Granted Patent B2

US 8,538,483 · App. 11/617,937 · Granted Sep 17, 2013

Abstract

Claims (51)

1. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

direct storage of a plurality of contacts and messages received or transmitted by the apparatus, wherein each contact comprises a data record including at least one identifier relating to a particular individual or entity, and wherein the contacts are storable independently from receipt or transmission of the messages; and

associate at least some of the messages received by the apparatus from a particular contact or transmitted by the apparatus to the particular contact with the particular previously stored contact, such that both the data record of a selected contact and the associated messages are accessible to a user through selection of one or more corresponding contacts,

wherein selection of the corresponding contact causes the apparatus to visually represent on a display a single interface that includes a first tab and a second tab, the first tab providing access to a list of the stored messages received by the apparatus from the selected contact or transmitted by the apparatus to the selected contact and the second tab providing access to the at least one identifier relating to the selected contact within the single interface wherein the at least one identifier is selected from the group consisting of a first name, a last name, a home phone number, a work phone number, a fax number, and an e-mail address.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to associate a message and a contact if both the message and the contact include a common identifier.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a display, wherein the processor is responsive to a user input selecting one of the contacts, and wherein the processor is configured to cause an image to be generated on the display that visually represents the at least one identifier of the contact selected.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to associate messages transmitted to a plurality of recipients with each contact that includes an identifier that corresponds to any of the recipients.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to associate messages that are not associated with a corresponding contact with other messages that are not associated with any corresponding contact.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to cause an image to be generated on the display that visually represents the messages associated with a selected contact.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to associate messages selected from the group consisting of an audio message, a text message, an instant text message, and a multimedia message with corresponding contacts.

8. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

drive a display to present an image that includes a visual representation of a plurality of contacts and messages with at least some of the messages being displayed in association with a corresponding previously stored contact, wherein each contact comprises a data record including at least one identifier relating to a particular individual or entity, wherein the plurality of contacts are storable independently from a receipt or transmission of the messages, and wherein the association is such that both the data record of a selected contact and the associated messages are accessible to a user through selection of one or more corresponding contacts, wherein selection of the corresponding contact causes the apparatus to visually represent on the display a single interface that includes a first tab and a second tab, the first tab providing access to a list of the stored messages received by the apparatus from the selected contact or transmitted by the apparatus to the selected contact and the second tab providing access to the at least one identifier relating to the selected contact within the single interface wherein the at least one identifier is selected from the group consisting of a first name, a last name, a home phone number, a work phone number, a fax number, and an e-mail address.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processing element is configured to drive the display to present an image that includes a visual representation of the at least one identifier based on an input received selecting the contact.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to drive the display to present an image that includes a visual representation of the messages received from or sent to a particular contact based on an input received selecting the contact.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to drive the display to present an image that includes a visual representation of one of the messages based on an input received selecting the message.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to drive the display to present an image that includes a visual representation of the contacts from which messages were received over a predefined time period.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to drive the display to present an image that includes a visual representation of the contacts to which messages were sent over a predefined time period.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to drive the display to present an image that includes a visual representation of the messages that are not associated with any corresponding contact.

15. A method comprising:

directing access of a plurality of previously stored contacts;

directing access of a plurality of messages that have been transmitted or received, wherein each contact comprises a data record including at least one identifier relating to a particular individual or entity, and wherein the plurality of contacts are storable independently from receipt or transmission of the messages; and

associating at least some of the messages received by the apparatus from a particular contact or transmitted by the apparatus to the particular contact with the particular previously stored contact, such that both the data record of a selected contact and the associated messages are accessible to a user through selection of one or more corresponding contacts, wherein selection of the corresponding contact causes a single interface to be visually represented that includes a first tab and a second tab, the first tab providing access to a list of the stored messages received by the apparatus from the selected contact or transmitted by the apparatus to the selected contact and the second tab providing access to the at least one identifier relating to the selected contact within the single interface wherein the at least one identifier is selected from the group consisting of a first name, a last name, a home phone number, a work phone number, a fax number, and an e-mail address.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein associating at least some of the messages comprises associating a message and a contact if both the message and the contact include a common identifier.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising directing storage of the at least one identifier of each contact.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising causing the display of an image that visually represents at least one of the identifiers or the messages associated with a selected contact.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein associating at least some of the messages comprises associating messages transmitted to a plurality of recipients with each contact that includes an identifier that corresponds to any of the recipients.

