Patent Publication Number: US-8538395-B2

Title: System and method for identifying a contact associated with an electronic communication

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/492,088 filed Jun. 8, 2012 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/713,200 filed Feb. 26, 2010 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,208,911 on Jun. 26, 2012. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to electronic communications, and more particularly to a system and method for identifying a contact associated with an electronic communication. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic communications devices, hereinafter referred to as “communications devices”, such as cellular phones, personal digital assistants, or laptop computers are increasingly becoming popular. 
     Conventionally, when an incoming electronic communication, hereinafter referred to as “incoming communication”, such as phone call, or an e-mail message arrives at a communications device, it is often desirable to identify, to the subscriber of the device, the initiator of such incoming communication. Similarly, when an outgoing electronic communication, hereinafter referred to as “outgoing communication”, is initiated at a communications device, it is often desirable to identify the recipient of the outgoing communication. 
     A situation can arise when two possibilities exist for an initiator or a recipient of a communication. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will now be made to the drawings, which show by way of example, implementations of the present disclosure, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of an exemplary communications device; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of an exemplary electronic address book having a plurality of contact entries, operable on the communications device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed illustration of an exemplary contact entry containing contact information corresponding to the subscriber of the communications device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed illustration of an exemplary contact entry containing contact information corresponding to the spouse of the subscriber of the communications device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5A  is an illustration of an exemplary phone application screen displayable on the communications device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5B  is an illustration of an exemplary Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) information screen displayable on the communications device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of an exemplary service book screen showing the various communications services supported by the communications device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an illustration of a personal identification number (PIN) information screen displayable on the communications device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a high-level flow chart of a method for identifying a contact entry associated with an incoming communication; 
         FIG. 9  is a high-level flow chart of a method for identifying a contact entry associated with an outgoing communication; 
         FIG. 10  is a detailed flow chart of a method for identifying a contact entry associated with a communication in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is an illustration of an incoming phone call from the home phone of the subscriber of the communications device of  FIG. 1  to the communications device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an illustration of an exemplary caller identification screen that is displayed when the incoming phone call of  FIG. 11  arrives at the communications device of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 13  is an illustration of an outgoing phone call from the communications device of  FIG. 1 , to the communications device subscriber&#39;s home phone number; 
         FIG. 14  is an illustration of the subscriber&#39;s home phone number being dialed using the exemplary phone application screen of  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 15  is an illustration of an exemplary call recipient identification screen that is displayed at the communications device of  FIG. 1  when the outgoing call of  FIG. 13  is placed from the communications device, in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 16  is an illustration of an incoming e-mail message from an e-mail address shared between the communications device&#39;s subscriber whose contact entry is in  FIG. 3  and the communications device subscriber&#39;s spouse whose contact entry is in  FIG. 4 , the message arriving at the communications device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 17  is an illustration of an exemplary e-mail message list screen that can be displayed when the e-mail message of  FIG. 16  arrives at the communications device of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with yet another implementation of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 18  is an illustration of an exemplary e-mail message preview screen that can be displayed when the e-mail message of  FIG. 16  is opened for preview at the communications device of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 19  is an illustration of an exemplary outgoing e-mail message originating from the communications device of  FIG. 1  to an e-mail address shared between the communications device&#39;s subscriber whose contact entry is in  FIG. 3  and the communications device subscriber&#39;s spouse whose contact entry is in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 20  is an illustration of an exemplary e-mail application menu including an e-mail compose menu item, the menu displayable on the communications device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 21  is an illustration of an exemplary e-mail compose screen on the communications device of  FIG. 1  wherein an e-mail address shared between the communications device subscriber and the communications device subscriber&#39;s spouse, is entered as the destination of an e-mail message being composed at the communications device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 22  is an illustration of the e-mail compose screen of  FIG. 21  wherein the e-mail address entered has been replaced with the corresponding contact name, in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 23  is a block diagram illustration of the components of the communications device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method for execution at a communications device, the method comprising: searching an address book for a first contact entry and a second contact entry, the address book having a plurality of contact entries, each contact entry storing a contact identity identifier and at least two contact communication identifiers, each of the first and second contact entries having a respective first contact communication identifier matching a predetermined communication identifier associated with an electronic communication; in response to finding the first and second contact entries, comparing a second contact communication identifier in each of the first and second contact entries with a subscriber identifier associated with the communications device; and identifying the second contact entry as the contact entry associated with the electronic communication in response to a match of the second contact communication identifier in the first contact entry to the subscriber identifier. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed, direct a communications device to search an address book for a first contact entry and a second contact entry, the address book having a plurality of contact entries, each contact entry storing a contact identity identifier and at least two contact communication identifiers, each of the first and second contact entries having a respective first contact communication identifier matching a predetermined communication identifier associated with an electronic communication; in response to finding the first and second contact entries, compare a second contact communication identifier in each of the first and second contact entries with the subscriber identifier; and identify the second contact entry as the contact entry associated with the electronic communication in response to a match of the second contact communication identifier in the first contact entry to the subscriber identifier. 
