Method and system for communication

• US 10,110,725 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: messageLOUD, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Messageloud LLC
• Inventors: Toren, Garin
• Primary Examiner(s): Washington, Erika A
• Application Number:
  US15/421,237
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724634 With partially locked states, e.g. when some telephonic functional locked states or applications remain accessible in the locked states
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Provided is a computer implemented method and system for delivering text messages, emails, and messages from a messenger application to a user while the user is engaged in an activity, such as driving, exercising, or working. Typically, the emails and other messages are announced to the user and read aloud without any user input. In Drive Mode, while the user is driving, a clean interface is shown to the user, and the user can hear announcements and messages/emails aloud without looking at the screen of the phone, and use gestures to operate the phone. After a determination is made that a new text message and/or email has arrived, the user is informed aloud of the text message/email/messenger message and in most instances, and if the user takes no further action, the body and/or subject of the text message/email/messenger message is read aloud to the user. All messages can be placed in a single queue, and read to the user in order of receipt.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method to be carried out with a processor, a memory, and a touch screen, comprising:

a) determining without any input by a user that two or more different types of messages selected from the group consisting of a text message, an email, and a message from the messenger application have been received;

b) analyzing without any input by the user a content of the received text message, message from the messenger application, or email;

c) placing the received email, message from the messenger application, or text message in a single queue to be read aloud in order of receipt time regardless of message type, wherein emails, messages from the messenger application, and text messages are read aloud one after another regardless of whether a next message in the queue is a new text message, a new message from the messenger application, or a new email;

d) informing the user without any input by the user that the received text message, message from the messenger application, or email has been received from a sender by reading aloud at least an identity of the sender;

e) allowing the user a time to take an affirmative action to stop reading a body of the received text message, message from the messenger application, or email aloud to the user, wherein the affirmative action is limited to a gesture performed on the touch screen; and

f) based on not receiving an input corresponding to the affirmative action from the user, reading aloud the body of the received text message, message from the messenger application, or email.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the content comprises parsing the email into a subject, the sender, and the body, and parsing the text message or the message from the messenger application into the sender and the body.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computer implemented method is carried out with an application that is configured to run in a foreground or in a background, and is further configured to switch back and forth between the foreground and the background, and is further configured to read aloud the identity of the sender, and the body of the received email, text message, or message from the messenger application while the application is in the background.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising prompting the user to call the sender without any input from the user.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein a different interface is presented on the touch screen depending on an activity of the user.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the activity is driving a vehicle.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the activity is working with a desktop, a laptop, or a tablet computer.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the activity is exercise (Active Mode).

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein informing the user comprises reading aloud a name of the sender.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, the method further comprising based on receiving the input corresponding to the affirmative action from the user, not reading aloud the body of the received text message, message from the messenger application, or email to the user.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the input from the user without the user looking at the touch screen.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an interface on the touch screen with no prompts for the user to touch.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the input from the user based on gestures by the user.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 13, wherein the input from the user is limited to tapping or swiping the touch screen without a need to look at the touch screen.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising informing the user by voice of an option to call the sender.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising, based on receiving an input from the user to call the sender, calling the sender.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein informing the user comprises informing the user of the identity of the sender and the subject of the received email, or the identity of the sender of the received text message or the message from the messenger application.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein after reading aloud the received email, text message or message from the messenger application, the received email, text message or message from the messenger application is automatically dismissed and a status of the received email, text message or message from the messenger application is changed to read.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 18, wherein after the received email, text message or message from the messenger application is read aloud and the status changed to read, the user is notified that a new email, text message, or message from the messenger application has been received.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the reading aloud is carried out by an audio system in a vehicle.

21. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the input from the user is limited to a) pausing or rereading the reading of the received email, text message or message from the messenger application;

b) dismissing the received email, text message, or message from the messenger application;

c) deleting the received email; and

d) calling the sender.

22. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method is carried out on a device selected from the group consisting of:

a smart phone, a mobile phone, a phablet, a tablet, a wearable device, a watch, and a vehicle operating device.

23. A mobile phone, comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory, a touch screen; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for steps comprising;

a) determining without any input by a user that two or more different types of messages selected from the group consisting of a text message, an email, and a message from the messenger application have been received;

b) analyzing without any input by the user a content of the received text message, message from the messenger application, or email;

c) placing the received email, message from the messenger application, or text message in a single queue to be read aloud in order of receipt time regardless of message type, wherein emails, messages from the messenger application, and text messages are read aloud one after another regardless of whether a next message in the queue is a new text message, a new message from the messenger application, or a new email;

d) informing the user without any input by the user that the received text message, email, or message from the messenger application has been received from a sender by reading aloud at least an identity of the sender;

e) allowing the user a time to take an affirmative action to stop reading a body of the received text message, message from the messenger application, or email aloud to the user, wherein the affirmative action is limited to a gesture performed on the touch screen; and

f) based on not receiving an input corresponding to the affirmative action from the user, reading aloud the body of the received text message, message from the messenger application or email, and for the received email, further reading aloud a subject of the received email.

24. A system for delivering one or more of a text message and an email and a message from the messenger application to a user engaged in an activity, the system comprising a processor, a memory, and a touch screen, the system configured to deliver the text message, the message from the messenger application, and the email to the user by:

a) running an application configured to deliver one or more of a text message, an email, or a message from the messenger application to a user while the user is engaged in an activity;

b) determining without any input by the user that two or more different types of messages selected from the group consisting the text message, the email, and the message from the messenger application have been received;

c) placing the received email, message from the messenger application, or text message in a single queue to be read aloud in order of receipt time regardless of message type, wherein emails, messages from the messenger application, and text messages are read aloud one after another regardless of whether a next message in the queue is a new text message, a new message from the messenger application, or a new email;

d) analyzing without any input by the user a content of the received text message, message from the messenger application, or email;

e) informing the user without any input by the user that the received text message, message from the messenger application, or email has been received from a sender by reading aloud at least an identity of the sender;

f) allowing the user a time to take an affirmative action to stop reading a body of the received text message, message from the messenger application, or email aloud to the user, wherein the affirmative action is limited to a gesture performed on the touch screen; and

g) based on not receiving an input corresponding to the affirmative action from the user, reading aloud the body of the received text message, message from the messenger application, or email, and for the received email, further reading aloud a subject of the received email.