20. A method comprising:

directing access of a plurality of previously stored contacts;

directing access of a plurality of messages that have been transmitted or received, wherein each contact comprises a data record including at least one identifier relating to a particular individual or entity, and wherein the plurality of contacts is storable independently from receipt or transmission of the messages; and

directing display of an image that includes a visual representation of at least some of the plurality of contacts and messages with at least some of the messages being displayed in association with a corresponding contact, such that both the data record of a selected contact and the associated messages are accessible to a user through selection of one or more corresponding contacts,

wherein selection of the corresponding contact causes a single interface to be visually represented that includes a first tab and a second tab, the first tab providing access to a list of the stored messages received by the apparatus from the selected contact or transmitted by the apparatus to the selected contact and the second tab providing access to the at least one identifier relating to the selected contact within the single interface wherein the at least one identifier is selected from the group consisting of a first name, a last name, a home phone number, a work phone number, a fax number, and an e-mail address.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein directing the display of an image further comprises directing display of an image that includes a visual representation of the at least one identifier.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein directing the display of an image further comprises directing display of an image that includes a visual representation of the messages received from or sent to a particular contact.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein directing the display of an image further comprises directing display of an image that includes a visual representation of the contacts from which messages were received over a predefined time period.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein directing the display of an image further comprises directing display of an image that includes a visual representation of the contacts to which messages were sent over a predefined time period.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein directing the display of an image further comprises directing display of an image that includes a visual representation of the messages that are not associated with any corresponding contact.

26. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for directing access of a plurality of previously stored contacts and a plurality of messages that have been transmitted or received, wherein each contact comprises a data record including at least one identifier relating to a particular individual or entity, and wherein the plurality of contacts is storable independently from receipt or transmission of the messages; and

a second executable portion for associating at least some of the messages received by the apparatus from a particular contact or transmitted by the apparatus to the particular contact with the particular previously stored contact, such that both the data record of a selected contact and the associated messages are accessible to a user through selection of one or more corresponding contacts,

wherein selection of the corresponding contact causes a single interface to be visually represented that includes a first tab and a second tab, the first tab providing access to a list of the stored messages received by the apparatus from the selected contact or transmitted by the apparatus to the selected contact and the second tab providing access to the at least one identifier relating to the selected contact within the single interface wherein the at least one identifier is selected from the group consisting of a first name, a last name, a home phone number, a work phone number, a fax number, and an e-mail address.

27. The computer program product of claim 26 , wherein the second executable portion is further configured for associating a message and a contact if both the message and the contact include a common identifier.

28. The computer program product of claim 26 further comprising a third executable portion for directing storage the at least one identifier of each contact.

29. The computer program product of claim 26 , wherein the second executable portion is further configured for associating messages transmitted to a plurality of recipients with each contact that includes an identifier that corresponds to any of the recipients.

30. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for directing access of a plurality of previously stored contacts and a plurality of messages that have been transmitted or received, wherein each contact comprises a data record including at least one identifier relating to a particular individual or entity, and wherein the plurality of contacts is storable independently from receipt or transmission of the messages; and

a second executable portion for directing display of an image that includes a visual representation of at least some of the plurality of contacts and messages with at least some of the messages being displayed in association with a corresponding contact, such that both the data record and the associated messages are accessible to a user through selection of one or more corresponding contacts, wherein selection of the corresponding contact causes a single interface to be visually represented that includes a first tab and a second tab, the first tab providing access to a list of the stored messages received by the apparatus from the selected contact or transmitted by the apparatus to the selected contact [list of the stored messages associated with the selected contact and the second tab providing access to the at least one identifier relating to the selected contact within the single interface wherein the at least one identifier is selected from the group consisting of a first name, a last name, a home phone number, a work phone number, a fax number, and an e-mail address.

31. The computer program product of claim 30 , wherein the second executable portion is further configured for displaying an image that includes a visual representation of the at least one identifier.

32. The computer program product of claim 30 , wherein the second executable portion is further configured for directing display of an image that includes a visual representation of the messages received from or sent to a particular contact.

33. The computer program product of claim 30 , wherein the second executable portion is further configured for directing display of an image that includes a visual representation of the contacts from which messages were received over a predefined time period.

34. The computer program product of claim 30 , wherein the second executable portion is further configured for directing display of an image that includes a visual representation of the contacts to which messages were sent over a predefined time period.

35. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to cause an image to be generated on the display that visually represents a summary of the contacts stored in the memory, wherein, upon a user's selection of one of the displayed contacts, the processor is configured to cause an image to be generated on the display that visually represents the first tab and the second tab, and wherein, upon a user's selection of the first tab, the first tab is active and the second tab is inactive and the processor is configured to cause an image to be generated on the display that visually represents a list of the stored messages associated with the selected contact and, upon a user's selection of the second tab, the first tab is inactive and the second tab is active and the processor is configured to cause an image to be generated on the display that visually represents the at least one identifier of the selected contact.

Assignments (11)