Patent ID: 7623877

Claim:
A method of handling outgoing messages at a mobile communication device, said method comprising: at said mobile communication device: receiving a document defining a format for messages; generating, according to said format, a message to be transmitted; generating an indication of an expiry time for said message based on information provided in said document; storing said message in a queue of outbound messages; storing said indication of said expiry time in said queue in association with said message; determining that said message remains in said queue after said expiry time; and responsive to said determining: presenting, to a user of said mobile communication device, an indication of a failure to transmit said message before said expiry time; further presenting, to said user of said mobile communication device, a plurality of choices as to future handling of said message; and based on a selection by said user of one of said plurality of choices: generating an indication of a new expiry time for said message based on information provided in said document; and storing said indication of said new expiry time in said queue in association with said message.