FAMILY CHAT
First Claim
1. A method for displaying a group conversation transpiring over a communications network, the method comprising:
- receiving a contribution message from one of at least three members of a conversation group via a sending device being one of a plurality of communications devices associated with the conversation group, the plurality of communications devices comprising;
a hub system associated with all the members of the conversation group and disposed within a local network; and
a plurality of member devices, each associated with one of the at least three members of the conversation group and configured to communicate with the hub system from locations external to the local network,determining, at a rendering device, whether the sending device is the rendering device, the rendering device being one of the plurality of communications devices and comprising a display having a first region designated for rendering contribution messages originating from the rendering device and a second region designated for rendering contribution messages originating from other than the rendering device;
when the sending device is the rendering device, rendering the contribution message to the first region of the display; and
when the sending device is not the rendering device, rendering the contribution message to the second region of the display.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for handling graphical interfacing with a group conversation involving a communications hub and multiple member devices. Embodiments provide a “family chat” communications mode for facilitating a synchronous conversation among all the members of the designated family group. Typically, the conversation may involve a user supersystem (e.g., including one or more graphical communications devices) associated with the family and disposed with the family'"'"'s local network, and member devices associated with each member of the family group (e.g., cell phones, etc). In some embodiments, the family chat conversation is displayed (e.g., rendered) as a substantially continuous feed graphically indicating the party contributing each message to the feed, the temporal relationship of the various contributions, and other useful information.
113 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for displaying a group conversation transpiring over a communications network, the method comprising:
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receiving a contribution message from one of at least three members of a conversation group via a sending device being one of a plurality of communications devices associated with the conversation group, the plurality of communications devices comprising; a hub system associated with all the members of the conversation group and disposed within a local network; and a plurality of member devices, each associated with one of the at least three members of the conversation group and configured to communicate with the hub system from locations external to the local network, determining, at a rendering device, whether the sending device is the rendering device, the rendering device being one of the plurality of communications devices and comprising a display having a first region designated for rendering contribution messages originating from the rendering device and a second region designated for rendering contribution messages originating from other than the rendering device; when the sending device is the rendering device, rendering the contribution message to the first region of the display; and when the sending device is not the rendering device, rendering the contribution message to the second region of the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A hub system for displaying a group conversation transpiring over a communications network, the hub system disposed within a local portion of the communications network, the hub system comprising:
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an input subsystem, configured to receive a first contribution message via an input device from a first member of a conversation group comprising at least three members; a contribution processing subsystem, communicatively coupled with the input subsystem, and configured to; receive the first contribution message from the first member of the conversation group via the input subsystem; and receive a second contribution message from a second member of the conversation group via a member device, the hub system associating the member device with the second member; and an output subsystem, communicatively coupled with the contribution processing subsystem, and configured to; display at least a portion of the first contribution message to a first region of a display device, the first region designated for displaying contribution messages originating from the input subsystem as internal messages; and display at least a portion of the second contribution message to a second region of the display device, the second region designated for displaying contribution messages originating from other than the input subsystem as external messages. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A member device for displaying a group conversation transpiring over a communications network, the member device comprising:
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an input subsystem, configured to receive a first contribution message via an input device from a first member of a conversation group comprising at least three members; a contribution processing subsystem, communicatively coupled with the input subsystem, and configured to; receive the first contribution message from the first member of the conversation group via the input subsystem; and receive a second contribution message from a second member of the conversation group via a hub system associated with the conversation group; receive a third contribution message from a third member of the conversation group via a second member device; determine a first graphical identifier corresponding to the hub system; and determine a second graphical identifier corresponding to the second member device; and an output subsystem, communicatively coupled with the contribution processing subsystem, and configured to; render the first contribution message to a first region of a display device by displaying an unidentified speech bubble containing at least a portion of the first contribution message; render the second contribution message to a second region of the display device by displaying a first identified speech bubble containing at least a portion of the second contribution message and displaying the first graphical identifier in visual correspondence with the first identified speech bubble; and render the third contribution message to the second region of the display device by displaying a second identified speech bubble containing at least a portion of the third contribution message and displaying the second graphical identifier in visual correspondence with the first identified speech bubble.
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Specification