
`The output apparatus 16 includes a display 50. The output
`apparatus 16 can additionally include, for instance, additional
`indicators such as lights, and the like, and can additionally
`include an audible output such as a speaker as well as other
`output devices.
`The processor apparatus 20 includes a processor 52 that
`can be, for instance, and without limitation, a microprocessor
`(pup), and it is responsive to inputs from the input apparatus 12
`and provides output signals to the output apparatus 16. The
`processor apparatus 20 further includes a memory 56 that
`includes a routine 60 stored therein. The exemplary routine 60
`is a messaging routine that can provide a messaging capabil
`ity on the device 4. It is understood that the memory 56 likely
`includes a number of other routines that are not expressly
`mentioned herein. As employed herein, the expression “a
`number of and variations thereof shall refer broadly to any
`nonzero quantity including a quantity of one. The processor
`52 interfaces with the memory 56, and the routine 60 is
`executable on the processor 52.
`The device 4 further includes a wireless communication
`system. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the device 4 with the routine
`60 can interface with a messaging service 62 to wirelessly
`provide the messaging capability on the device 4. In the
`depicted exemplary embodiment, the messaging service 62
`provides an instant messaging capability on the device 4 and
`on the other electronic devices having routines that are sub
`scribers to the messaging service 62. The messaging service
`62 is schematically depicted as including a server, although
`the teachings herein are not limited to messaging services that
`employ a server. For instance, the messaging service could,
`for example, provide a point-to-point communication capa
`bility such as is provided with the Bluetooth protocol, or may
`provide some other type of communication capability,
`whether or not wireless.
`FIG. 3 further depicts another device 104 as being a device
`having a routine that is another subscriber to the messaging
`service 62. Specifically, the device 104 is an electronic device
`having a routine 160 thereon which can communicate with
`the messaging service 62 to provide a messaging capability
`on the device 104. While the exemplary devices 4 and 104 are
`depicted as having a wireless connection with the messaging
`service 62, it is understood that either or both of the devices 4
`and 104 may employ a non-wireless communication capabil
`ity and still not depart from the concept of the invention. It is
`further understood that while only the two devices 4 and 104
`are depicted in FIG. 3 as being subscribers to the messaging
`service 62, many more subscribers to the messaging service
`62 may exist but are not expressly depicted in FIG. 3.
`During the course of an electronic conversation, such as
`depicted in FIG. 4 between, for instance, the devices 4 and
`104, a number of messages 68 are communicated between the
`devices 4 and 104. An incoming message 72 received on, for
`instance, the device 4, provides a visual indication of a com
`munication that has been transmitted from, for instance, the
`device 104 to the device 4. As can be seen in FIG. 4, an
`incoming message 72 includes an incoming symbol 66 and an
`incoming text portion 70. In the exemplary output depicted
`herein, the incoming symbol 66 is a mathematical greater
`than “” symbol. The text portion 70 is an exemplary linguis
`tic output that could be of numerous types offorms, such as in
`
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`A full understanding of the invention can be gained from
`the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments
`when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
`which:
`FIG. 1 is an exemplary top plan view of a handheld elec
`tronic device in accordance with the invention which can be
`used in conjunction with an improved method in accordance
`with the invention;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the handheld electronic
`device of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the handheld electronic
`device of FIG. 1 and another device in a messaging environ
`ment;
`FIG. 4 is an exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 5 is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 6a is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 6b is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 7 is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 8a is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 8b is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 9 is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention; and
`FIG. 10 is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention.
`Similar numerals refer to similar parts to the specification.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`An improved handheld electronic device 4 in accordance
`with the invention is indicated generally in FIG. 1 and is
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`different languages, and also can include, for instance, sym
`bols and the like that need not necessarily be a part of any
`particular language.
`An outgoing message 76 is depicted as including an out
`going symbol 74, and an outgoing text portion 78. In the
`exemplary output depicted herein, the outgoing symbol 74 is
`a mathematical less than “*” symbol. The text portion 78 is an
`exemplary linguistic output that could be of numerous types
`of forms.
