WO2002075716A1

WO2002075716A1 - System and methods for a dialer function

Info

Publication number: WO2002075716A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/007685
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Lee
Original assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc.
Priority date: 2001-03-16
Filing date: 2002-03-15
Publication date: 2002-09-26

Abstract

A portable device (100) comprises a display (102) and a dialer application. The dialer application comprises a main screen (700) and is configured to display the main screen (700) on the display (102) whenever the dialer application is initiated. The dialer application further comprises a dialer screen (702), which is configured to display the dialer screen (702) on the display (102) when a number is to be dialed.

Description

S P E C I F I C A T I O N

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A DIALER FUNCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to portable computing, but more specifically to systems and methods for implementing a dialer application in a portable computing device.

2. Background

Portable computing devices, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), are becoming standard accessories for many people, especially businessmen and women. Portable computing devices are designed to be small and light weight. They are also designed to provide the user with a plurality of applications that are convenient for the user to have with them wherever the user goes. For example, portable computing devices often have an address book feature that allows the user to input and store contact information for a plurality of contacts. They also often include an application for maintaining an event schedule. Therefore, a user can enter their business contacts, and business meetings, for example, and access them wherever the user may be.

A key advantage of portable computing device is their portability, which allows the user to access important information, such as their address book or schedule, wherever they may be. One problem, however, is that while a user may be able to access their address book from wherever they are, this does not necessarily mean the user will have access to a telephone in order to contact someone whose information is stored in the address book. As a result, many users are forced to also carry a mobile phone. Thus, some of the advantage of having a portable computing device is negated by the need to carry, and keep track of, multiple portable devices. One solution to this problem is to combine the functions of a portable computing device and a mobile phone into one device. This can be done by incorporating a wireless transceiver into the portable computing device, or by interfacing the portable computing device to an external wireless transceiver. Alternatively, the portable computing device functions and features can be incorporated into a mobile phone.

This type of integration is already taking place. But one key problem still exists: In a portable computing device, how do you implement a dialer function? In mobile phones and regular telephones, the dialer function is implemented through a keypad. But incorporating a dialer keypad into a portable computing device can be problematic because there is tremendous pressure on manufacturers of such devices to make the devices as small and inexpensive as possible. Unfortunately, incorporating a dialer keypad can be costly and can make the device cumbersome. An alternative solution to incorporating a dialer keypad in a portable computing device is to incorporate a dialer application into the software installed on the portable computing device. Many portable computing devices have display screens that incorporate touch screen technology. In other words, a portable computing device with touch screen technology can sense when and where a user has touched the screen. A dialer application displays a simulated dialer keypad on the display screen and uses touch screen technology so that the simulated keypad actually functions the same way as an actual keypad would. Thus, a dialer application can reduce the cost and size of portable computing devices that include wireless transceivers or mobile phones that incorporate personal computing device functionality.

Unfortunately, a dialer application is not as intuitive to use as a dialer keypad. Moreover, a dialer application can include further features and functions that require a user to be familiar with the operation of the dialer keypad. Therefore, a dialer application needs to be as intuitive and convenient to use as possible. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The systems and methods for a dialer application provide a dialer application that is intuitive and convenient. This is accomplished by providing the user with a main screen that contains information relating to the status of any ongoing communications, or in the event that there are no ongoing communications, information related to the last incoming or outgoing communication. When the user wants to access the dialer screen in order to dial a number, the user simple presses a certain button on the portable computing device and the dialer screen pops up on the portable computing device display screen.

