Graphical messaging software application and features thereof

• US 10,003,936 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2017
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovators Atlas LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovators Atlas LLC
• Inventors: Novotny, Darryl C., Hitzler, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khai M
• Application Number:
  US15/480,064
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 455466, 4555501
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A graphical messaging software application, and numerous aspects and features thereof, are described in detail.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of delivering graphic-based messages from one or more subscriber-users to a non-subscriber user of a messaging software system, the method comprising:

defining a predetermined set of message categories;

associating graphic-based messages created by the one or more subscriber-users with one or more of the message categories;

defining user preferences for the non-subscriber user, including designating at least a first message category from the set of message categories that the non-subscriber user wishes to receive;

monitoring the non-subscriber user'"'"'s responses to graphic-based messages received by the non-subscriber user in relation to at least some of the message categories in the predetermined set;

in response to a plurality of negative actions of the non-subscriber user relative to received graphic-based messages in the first message category, querying the non-subscriber user regarding whether the non-subscriber user wishes to continue receiving graphic-based messages in the first message category; and

when the non-subscriber user responds to the query by indicating the non-subscriber user does not wish to continue receiving graphic-based messages in the first message category, revising the user preferences to remove the first message category from the set of message categories that the non-subscriber user wishes to receive;

wherein the defining, associating, monitoring, querying, and revising are carried out at least in part by software resident on one or both ofa portable electronic device and a distributed networking device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic-based messages have digital file sizes of 40 to 80 kilobytes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic-based messages include one or more of audio content, video content, and hyperlink content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic-based messages comprise one or more of announcements, alerts, appointments, and advertising.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic-based messages are configured to appear as a full wallpaper image when delivered to a smart phone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic-based messages are transmitted on a data channel of a cellular communications network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting access for who can generate and send the graphic-based messages to the one or more subscriber-users.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-subscriber user is a member of a closed group of non-subscriber users managed by the one or more subscriber-users.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring the non-subscriber user'"'"'s responses includes maintaining a statistical measure of such responses.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the associating includes encoding information relating to the one or more message categories in a metadata portion of the graphic-based messages.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the defining, associating, monitoring, querying, and revising are carried out at least in part by software resident on the portable electronic device, and the portable electronic device is a smart phone.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the defining, associating, monitoring, querying, and revising are carried out at least in part by software resident on the distributed networking device, and the distributed networking device includes a computer server.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the software defines a hub having sufficient memory storage capacity to store the graphic-based messages.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more subscriber-users includes a plurality of subscriber-users, and wherein the non-subscriber user is communicatively connected to the plurality of subscriber-users via a communications network infrastructure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the communications network infrastructure includes at least one of a cellular network and a world wide web.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-subscriber user is one of a plurality of non-subscriber users, and the plurality of non-subscriber users are communicatively connected to each other via a communications network infrastructure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of non-subscriber users and the one or more subscriber-users are affiliated with an educational institution.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined set of message categories includes a category for alerts including at least one of lockdowns and threats.

19. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions that, when executed by an electronic device having a visual display, a user input device, and a processor, cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising:

delivering graphic-based messages from one or more subscriber-users to a non-subscriber user;

defining a predetermined set of message categories;

associating graphic-based messages created by the one or more subscriber-users with one or more of the message categories;

defining user preferences for the non-subscriber user, including designating at least a first message category from the set of message categories that the non-subscriber user wishes to receive;

monitoring the non-subscriber user'"'"'s responses to graphic-based messages received by the non-subscriber user in relation to at least some of the message categories in the predetermined set;

in response to a plurality of negative actions of the non-subscriber user relative to received graphic-based messages in the first message category, querying the non-subscriber user regarding whether the non-subscriber user wishes to continue receiving graphic-based messages in the first message category; and

when the non-subscriber user responds to the query by indicating the non-subscriber user does not wish to continue receiving graphic-based messages in the first message category, revising the user preferences to remove the first message category from the set of message categories that the non-subscriber user wishes to receive.

20. The storage medium of claim 19, wherein the non-subscriber user is one of a plurality of non-subscriber users, and the plurality of non-subscriber users are communicatively connected to each other via a communications network infrastructure, and the plurality of non-subscriber users and the one or more subscriber-users are affiliated with an educational institution.

21. The storage medium of claim 20, wherein the predetermined set of message categories includes a category for alerts including at least one of lockdowns and threats.