`As can be further seen from FIG. 4, the exemplary conver
`sation depicted therein includes a plurality of incoming mes
`sages 72 and a plurality of outgoing messages 76 that are
`transmitted between the devices 4 and 104 at a conversational
`speed, i.e., at a speed in which back-to-back communications
`between the devices 4 and 104 occur without a meaningful
`delay therebetween. Due to the conversational speed of the
`back-to-back communications, the messages 68 do not
`include an indication of the times at which such messages 68
`were transmitted, it being assumed as a general matter that in
`such circumstances the specific time at which a given mes
`20
`sage within such a conversation occurred may not be of sig
`nificance to a user.
`At a certain point in the exemplary conversation, though,
`an exemplary message 68 which, for example, may be an
`outgoing message 76, may also become a non-responded-to
`message 80, meaning that subsequent to its transmission sub
`stantially no additional communication occurs between the
`device 4 and 104 within a predetermined duration of time.
`More specifically, as the conversation transpires, the back-to
`back incoming messages 72 and outgoing messages 76 are
`displayed adjacent one another. However, after the expiration
`of a predetermined duration of time after the transmission of
`a message 68, for instance ten minutes, in which substantially
`no additional communication occurs between the device 4
`and 104, the message 68 is determined in accordance with the
`invention to be a non-responded-to message 80, and respon
`sive to such determination a first time stamp 84 is output
`adjacent the non-responded-to message 80. For instance, if
`the non-responded-to message 80 was transmitted at 2:44
`PM, and if substantially no additional communication
`between the device 4 and 104 occurs between 2:44 PM and
`2:54 PM, at 2:54 PM the first time stamp 84 “2:44 pm” is
`output to provide to the users of the devices 4 and 104 an
`indication that the conversation was interrupted at 2:44 PM.
`Such selective outputting of the first time stamp 84 generally
`only in response to a message 68 of some significance, such as
`the terminal message of a conversation, saves space on the
`display 50. It is noted that the display of the first time stamp
`84 typically will occur on both the device 4 and the device
`104.
`It is understood, however, that the time duration of ten
`minutes is completely exemplary and that the time duration
`could be set at any duration. It is also understood that the first
`time stamp 84 can be output in response to the occurrence of
`additional and/or other predetermined events. Moreover, it is
`noted that the predetermined time duration may be variable
`depending upon the characteristics of the conversation. For
`instance, if messages are being exchanged on a more infre
`quent basis, such as every nine minutes, the predetermined
`duration of time after which the first time stamp 84 is output
`may be adjusted to be twenty minutes, for example.
`By way of further example, and as is depicted generally in
`FIG. 5, another message 68 may subsequently be communi
`cated between the devices 4 and 104. Since the message 68
`corresponds with a resumption of communication between
`65
`the devices 4 and 104 after a period of interruption, the mes
`sage 68 is determined to be a resumption message 88, and a
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`60
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`second time stamp 92 is output adjacent the resumption mes
`sage 88. A user thus can determine from the output on the
`display 50 the period of time during which the conversation
`was suspended, i.e., the time between transmission of the
`non-responded-to message 80 and transmission of the
`resumption message 88. Selective outputting of the second
`time stamp 92 saves space on the display 50. In this depicted
`example, the first time stamp 84 is disposed, for example,
`adjacent the non-responded-to message 80, and the second
`time stamp 92 is disposed, for example, adjacent the resump
`tion message 88. It is also noted that the second time stamp 92
`is disposed, for example, between the non-responded-to mes
`sage 80 and the resumption message 88.
`As the conversation continues after transmission of the
`resumption message 88, one of the users of the devices 4 and
`104 may determine that a time stamp would desirably be
`displayed in association with a message 68, such as if the user
`wished to emphasize to himselfor herself, or to the other user,
`the time at which the message 68 was transmitted. If such a
`time stamp is desired, the user may activate a user interface
`96, such as the exemplary user interface 96 of FIG. 6a, which
`can manually cause the output of an inserted time stamp 98
`adjacent the message 68, as in FIG. 6b. As mentioned above,
`the inserted time stamp 98 can be made to appear on both the
`device 4 and the device 104, and it is also noted that, if
`desired, the inserted time stamp 98 could be made to appear
`on only one or the other of the devices 4 and 104.
