Handheld electronic device including cross application use of phone related inputs, and associated method

Abstract

An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method provide added convenience for the user by enabling the user to quickly and easily initiate telephone related functions from applications other than the device's phone and address book applications using a dedicated phone related key. The device includes a plurality of use states and each one of the use states has an associated function that is to be initiated upon depression of the phone related key. When the phone related key is depressed, the current use state is determined and the function that is associated with the current use state is executed.

1 . A method implemented by a processor of a handheld electronic device, comprising:
 activating an application other than an address book application or a phone application;   displaying, in the application, a phone number related to a contact;   receiving selection of the phone number;   detecting initiation of a phone related function;   activating the phone application;   placing a call to the phone number; and   displaying information identifying the contact.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information identifying the contact comprises a name of the contact. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information identifying the contact comprises the phone number. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a category associated with the phone number. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying an indication that the contact is being called. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying an indication that the phone number is being called. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application comprises: a messaging application, an email application, an SMS application, an MMS application, a browser application, a memo application, a calendar application, or a task application. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application displays the information related to the contact in a hyperlink. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application is a messaging application and the information related to the contact is displayed in a body of a message. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting initiation of an end function;   displaying an indication that the call is disconnected; and   returning to the application.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contact is listed in a contact entry of the address book application. 
     
     
         12 . A handheld electronic device, comprising:
 a display;   an input apparatus;   a processor in electronic communication with the display and the input apparatus, and configured to:
 activate an application other than an address book application or a phone application; 
 display in the application, a phone number related to a contact; 
 receive selection of the phone number; 
 detect initiation of a phone related function; 
 activate the phone application; 
 place a call to the phone number; and 
 display information identifying the contact. 
   
     
     
         13 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the information identifying the contact comprises a name of the contact. 
     
     
         14 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the information identifying the contact comprises the phone number. 
     
     
         15 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to display a category associated with the phone number. 
     
     
         16 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to display an indication that the contact is being called. 
     
     
         17 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to display an indication that the phone number is being called. 
     
     
         18 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the application comprises: a messaging application, an email application, an SMS application, an MMS application, a browser application, a memo application, a calendar application, or a task application. 
     
     
         19 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the processor displays in the application the information related to the contact in a hyperlink. 
     
     
         20 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the application is a messaging application and the information related to the contact is displayed in a body of a message. 
     
     
         21 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 detect initiation of an end function;   display an indication that the call is disconnected; and   return to the application.   
     
     
         22 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the contact is listed in a contact entry of the address book application.