     In yet another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an electronic communications device an electronic communications device, comprising: a processor; a memory connected to the processor, for storing at least one address book having a plurality of contact entries, each contact entry storing a contact identity identifier and at least two contact communication identifiers; and computer-readable instructions, stored in the memory and executable on the processor, for an identification software module, the identification module operable for: searching the address book for a first contact entry and a second contact entry, each of the first and second contact entries having a respective first contact communication identifier matching a predetermined communication identifier associated with an electronic communication; in response to finding the first and second contact entries, comparing a second contact communication identifier in each of the first and second contact entries with a subscriber identifier associated with the electronic communications device; and identifying the second contact entry as the contact entry associated with the electronic communication in response to a match of the second contact communication identifier in the first contact entry to the subscriber identifier. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method for identifying a contact entry associated with an electronic communication. The method comprises: searching an address book for first and second contact entries, the address book having at least two contact entries, each contact entry storing a contact name identifier and one or more contact communication identifiers, each of the first and second contact entries having a contact communication identifier matching a communication identifier associated with an electronic communication and at least one of the first and second contact entries having at least two contact communication identifiers. In response to finding the first and second contact entries, comparing an additional contact communication identifier in one or both of the first and second contact entries with a subscriber identifier associated with a communications device. In response to a match of the additional contact communication identifier in one of the first and second contact entries to the subscriber identifier, identifying the non-matching contact entry as the contact entry associated with the electronic communication and announcing the contact entry associated with the electronic communication. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed, direct a communications device to: search an address book for first and second contact entries, the address book having at least two contact entries, each contact entry storing a contact name identifier and one or more contact communication identifiers, each of the first and second contact entries having a contact communication identifier matching a communication identifier associated with an electronic communication and at least one of the first and second contact entries having at least two contact communication identifiers. In response to finding the first and second contact entries, compare an additional contact communication identifier in one or both of the first and second contact entries with a subscriber identifier associated with the communications device. In response to a match of the additional contact communication identifier in one of the first and second contact entries to the subscriber identifier, identify the non-matching contact entry as the contact entry associated with the electronic communication and announce the contact entry associated with the electronic communication. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an electronic communications device, comprising: a processor; a memory connected to the processor; and computer-readable instructions, stored in the memory and executable on the processor, for an identification software module. The identification module is operable for searching an address book for first and second contact entries, the address book having at least two contact entries, each contact entry storing a contact name identifier and one or more contact communication identifiers, each of the first and second contact entries having a contact communication identifier matching a communication identifier associated with an electronic communication and at least one of the first and second contact entries having at least two contact communication identifiers; in response to finding the first and second contact entries, comparing an additional contact communication identifier in one or both of the first and second contact entries with a subscriber identifier associated with the electronic communications device; in response to a match of the additional contact communication identifier in one of the first and second contact entries to the subscriber identifier, identifying the non-matching contact entry as the contact entry associated with the electronic communication; and announcing the contact entry associated with the electronic communication. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method for disambiguating multiple contacts associated with an electronic communication to or from an electronic device. The method comprises searching a plurality of stored contacts for an association with the electronic communication. For any contact associated with the electronic communication, verifying whether the contact has a subscriber identifier associated with the electronic device. The method includes identifying a contact as the initiator or recipient of the electronic communication if the contact is without a subscriber identifier. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an electronic device, comprising: a processor; a memory connected to the processor; and computer-readable instructions, stored in the memory and executable on the processor, for an identification software module. The identification module is operable for searching a plurality of stored contacts for an association with an electronic communication to or from an electronic device, for any contact associated with the electronic communication, verifying whether the contact has a subscriber identifier associated with the electronic device, and identifying a contact as the initiator or recipient of the electronic communication if the contact is without a subscriber identifier. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed, direct an electronic device to: search a plurality of stored contacts for an association with an electronic communication to or from the electronic device, for any contact associated with the electronic communication, verify whether the contact has a subscriber identifier associated with the electronic device; and identify a contact as the initiator or recipient of the electronic communication if the contact is without a subscriber identifier. 
