Methods And Apparatus For Associating Mapping Functionality And Information In Contact Lists Of Mobile Communication Devices

Abstract

A technique to provide mapping functionality in an address book of a communication device involves displaying a menu list of functions associated with a contact entry of the address book, including a function to display on a map a location of an address listed in the contact entry; receiving an input request to display on a map the location; and displaying a map corresponding to the location, in a display of the communication device.

1 . A method to provide mapping functionality in an address book of a communication device, the method comprising:
 displaying a menu list of functions associated with a contact entry of the address book, including a function to display on a map a location of an address listed in the contact entry;   receiving an input request to display on a map the location; and   displaying a map corresponding to the location, in a display of the communication device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 retrieving map rendering data corresponding to the address; and   using the map rendering data to display the map.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 caching the map rendering data in a memory of the communication device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving a second input request to display on a map the location;   retrieving from the memory the map rendering data; and   using the retrieved map rendering data to display the map.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 retrieving latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to the address;   retrieving map rendering data corresponding to the latitude and longitude coordinates; and   using the map rendering data to display the map.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 caching the map rendering data in a memory of the communication device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the latitude and longitude coordinates are retrieved from a memory of the communication device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the latitude and longitude coordinates are retrieved from a server. 
     
     
         9 . A method to provide mapping functionality in an address book of a communication device, the method comprising:
 displaying a menu list of functions associated with a contact entry of the address book, including a function to map a location of an address listed in the contact entry;   receiving an input request to map the location; and   displaying a map corresponding to the location, in a display of the communication device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 retrieving map rendering data corresponding to the address; and   using the map rendering data to display the map.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 caching the map rendering data in a memory of the communication device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving a second input request to display on a map the location;   retrieving from the memory the map rendering data; and   using the retrieved map rendering data to display the map.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 retrieving latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to the address;   retrieving map rendering data corresponding to the latitude and longitude coordinates; and   using the map rendering data to display the map.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 caching the map rendering data in a memory of the communication device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the latitude and longitude coordinates are retrieved from a memory of the communication device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the latitude and longitude coordinates are retrieved from a server. 
     
     
         17 . A communication device to provide mapping functionality in an address book of a communication device, comprising:
 a display;   a controller, interactive with the display, and configured to:
 display on the display, a menu list of functions associated with a contact entry of the address book, including a function to display on a map a location of an address listed in the contact entry; 
 receive an input request to display on a map the location, and 
 present on the display, a map corresponding to the location. 
   
     
     
         18 . The communication device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 retrieving map rendering data corresponding to the address; and   using the map rendering data to display the map.   
     
     
         19 . The communication device of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 caching the map rendering data in a memory of the communication device.   
     
     
         20 . The communication device of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 receiving a second input request to display on a map the location;   retrieving from the memory the map rendering data; and   using the retrieved map rendering data to display the map.   
     
     
         21 . The communication device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 retrieving latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to the address;   retrieving map rendering data corresponding to the latitude and longitude coordinates; and   using the map rendering data to display the map.   
     
     
         22 . The communication device of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 caching the map rendering data in a memory of the communication device.   
     
     
         23 . The communication device of  claim 21 , wherein the latitude and longitude coordinates are retrieved from a memory of the communication device. 
     
     
         24 . The communication device of  claim 21 , wherein the latitude and longitude coordinates are retrieved from a server. 
     
     
         25 . A communication device to provide mapping functionality in an address book of a communication device, comprising:
 a display;   a controller, interactive with the display, and configured to:
 display on the display, a menu list of functions associated with a contact entry of the address book, including a function to map a location of an address listed in the contact entry; 
 receive an input request to map the location, and present on the display, a map corresponding to the location. 
   
     
     
         26 . The communication device of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 retrieving map rendering data corresponding to the address; and   using the map rendering data to display the map.   
     
     
         27 . The communication device of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 caching the map rendering data in a memory of the communication device.   
     
     
         28 . The communication device of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 receiving a second input request to display on a map the location;   retrieving from the memory the map rendering data; and   using the retrieved map rendering data to display the map.   
     
     
         29 . The communication device of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 retrieving latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to the address;   retrieving map rendering data corresponding to the latitude and longitude coordinates; and   using the map rendering data to display the map.   
     
     
         30 . The communication device of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 caching the map rendering data.