Advanced voice and data operations in a dual-mode mobile data communication device
View Patent ↗A system and method for integrating voice and data operations into a single mobile device capable of simultaneously performing data and voice actions. The mobile device working in a network capable of exchanging both cell phone calls and data items to the mobile device. By wearing an earphone or an ear-bud device the user is capable of dealing with voice conversations while working with data centric information related to the current caller. By providing a data-centric device with voice capabilities there is a new range of features that allow incoming data events to trigger outgoing voice events.
1. A method of processing a received data item in a dual mode mobile communications device (device) having integrated data and voice components, said method comprising:
receiving the data item from a computer associated with the device, the data item being selectively directed to the device;
presenting on said device, a display representative of the data item;
determining if a portion of the displayed data item has been selected;
searching at least one database for contacts related to any selected portion;
determining if a contact is indicated by the searching step; and
initiating a voice call from the device, to an indicated contact in the database, subsequent to the step of presenting the data item.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected portion of the displayed data item is indicated by highlighting.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected portion of the displayed data item is indicated by pointing.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one database is resident on the mobile device.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one database is resident on a computer associated with the mobile device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein searching comprises searching databases on the mobile device and on a computer associated with the mobile device.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying at least some of the contacts found by the search, if any.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the search result contact has been indicated by pointing.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the search result contact has been indicated by highlighting.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data item is received via a computer associated with the mobile device.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data item is an email message.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data item is a calendar appointment.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the search result contact is a telephone number.
14. A mobile device operable to initiate voice calls in response to received data items, comprising:
a receiver for receiving the data items from a computer associated with the mobile device, the computer for selectively directing data items to the mobile device;
a display for presenting representations of received data items
a data component for detecting when a portion of a presented data item has been selected, and for searching at least one database for contacts relating to the selected portion of the data-item display; and
and a voice component for initiating a voice call to a contact found in the database search and indicated subsequent to its presentation on the display.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the mobile device is operable to transmit a message to the computer to control which data items are transmitted to the mobile device.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one database is resident on the computer.
17. A method of initiating a voice call in response to a data item received at a dual mode mobile communications device (device), the method comprising:
presenting a visible display, representative of the data item received at the device;
determining if a user of the device has indicated at least one contact number visible in the displayed data item;
searching at least one database for contacts related to any indicated contact number;
verifying whether any indicated contact number is not valid by reference to any contacts found in the database search; and
initiating a voice call from the device, to at least one indicated contact number that is not invalid, subsequent to the verifying step.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one contact number is a plurality of contact numbers, and wherein voice calls are initiated to each contact number that is not invalid.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising generating a user query if any of the indicated contacts are found to be invalid.