     Communications devices, such as cellular phones, personal digital assistants, or laptop computers are increasingly becoming popular. Communications devices are typically capable of initiating and receiving voice calls, as well as sending and receiving electronic messages such as e-mail, short messaging service (SMS), instant messaging, and the like. As an example,  FIG. 1  is an illustration of an exemplary communications device  100 . Communications device  100  has a screen  110  for displaying information, a keypad  120  for entering information such as composing e-mail messages, and a pointing device  130  such as a trackball for navigating through items on screen  110 . Device  100  can also have a button  140  for initiating a phone application (not shown), and a button  150  for terminating phone calls. 
     A communications device typically has an electronic address book associated with it. The address book contains a plurality of contact entries suitable for storing contact information, for the communications device&#39;s subscriber as well for his or her contacts such as friends, family, or acquaintances. As an example,  FIG. 2  is an illustration of an exemplary electronic address book  200  having a plurality of contact entries  210 , operable on communications device  100  of  FIG. 1 . Among the plurality of entries  210 , address book  200  has a contact entry  220  for the subscriber of the device, marked with an asterisk, and a contact entry  230  for the subscriber&#39;s spouse. 
     Each contact entry includes identifiers associated with the corresponding contact. Some of the identifiers are contact identity identifiers such as a name, while other identifiers are contact communication identifiers such as a phone number, an e-mail address, or a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the contact. As an example,  FIG. 3  is a detailed illustration of contact entry  220  from  FIG. 2 . Contact entry  220  contains contact information corresponding to the subscriber of the communications device  100  of  FIG. 1 . Specifically, entry  220  contains a contact identity identifier  305  showing the subscriber&#39;s name, and contact communication identifiers  310 ,  320 ,  330 ,  340 , and  350 . Contact communication identifier  310  is the address of an E-mail account shared between the device&#39;s subscriber and his spouse. Contact communication identifier  320  is the address of an E-mail account that belongs to the device&#39;s subscriber. Contact communication identifier  330  is the home phone number of the device&#39;s subscriber and his spouse. Contact communication identifier  340  is the mobile phone number of the device&#39;s subscriber. Contact communication identifier  350  is a PIN associated with the device&#39;s subscriber. 
     As another example,  FIG. 4  is a detailed illustration of contact entry  230  from  FIG. 2 . Contact entry  230  contains contact information corresponding to the spouse of the subscriber of communications device  100  of  FIG. 1 . Specifically contact entry  230  contains a contact identity identifier  405  showing the subscriber&#39;s spouse&#39;s name, and contact communication identifiers  410 ,  430 ,  440 , and  450 . Contact communication identifier  410  is the address of an E-mail account shared between the device&#39;s subscriber and his spouse. Contact communication identifier  430  is the home phone number of the device subscriber&#39;s spouse and the device subscriber&#39;s. Contact communication identifier  440  is the device subscriber&#39;s spouse&#39;s mobile phone number. Contact communication identifier  450  is a PIN associated with the device subscriber&#39;s spouse. 
     A communications device has one or more subscriber identifiers associated with it. In some implementations, the subscriber identifier is a phone number, an e-mail address, or a PIN. A phone number can be stored on a subscriber identity module (SIM) or on other means on the communications device, such as non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). As an example,  FIG. 5A  is an illustration of an exemplary phone app (application) screen  500  displayable on the communications device  100  of  FIG. 1 . Screen  500  includes field  510  displaying telephone number  520  associated with communications device  100 . As another example,  FIG. 5B  is an illustration of an exemplary Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) information screen  550  displayable on the communications device  100  of  FIG. 1 . Information screen  550  contains field  560  displaying telephone number  580  associated with communications device  100  and stored on a SIM associated with device  100 . 
     In an exemplary implementation, a subscriber identifier associated with a communications device is an e-mail address. As an example,  FIG. 6  is an illustration of an exemplary service book screen  600  showing the various communications services supported by the communications device  100  of  FIG. 1 . Screen  600  contains a field  610  displaying e-mail address  620  provisioned for use by the subscriber of communications device  100 . 
     In another exemplary implementation, a subscriber identifier associated with a communications device is a personal identification number (PIN). In some implementations, the PIN is stored in NVRAM or on other non-volatile means on communications device  100 . As an example,  FIG. 7  is an illustration of a personal identification number (PIN) information screen  700  displayable on the communications device  100  of  FIG. 1 . Screen  700  contains field  710  displaying PIN  720  associated with device  100 . 