In one aspect of the invention, a portable device comprises a display and a dialer application. The dialer application comprises a main screen and is configured to display the main screen on the display whenever the dialer application is initiated. The dialer application further comprises a dialer screen, which is configured to display the dialer screen on the display when a number is to be dialed.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the systems and methods for a dialer application will be apparent upon examination of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The forgoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 illustrates and exemplary portable computing device;

Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary scheduler screen that can be displayed by the portable computing device of figure 1 ;

Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary address book screen that can be displayed by the portable computing device of figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary launch pad screen that can be displayed by the portable computing device of figure 1 ;

Figure 5 illustrate an example main screen for a dialer application configured to run on the portable computing device of figure lin accordance with the invention; Figure 6 illustrate an example vendor screen for a dialer application configured to run on the portable computing device of figure lin accordance with the invention;

Figure 7 illustrate an example dialer screen for a dialer application configured to run on the portable computing device of figure lin accordance with the invention;

Figure 8 illustrate another example of a main screen for a dialer application configured to run on the portable computing device of figure lin accordance with the invention;

Figure 9 illustrate an example communication log screen for a dialer application configured to run on the portable computing device of figure lin accordance with the invention;

Figure 10 illustrate an example quick dial screen for a dialer application configured to run on the portable computing device of figure lin accordance with the invention; Figure 11 illustrate an example phone book screen for a dialer application configured to run on the portable computing device of figure lin accordance with the invention; and

Figure 12 illustrate another example of a phone book screen for a dialer application configured to run on the portable computing device of figure lin accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 1. A Portable Computing Device Introduction

While the following examples relate generally to a Palm™ PDA, this is by way of example only. The systems and methods for a dialer application can work equally well on other portable computing devices such as a Visor™, or other hand held computer. The systems and methods for a dialer application can also work on a mobile phone or other mobile communications device. Further, while the examples discussed in relation to the Palm™ device necessarily are configured to work with the Palm™ Operating System (Palm OS™), the systems and methods for a dialer application can also work with whatever OS is required by a particular portable computing device, such as Windows CE™ for example.

Figure 1 illustrates a Palm™ device 100 such as the Palm V™. Device 100 comprises a display screen 102, which must be large enough to display a sufficient amount of data to a user of device 100. Unlike a typical mobile phone, PDAs and other portable computing devices typically have larger screens in order to adequately display larger amounts of data. Device 100 also includes several buttons 104 and 106.

In this example, buttons 104 have dedicated PDA functions. For example, one button 104a can be dedicated for a scheduler application. In this case, pushing button 104a will cause device 100 to initiate a scheduler application included in device 100. The scheduler application will then display a scheduler screen on display 102. An example scheduler screen 200 is shown in figure 2. Once the scheduler application is running and the scheduler screen is displayed, a user can input events by day and time. The user may then be able to view their scheduled events by day, week, and/or month, and may be able to move forward and backward through the days, weeks, and/or months.

Buttons 104b, 104c, and 104d can then be dedicated to an "address book" function, a "to-do list" function, and to a "memo" function, respectively. Therefore, pressing one of these buttons will cause device 100 to initiate an appropriate PDA function. The appropriate functions will then display an appropriate application screen on display 102. For example, pressing button 104b can cause an address book application to display an address book screen, such as address book screen 300 illustrated in figure 3. Once in an application, such as the address book application, the user can scroll through entries using button 106. Unlike buttons 104, button 106 has two active parts, the upper part and the lower part. Therefore, when the user presses the upper half of button 106, the user can scroll up through the address list. When the user presses on the lower half of button 106, the user can scroll down through the address list. Therefore, in general, button 106 acts as an up/down button and is used for scrolling through information displayed on display 102. In relation to the systems and methods for a dialer function, up/down button 106 has a special function that will be described below.

Once in an application, such as the address book application, the user can input information in several ways. First, some portable computing devices come equipped with small keyboards, or come equipped with small keyboards that can be interfaced with the portable computing device through an external interface. The user can use such a keyboard to input information in the same manner as one would use a Personal Computer (PC) keyboard. Second, many portable computing devices, including device 100, can be interface to a PC. Therefore, the user can interface the portable computing device to the PC in order to sync the information stored in the portable computing device with information stored on the PC.

A third method for inputting information into a portable computing device is illustrated by device 100. In addition to display 102, device 100 includes lower display section 116. Within section 116, is text recognition screen 110. In turn, text recognition screen is split into two halves. One half 112 is used for letter recognition, and other half 114 is used for number recognition. Therefore, a user can input information into device 100 by using text recognition screen 110.

