Graphical messaging system

• US 20060212831A1
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: What People Love
• Original Assignee: What People Love
• Inventors: Fogg, Brian J.
• Application Number:
  US11/262,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20060212831A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method and system is described herein for messaging on a computer using a communications interface. The communications interface includes a section which displays graphics representing receivers and senders of messages. The communications interface also includes a section which facilitates the user to create, send, receive, and archive messages. Messages are created from audio or typed inputs from the user. A user communicates with other users over a network, such as the Internet.

Claims

1. A method of creating and sending a message, comprising:

displaying a message interface having a selectable recording function and sending function, on a computer screen;

recording a verbal message when a user selects the recording function; and

sending the verbal message to a recipient when the user selects the sending function.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising displaying an icon representing the recipient.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein when the icon is selected by the user, the message interface is displayed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein text of the verbal message is displayed on the message interface as the verbal message is being recorded.

5. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising sending a text version of the verbal message to the recipient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the recording function is executed from a mouse-click on an icon.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the sending function is executed from a mouse-click on an icon.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the message interface also has a selectable stopping function.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the message interface also has a selectable playing function.

10. A method of communicating, comprising:

selecting on a computer screen a recipient identifier by moving a cursor to the recipient identifier utilizing an input device and clicking utilizing the input device;

recording a verbal message directly after selecting the recipient identifier, when selecting a recording function on the computer screen; and

sending the verbal message to at least one recipient, represented by the recipient identifier, when selecting a sending function on the computer screen.

11. A computer program comprising a computer-useable medium having computer-readable program code embedded therein for creating and sending a message, comprising:

computer-readable program code configured to display a message interface having a selectable recording function and sending function, on a computer screen;

computer-readable program code configured to record a verbal message when a user selects the recording function; and

computer-readable program code configured to send the verbal message to a recipient when the user selects the sending function.

12. A system for creating and sending a message, comprising at least one client computer system configured to:

display a message interface having a selectable recording function and sending function, on a computer screen;

enable a user to record a verbal message when a user selects the recording function; and

enable a user to send the verbal message to a recipient when the user selects the sending function.

13. A system for creating and sending a message, comprising a plurality of client computer systems configured to:

display a message interface having a selectable recording function and sending function, on a computer screen;

enable a user to record a verbal message when a user selects the recording function;

enable a user to send the verbal message to a recipient when the user selects the sending function;

at least one server computer system configured to facilitate sending the message; and

at least one network to transmit the message thereon.