     When an incoming communication such as a voice call, or an e-mail message, arrives at a communications device, the incoming communication includes a predetermined communication identifier, such as a phone number or an e-mail address. Upon receiving the incoming communication, an identification module  104  in  FIG. 23  associated with the communications device identifies the contact entry associated with the incoming communication as will be described below. 
       FIG. 8  is a high-level flow chart of a method  800  for identifying a contact entry associated with an incoming communication. Method  800  starts with block  810  at which an incoming communication is received at a communications device such as communications device  100 . At block  820  a contact entry associated with the initiator of the incoming communication is identified. At block  830  a message is displayed containing the contact identity identifier of the contact entry determined in block  820 . 
     As an example of an incoming communication received in block  810 ,  FIG. 11  is an illustration of an incoming phone call from the home phone  1110  of the subscriber of the communications device  100  to the communications device  100 . As another example of an incoming communication received in block  810 ,  FIG. 16  is an illustration of an incoming e-mail message  1600  from an e-mail address  1610  shared between communications device  100 &#39;s subscriber whose contact entry is  220  in  FIG. 3  and the communications device  100  subscriber&#39;s spouse whose contact entry is  230  in  FIG. 4 , the message arriving at the communications device  100 . 
     In block  830 , the contact&#39;s identity is announced, for example by displaying the contact&#39;s identity identifier on a display  110  associated with communications device  100 . In some implementations, displaying the contact&#39;s identity identifier is carried out by a displaying module  105  in  FIG. 23 . As an example of the message displayed in block  830 ,  FIG. 12  is an illustration of an exemplary caller identification screen  1200  that is displayed when the incoming phone call  1100  of  FIG. 11  arrives at communications device  100 . Contact identity identifier  1210  is displayed to show the contact associated with the incoming phone call. As another example of the message displayed in block  830 ,  FIG. 17  is an illustration of an exemplary e-mail message list screen  1700  that is displayed when the e-mail message of  FIG. 16  arrives at the communications device  100 . Message list screen  1700  comprises a plurality of message list entries each indicating a sender of a message and a subject line associated with the message. E-mail message  1600  from  FIG. 16  is shown in entry  1710  wherein the contact identity identifier  1720  of the subscriber&#39;s spouse is displayed. Similarly,  FIG. 18  is an illustration of an exemplary e-mail message preview screen  1800  that can be displayed when the e-mail message of  FIG. 16  is opened for preview at the communications device. Preview screen  1800  includes contact identify identifier  1810  indicating that the sender of the e-mail message  1600  is the device subscriber&#39;s spouse. 
     When an outgoing communication is initiated from the communications device, the outgoing communication specifies a predetermined communication identifier such as a phone number or an e-mail address as the destination of the outgoing communication, in which case, the identification module  104  in  FIG. 23  identifies the contact entry for the contact receiving the outgoing communication. 
       FIG. 9  is a high-level flow chart of a method  900  for identifying a contact entry associated with an outgoing communication. Method  900  starts with block  910  at which an outgoing communication is composed at a communications device such as communications device  100 . At block  920  a contact entry associated with the recipient of the outgoing communication is identified in a manner that will be outlined below. At block  930  a message is displayed containing the contact identity identifier of the contact entry determined in block  920 . 
     As an example of an outgoing communication composed in block  910 ,  FIG. 13  is an illustration of an outgoing phone call  1300  to the home phone  1310  of the subscriber of the communications device  100  being dialed at communications device  100 .  FIG. 14  is an illustration of the subscriber&#39;s home phone number  1410  being dialed using the exemplary phone application screen of  FIG. 5A . 
     As another example of an outgoing communication composed in block  910 ,  FIG. 19  is an illustration of an exemplary outgoing e-mail message  1900  originating from communications device  100  to e-mail address  1910  which is shared between the communications device&#39;s subscriber whose contact entry  220  is in  FIG. 3  and the communications device subscriber&#39;s spouse whose contact entry  230  is in  FIG. 4 . Reference is now made to  FIG. 20  which is an illustration of an exemplary e-mail application menu  2000  including an e-mail compose menu item  2010 , menu  2000  being displayable on communications device  100 . The composition of outgoing e-mail message  1900  can be initiated by activating e-mail compose menu item  2010 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 21  which is an illustration of an exemplary e-mail compose screen  2100  that can be activated via menu item  2010 . E-mail compose screen  2100  includes an e-mail recipient address field  2110 . As can be seen e-mail address  2120  which is shared between the communications device subscriber and the communications device subscriber&#39;s spouse, is entered as the destination of the e-mail message being composed. 