In addition to text recognition screen 110, section 116 also includes several touch screen buttons 108. In this example, touch screen buttons 108 are dedicated to certain functions, similar to the way push buttons 104 are dedicated to certain functions. For example, one of these touch screen buttons can be used to initiate a launch pad application. The launch pad application will then display a launch pad screen on display 102, such as launch pad screen 400 illustrated in figure 4.

2. The Dialer Application

As can be seen, launch pad screen 400 includes a number of icons 402. Like section 116, display screen 102 also incorporates touch screen technology. Therefore, icons 402 are active buttons that the user can press to activate the application associated with a particular icon 402. Some icons 402 are for the same applications as push buttons 104. But several icons 402 are for different applications, such as a calculator application for example. Further, one icon 402a is associated with a dialer application. By pressing icon 402a, the user can launch the dialer application in order to send and receive communications.

When the user presses icon 402a, the dialer application is initiated and displays a main screen 500, as illustrated in figure 5, on display 102. Main screen 500 comprises several useful parts. First, in the upper right hand corner, there are several icons 502 that relay status to the user relating to the communication service being used by device 100. For example, these icons 502 can be used to indicate: (a) whether device 100 presently registered in a communication service provider's network, (b) how strong a signal is being received from the network, (c) whether device 100 has accessed communication service from its own service provider or whether it is roaming in another service provider's network, (d) whether device 100 is presently engaged in a communication, (e) whether the user has received a message through the network, and (f) the battery status for device 100.

A second part of main screen 500 is vendor icon 504. Vendor icon 504 can be used, for example, to indicate the provider of service for device 100. Moreover, using the touch screen technology built into display screen 102, vendor icon 504 can be an active button as well. Therefore, when a user presses icon 504, the dialer application can display a vendor specific screen 600, such as the one illustrated in figure 6. If the vendor icon is associated with a service provider, then vendor specific screen 600 can include information related to the service, such as the phone number for device 100, the service plan associated with device 100, and billing information. Billing information can include the monthly rate, the per minute rate, any free minutes, and the number of minutes used for the present month or billing period. Pressing vendor icon 602 included in screen 600, can cause the dialer application to take the user back to main screen 500. A third part of main screen 500 is application icons 506. Icons 506 are used to launch applications included in dialer application 506. Therefore, by pressing one of these icons, the associated application will be initiated. In the example shown, one icon 506 is associated with a phone book application, one icon 506 is associated with a quick dial application, and one icon 506 is associated with a communication log application. These applications will be discussed in more detail below.

A fourth part of main screen 500 is text bar 508. Text bar 508 can include date and time information as shown, however, text bar 508 can also include communication status information for presently occurring communications engaged in by device 100. Importantly, text bar 508 is always present so that a user can initiate other applications, either included in the dialer application or not, and still be aware of the status of an ongoing communication. This aspect of the systems and methods for a dialer application will become more apparent in the discussion that follows. Main screen 500 also includes a communication send/receive button 510 and a display area 512. Display area 512 is also used by the dialer application to display information related to presently occurring communications as well as for any missed incoming communications. As illustrated, when device 100 is not engaged in a communication, the dialer application displays the last dialed number 514. If, at this point, the user presses communication send/receive button 510 in main screen 500, the dialer application will dial the last dialed number 514 and initiate a communication. Communication send/receive button 510 can also be used to answer an incoming communication.

As can be seen in figure 5, the dialer application is displaying the message "Up/Down Buttons for Dialpad" in display area 512. "Dialpad" refers to dialer screen 700, illustrated in figure 7, used by the dialer application to allow a user to dial phone numbers. Dialer screen 700 is displayed when a user presses the up part of up/down button 106. Dialer screen 700 includes a simulated keypad 702 that is designed to work, in combination with the touch screen technology built into display screen 102, in the same fashion as a normal telephone keypad.

