Method and apparatus for switching between concurrent messaging sessions

• US 20060288107A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Klassen, Gerhard D., Wisebourt, Shaul
• Granted Patent: US 9,514,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conducting at least two concurrent conversation sessions is provided whereby a user may quickly switch between sessions. A graphical user interface may be provided comprising a first portion for conducting a first communication session and a second portion for immediately invoking a switch to a second communication session. In operation, the first portion of the graphical user interface is switched to immediately conduct said second communication session in response to a user input to invoke the switch. The second component can display notifications for concurrent session activities and a particular notification selected by a user to invoke the switch.

Claims

1. A method for operating a communication device to conduct at least two concurrent communication sessions comprising:

providing a graphical user interface comprising a first portion for conducting a first communication session and a second portion for immediately invoking a switch to a second communication session; and

switching said first portion of the graphical user interface to immediately conduct said second communication session in response to a user input to invoke said switch.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising displaying notifications defined in response to activities of at least said second communication session, said notifications displayed in said second portion while said first communication session is conducted in said first portion.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said user input includes a selection of a particular notification associated with the second communication session and wherein said switching is responsive to said selection.

4. The method of claim 2 comprising defining said notifications in response to said activities, said notifications comprising an activity originator portion and an activity portion.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said second component is adapted to queue and facilitate user navigation of said notifications and wherein said method comprises receiving user input to select a particular notification from said notifications.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two communication sessions comprise individual instant messaging sessions.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said second communication session is a selected one of two or more other communications sessions being concurrently conducted with the first communication session.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing comprises displaying said second component adjacent a message composition portion of the first component.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing comprises hiding said second component in response to the absence of a notification defined in response to an activity of a one of said communication sessions.

18. A machine readable medium comprising program code means executable on a computer processor for implementing the method of claim 1.

10. An communications apparatus for conducting concurrent communication sessions, said apparatus comprising:

a communications subsystem for sending and receiving messages for the concurrent communication sessions;

a storage device for storing instructions and data; and

a processor coupled to said storage device and said communications subsystem, said storage device storing instructions and data to configure the processor to;

provide a graphical user interface comprising a first portion for conducting a first communication session and a second portion for immediately invoking a switch to a second communication session; and

switch said first portion of the graphical user interface to immediately conduct said second communication session in response to a user input to invoke said switch.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the instructions and data configure the processor to display notifications defined in response to activities of at least said second communication session, said notifications displayed in said second portion while said first communication session is conducted in said first portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the instructions and data configure the processor to receive said user input including a selection of a particular notification associated with the second communication session and wherein said switching is responsive to said selection.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the instructions and data configure the processor to define said notifications in response to said activities, said notifications comprising an activity originator portion and an activity portion.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the instructions and data configure the processor to queue and facilitate user navigation of said notifications and to receive user input to select a particular notification from said notifications.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least two communication sessions comprise individual instant messaging sessions.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the instructions and data configure the processor to hide the display of the second component in response to the absence of a notification defined in response to an activity of a one of said communication sessions.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the instructions and data configure the processor to display said second component adjacent a message composition portion of the first component.