     At block  930 , the identity of the contact that is the recipient of the communication composed in block  910  is announced. In some implementations, announcing the identity of the contact is carried out by a displaying module  105  in  FIG. 23 . The displaying module displays a message containing the contact&#39;s identity identifier on a display associated with the communications device, such as display  110 . As an example of the message displayed in block  930 ,  FIG. 15  is an illustration of an exemplary call recipient identification screen  1500  that is displayed at communications device  100  when the outgoing call of  FIG. 13  is placed from communications device  100 , in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. Contact identity identifier  1510  is displayed on display  110  to show that the contact associated with the outgoing phone call is the device subscriber&#39;s spouse. 
     As another example of the message displayed in block  930 ,  FIG. 22  is an illustration of the e-mail compose screen  2100  of  FIG. 21  wherein the e-mail address entered  2120  has been replaced with contact identify identifier  2210  name, in accordance an implementation of the present disclosure. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 10  which is a detailed flow chart of a method  1000  of blocks  820  and  920  for identifying a contact entry associated with a communication in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. Consider, for example a communication identified by a predetermined communication identifier. Examples of such communication are: the incoming call  1100  of  FIG. 11  identified by predetermined communication identifier  1110  which is the home phone number of both the device&#39;s subscriber and his spouse, the outgoing call  1300  of  FIG. 13  identified by predetermined communication identifier  1310  which is also the home phone number of both the device&#39;s subscriber and his spouse, the incoming e-mail message  1600  of  FIG. 16  identified by predetermined communication identifier  1610  which is an e-mail address shared between the device&#39;s subscriber and his spouse, or the outgoing e-mail message  1900  identified by predetermined communication identifier  1910  which is also an e-mail address shared between the device&#39;s subscriber and his spouse. 
     At block  1010 , the address book  200  of communications device  100  is searched. In some implementations, the search at block  1010  is performed by an identification module  104  in  FIG. 23 , or a search module (not shown). Contact communication identifiers in contact entries  210  of address book  200  are compared with the predetermined communication identifier of the communication such as predetermined communication identifier  1110 ,  1310 ,  1610 , or  1910 . 
     At block  1020  a determination is made as to whether two contact entries each having a respective first contact communication identifier matching the predetermined communication identifier are present in the address book. In some implementations, the determination is made by an identification module  104  in  FIG. 23 . For example, each of predetermined communication identifier  1110  of phone call  1100  of  FIG. 11  and predetermined communication identifier  1310  of phone call  1300  of  FIG. 13  matches the contact communication identifier  330  in contact entry  220  and contact communication identifier  430  in contact entry  230 . As another example, each of predetermined communication identifier  1610  of e-mail message  1600  of  FIG. 16  and predetermined communication identifier  1910  of e-mail message  1900  of  FIG. 19 , matches contact communication identifier  310  in contact entry  220  and contact communication identifier  410  in contact entry  230 . In any of the previous cases method  1000  continues at block  1030 . If there is no match with two contact entries, method  1000  terminates. An alternate method whereby only one contact entry&#39;s contact communication identifier is compared with the communication identifier is run (not shown). If there is a match then the contact entry is identified as associated with the communication as is conventionally done. 
     At block  1030  a second contact communication identifier in each of the two contact entries is compared with the subscriber identifier associated with device  100 . Examples of a second contact communication identifier are: e-mail address  320 , mobile phone number  340 , or PIN  350  in contact entry  220 ; and mobile phone number  440 , or PIN  450  in contact entry  230 . These contact communication identifiers are compared with subscriber identifiers of the same type. As an example contact communication identifiers which are phone numbers such as  340  and  440 , are compared with phone number  520  shown in SIM info screen  550  or compared with phone number  580  in phone app screen  500 . As another example contact communication identifiers which are e-mail addresses such as  320  in contact entry  220  are compared with e-mail address  620  in service book info screen  600 . As yet another example, contact communication identifiers which are personal identification numbers (PINs) such as  350  in contact entry  220  or  450  in contact entry  230 , are compared with the PIN  720  in PIN field  710  in PIN info screen  700 . 