In addition, however, a user can use text recognition screen 110 to input telephone numbers. For example, the user can write numbers on the right hand side 114 of text recognition screen 110 and the dialer application will recognize the numbers and display them just above simulated keypad 702 in display area 710. Alternatively, a user can input letters on the left hand side 112 of text recognition screen 110. The dialer application will recognize the letters and display them in display area 710. But the dialer application will also associate the letters with the appropriate number, as per the keypads in simulated keypad 702, so that when the communication is placed the appropriate number is dialed. To place the communication, the user presses communication send/receive button 708.

Recognition of numbers and text can also be combined to generate numbers. For example, a user could write, on text recognition screen 110, the number 1-800-CALL-ATT™ and the dialer application will generate the correct number.

Dialer screen 700 also includes a clear button 706, which will clear any numbers or letters that have been input, and back button 704, which will clear the last number or letter input.

Once the user has input the number to be dialed and presses communication send/receive button 708, the dialer application will exit dialer screen 700 and return to main screen 500. The appearance of main screen 500 will have changed somewhat now that a communication has been initiated.

The change in appearance is illustrated by screen 800 in figure 8. First, in display area 812, the number dialed (806) is displayed as well as an associated name 814 if this information is available to the dialer application.

The name would be available to the dialer application if, for example, the number dialed (806) is in the address book included in device 100. Second, the status (808) of the communication is also displayed in display area 812. As can be seen, when the communication is placed the dialer application can display the status message "calling". When device 100 is actually connected with the number dialed (806), the dialer application can display a status message indicating that the communication is active. The dialer application can also display how long the communication has been active for in display area 812.

A mute button 802 and an end button 804 can also be included in screen 800 after a communication is initiated. Mute button 802 will allow a user to hear incoming information, but prevent device 100 from transmitting any information to the other party. End button 804 is used to end the communication.

The information included in text bar 508 can also be updated when a communication is initiated as illustrated by text bar 810 in screen 800. For example, in figure 8, the dialer application is causing the message "calling Joe Bob" to be displayed in text bar 810. Importantly, if the status message is too long to be seen in text bar 810, then the status message will be scrolled back and forth so that the user can view the entire message. The status message included in text bar 810 is actually duplicative of the information contained in display area 812; however, the real usefulness of text bar 810 is that it is displayed regardless of which screen is being displayed by the dialer application. This will become clear in the discussion of the other applications that can be included in the dialer application.

It should also be noted that similar changes in display 500 and text bar 508, which occur when an outgoing communication is initiated, also occur when an incoming communication is received by device 100.

3. The Other Applications

As mentioned, the dialer application can include other applications that can be accessed by pressing an icon 506 in main screen 500. On example of an application that can be included in the dialer application is a communication log application. When such an application is included in the dialer application, and the appropriate icon 506 is pressed, a communication log screen 900, shown in figure 9, can be displayed. Communication log screen 900 includes a display area 902 in which previous incoming, outgoing, and missed communications are displayed. Device 100 memory constraints will limit how many communications can be logged. Therefore, the communication log application can be limited to a certain number of previous communications and when the limit is reached, a new log entry will cause the oldest log entry to be dropped out of the log. A user can use up/down button 106 to scroll through the log displayed in screen 900. If the user finds a log entry that the user would like to establish a communication with, then the user scrolls to that entry and presses communication send/receive button 906. Pressing button 906 causes a communication to be initiated with the selected log entry. For example, if the user knows that there was a missed incoming communication, then the user can go to communication log screen 900, scroll to the last missed communication log entry, and press the communication send/receive button 906. The user is then connected to the number associated with the missed communication.

Communication log screen 900 can also include filter categories 910. For example, screen 900 can include filter categories ALL, for all communications, IN, for incoming communications only, OUT, for outgoing communications only, and MISS, for missed communications only. Selecting one of these categories causes the dialer application to filter the communications log by the appropriate criterion. Thus, in the example above, a user wishing to return a missed incoming communication could go to screen 900, select the MISS category, and then select the last missed communication.

When a communication is selected in the log, the phone number associated with the communication can be displayed in display area 914.

