# US 8,788,478 B2 · Method for sorting and displaying data on a portable electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,478 B2 - Document ID: US8788478B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/420,806 - Filed: 2012-03-15 - Published: 2012-07-12 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2006-05-15 - Assignees: BlackBerry Limited - Applicants: Nicholas Blommesteijn - Inventors: Nicholas Blommesteijn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788478B2 ## CPC - G06F 16/248: Presentation of query results - G06F 16/29: Geographical information databases - G06F 16/9537: Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries - H04M 1/72457: according to geographic location - H04W 4/022: {with dynamic range variability} - H04W 4/026: {using orientation information, e.g. compass} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method of sorting and displaying data on a portable electronic device includes: determining geographical coordinates of the portable electronic device, providing search criteria to the portable electronic device, performing a search in a database based on the search criteria resulting in a list of database records, determining a search area of the portable electronic device and displaying selected records from the list of database records on a display screen of the portable electronic device. Each of the selected records is located within a search radius, which originates at the geographical coordinates of the portable electronic device, and within the search area, which is determined based on a pointing direction of the portable electronic device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of sorting and displaying data on a portable electronic device comprising: determining geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device; sending a search request to a server to cause said server to perform a search in a database on said server based on search criteria and a radius extending from said geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device; receiving, at said portable electronic device, a plurality of database records from said server; determining a pointing direction of said portable electronic device; determining a search area based on the pointing direction of said portable electronic device; and displaying one or more records from said plurality of database records on a display of said portable electronic device, said one or more database records having geographic coordinates located within said search area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said search area is a sector of a circle that is defined by said search radius. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said search area is a rectangle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pointing direction is a pointing direction of a forward end of said portable electronic device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said search request further includes at least one search parameter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said search parameter is a category of said database records. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein said search parameter is configured to represent at least one of a name, a telephone number, a location category, a type of food, an address, a residence, a business, a medical clinic, a government office, and a landmark. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying comprises displaying said one or more records on a map. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said search request comprises input received at said portable electronic device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said search request comprises said geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, when determining a change in the pointing direction, determining an updated search area based on the changed pointing direction and displaying an updated one or more records from said plurality of database records on said display, said updated one or more database records having geographic coordinates located within said updated search area. ### Claim 12 A method of sorting and displaying data on a portable electronic device comprising: determining geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device; determining a pointing direction of said portable electronic device; calculating a search area based on said pointing direction and a search radius, said search radius extending from said geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device; sending a search request to a server to cause said server to perform a search in a records database on said server based on said search request; receiving, at said portable electronic device, a plurality of records meeting said search request from said server; and displaying one or more records from said plurality of records meeting said search request on a display of said portable electronic device, said one or more records having geographic coordinates located within said search area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said search area is a sector of a circle that is defined by said search radius. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said pointing direction is a pointing direction of a forward end of said portable electronic device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said search request further includes at least one search parameter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said search parameter is a category of said database records. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said search parameter is configured to represent at least one of a name, a telephone number, a location category, a type of food, an address, a residence, a business, a medical clinic, a government office, and a landmark. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the displaying comprises displaying said one or more records on a map. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said search request comprises input received at said portable electronic device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said search request comprises said geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising, when determining a change in the pointing direction, determining an updated search area based on the changed pointing direction and displaying an updated one or more records from said plurality of database records on said display, said updated one or more database records having geographic coordinates located within said updated search area. ### Claim 22 A portable electronic device comprising: positioning system hardware for determining geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device; magnetic sensor hardware for determining a pointing direction of said portable electronic device; a processor for: sending a search request to a server to cause said server to perform a search in a database on said server based on said search request, said search resulting in a plurality of database records; receiving said plurality of database records from said server; and determining a search area based on the pointing direction of said portable electronic device; and a display for displaying one or more records from said plurality of database records, said one or more records having geographic coordinates located within said search area. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said processor is included in said portable electronic device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said search area is a sector of a circle having a radius equal to said search radius and being bisected by said pointing direction. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said pointing direction is a pointing direction of a forward end of said portable electronic device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said search request further includes at least one search parameter. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said search parameter is a category of said records database. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The portable electronic device of claim 26, wherein said search parameter is configured to represent at least one of a name, a telephone number, a location category, a type of food, an address, a residence, a business, a medical clinic, a government office, and a landmark. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The portable electronic device of claim 22 wherein the displaying comprises displaying said one or more records on a map. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The portable electronic device of claim 22, further comprising an input device configured to receive said search request. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) The portable electronic device of claim 22, wherein said search request comprises said geographical coordinates of said portable electronic device. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) The portable electronic device of claim 22, wherein said processor is further configured for, when determining a change in the pointing direction, determining an updated search area based on the changed pointing direction and displaying an updated one or more records from said plurality of database records on said display, said updated one or more database records having geographic coordinates located within said updated search area.