Multimodal interface for mobile messaging

• US 20060053379A1
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ramakrishnan, T. S., Henderson, Irvin, Sanjeeva, Naveen D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,587,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A system and method are directed towards providing a user interface for controlling a communication mode of a client device. The interface enables a user to set a presence and/or a communications mode, which the client device communicates to other devices directly or via an intermediary server. The presence generally reflects the user'"'"'s availability, communication capability, desire to communicate, and the like. The presence can be directly or indirectly associated with the communication mode, which can comprise SMS, IM, email voice, and the like. The interface includes a contact list an enables the user to select a mode to communicate with a contact. The communication modes associated with each contact can also be incorporated into and displayed in an email address book. The interface also indicates the communication mode of each incoming and outgoing message in conversations with one or more other client devices.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user interface for controlling a communication mode, comprising:

displaying on a first client device a plurality of presences, each of which at least partially indicates a user'"'"'s availability to communicate through the first client device;

enabling the user of the first client device to select a presence from the plurality of presences;

enabling the user of the first client device to select a communication modes; and

providing at least one of the selected presence and the selected communication mode to a second client device with which the first client device communicates.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of presences further indicates at least one of a communication capability of the first client device and a user'"'"'s desire to communicate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication mode comprises one of a short message service mode, a multimedia message service mode, an instant message mode, a voice instant message mode, and email mode, and a voice communications mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the user to select the communication mode comprises at least one of:

enabling the user to select the communication mode as a preference in the first client device; and

enabling the user to select the communication mode to initiate communication with a contact associated with the second client device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing comprises at least one of:

communicating the selected presence and the communication mode directly to the second client device; and

communicating the selected presence to an intermediary device that communicates the selected presence to the second client device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least one communication mode with which the second client device can communicate with the first client device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of contacts with which the first client device can communicate; and

displaying at least one communication mode in association with each of the plurality of contacts indicating the at least one communication mode with which each of the plurality of contacts can communicate with the first client device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least one communication mode in association with each of a plurality of contacts in an email address book of the first client device that includes a contact for the user of the second client device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an indication of the selected communication mode in association with at least one of an incoming message and an outgoing message in a conversation session with the second client device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying a plurality of conversation sessions on the first client device.

11. A computer readable medium storing electronic device instructions that cause an electronic device to perform the actions of claim 1.

12. A client device for providing a user interface for controlling a communication mode comprising:

a display;

a transceiver for receiving and sending information to another computing device;

a processor in communication with the processor and storing data and machine instructions that cause the processor to perform a plurality of operations, including;

displaying a plurality of presences, each of which at least partially indicates a user'"'"'s availability to communicate through the client device;

enabling the user of the client device to select a presence from the plurality of presences;

enabling the user of the client device to select a communication mode; and

providing at least one of the selected presence and the selected communication mode to a second client device with which the client device communicates.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of presences further indicates at least one of a communication capability of the first client device and a user'"'"'s desire to communicate.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication mode comprises one of a short message service mode, a multimedia message service mode, an instant message mode, a voice instant message mode, an email mode, and a voice communications mode.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operations of:

enabling the user to select the communication mode as a preference in the client device; and

enabling the user to select the communication mode to initiate communication with a contact associated with the second client device.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operations of:

communicating the selected presence and the communication mode directly to the second client device; and

communicating the selected presence to an intermediary device that communicates the selected presence to the second client device.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operations of:

displaying a plurality of contacts with which the client device can communicate; and

displaying at least one communication mode in association with each of the plurality of contacts indicating the at least one communication mode with which each of the plurality of contacts can communicate with the client device.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of displaying at least one communication mode in association with each of a plurality of contacts in an email address book of the first client device that includes a contact for the user of the second client device.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of displaying an indication of the selected communication mode in association with at least one of an incoming message and an outgoing message in a conversation session with the second client device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of displaying a plurality of conversation sessions on the first client device.