Communication log screen 900 also includes icons 904 for the other applications included in the dialer application; however, instead of a communication log icon, which is not needed because the communication log screen 900 is being displayed, there is an EXIT icon 912 that can take the user back to main screen 500.

Communication screen 900 also includes a text bar 908, which will display the same information as displayed in text bar 810. Thus, if the user is checking the call log while a communication is ongoing, then the user can stay apprised of the status of the ongoing communication.

Another example application that can be included in the dialer application is a quick dial application. When such an application is included in the dialer application, and the appropriate icon 506 is pressed, a quick dial screen 1000, shown in figure 10, can be displayed. Quick dial screen 1000 includes a display area that displays contact information for contacts that are included in a user's quick dial list. For example, the user may want to include his family, important coworkers, and frequently called friends in a quick dial list. When the user wants to reach one of these people, the user can then press the appropriate icon 506, scroll through the contacts displayed in display area 1002 using up/down button 106, and then select the appropriate contact. The user can press the communication send/receive button 1010 in order to connect to the selected contact. When the contact is selected, the number associated with the contact can be displayed in display area 1014. Quick dial screen 1000 also includes filter categories 1012 that when selected, cause the dialer program to filter the contacts in the quick dial list accordingly. In the example shown in figure 10, the categories filter the contacts alphabetically. But other categories can be implemented, in conjunction with or in alternative to the alphabetical filters, to increase the functionality of the dialer application.

Quick dial screen 1000 also includes icons 1004 for access to other applications and an EXIT icon 1006 for returning to main screen 500. Text bar 1010 is also included to keep the user aware of the status of any ongoing communications. One way that the quick list can be established is for the user to indicate contacts to be included in the quick list when the user is inputting contact information into the address book described above. The address book is the main method for organizing and maintaining the user's contact information database.

Another example application that can be included in the dialer application is a phone book application. When such an application is included in the dialer application, and the appropriate icon 506 is pressed, a phone book screen 1100, shown in figure 11, can be displayed. Screen 1100 includes a display area 1102 that displays contact information for a plurality of contacts. This contact information can, for example, come form the address book described above. A user can enter phone book screen 1100 and scroll through the contacts using up/down button 106. Once the user finds the contact the user is looking for, the user can press the communication send/receive button 1116 in order to initiate a communication with that contact. Further, when the contact is selected, the associated phone number is displayed in display area 118.

In addition, the contact information can be filtered according to several layers of categories. A first category is by phone book and is indicated by field 1106 in screen 1100. For example, when the user is inputting contact information into the address book as described above, the user can specify that the contact information be included in one of several address books. Example address books are a business address book and a personal address book. Moreover, inclusion in the quick list may be specified in this manner as well. Selection field 1106 could then allow the user to select phone books that correspond to the address book organization. A second layer of filtering is illustrated by categories 1104. These categories allow the user to filter the contact information to include all contacts in a given phone book, or to include only those contacts whose name begins with a letter that falls in certain ranges of the alphabet. Such alphabetical categorization can use the first or last name of the contact. A third layer of filtering is illustrated by categories 1108. These categories allow the user to filter the contact information so as to include all numbers associated with the contacts being displayed in display area 1102, or to filter the contact information by a particular type of number. For example, if the user only wanted to see home numbers for the contacts being displayed, then the user would press the home button 1202 as illustrated in figure 12. This will cause the phone book display to be updated to only show those contacts with associated home numbers in display area 1204 of display 1200.

Once the user has scrolled to and selected the appropriate contact, the user can press call send/receive button 1114 in order to initiate a communication with that contact. Whenever a user presses a communication send/receive button, such as button 1114, from an application screen, the user is taken to the main screen and provided information such as described in relation to main screen 800 in figure 8.

