Method of interacting with an electronic device while the display screen is deactivated

1. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a display screen coupled to the processor;

an input device coupled to the processor;

a communication subsystem coupled to the processor for communication over a wireless network;

a light emitting diode (LED) coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the handheld electronic device to:

initiate a locked state on the handheld electronic device;

deactivate the display screen;

flash the LED a number of times in dependence on a number of new events in response to receiving a predetermined input from the input device while the handheld electronic device is in the locked state and while the display screen remains deactivated.

2. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the handheld electronic device to:

re-activate the display screen in response to receiving input other than one of a plurality of predetermined inputs when the handheld electronic device is in the locked state; and

display a prompt on the display screen for entry of a passcode to unlock the handheld electronic device.

3. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one LED is a multi-color LED or a plurality of LEDs, the plurality of LEDs comprising LEDs of more than one color.

4. The handheld electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one LED is flashed in a first color when one or more new events of a first type have occurred, and the at least one LED is flashed in a second colour when one or more new events of a second type have occurred.

5. The handheld electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the new events of the first type are new electronic messages and the new events of the second type are upcoming calendar events scheduled to occur within a predetermined duration from receiving the predetermined input.

6. The handheld electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one LED is flashed a number of times in dependence on a number of new events of the respective type.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one LED is flashed in a first color when one or more new electronic messages have been received, and wherein the at least one LED is flashed in a second colour when no new electronic messages have been received.

8. The handheld electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one LED is flashed in the first color a number of times in dependence on a number of new electronic messages which have been received.

9. The handheld electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one LED is flashed in a first color when one or more calendar events are scheduled to occur within a predetermined duration from receiving the predetermined input, and the at least one LED is flashed in a second colour when no new calendar events are scheduled to occur within the predetermined duration from receiving the predetermined input.

10. The handheld electronic device of claim 3 , wherein each type of new event is associated with a respective application, wherein each type of new event has a corresponding predetermined input for triggering the flashing of the at least one LED, the at least one LED being flashed the number of times in a color associated with the respective type of new event in response to receiving the corresponding predetermined input.

11. The handheld electronic device of claim 3 , wherein each type of new event is associated with a different type of a new event, wherein each type of new event has a corresponding predetermined input for triggering the flashing of the at least one LED, the at least one LED being flashed the number of times in a color associated with the respective type of new event in response to receiving the corresponding predetermined input.

12. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the new event types include receipt of a new electronic message and a calendar event scheduled to occur within a predetermined duration from receiving the predetermined input.

13. A method of interacting with a handheld electronic device, the handheld electronic device comprising a processor, a display screen, input device coupled to the processor, communication subsystem for communication over a wireless network, and light emitting diode (LED) each coupled to the processor, the method comprising:

initiating a locked state on the handheld electronic device;

deactivating the display screen; and

flashing the LED a number of times in dependence on a number of new events in response to receiving a predetermined input from the input device while the handheld electronic device is in the locked state and while the display screen remains deactivated.

14. A non-transitory machine readable medium having tangibly stored thereon executable instructions for execution by a processor of a handheld electronic device, the handheld electronic device comprising a processor, a display screen, input device coupled to the processor, communication subsystem for communication over a wireless network, and light emitting diode (LED) each coupled to the processor, when executed by the processor of the electronic device, cause the handheld electronic device to:

initiate a locked state on the handheld electronic device;

deactivate the display screen;

flash the LED a number of times in dependence on a number of new events in response to receiving a predetermined input from the input device while the handheld electronic device is in the locked state and while the display screen remains deactivated.

15. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a display screen coupled to the processor;

an input device coupled to the processor;

a communication subsystem coupled to the processor for communication over a wireless network;

at least one light emitting diode (LED) coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the handheld electronic device to:

deactivate the display screen; and

flash the at least one LED a number of times in dependence on a number of new events in response to receiving a predetermined input from the input device while the display screen remains deactivated.

16. A method of interacting with a handheld electronic device, the handheld electronic device comprising a processor, a display screen, input device coupled to the processor, communication subsystem for communication over a wireless network, and at least one light emitting diode (LED) each coupled to the processor, the method comprising:

deactivating the display screen; and

flashing the at least one LED a number of times in dependence on a number of new events in response to receiving a predetermined input from the input device while the display screen remains deactivated.

17. A non-transitory machine readable medium having tangibly stored thereon executable instructions for execution by a processor of a handheld electronic device, the handheld electronic device comprising a processor, a display screen, input device coupled to the processor, communication subsystem for communication over a wireless network, and at least one light emitting diode (LED) each coupled to the processor, when executed by the processor of the electronic device, cause the handheld electronic device to:

deactivate the display screen;

flash the at least one LED a number of times in dependence on a number of new events in response to receiving a predetermined input from the input device while the display screen remains deactivated.