     At block  1040  a determination is made as to whether a second contact communication identifier in one of the two contact entries matches a subscriber identifier. In some implementations the determination at action  1040  is made by an identification module  104  in  FIG. 23 . If there is no match then method  1000  terminates. When method  1000  terminates because of no match between the second contact communication identifier in one of the two contact entries and the subscriber identifier, the first contact entry having a contact communication identifier matching the predetermined communication identifier is identified as associated with the communication as is conventionally done. Alternatively, other methods such as most recently used techniques can be used to decide which of the two contacts is to be identified as associated with the communication. If there is a match, method  1000  proceeds to block  1050 . 
     At block  1050 , the contact entry which does not have a contact communication identifier matching a subscriber identifier, is identified as the contact entry associated with the communication. In some implementations, the identification of contact entry that does not have a contact communication identifier matching a subscriber identifier as the contact entry associated with the communication is carried out by an identification module  104  in  FIG. 23 . 
     As an example, at block  1040  it can be determined that contact entry  220  has contact communication identifier  320  which matches subscriber identifier  620 , and therefore at block  1050  contact  230  can be identified as the contact entry associated with the communication. 
     As another example, at block  1040  it can be determined that contact entry  220  has contact communication identifier  340  which matches subscriber identifier  520  or subscriber identifier  580 , and therefore at block  1050  contact  230  can be identified as the contact entry associated with the communication. 
     As yet another example, at block  1040  it can be determined that contact entry has contact communication identifier  350  which matches subscriber identifier  720 , and therefore at block  1050  contact  230  can be identified as the contact entry associated with the communication. 
     Whereas conventionally the first contact entry having a contact communication identifier matching the predetermined communication identifier is identified as the initiator or recipient of the communication having the predetermined identifier, the method described herein has the advantage of excluding the subscriber of the mobile communications device as the initiator or recipient of that communication. As an example, when the subscriber&#39;s spouse calls the subscriber, the spouse&#39;s name appear in the caller ID screen, even if the contact entry for the subscriber alphabetically precedes the contact entry for the subscriber&#39;s spouse, in the address book. 
     While the blocks comprising the methods are shown as occurring in a particular order, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many of the blocks are interchangeable and can occur in different orders than that shown without materially affecting the end results of the methods. 
     When two contact entries contain contact communication identifiers which each match a predetermined communication identifier, the contact entry associated with the communication identifier is identified by comparing another communication identifier in each of the two contacts with the subscriber identifier of the communications device. If a match occurs with one of the two contacts, then the other is identified as the contact associated with the communication. 
       FIG. 23  is a block diagram illustration of the components of the communications device  100 . Communications device  100  comprises a processor  120 , and a memory  101  connected to processor  120 . 
     Memory  101  stores software modules that, when executed by processor  120 , can implement the methods described herein. As an example, identification module  104  implements method  1000  of  FIG. 10 . As another example, displaying module  105  in  FIG. 23  implements blocks  830  and  930  of  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , respectively. 
     Memory  101  stores other software modules, such as phone application  102  for making and receiving phone calls, and e-mail application  103  for sending and receiving e-mail messages. 
     Memory  101  also stores address book  200  described hereinabove. Memory  101  can also contain service books  106  which can contain service books for the various communications services supported by the communications device  100 . The service books serve as subscriber identifiers as described hereinabove. 
     Memory  101  comprises non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) for storing personal identification number (PIN) and/or a phone number associated with device  100 , both serving as subscriber identifiers as described hereinabove. 
     Communications device  100  comprises a subscriber identify module (SIM)  160  that can contain a phone number associated with device  100  and serving as a subscriber identifier as described hereinabove. 
     Communications device  100  comprises display  110  as described hereinabove. 
     Communications device  100  comprises a communications interface  150  including a controller  152  and a radio  154 . Communications interface  150  is coupled to an antenna  160 . Communications interface  150  is also coupled with processor  120 . Communications interface enables device  100  to carry out voice and data communications such as voice calls, e-mail, short messaging system (SMS), instant messaging, and the like. 
     Communications device  100  comprises a battery  190  for powering up processor  120 , memory  101 , display  110 , communications interface  150 , and other elements of the device. 
     The implementations of the present disclosure described above are intended to be examples only. Those of skill in the art can effect alterations, modifications and variations to the particular implementations without departing from the intended scope of the present disclosure. In particular, selected features from one or more of the above-described implementations can be combined to create alternative implementations not explicitly described, features suitable for such combinations being readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. The subject matter described herein in the recited claims intends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in technology.