Multiple-stage interface control of a mobile electronic device

Abstract

An electronic device, such as a mobile communication device, and a method are provided for multiple-stage interface control of the device. The device is provided with a homescreen display, which includes a plurality of panels. The panels include at least one panel that is a fullscreen view of a first application executing on the device. This first application can be a messaging application, and the fullscreen view can be a unified inbox view for a plurality of different message types. The panels also include at least one launch panel having a number of graphical user interface elements, such as icons, representing access points to a corresponding application on the device.

1 . A method implemented by an electronic device, the method comprising:
 displaying a plurality of panels of a homescreen of the electronic device,   the plurality of panels comprising a fullscreen view for a messaging application executing on the electronic device and at least one launch panel comprising a plurality of graphical user interface elements, each of the plurality of graphical user interface elements being associated with a corresponding application entry point.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fullscreen view comprises a message listing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fullscreen view comprises a message viewing region for displaying content of at least one message. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the fullscreen view further comprises a message viewing region for displaying content of at least one message selected from the message listing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fullscreen view further comprises a reply input field for receiving reply message content for a selected message. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving input content in the reply input field;   constructing a reply message comprising the received reply message content for the selected message; and   transmitting the reply message.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the messaging application is a unified message box application. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the unified message box application comprises messages for a plurality of message formats, a plurality of messaging services, or a plurality of both message formats and messaging services. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein all of the plurality of panels are sequentially navigable using one type of navigation command. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the corresponding application entry points is actuatable to invoke the messaging application. 
     
     
         11 . An electronic device, including:
 a display;   at least one processor, the at least one processor being configured to enable:
 displaying, on the display, a plurality of panels of a homescreen, 
 the plurality of panels comprising a fullscreen view for a messaging application executing on the electronic device and at least one launch panel comprising a plurality of graphical user interface elements, each of the plurality of graphical user interface elements being associated with a corresponding application entry point. 
   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the fullscreen view comprises a message listing. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the fullscreen view comprises a message viewing region for displaying content of at least one message. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the fullscreen view further comprises a message viewing region for displaying content of at least one message selected from the message listing. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the fullscreen view further comprises a reply input field for receiving reply message content for a selected message. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to enable:
 receiving input content in the reply input field via an input subsystem;   constructing a reply message comprising the received reply message content for the selected message; and   initiating transmission of the reply message.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the messaging application is a unified message box application. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the unified message box application comprises messages for a plurality of message formats, a plurality of messaging services, or a plurality of both message formats and messaging services. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein all of the plurality of panels are sequentially navigable using one type of navigation command. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein one of the corresponding application entry points is actuatable to invoke the messaging application. 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory electronic device-readable medium bearing code which, when executed by at least one processor of an electronic device, causes the electronic device to implement the method of:
 displaying, a plurality of panels of a homescreen of the electronic device,   the plurality of panels comprising a fullscreen view for a messaging application executing on the electronic device and at least one launch panel comprising a plurality of graphical user interface elements, each of the plurality of graphical user interface elements being associated with a corresponding application entry point.