Apparatus and method for configuring the presentation of received messages based on time

Claim 2

A selective call receiver for presenting a plurality of messages to a user, the selective call receiver comprising: receiver means for receiving messages; timing means coupled to the receiver means for recording times that the messages are received; storage means coupled to the timing means and the receiver means for storing the messages and the times corresponding thereto; user actuated control means coupled to the storage means for user selectably defining a previous time range; and presenting means coupled to the user actuated control means and the storage means for presenting a standby information display that is automatically generated in response to the previous time range, wherein the standby information display includes icons representative of messages received during the previous time range.

Claim 3

In a selective call receiver having a display, a method for configuring the presentation of received messages, comprising the steps of: (a) user selectably defining, without resetting the selective call receiver, a period of time during which information about messages received during the period of time will be visually presented; (b) receiving the messages during the period of time; (c) substantially coincident with step (b), presenting the information about the messages received during the period of time on a standby information display, wherein the information included in the standby information display is distinct from the messages themselves; and (d) after expiration of the period of time, automatically and without further user intervention presenting information about messages received during a subsequent period of time on the standby information display.

Claim 4

In a selective call receiver having a display, a method for configuring the presentation of received messages, comprising the steps of: (a) user selectably defining, without resetting the selective call receiver, a period of time during which information about messages received during the period of time will be visually presented; (b) receiving the messages during the period of time; (c) substantially coincident with step (b), presenting the information about the messages received during the period of time on a standby information display, wherein the information included in the standby information display is distinct from the messages themselves; and (d) after expiration of the period of time, automatically and without further user intervention presenting information about messages received during a subsequent period of time on the standby information display.

Claim 5

The method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising the steps of: (e) user selectably defining a previous time range during which information about previously received messages will be visually presented; (f) determining which previously received messages were received during the defined previous time range; and (g) presenting the information about the previously received messages received during the defined previous time range on the standby information display.

Claim 6

In a selective call receiver for receiving at least a first and a second type of message, a method for configuring the presentation of received messages, comprising the steps of: (a) user selectably defining a period of time during which information about messages received during the period of time will be visually presented; (b) user selectably defining, without resetting the selective call receiver, a first time range during which information about messages of the first type received during the first time range will be visually presented; (c) receiving the messages; (d) substantially coincident with step (c), presenting the information about the messages received during the period of time on a standby information display, wherein the information about the messages received during the period of time is distinct from the messages themselves; (e) determining the type of each message received during the first time range; (f) substantially coincident with step (c), presenting the information about the messages of the first type received during the first time range on the standby information display, wherein the information about the messages of the first type received during the first time range is distinct from the messages themselves; and (g) after expiration of the period of time, presenting information about messages received during a subsequent period of time on the standby information display automatically and without further user intervention.

Claim 7

In a selective call receiver for receiving at least a first and a second type of message, a method for configuring the presentation of received messages, comprising the steps of: (a) user selectably defining a period of time during which information about messages received during the period of time will be visually presented; (b) user selectably defining, without resetting the selective call receiver, a first time range during which information about messages of the first type received during the first time range will be visually presented; (c) receiving the messages; (d) substantially coincident with step (c), presenting the information about the messages received during the period of time on a standby information display, wherein the information about the messages received during the period of time is distinct from the messages themselves; (e) determining the type of each message received during the first time range; (f) substantially coincident with step (c), presenting the information about the messages of the first type received during the first time range on the standby information display, wherein the information about the messages of the first type received during the first time range is distinct from the messages themselves; and (g) after expiration of the period of time, presenting information about messages received during a subsequent period of time on the standby information display automatically and without further user intervention.

Claim 8

The method in accordance with claim 4, further comprising the steps of: (h) user selectably defining a previous time range during which information about previously received messages will be visually presented; (i) determining which previously received messages were received during the defined previous time range; and (j) presenting the information about the previously received messages received during the defined previous time range on a standby information display.

Claim 9

The method in accordance with claim 4, further comprising the step of: (k) after expiration of the first time range, presenting information about messages received during a subsequent first time range on the standby information display.

Claim 10

The method in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the steps of: (l) prior to step (c), user selectably defining a second time range during which information about messages of the second type received during the second time range will be visually presented; (m) subsequent to step (c), determining the type of each message received during the second time range; and (n) substantially coincident with step (c), presenting the information about the messages of the second type received during the second time range on the standby information display.

Claim 11

The method in accordance with claim 7, further comprising the step of: (o) alerting the user to reception of a message with an alert.

Claim 12

The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein step (o) comprises the steps of: (p) alerting the user with a first alert to reception of a message of the first type during the first time range or to reception of a message of the second type during the second time range; and (q) alerting the user with a second alert to reception of a message of the first type during the second time range or to reception of a message of the second type during the first time range.

Claim 13

The method in accordance with claim 7, further comprising the step of: (r) after expiration of the second time range, presenting information about messages of the second type received during a subsequent second time range on the standby information display.

Claim 14

The method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising the steps of: (s) user selectably defining a previous time range during which information about previously received messages will be visually presented; (t) determining which previously received messages were received during the defined previous time range; and (u) presenting the information about the previously received messages received during the defined previous time range on the standby information display.

Claim 15

In a selective call receiver having a display, a method for presenting previously received messages, comprising the steps of: (a) user selectably defining a previous time range during which icons representing previously received messages will be visually presented; (b) determining which previously received messages were received during the defined previous time range; and (c) presenting the icons representing the previously received messages received during the defined previous time range on a standby information display.

Claim 16

In a selective call receiver having a display, a method for presenting previously received messages, comprising the steps of: (a) user selectably defining a previous time range during which icons representing previously received messages will be visually presented; (b) determining which previously received messages were received during the defined previous time range; and (c) presenting the icons representing the previously received messages received during the defined previous time range on a standby information display.