Contextual messaging systems and methods

• US 10,701,014 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2015
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Companyons Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Companyons Incorporated
• Inventors: Perazzo, Paolo, Goel, Navin, Galloway, Brett
• Primary Examiner(s): Behncke, Christine M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sadananda, Abhijit B
• Application Number:
  US14/979,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20160112362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Contextual messaging systems and message implemented through a mobile device associated with a sender of a message include composing a message to a recipient via a messaging application; selecting one or more unique characters or pictures to trigger one or more of functionality, an application, or a service on a mobile device associated with the recipient; selecting one or more additional details subsequent to selecting the one or more unique characters or pictures, wherein the one or more additional details are used in the functionality, application or service; and sending the message to a mobile device associated with the recipient with the one or more unique characters or pictures and the one or more additional details. The mobile device is configured to receive the message and automatically perform one or more actions based on the one or more unique characters or pictures and the one or more additional details.

Claims

1. A contextual messaging method implemented through a mobile device associated with a sender of a message, the contextual messaging method comprising:

composing a message to a recipient via a text messaging application;

selecting one or more unique characters or pictures which are included in the message for display in the message to the recipient and which are predetermined to trigger one or more functionality or service through an application of a plurality of applications separate from the text messaging application on a mobile device associated with the receipt, the one or more unique characters or pictures comprising emojis, emoticons, buttons, or icons representing an associated functionality, application or service;

selecting one or more additional details subsequent to selecting the one or more unique characters or pictures, wherein the one or more additional details are included in the message and used in the functionality, the application, and/or the service; and

sending the message to a mobile device associated with the recipient with the one or more unique characters or pictures and the one or more additional details, wherein the mobile device associated with the recipient is configured to receive the message and automatically perform one or more actions that is triggered based on detection of the one or more unique characters or pictures for display in the message and that is performed at least in part by extracting the one or more additional details subsequent to the one or more unique characters or pictures from the message, wherein both the one or more unique characters or pictures and the one or more additional details are displayed in the message,

wherein the text messaging application is configured to interact with the plurality of applications via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) based on detection of the one or more unique characters or pictrures and the one or more additional details, and

wherein the plurality of applications comprise a reminder application, a calendar application, a mappiing application, a checklist application, and an address book.

2. The contextual messaging method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device associated with the recipient is configured to receive the message from the mobile device associated with the sender;

parse the message to detect the one or more unique characters or pictures;

trigger the functionality, the application, or the service subsequent to detection of the one or more unique characters, wherein the functionality, application or service are provided the one or more additional details; and

perform one or more actions in the functionality, application or service with the one or more additional details.

3. The contextual messaging method of claim 1, wherein the one or more unique characters or pictures represent one or more of:

a delegated task and the one or more additional details include the description of the delegated task;

an invite to do something together and the one or more additional details include a description of the invite;

a reminder or a calendar event and the one or more additional details comprise a date and/or time;

a location and the one or more additional details comprise a geographic location, store, restaurant, or landmark;

a checklist and the one or more additional details comprise one or more entry for the checklist; and

any item and the one or more additional details include the content passed to an Application Program Interface (API)-ready application related to the item.

4. The contextual messaging method of claim 3, wherein the one or more unique characters or pictures cause the mobile device associated with the recipient to one or more of:

add a task responsive to the one or more unique characters or pictures representing the delegated task or the invite to do something together;

add a reminder or calendar event for the task responsive to the one or more unique characters or pictures representing the date/time;

add a geofence and/or a location in the task responsive to the one or more unique characters or pictures representing the location;

add an entry in the checklist for the task responsive to the one or more unique characters or pictures representing the checklist; and

perform an action responsive to one or more unique characters or pictures representing any API-ready application.

5. The contextual messaging method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a response to the message from the recipient with different one or more additional details for the one or more unique characters or pictures;

accepting or modifying the different one or more additional details; and

updating the functionality, application or service with the different one or more additional details responsive to the accepting and sending modified one or more additional details.

6. The contextual messaging method of claim 1, further comprising one or more of:

using information extracted from the messages to contextually send reminders and alerts to cross-launch applications and services comprising any of transportation services, driving directions, and interactions related to people mutual location;

creating personal to-dos, reminders, and calendar events that comprise a description, a time/date, a location, a checklist and notes based on the messages; and

using a sorting algorithm to display to-dos, reminders, and calendars in a single view.

