Methods and apparatus for line selection in a communication device

Abstract

Embodiments of an apparatus and methods for selecting a communication line from two or more lines on a communication device are described herein. The communication device comprises a display module, an input module, a line selection module, and a communication module for making a call over a network to a target recipient. In one broad aspect, a determination of which of the communication lines is the communication line associated with the selected one of at least two appointment categories for an appointment is made in the selection of a communication line accessible at the communication device on which an outgoing call may be placed.

1 . A method of placing a call on a communication line selected from at least two communication lines on which outgoing calls are placed using a device, each of the at least two communication lines having a call number associated therewith, the method comprising:
 identifying an appointment record comprising data identifying a target recipient, wherein the appointment record is associated with a selected one of at least two appointment categories, and wherein one of the at least two communication lines is associated with the selected one of at least two appointment categories;   detecting selection of the data identifying the target recipient in the appointment record in a user interface of the device;   upon detecting selection of the data identifying the target recipient in the appointment record, initiating the call to the target recipient and determining which of the at least two communication lines is the communication line associated with the selected one of the at least two appointment categories; and   placing the call to the target recipient on the determined communication line.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing line selection information comprising data identifying, for each of the at least two appointment categories, which communication line of the at least two communication lines is associated with the appointment category.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing a record of the appointment category with which the appointment record is associated, prior to the act of identifying the appointment record.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data identifying the target recipient in the appointment record comprises at least one data item associated with the target recipient selected from a group consisting of a name, an e-mail address, and a phone number. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 highlighting the data identifying the target recipient in the appointment record as a user-selectable link in the user interface of the device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 associating the data identifying the target recipient to a call number for the target recipient, using data contained in an address book, prior to placing the call to the target recipient.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a mobile device. 
     
     
         8 . A device configured to provide access to at least two communication lines on which outgoing calls are placed, each of the at least two communication lines having a call number associated therewith, the device comprising:
 an input module coupled to a calendar module, the input module programmed to identify an appointment record comprising data identifying a target recipient, wherein the appointment record is associated with a selected one of at least two appointment categories, and wherein one of the at least two communication lines is associated with the selected one of at least two appointment categories;
 the input module further programmed to detect selection of the data identifying the target recipient in the appointment record in a user interface of the device, and to initiate a call to the target recipient upon detecting selection of the data identifying the target recipient in the appointment record; 
   a line selection module programmed to determine, upon detecting the initiation of the call to the target recipient, which of the at least two communication lines is the communication line associated with the selected one of the at least two appointment categories; and   a communication module programmed to place the call to the target recipient on the determined communication line.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the line selection module is further programmed to:
 store line selection information comprising data identifying, for each of the at least two appointment categories, which communication line of the at least two communication lines is associated with the appointment category.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the calendar module is further programmed to:
 store a record of the appointment category with which the appointment record is associated prior to the act of identifying the appointment record.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the data identifying the target recipient in the appointment record comprises at least one data item associated with the target recipient selected from a group consisting of a name, an e-mail address, and a phone number. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising an address book module, and wherein the communication module is further programmed to:
 associate the data identifying the target recipient to a call number for the target recipient, using data contained in an address book managed by the address book module, prior to placing the call to the target recipient.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device is a mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . A computer-readable medium upon which instructions are stored for performing, on a device, a method of placing a call on a communication line selected from at least two communication lines on which outgoing calls are placed using a device, each of the at least two communication lines having a call number associated therewith, the method comprising:
 identifying an appointment record comprising data identifying a target recipient, wherein the appointment record is associated with a selected one of at least two appointment categories, and wherein one of the at least two communication lines is associated with the selected one of at least two appointment categories;   detecting selection of the data identifying the target recipient in the appointment record in a user interface of the device;   upon detecting selection of the data identifying the target recipient in the appointment record, initiating the call to the target recipient and determining which of the at least two communication lines is the communication line associated with the selected one of the at least two appointment categories; and   placing the call to the target recipient on the determined communication line.   
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises:
 storing line selection information comprising data identifying, for each of the at least two appointment categories, which communication line of the at least two communication lines is associated with the appointment category.   
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises:
 storing a record of the appointment category with which the appointment record is associated prior to the act of identifying the appointment record.   
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein the data identifying the target recipient in the appointment record comprises at least one data item associated with the target recipient selected from a group consisting of a name, an e-mail address, and a phone number. 
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises:
 highlighting the data identifying the target recipient in the appointment record as a user-selectable link in the user interface of the device.   
     
     
         19 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises:
 associating the data identifying the target recipient to a call number for the target recipient, using data contained in an address book, prior to placing the call to the target recipient.   
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein the device is a mobile device.