Methods And Apparatus For Automatically Grouping User-Specific Information In A Mobile Station

Abstract

Techniques in a mobile device for use in grouping user-specific information items in an electronic mail (e-mail) message are disclosed. The mobile device displays a draft e-mail message for a user. In response to detecting a trigger signal, the mobile device adds user-specific information items to the e-mail message by inserting a user information file in the e-mail message. The mobile device produces the user information file by reading a first user-specific information item associated with a first application, where the first user-specific information item is for identifying or contacting the user via the first application, and storing the first user-specific information item in the user information file. The mobile device further reads a second user-specific information item associated with a second application, where the second user-specific information item is for identifying or contacting the user via the second application, and stores the second user-specific information item in the user information file.

1 . A method in a mobile communication device, comprising:
 displaying a draft electronic mail (e-mail) message;   in response to detecting a trigger signal, adding user-specific information items to the draft e-mail message by inserting a user information file in the draft e-mail message;   wherein the user information file is produced by:
 reading a first user-specific information item associated with a first application of the mobile device, the first user-specific information item being for identifying or contacting the user via the first application; 
 storing the first user-specific information item in the user information file; 
 reading a second user-specific information item associated with a second application of the mobile device, the second user-specific information item being for identifying or contacting the user via the second application; and 
 storing the second user-specific information item in the user information file. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user information file is further produced by:
 reading a third user-specific information item associated with a third application of the mobile device, the third user-specific information item being for identifying or contacting the user via the third application; and   storing the third user-specific information item in the user information file.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the first and the second user-specific information items comprises one of the following items: a user name associated with an end user of the mobile device; a telephone number of the mobile device; an e-mail address associated with an e-mail communication application of the mobile device; a Personal Identification Number (PIN) of the mobile device; and an address associated with the end user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user-specific information item comprises a telephone number, and the second user-specific information item comprises an e-mail address. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each one of the first, second, and third user-specific information items comprises one of the following items: a user name associated with an end user of the mobile device; a telephone number of the mobile device; an e-mail address associated with an e-mail communication application of the mobile device; a personal identification number (PIN) of the mobile device; and an address associated with the end user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user information file is produced by the mobile device's automatic grouping of the first and the second user-specific information items in the user information file in response to detecting the trigger signal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending the e-mail message to one or more recipients through a wireless communication network.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger signal comprises detecting that the first or the second user-specific information item has been updated. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the trigger signal comprises detecting an expiration of a timer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the trigger signal comprises detecting a user input request. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the trigger signal comprises detecting an insertion of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or Removable User Identify Module (R-UIM) in the mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer storage medium;   computer instructions stored on the computer storage medium;   the computer instructions being executable by a controller or processor of the mobile communication device for:
 displaying a draft electronic mail (e-mail) message; 
 in response to detecting a trigger signal, adding user-specific information items to the draft e-mail message by inserting a user information file in the draft e-mail message; 
 wherein the user information file is produced by:
 reading a first user-specific information item associated with a first application of the mobile device, the first user-specific information item being for identifying or contacting the user via the first application; 
 storing the first user-specific information item in the user information file; 
 reading a second user-specific information item associated with a second application of the mobile device, the second user-specific information item being for identifying or contacting the user via the second application; and 
 storing the second user-specific information item in the user information file. 
 
   
     
     
         13 . A mobile communication device, comprising:
 a wireless transceiver;   a user interface which includes a display;   a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and the user interface;   the processor being configured to group user-specific information items in an electronic mail (e-mail) message by:
 displaying a draft electronic mail (e-mail) message in the display; 
 in response to detecting a trigger signal, adding user-specific information items to the draft e-mail message by inserting a user information file in the draft e-mail message; 
 wherein the user information file is produced by:
 reading a first user-specific information item associated with a first application of the mobile device, the first user-specific information item being for identifying or contacting the user via the first application; 
 storing the first user-specific information item in the user information file; 
 reading a second user-specific information item associated with a second application of the mobile device, the second user-specific information item being for identifying or contacting the user via the second application; and 
 storing the second user-specific information item in the user information file. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein each one of the first and the second user-specific information items comprises one of the following items: a user name associated with an end user of the mobile device; a telephone number of the mobile device; an e-mail address associated with an e-mail communication application of the mobile device; a Personal Identification Number (PIN) of the mobile device; and an address associated with the end user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein the first user-specific information item comprises a telephone number, and the second user-specific information item comprises an e-mail address. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to produce the user information file by:
 reading a third user-specific information item associated with a third application of the mobile device, the third user-specific information item being for identifying or contacting the user via the third application; and   storing the third user-specific information item in the user information file.   
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 16 , wherein each one of the first, second, and third user-specific information items comprises one of the following items: a user name associated with an end user of the mobile device; a telephone number of the mobile device; an e-mail address associated with an e-mail communication application of the mobile device; a personal identification number (PIN) of the mobile device; and an address associated with the end user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to send, via the wireless transceiver, the e-mail message to one or more recipients through a wireless communication network. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect the trigger signal by detecting that the first or the second user-specific information item has been updated. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect the trigger signal by detecting an expiration of a timer. 
     
     
         21 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect the trigger signal by detecting a user input request. 
     
     
         22 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein the first user-specific information item comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identification (IMSI) and the memory comprises at least a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or Removable User Identity Module (R-UIM). 
     
     
         23 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect the trigger signal by detecting an insertion of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or Removable User Identify Module (R-UIM) in the mobile device.