Recent contacts and items

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system of displaying items that gives the user the ability to easily access recently accessed items. The recent items list includes both incoming and outgoing correspondences that are attempted to be matched to the corresponding contact stored in the device. The user can access the recent contact list and reply using any communication method available. For instance, the user could reply by phone, email, send an instant messenger message, send an SMS message, and the like. The recent items list may also include items such as communications, contacts, folder, files, messages, applications, and the like. A coalesced list of the recently used items is shown so that an item is only shown once in the recent list. Any matched item in the recent list may also be shown in the alphabetical list that appears below the recent list.

1 . A method for displaying recent items, comprising:
 generating a recent items list comprising recent items such that recent items associated with a same contact are coalesced within the recent items list;   displaying the recent items list within a graphical user interface;   displaying a graphical indicator near a display of each of the recent items within the recent items list that shows a type of recent item and when the recent item is a communication, displaying either an outgoing indicator or an incoming indicator;   displaying a pinned indictor near any recent item within the recent items list that is designated as being a pinned recent item; and   in response to selection of one of the recent items within the recent items list, displaying a menu that includes different options depending on a type of recent item selected.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining when a recent item within the list of recent items is highlighted and in response to the recent item being highlighted displaying a time of a most recent communication for a communication of the recent item. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the recent items list within the graphical user interface comprises displaying pinned items before other recent items within the recent items list. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the recent items list within the graphical user interface comprises displaying recent calls before standard contacts. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in response to the selection of one of the recent items within the recent items list, determining when the selection is of recent item that is a recent call and displaying the menu that includes options to save the call and remove the call. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in response to the selection of one of the recent items within the recent items list, determining when the selection is of recent item that is a recent call and displaying the menu that includes options to create a new contact, display a call history, and pin the selected recent item. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in response to the selection of one of the recent items within the recent items list, determining when the selection is of recent item that is a recent call and displaying the menu that includes an option to send an SMS message. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in response to the selection of one of the recent items within the recent items list, determining when the selection is of recent item that is a recent call and displaying the menu that includes different options to contact a user associated with the recent call. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a selection to turn off a display of the recent items that are calls. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for displaying recent items, comprising:
 a communications connection configured to receive a communication;   a display configured to display a recent items list; and   a recent items application configured to perform actions, including:   generating a recent items list comprising recent items such that recent items associated with a same contact are coalesced within the recent items list;   displaying the recent items list within a graphical user interface on the display;   displaying a graphical indicator near a display of each of the recent items within the recent items list that shows a type of recent item and when the recent item is a communication, displaying either an outgoing indicator or an incoming indicator;   displaying a pinned indictor near any recent item within the recent items list that is designated as being a pinned recent item; and   in response to selection of one of the recent items within the recent items list, displaying a menu that includes different options depending on a type of recent item selected.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising determining when a recent item within the list of recent items is highlighted and in response to the recent item being highlighted displaying a time of a most recent communication for a communication of the recent item. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein displaying the recent items list within the graphical user interface comprises displaying the recent items in an order depending on whether an item is a pinned item, a recent call and a standard contact. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein in response to the selection of one of the recent items within the recent items list, determining when the selection is of recent item that is a recent call and displaying the menu that includes options to save the call, remove the call and create a new contact. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein in response to the selection of one of the recent items within the recent items list, determining when the selection is of recent item that is a recent call and displaying the menu that includes an option to send an SMS message. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein in response to the selection of one of the recent items within the recent items list, determining when the selection is of recent item that is a recent call and displaying the menu that includes different options to contact a user associated with the recent call. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable medium for displaying recent items having computer executable instructions which when executed on a processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
 generating a recent items list comprising recent items such that recent items associated with a same contact are coalesced within the recent items list;   displaying the recent items list within a graphical user interface;   displaying a graphical indicator near a display of each of the recent items within the recent items list that shows a type of recent item and when the recent item is a communication, displaying either an outgoing indicator or an incoming indicator; and   displaying a pinned indictor near pinned recent items.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising determining when a recent item within the list of recent items is highlighted and in response to the recent item being highlighted displaying a time of a most recent communication for a communication of the recent item. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein displaying the recent items list within the graphical user interface comprises displaying the recent items in an order depending on whether an item is a pinned item, a recent call and a standard contact. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein in response to a selection of one of the recent items within the recent items list, determining when the selection is of recent item that is a recent call and displaying the menu that includes options to save the call, remove the call and create a new contact. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein in response to a selection of one of the recent items within the recent items list, determining when the selection is of recent item that is a recent call and displaying the menu that includes an option to send an SMS message.