There are alternative ways to access the appropriate contact in the phone book application. For example, text recognition screen 116 can be used to navigate the contact information. One method of using the text recognition screen is for the user to start writing the letters of the contacts name on the left hand side 112 of text recognition screen 110. When the user writes the first letter, the dialer application will modify display screen 110 to show only those names that begin with the first letter written by the user. If the user sees the contact the user is looking for, then the user can select it. If the user does not see the right contact, then the user can input a second letter. This will cause the dialer application to only display those contacts that start with the first two letters. This process continues until the user sees and selects the appropriate contact. Phone book screen 1100 also includes application icons 1110 and EXIT icon 1112 as well as text bar 1116. Moreover, phone book screen 1100, as well as any other application screen, can include vendor icon 504 and status icons 502. All of these buttons and icons function in the same manner as similar buttons and functions described above. It should also be noted that the communication send/receive buttons, such as button 1114, can be used to answer an incoming communication from any application screen included in the dialer application. Further, if a communication send/receive button is pressed within such an application screen and no number or contact is selected within that screen, then the dialer application can be configured to dial the last number dialed by the dialer program.

In addition, a text bar, such as text bar 1116, can be displayed on display screen 102 even when an application screen associated with an application other than the dialer application is being displayed. This way, a user can access other PDA applications, such as the memo application, to take down or access information related to an ongoing communication and still maintain awareness of the status of the ongoing communication. This may not work with all portable computing devices and/or portable computing device OSs. For example, displaying the text bar when other applications are active may not be possible in the Palm OS™. But it is possible in other OSs, such as Windows CE™ for example.

Another application that is included in the dialer application by implication from the above descriptions and by necessity in order for those applications to function as described, is an interface application between the application described and the phone book. As explained above, the phone book is an application running within the OS of the portable computing device. Also, as explained, the information in this phone book, or database, is preferably used to provide information to each of the applications described in this section. Often, however, the OS does not allow for the format of the data to be changed or displayed in alternative manners. Thus, in order to display the information as described in relation to the applications of this section, each application must be able to interface to the phone book data base, pull out the required information and then display or filter it as required. All of this must occur without disturbing the underlying structure of the database.

Accordingly, it is the role of the interface application to interface each of the dialer applications with the underlying phone book database. This in turn enables the advanced features of the dialer applications, which makes a dialer function implemented in accordance with the systems and methods described herein easier and more efficient to use than conventional dialer applications. It should be noted that the interface application can be configured as a standalone application or it can be integrated into each dialer application depending on the implementation.

While embodiments and implementations of the systems and methods for a dialer application have been shown and described, it should be apparent that many more embodiments and implementations are within the scope of the systems and methods for a dialer application. Accordingly, the systems and methods for a dialer application are not to be restricted, except in light of the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A portable device, comprising: a display; and a dialer application, the dialer application comprising: a main screen, the dialer application configured to display the main screen on the display whenever the dialer application is initiated, and a dialer screen, the dialer application configured to display the dialer screen on the display when a number is to be dialed.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the dialer screen comprises a plurality of buttons configured to resemble and provide the functionality of a telephone keypad.

3. The portable device of claim 2, wherein the display is a touch screen display, and wherein the dialer application is configured to recognize when one of the plurality of buttons in the dialer screen is pressed so that the dialer screen functions in the same manner as a telephone keypad.

4. The portable device of claim 1 , further comprising a text recognition screen, wherein the dialer application is configured to recognize numbers written on the text recognition screen in order to form a number to be dialed.

5. The portable device of claim 4, wherein the dialer application is configured to recognize letters written on the text recognition screen and to associate them with numbers in order to form a number to be dialed.

6. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising an up/down button, wherein the dialer application is further configured to display the dialer screen on the display when an up part of the up/down button is pressed.

7. The portable device of claim 6, wherein the dialer application is configured to exit the dialer screen and display the main screen when a down part of the up/down button is pressed.

8. A portable device, comprising: a transceiver configured to send and receive communications; a display; and a dialer application, the dialer application comprising: a main screen comprising a call send/receive button and a plurality of icons, the dialer application configured to display the main screen on the display whenever the dialer application is initiated, and a plurality of application screens, each of the plurality of application screens comprising a call send/receive button and each of the plurality of application screens being associated with one of the plurality of icons such that the dialer application can be configured to display each of the plurality of application screens when the associated icon is pressed; the dialer application configured to allow a communication received by the transceiver to be answered from the main screen or from each of the plurality of application screens by pressing the call send/receive button included in each screen.

