Apparatus and method for alternate channel communication initiated through a common message thread

• US 10,084,735 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Spiegel, Evan, Murphy, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Justin S
• Application Number:
  US14/616,618
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

A server includes a processor and a memory storing a multiple channel message thread module with instructions executed by the processor to identify when participants at client devices are viewing a common message thread. An alternate channel communication prompt is supplied to the client devices. An alternate channel communication is delivered to the client devices in response to activation of the alternate channel communication prompt by at least one participant.

Claims

1. A server, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing a multiple channel message thread module with instructions executed by the processor to;

identify when participants at client devices are actively displaying a common text communication message thread at the same time to establish a participant viewing state indicative of the presence of the participants;

in response to the participant viewing state, activate by the server without input from the participants an alternate communication session between the client devices in an active but mute state;

supply to the client devices an alternate channel communication prompt in response to the operation to activate the alternate communication session; and

complete the alternate communication session at the client devices by eliminating the mute state in response to activation of the alternate channel communication prompt by at least one participant, wherein the alternate communication session is one of an audio session and a video session.

2. The server of claim 1 wherein the alternate communication session persists during haptic contact with the alternate channel communication prompt by at least one participant.

3. The server of claim 2 wherein the alternate communication session includes input from each participant making haptic contact with the alternate channel communication prompt.

4. The server of claim 1 wherein the alternate communication session is a unidirectional audio session initiated by a first participant that is broadcast to the remaining participants.

5. The server of claim 1 wherein the alternate communication session is a bidirectional audio session between participants making haptic contact with the alternate channel communication prompt.

6. The server of claim 1 wherein the alternate communication session is a unidirectional video session initiated by a first participant that is broadcast to the remaining participants.

7. The server of claim 1 wherein the alternate communication session is a bidirectional video session between participants making haptic contact with the alternate channel communication prompt.

8. The server of claim 1 wherein the alternate communication session is presented with the common message thread.