Method and device to simplify message composition
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorsDaryl J. Martin, James Godfrey, John F. Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and device to simplify message reply composition on a communications device, using a partially transparent overlay to allow a user to freely scroll and move around to other sections of a message or message chain while still being able to see and edit the reply being composed. When the reply is scrolled such that the composition field is not visible on the display screen, the device displays the overlay when the user enters text or on user request. The user may then type text into the overlay while viewing the underlying portion of the reply message, such as previous messages in the string.
Claims21
A method of composing a reply to a message on a communications device, comprising:
- displaying a scrollable message composition window showing the reply, wherein the reply includes a primary area and a secondary area, and wherein the secondary area includes a copy of the message;
- detecting a first event when the message composition window has been scrolled such that the primary area of the reply is not visible;
- displaying an overlay in response to the first event, the overlay including an input area for the input of elements;
- detecting a second event;
- and
- in response to the second event, removing the overlay and inserting the elements entered in the input area of the overlay into the primary area of the reply.
A device configured for communications with a network, the device comprising;
- a display;
- a communication subsystem for sending and receiving messages over the network;
- a memory;
- an user input device;
- and
- a processor for controlling the operation of the display, wherein the processor is configured to display a scrollable message composition window showing a reply to a message, wherein the reply includes a primary area and a secondary area, and wherein the secondary area includes a copy of the message;
- detect a first event when the message composition window has been scrolled such that the primary area of the reply is not visible;
- display an overlay in response to the first event, the overlay including an input area for the input of elements;
- detect a second event;
- and
- in response to the second event, remove the overlay and insert the elements entered in the input area of the overlay into the primary area of the reply.
A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having encoded thereon computer executable instructions for composing a reply to a message, said computer executable instructions comprising:
- instructions to display a scrollable message composition window showing the reply, wherein the reply includes a primary area and a secondary area, and wherein the secondary area includes a copy of the message;
- instructions to detect a first event when the message composition window has been scrolled such that the primary area of the reply is not visible;
- instructions to display an overlay in response to the first event, the overlay including an input area for the input of elements;
- instructions to detect a second event;
- and
- instructions to remove the overlay and insert the elements entered in the input area of the overlay into the primary area of the reply in response to the second event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.