System and Method for Managing Messages In Conversational-Type Messaging Applications

• US 20130157701A1
• Filed: 02/18/2013
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: PARRETT, John Bennett, RIDDLE, Francis Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,700,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A system and method are provided for managing messages in conversational-type messaging applications. To provide continuity across all conversations with a particular recipient, an existing or not-yet-created 1:1 conversation can be populated with 1:Many messages that include the same recipient in the list of addressees. In this way, any 1:1 chat or conversation with a particular recipient will contain all correspondences with that recipient, regardless of whether the message was sent or received in a 1:1 or 1:Many context. As such, the user has access to all information that has been exchanged with that recipient in one messaging screen to avoid the need to traverse multiple messaging screens to obtain the context or information related to the recipient that the user requires.

Claims

1. A method of messaging on a communication device, the method comprising:

determining from a first message addressed to a plurality of recipient addresses that the communication device does not include a one-to-one conversation with a first recipient address;

storing the first message;

determining that a first new one-to-one conversation with the first recipient address has been created; and

adding the first message to the first new one-to-one conversation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising discarding at least one previously stored message associated with the first recipient address to accommodate storing the first message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining from the first message that the communication device has previously stored an existing one-to-one conversation with at least one second recipient address; and

adding the first message to the corresponding existing one-to-one conversation with each of the at least one second recipient address.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding at least one previously stored additional message to the first new one-to-one conversation.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining from the first message that the communication device has not previously stored a one-to-one conversation with a third recipient address;

determining that a second new one-to-one conversation with the third recipient address has been created; and

adding the first message to the second new one-to-one conversation.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising one of detecting the first message as the first message is being sent, and detecting the first message as the first message is received.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first message is an outgoing short message service message being sent to a plurality of short message service recipient addresses.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first message is an instant message being sent to a plurality of instant messaging recipient addresses.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first message is stored in a record for the first recipient address.

10. A communication device comprising a processor, a communication subsystem, and a messaging application stored in memory, the messaging application executing computer executable instructions stored in memory to:

determine from a first message addressed to a plurality of recipient addresses that the communication device does not include a one-to-one conversation with a first recipient address;

store the first message;

determine that a first new one-to-one conversation with the first recipient address has been created; and

add the first message to the first new one-to-one conversation.

11. The communication device of claim 10, the messaging application further executing instructions to discard at least one previously stored message associated with the first recipient address to accommodate storing the first message..

12. The communication device of claim 10, the messaging application further executing instructions to:

determine from the first message that the communication device has previously stored an existing one-to-one conversation with at least one second recipient address; and

add the first message to the corresponding existing one-to-one conversation with each of the at least one second recipient address.

13. The communication device of claim 10, the messaging application further executing instructions to add at least one previously stored additional message to the first new one-to-one conversation..

14. The communication device of claim 10, the messaging application further executing instructions to:

determine from the first message that the communication device has not previously stored a one-to-one conversation with a third recipient address;

determine that a second new one-to-one conversation with the third recipient address has been created; and

add the first message to the second new one-to-one conversation.

15. The communication device according to claim 10, the messaging application further executing instructions to perform one of detecting the first message as the first message is being sent, and detecting the first message as the first message is received.

16. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the first message is an outgoing short message service message being sent to a plurality of short message service recipient addresses.

17. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the first message is an instant message being sent to a plurality of instant messaging recipient addresses.

18. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the first message is stored in a record for the first recipient address.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for messaging on a communication device, the computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

determining from a first message addressed to a plurality of recipient addresses that the communication device does not include a one-to-one conversation with a first recipient address;

storing the first message;

determining that a first new one-to-one conversation with the first recipient address has been created; and

adding the first message to the first new one-to-one conversation.