Computing device with improved user interface for applications

Abstract

The present invention offers a snap-shot view which brings together, in one summary window, a limited list of common functions and commonly accessed stored data which itself can be reached directly from the main menu listing some or all applications. This yields many advantages in ease and speed of navigation, particularly on small screen devices.

1 . A mobile telephone comprising a display screen, the mobile telephone being adapted to:
 display a plurality of items on the screen, each item corresponding to an application, the plurality of items arranged in a main view from which, responsive to a user input of a first type selecting any of the plurality of items in the main view, the application corresponding to the selected item is opened;   responsive to a user input of the first type selecting an item corresponding to a contacts application, open the contacts application to display on the screen a list of contacts; and   responsive to a user input of a second type selecting a contact in the displayed list:
 display on the screen one or more contact details corresponding to the selected contact, each of the contact details associated with a corresponding application; and 
 responsive to a user input selecting one of the contact details, initiate a communication using the selected contact detail in the corresponding application. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile telephone is further adapted to:
 receive further user inputs for entry into the initiated communication; and   then, responsive to a user input actuating the communication, send the communication via the selected contact detail.   
     
     
         3 . The mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein the user input of the second type selecting the item comprises a press and hold relating to the first item. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile telephone of  claim 3 , wherein the user input of the first type selecting an item comprises use of a select function of the mobile telephone relating to the item;
 and wherein the user input of the second type selecting the contact comprises a press and hold of the select function of the mobile telephone relating to the contact.   
     
     
         5 . The mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed contact details for the selected contact overlies at least a second contact in the displayed list. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed contact details corresponding to the selected contact comprise one or more of: an email address and a phone number. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile telephone is keyboard-less. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 responsive to a user input of a first type selecting an item corresponding to a contacts application from a plurality of items displayed on a mobile telephone screen, opening the contacts application to display on the screen a list of contacts; and   responsive to a user input of a second type selecting a contact in the displayed list:
 displaying on the screen one or more contact details corresponding to the selected contact, each of the contact details associated with a corresponding application; and 
 responsive to a user input selecting one of the contact details, initiating a communication using the selected contact detail in the corresponding application. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving further user inputs for entry into the initiated communication; and   then, responsive to a user input actuating the communication, sending the communication via the selected contact detail.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the user input of the second type selecting the item comprises a press and hold relating to the first item. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user input of the first type selecting an item comprises use of a select function of the mobile telephone relating to the item;
 and wherein the user input of the second type selecting the contact comprises a press and hold of the select function of the mobile telephone relating to the contact.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the displayed contact details for the selected contact overlies at least a second contact in the displayed list. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the displayed contact details corresponding to the selected contact comprise one or more of: an email address and a phone number. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mobile telephone is keyboard-less. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 displaying, on a screen of a mobile telephone, a main view comprising a plurality of items, each item representing an application;   receiving a first user input of a first type selecting one of the plurality of items from the main view, the selected item representing a first application;   responsive to the first user input, opening the first application to display a list of data elements stored in the mobile telephone;   then receiving a second user input of a second type selecting one of the data elements in the displayed list;   responsive to the second user input, displaying one or more data items corresponding to the selected data element, each data item associated with an application other than the first application; and   responsive to a third user input selecting one of the displayed data items corresponding to the selected data element, initiate a function within the application associated with the selected data item and using the selected data item.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first application is a contacts application;
 wherein the data elements are names of contacts;   wherein the data items are contact details corresponding to the selected data element, the displayed one or more data items comprising one or more of an email address and a phone number; and   wherein the function is initiation of a communication within the application associated with the selected data item.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the user input of the second type selecting the item comprises a press and hold relating to the first item. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the user input of the first type selecting an item comprises use of a select function of the mobile telephone relating to the item;
 and wherein the user input of the second type selecting the contact comprises a press and hold of the select function of the mobile telephone relating to the data item.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the mobile telephone is keyboard-less.