USER INTERFACE FOR MANAGING COMMUNICATION SESSIONS

• US 20110296312A1
• Filed: 12/27/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: ROESSLER, FRANK, BUKAUSKAS, NARUNAS, BOYER, DAVID G., GEPPERT, BIRGIT, DINH-TRONG, TRUNG, KLEIST, THOMAS, COOMBS, TOM
• Granted Patent: US 9,158,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for displaying a user interface for managing communication sessions on a communication device. A system configured to practice the method displays, on a first side portion of the user interface, a first set of user-configurable communication information. The system displays, a second side portion of the user interface, a second set of user-configurable communication information. The system displays, on a center portion of the user interface, a communication work space for managing communication sessions. In one embodiment including a touch sensitive display, this interface is used with a tablet device such that a natural position of user'"'"'s thumbs are in an optimal position to interact efficiently with the user interface. The side portions can be user-configurable to display, for example, contacts, calendar events, tasks, memos, and so forth.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a user interface for managing communication sessions on a communications device, the method comprising:

displaying, on a first side portion of the user interface, a first set of user-configurable communication information;

displaying, on a second side portion of the user interface, a second set of user-configurable communication information; and

displaying, on a center portion of the user interface, a communication work space comprising an active spotlight region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications device receives user input via a touch sensitive display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of user-configurable communication information and the second set of user-configurable communication information each comprise at least one of contact information, schedule information, current communication session information, applications, and other multimedia communication features.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the contact information comprises at least one of a name, phone number, email address, instant messaging address, social media link, an image, presence information, relationship information, business information, personal notes, and other communication links.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the contact information is presented based on at least one of alphabetical order and frequency of use.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein frequency of use is further based on at least one of topic, project, and recency of use.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein a trust level between a user and a particular contact restricts which pieces of contact information are displayed for the particular contact.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein at least part of the contact information is organized into expandable groups.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first side portion of the user interface is on a left side of a display, and the second side portion of the user interface is on a right side of the display.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of user-configurable communication information and the second set of user-configurable communication information are displayed as a first fan of items and a second fan of items.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving from a user a touch input directed to one of the first fan of items and the second fan of items; and

scrolling the one of the first fan of items and the second fan of items based on the touch input.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication work space displays at least one current communication session.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying controls and settings based on the at least one current communication session.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving user input to toggle from an active communication session from a first current communication session to a second communication session;

setting the second communication session as the active communication session; and

updating the communication work space to reflect the active communication session.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying on the first side portion of the user interface an index associated with the first set of user-configurable communication information.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a notification bar.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the notification bar comprises at least one of alerts, a time, a date, a reminder, a current user status, a current user presence.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a media menu of communication modalities.

19. A communications device having a touch-based user interface, the user interface comprising:

a processor;

a touch sensitive display;

a display module configured to output on a first side portion of the touch sensitive display, a first set of user-configurable communication information, to output on a second side portion of the touch sensitive display a second set of user-configurable communication information, to output on a center portion of the touch sensitive display a communication work space; and

a user input module configured to receive user input via the touch sensitive display; and

an interaction module configured to update the touch sensitive display based on the user input.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to display an interface for managing communication sessions, the instructions comprising:

displaying, on a first side portion of the user interface, a first set of user-configurable communication information;

displaying, on a second side portion of the user interface, a second set of user-configurable communication information; and

displaying, on a center portion of the user interface, a communication work space.