Advanced voice and data operations in a mobile data communication device
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 comprising:
receiving, by a mobile communication device over a wireless connection, a data item;
displaying the data item on a viewing screen of the mobile communication device using a data viewer;
while displaying the data item on the viewing screen, receiving, by the mobile communication device, user input identifying a position within the data item and selecting an option to make a call;
responsive to the user input, detecting, by the mobile communication device, a phone number in the data item, the detecting including scanning characters near the identified position to parse the data item to identify a complete phone number; and
initiating, by the mobile communication device, a call to the detected phone number.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a menu of communication options, wherein the user input selecting the option to make a call corresponds to a selection of an option from the displayed menu.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the detection of the phone number in the data item includes scanning characters in either direction of the identified position.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the detection of the phone number in the data item includes determining whether the identified position corresponds to an address field of the data item.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the detection of the phone number in the data item includes determining whether the identified position corresponds to a phone character.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising determining whether characters adjacent the phone character form the complete phone number.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying the complete phone number is complete based on syntax.
8. A mobile communication device comprising one or more processors configured to:
receive, by the mobile communication device over a wireless connection, a data item;
display, using a data viewer, the data item on a viewing screen of the mobile communication device;
while displaying the data item on the viewing screen, receive, by the mobile communication device, user input identifying a position within the data item and selecting an option to make a call;
responsive to the user input, detect, by the mobile communication device, a phone number in the data item, the detection including scanning characters near the identified position to parse the data item to identify a complete phone number; and
initiate, by the mobile communication device, a call to the detected phone number.
9. The mobile communication device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to display a menu of communication options, and wherein the user input selecting the option to make a call corresponds to a selection of an option from the displayed menu.
10. The mobile communication device of claim 8 wherein the detection of the phone number in the data item includes scanning characters in either direction of the identified position.
11. The mobile communication device of claim 8 wherein the detection of the phone number in the data item includes determining whether the identified position corresponds to an address field of the data item.
12. The mobile communication device of claim 8 wherein the detection of the phone number in the data item includes determining whether the identified position corresponds to a phone character.
13. The mobile communication device of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine whether characters adjacent the phone character form the complete phone number.
14. The mobile communication device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to identify the complete phone number is complete based on syntax.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a mobile communication device, cause the mobile communication device to:
receive, by a mobile communication device over a wireless connection, a data item;
display, using a data viewer, the data item on a viewing screen of the mobile communication device;
while displaying the data item on the viewing screen, receive, by the mobile communication device, user input identifying a position within the data item and selecting an option to make a call;
responsive to the user input, detect, by the mobile communication device, a phone number in the data item, the detection including scanning characters near the identified position to parse the data item to identify a complete phone number; and
initiate, by the mobile communication device, a call to the detected phone number.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the mobile communication device, further cause the mobile communication device to:
display a menu of communication options, and wherein the user input selecting the option to make a call corresponds to a selection of an option from the displayed menu.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the detection of the phone number in the data item includes scanning characters in either direction of the identified position.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the detection of the phone number in the data item includes determining whether the identified position corresponds to an address field of the data item.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the detection of the phone number in the data item includes determining whether the identified position corresponds to a phone character.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the mobile communication device, further cause the mobile communication device to:
determine whether characters adjacent the phone character form the complete phone number.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data item includes one of an email message, a voice mail message, a calendar event, a calendar message, a to do item, a to do list, an address book entry, a work item, a memo-pad message, expense report data, a database record, an HTTP page, an XML page, a WML page, an HDML page, or a data message.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data viewer includes one of an e-mail viewer, a calendar viewer, a to do list viewer, a task viewer, an expense report viewer, a database viewer, an Internet browser, or a Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) browser.