Handheld Electronic Device and Associated Method Providing Time Data in a Messaging Environment
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorsGerhard D. Klassen, Christopher R. Wormald, Lawrence E. Kuhl
Life of this patent
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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 provided, 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.
Claims24
A method of displaying an instant message conversation on an electronic device, the instant message conversation comprising a plurality of instant messages exchanged between the electronic device and a second electronic device, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of incoming instant messages from the second electronic device, each incoming instant message having an incoming textual portion;
- transmitting a plurality of outgoing instant messages to the second electronic device, each outgoing instant message having an outgoing textual portion;
- associating each instant message with a corresponding time stamp;
- displaying the incoming textual portion of at least one of the incoming instant messages along with a respective time stamp, the incoming textual portion of each displayed incoming instant message being horizontally aligned at a same first horizontal position;
- and
- displaying the outgoing textual portion of at least one of the outgoing instant messages along with a respective time stamp, the outgoing textual portion of each displayed outgoing instant message being horizontally aligned at a same second horizontal position, the second horizontal position being different from the first horizontal position.
An electronic device for displaying an instant message conversation, the instant message conversation comprising a plurality of instant messages exchanged between the electronic device and a second electronic device, the electronic device comprising:
- a display;
- a memory;
- and
- a processor electronically coupled with the display and the memory, the processor configured to:
- receive a plurality of incoming instant messages from the second electronic device, each incoming instant message having an incoming textual portion;
- transmit a plurality of outgoing instant messages to the second electronic device, each outgoing instant message having an outgoing textual portion;
- associate each instant message with a corresponding time stamp;
- displaying the incoming textual portion of at least one of the incoming instant messages along with a respective time stamp, the incoming textual portion of each displayed incoming instant message being horizontally aligned at a same first horizontal position;
- and
- display the outgoing textual portion of at least one of the outgoing instant messages along with a respective time stamp, the outgoing textual portion of each displayed outgoing instant message being horizontally aligned at a same second horizontal position, the second horizontal position being different from the first horizontal position.
A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions embedded thereon for execution by a processor of an electronic device for displaying an instant message conversation upon a display of the electronic device, the instant message conversation comprising a plurality of instant messages exchanged between the electronic device and a second electronic device, such that when executed, the processor:
- receives a plurality of incoming instant messages from the second electronic device, each incoming instant message having an incoming textual portion;
- transmits a plurality of outgoing instant messages to the second electronic device, each outgoing instant message having an outgoing textual portion;
- associates each instant message with a corresponding time stamp;
- displays the incoming textual portion of at least one of the incoming instant messages along with a respective time stamp, the incoming textual portion of each displayed incoming instant message being horizontally aligned at a same first horizontal position;
- and
- displays the outgoing textual portion of at least one of the outgoing instant messages along with a respective time stamp, the outgoing textual portion of each displayed outgoing instant message being horizontally aligned at a same second horizontal position, the second horizontal position being different from the first horizontal position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.