`As can be seen in FIG. 7, the output could provide a
`non-responded-to message 180 and a resumption message
`188, with a first time stamp 184 being disposed adjacent the
`non-responded-to message 180, and with a second time stamp
`192 being disposed adjacent the resumption message 188.
`However, in the exemplary output of FIG. 7 the first time
`stamp 184 and the second time stamp 192 are disposed adja
`cent one another and are both disposed between the non
`responded-to message 180 and the resumption message 188.
`Such an exemplary display of the first and second time stamps
`184 and 192 illustrates the gap in the conversation that
`occurred between transmission of the non-responded-to mes
`sage 180 and transmission of the resumption message 188. It
`is noted that the first time stamp 184 and the second time
`stamp 192 may have been generated in a fashion similar to the
`generation of the first time stamp 84 and the second time
`stamp 92.
`As can be seen in FIGS. 8a and 8b, the time stamps can be
`output in other places. For instance, a text portion of a non
`responded-to message 280 may have a beginning 282 and an
`ending 286. Similarly, a text portion of a resumption message
`288 may have a beginning 290 and an ending 294. In accor
`dance with another aspect of the invention, a first time stamp
`284 can be output at either the beginning 282 or the ending
`286 of the text portion of the non-responded-to message 280,
`and in the example of FIG. 8a the exemplary first time stamp
`284 is output at the beginning 282. Also, a second time stamp
`292 can be output at either the beginning 290 or the ending
`294 of the text portion of the resumption message 288, and in
`the example of FIG. 8a the exemplary second time stamp 292
`is output at the beginning 290. Other positioning of the first
`time stamp 284 and the second time stamp 292 are possible
`within the concept of the invention.
`For instance, and as another example, FIG. 8b depicts the
`exemplary first time stamp 284 as being output at the ending
`286 while the exemplary second time stamp 292 is output at
`the beginning 290. FIGS. 8a and 8b depict different exem
`plary ways in which the first and second time stamps 284 and
`292 can be output to provide time data to a user. In FIG. 8a the
`first and second time stamps 284 and 292 are disposed at a
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`US 8,554,859 B2
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`the time stamp 478 might be configured to no longer output a
`relative time such as “fifty-nine minutes ago”, and rather to
`output an absolute time such as “2:54 pm”. Other variations
`can be provided without departing from the concept of the
`invention.
`If it is desired to provide such time stamps that output
`relative times, it might also be desirable to output such time
`stamps in any of the fashions set forth above, and such time
`stamps potentially could be configured to be output without
`first detecting a delay or a break in the “conversation”. For
`instance, the time stamp “less than a minute ago” could be
`displayed immediately upon receiving a message on the
`handheld electronic device 4, if such a configuration is
`desired. In such a configuration, and in order to save space on
`the display 50, the handheld electronic device 4 may be con
`figured to provide such a relative time stamp only for the most
`recently transmitted message. That is, responsive to detecting
`the transmission of a message, the handheld electronic device
`may be configured to substantially immediately output a time
`stamp such as “less than a minute ago.”. After one minute the
`time stamp may be altered to say “one minute ago”, and the
`like. However, upon the transmission of an additional mes
`sage, the time stamp for the prior message can be deleted and
`a new time stamp such as “less than a minute ago” can be
`provided with respect to the new message.
`Such relative time stamps provide to the user an expedited
`understanding of the timing aspects of the message. That is,
`the user can understand an aspect of the time of transmission
`without having to refer to the current time. This advanta
`geously saves effort by the user because it eliminates the
`mental step of determining the current time and subtracting
`therefrom an absolute time displayed by a time stamp to
`determine the elapsed time since transmission of the message.
`The different fashions of selectively providing intelligent
`time data in the form of selectively output time stamps advan
`tageously saves valuable space on the display 50. Moreover,
`such selective outputting of time stamps advantageously
`avoids unnecessary visual clutter on the display 50.
`While specific embodiments of the invention have been
`described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in
`the art that various modifications and alternatives to those
`details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of
`the