System and Method for Incorporating Short Message Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) Contacts into an Instant Messaging Interface

• US 20120165049A1
• Filed: 09/02/2011
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Arnold, Scott, Vymenets, Leonid, Chen, Henry Yao-Tsu
• Granted Patent: US 9,014,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27467 Methods of retrieving data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A system and method are provided wherein SMS-only contacts are integrated into an IM environment. An IM contact list interface distinguishes between SMS and IM chats (and contacts), such that limitations and potential differential costs associated with the respective mediums can be identified. The system is also configured to route SMS messages into the IM contact list interface for later filtering and/or selection by the user. By providing SMS-specific categories with the IM contact list interface SMS integration operations such as routing of SMS messages can be controlled to avoid degrading the user'"'"'s experience.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile device, the method comprising:

routing a short message service (SMS) message to an IM application; and

displaying data associated with the SMS message as an entry in an IM contact list interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising enabling the entry to be added as an SMS contact in an SMS category in the IM contact list interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the routing is initiated via selection of a menu option.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the routing is performed on a plurality of SMS messages concurrently.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of SMS messages relate to a same contact.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the routing is performed at a plurality of predetermined times.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the routing is performed on new SMS messages as each new SMS message is received.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising updating a pending SMS contacts category in the IM contact list interface.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a contact is common to the SMS message and another entry in the IM contact list interface; and

incorporating the SMS message into an IM conversation associated with the other entry.

10. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to operate to:

route a short message service (SMS) message to an IM application; and

display data associated with the SMS message as an entry in an IM contact list interface.

11. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, further comprising instructions for enabling the entry to be added as an SMS contact in an SMS category in the IM contact list interface.

12. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the routing is initiated via selection of a menu option.

13. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the routing is performed on a plurality of SMS messages concurrently.

14. The computer readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of SMS messages relate to a same contact.

15. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the routing is performed at a plurality of predetermined times.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the routing is performed on new SMS messages as each new SMS message is received.

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, further comprising instructions for updating a pending SMS contacts category in the IM contact list interface.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, further comprising instructions for:

determining that a contact is common to the SMS message and another entry in the IM contact list interface; and

incorporating the SMS message into an IM conversation associated with the other entry.

19. A mobile device comprising a processor and memory, the memory storing computer executable instructions that when executed cause the processor to operate to:

route a short message service (SMS) message to an IM application; and

display data associated with the SMS message as an entry in an IM contact list interface.

20. The mobile device according to claim 19, further comprising instructions for enabling the entry to be added as an SMS contact in an SMS category in the IM contact list interface.

21. The mobile device according to claim 19, wherein the routing is initiated via selection of a menu option.

22. The mobile device according to claim 21, wherein the routing is performed on a plurality of SMS messages concurrently.

23. The mobile device according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of SMS messages relate to a same contact.

24. The mobile device according to claim 19, wherein the routing is performed at a plurality of predetermined times.

25. The mobile device according to claim 19, wherein the routing is performed on new SMS messages as each new SMS message is received.

26. The mobile device according to claim 19, further comprising instructions for updating a pending SMS contacts category in the IM contact list interface.

27. The mobile device according to claim 19, further comprising instructions for:

determining that a contact is common to the SMS message and another entry in the IM contact list interface; and

incorporating the SMS message into an IM conversation associated with the other entry.