7. A contextual messaging method implemented through a mobile device associated with a recipient of a message, the contextual message comprising:

receiving the message from a mobile device associated with a sender via a text messaging application;

parsing the message to detect one or more unique characters or pictures which are included for display in the message and which are predetermined to trigger one or more functionality, application, or service on the mobile device and one or more additional details included in the message and associated with the one or more unique characters, wherein the one or more unique characters or pictures comprises emojis, emoticons, buttons, or icons representing an associated functionality, application or service, wherein the one or more additional details are used in the functionality or service through an application of a plurality of applications separate from the text messaging application, wherein both the one or more unique characters or pictures and the one or more additional details are displayed in the message with the one or more additional details displayed subsequent to the one or more unique characters;

automatically triggering the functionality, the application, and/or the service based on and subsequent to detection of the one or more unique characters or pictures, wherein the application is provided the one or more additional details extracted from the message by the text messaging application; and

performing one or more actions in the application to perform the functionality and/or the service with the one or more additional details,

wherein the text messagine application is configured to interact with the plurality of applications via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) based on detection of the one or more unique characters or pictures and the one or more additional details, and

wherein the plurality of applications comprise a reminder application, a calendar application, a mapping application, a checklist application, and an address book.

8. The contextual messaging method of claim 7, wherein the mobile device associated with the sender is configured to compose the message based on input from the sender through a text messaging application.

9. The contextual messaging method of claim 7, wherein the mobile device associated with the sender is configured to compose the message based on the sender selecting the one or more unique characters or pictures to trigger functionality, the application, and/or the service;

and selecting the one or more additional details subsequent to selecting the one or more unique characters or pictures.

10. The contextual messaging method of claim 7, wherein the one or more unique characters or pictures represent one or more of:

a delegated task and the one or more additional details include the description of the delegated task;

an invite to do something together and the one or more additional details include the description of the invite;

a reminder or a calendar event and the one or more additional details comprise a date and/or time;

a location and the one or more additional details comprise a geographic location, store, restaurant, or landmark;

a checklist and the one or more additional details comprise one or more entries for the checklist; and

any item and the one or more additional details include the content passed to an Application Program Interface (API)-ready application related to the item.

11. The contextual messaging method of claim 7, further comprising:

composing a reply to the message with different one or more additional details for the one or more unique characters or pictures;

sending the reply where the sender one accepts or modifies the different one or more additional details; and

updating the functionality, application or service with the different one or more additional details responsive to acceptance by the sender and receiving modified one or more additional details.

12. A mobile device, comprising:

a network interface communicatively coupled to a network;

a location determination device configured to identify a location of the mobile device;

a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface and the location determination device; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

execute a text messaging application;

detect one or more unique characters or pictures in a message through the text messaging application, the one or more unique characters or pictures comprisng emojis, emoticons, buttons, or icons representing an associated functionality, application or service;

execute one or more functionality or services through an application of a plurality of applications separate from the text messageing application automatically responsive to detection of the one or more unique characters or pictures in the message, wherein the text messaging application is configured to interact with the plurality of applicaitons via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) based on the detection of the one or more unique characters or pictures;

extract one or more additional details included in the message from the message; and

provide the one or more additional details from the text messaging application to the application via a corresponding API, wherein the one or more additional details are associated with the one or more unique characters or pictures, wherein both the one or more unique characters or pictures and the one or more additional details are displayed in the message with the one or more additional details displayed subsequent to the one or more unique characters,

wherein the plurality of applications comprise a reminder application, a calendar application, a mapping applicaton, a checklist application, and an address book.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the one or more unique characters or pictures represent one or more of:

a delegated task and the one or more additional details include the description of the delegated task;

an invite to do something together and the one or more additional details include a description of the invite;

a reminder or a calendar event and the one or more additional details comprise a date and/or time;

a location and the one or more additional details comprise a geographic location, store, restaurant, or landmark;

a checklist and the one or more additional details comprise one or more entries for the checklist; and

any item and the one or more additional details include the content passed to an Application Program Interface (API)-ready application related to the item.