9. The portable device of claim 8, wherein the dialer application is configured to allow a communication to be initiated in the main screen and in each of the plurality of application screens by pressing the call send/receive button include in each screen.

10. The portable device of claim 9, wherein the dialer application is configured so that a communication is initiated with the last number dialed by the dialer application when the call send/receive button included in the main screen or when one of the call send/receive buttons included in the plurality of application screens is pressed.

11. The portable device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of application screens includes an address book screen.

12. The portable device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of application screens includes a call log screen.

13. The portable device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of application screens includes a quick dial screen.

14. The portable device of claim 8, wherein each of the application screens includes icons configured to access each of the other application screens and an exit icon configured to return to the main screen.

15. The portable device of claim 8, further comprising a vendor screen, wherein the main screen further comprises a vendor icon, and wherein the dialer application is further configured to display the vendor screen when the vendor icon is pressed.

16. The portable device of claim 15, wherein each application screen further comprises a vendor ion configured to access the vendor screen when pressed.

17. The portable device of claim 16, wherein the vendor icon is configured to display information related to communication service provided by a wireless service provider.

18. A portable device, comprising: a display; and a dialer application, the dialer application comprising: a main screen, the dialer application configured to display the main screen on the display whenever the dialer application is initiated, a plurality of application screens, the dialer application configured to display the application screens on the display when required, and a text bar configured to display a status message for the dialer application related to communications engaged in by the portable device, the dialer application configured to display the text bar on the display when displaying the main screen or any of the plurality of applications screens.

19. The portable device of claim 18, wherein the text bar is configured to display the date.

20. The portable device of claim 19, wherein the text bar is configured to display the time.

21. The portable device of claim 18, wherein the text bar is configured to scroll the status message if the status message is too large.

22. A portable device, comprising: a display; a contact information database configured to store a plurality of names and phone numbers; and a phone book application configured to filter, search, and display the names and phone numbers stored in the contact information database on the display.

23. The portable device of claim 22, wherein the phone book application filters the contact information stored in the contact information database by name, and wherein the phone book application is configured to allow the contact information to be searched by name.

24. The portable device of claim 23, wherein the phone book application is configured to filter the contact information into a plurality of categories, and wherein the phone book application is configured to allow the contact information in each category to be searched by name.

25. The portable device of claim 24, wherein the plurality of categories are ranges of the alphabet, and wherein the contact information is filtered by first or last name into one of the plurality of categories.

26. The portable device of claim 22, wherein the phone book application is configured to filter the contact information by type of phone number.

27. The portable device of claim 26, wherein the types of phone numbers include at least one of work, home, mobile, and pager.

28. The portable device of claim 22, wherein phone book application is configured to sort the contact information into a plurality of phone book types.

29. The portable device of claim 28, wherein the plurality of phone book types include at least one of business, personal, and quicklist.

30. The portable device of claim 22, further comprising a text recognition screen, and wherein the phone book application is configured such that the text recognition screen can be used to search the contact information stored in the contact information database.

31. The portable device of claim 28, wherein the phone book application is configured to: recognize a first letter written on the text recognition screen and to display all names in the contact information database starting with the first letter; recognize a second letter written on the text recognition screen and to display all names in the contact information database starting with the first and second letter; and continue to recognize letters and display names in this fashion until only one name is displayed or a name is selected form the names displayed.

32. The portable device of claim 22, wherein the phone book application is configured such that when a name from the contact information is selected, a phone number associated with the name is displayed on the display.

33. The portable device of claim 22, further comprising: a call log database configured to store the name and/or phone number for outgoing communications, incoming communications, and missed communications; and a call log application configured to filter, search, and display the names and/or phone numbers stored in the call log database on the display.