Method, apparatus and computer program product providing graphical user interface that facilitates management of multiple simultaneous communication sessions

• US 20060148512A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Leinonen, Katja H., Koort, Tiiu, Ekholm, Anne, Tuomainen, Kimmo T., Kuusinen, Jarmo, Kalliokulju, Satu
• Granted Patent: US 8,285,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5009 Adding a party to an existing conference conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/563 User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

In one aspect thereof the exemplary embodiments of this invention provide a user interface for a communication terminal. The user interface provides at least one of a first view and a second view that provide a user with a visual representation of, at least, a type of at least one ongoing communication, participants in the at least one ongoing communication, and whether content is being shared with participants of the at least one ongoing communication.

Claims

1. A user interface for a communication terminal, comprising at least one of a first view and a second view that provide a user with a visual representation of, at least, a type of at least one ongoing communication, participants in the at least one ongoing communication, and whether content is being shared with participants of the at least one ongoing communication.

2. A user interface as in claim 1, where the communication terminal is comprised of a wireless communication terminal.

3. A user interface as in claim 1, further comprising a control for initiating a sharing of content with participants of an ongoing communication during the ongoing communication.

4. A user interface as in claim 1, further comprising a control for adding a participant to an ongoing communication during the ongoing communication.

5. A user interface as in claim 1, further comprising a control for initiating a new type of communication with the participants during an ongoing communication.

6. A user interface as in claim 1, further comprising a control for initiating a new communication with at least one other participant during an ongoing communication.

7. A user interface as in claim 1, further comprising a control for switching between ongoing communications.

8. A device, comprising a data processor coupled to a user interface and operable to establish at least one of a Workspace view and a Sessions view that provide a user with a visual representation of, at least, a type of at least one ongoing communication, participants in the at least one ongoing communication, and whether content is being shared with participants of the at least one ongoing communication.

9. A device as in claim 8, comprised of a wireless communication terminal.

10. A device as in claim 8, where said user interface further comprises a control for initiating a sharing of content with participants of an ongoing communication during the ongoing communication.

11. A device as in claim 8, where said user interface further comprises a control for adding a participant to an ongoing communication during the ongoing communication.

12. A device as in claim 8, where said user interface further comprises a control for initiating a new type of communication with the participants during an ongoing communication.

13. A device as in claim 8, where said user interface further comprises a control for initiating a new communication with at least one other participant during an ongoing communication.

14. A device as in claim 8, where said user interface further comprises a control for switching between ongoing communications.

15. A computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising program instructions executable by a data processor, said program instructions operable to cause said data processor to manage a user interface function and to establish at least one of a Workspace view and a Sessions view that provide a visual representation of, at least, a type of at least one ongoing communication, participants in the at least one ongoing communication, and whether content is being shared with participants of the at least one ongoing communication.

16. A computer program product as in claim 15, where the computer readable medium is embodied in a wireless communication terminal.

17. A computer program product as in claim 15, where said user interface function comprises a control for initiating a sharing of content with participants of an ongoing communication during the ongoing communication.

18. A computer program product as in claim 15, where said user interface function comprises a control for adding a participant to an ongoing communication during the ongoing communication.

19. A computer program product as in claim 15, where said user interface function comprises a control for initiating a new type of communication with the participants during an ongoing communication.

20. A computer program product as in claim 15, where said user interface function comprises a control for initiating a new communication with at least one other participant during an ongoing communication.

21. A computer program product as in claim 15, where said user interface function comprises a control for switching between ongoing communications.

22. A terminal, comprising a processor means coupled to user interface means and operable to provide a user with a visual representation of, at least, a type of at least one ongoing communication, participants in the at least one ongoing communication, and whether content is being shared with participants of the at least one ongoing communication.

23. A terminal as in claim 22, comprised of a wireless communication terminal.

24. A terminal as in claim 22, further comprising at least one control means for at least one of:

initiating a sharing of content with participants of an ongoing communication during the ongoing communication;

adding a participant to an ongoing communication during the ongoing communication;

initiating a new type of communication with the participants during an ongoing communication;

initiating a new communication with at least one other participant during an ongoing communication; and

switching between ongoing communications.

25. A terminal as in claim 22, where one view comprises a Workspace view that comprises a user interface space for providing access to various possible communication means, as well as to enriching means for a specific communication session.

26. A terminal as in claim 25, where said enriching means comprises means for sharing content with at least one participant in a communication.

27. A terminal as in claim 22, where one view comprises a Sessions view that comprises a user interface space for providing information pertaining to active communication sessions, and that further enables operation of session management-related tasks.

28. A terminal as in claim 22, where information related to one communication session is presented in a bubble.

29. A terminal as in claim 28, where the presented information comprises session participants, comprising at least one of an individual'"'"'s name and an identification of a group of individuals.

30. A terminal as in claim 28, where said user interface means comprises control means for enabling a user to scroll between bubbles.

31. A terminal as in claim 28, where said user interface means comprises means, responsive to an event occurring within a session, for indicating the occurrence of the event in the associated bubble.

32. A method operable with a user interface function, comprising:

establishing at least one of a first view and a second view to provide a visual representation of, at least, a type of at least one ongoing communication, participants in the at least one ongoing communication, and whether content is being shared with participants of the at least one ongoing communication;

displaying at least one of the first view and the second view to a user of a communication device; and

responding to user activation of at least one control to manage operation of at least one ongoing communication.

33. A method as in claim 32, where in response to user activation of a control, initiating a sharing of content with participants of an ongoing communication during the ongoing communication.

34. A method as in claim 32, where in response to user activation of a control, adding a participant to an ongoing communication during the ongoing communication.

35. A method as in claim 32, where in response to user activation of a control, initiating a new type of communication with the participants during an ongoing communication.

36. A method as in claim 32, where in response to user activation of a control, initiating a new communication with at least one other participant during an ongoing communication.

37. A method as in claim 32, where in response to user activation of a control, switching between ongoing communications.

38. A method as in claim 32, where the first view is comprised of a Workspace view, and where the second view is comprised of a Sessions view.

39. A method as in claim 32, where there are a plurality of simultaneously ongoing communications.