Occasionally-Connected Computing Interface

• US 20150012848A1
• Filed: 07/02/2014
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LivePerson Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LivePerson Incorporated
• Inventors: Barak, Matan, Kehat, Arnon-Naftally, Yagil, Noam
• Granted Patent: US 9,331,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• 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

Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for allowing a user to switch between interfacing with a service through a network or through short message service (SMS). A chat service is executed through which a first user at a first computer can communicate directly with a second user at a second computer. A request is received from the first computer to enable the first user to interface with the chat service through a mobile device of the first user using SMS instead of through the network using the first computer. The chat service is configured to interface with the mobile device through SMS, including communicating chat information through SMS to the first user'"'"'s mobile device, and communicating control information through SMS to the first user'"'"'s mobile device such that the first user can control a full functionality of the chat service using SMS.

Claims

1. A computerized method for allowing a user to switch between interfacing with a service through a network or through short message service (SMS), the method comprising:

executing, by a server computer, a chat service through which a first user at a first computer can communicate directly with a second user at a second computer, both the first computer and the second computer communicating with the chat service through a network;

receiving from the first computer, by the server computer, a request to enable the first user to interface with the chat service through a mobile device of the first user using short message service (SMS) instead of through the network using the first computer; and

configuring, by the server computer, the chat service to interface with the mobile device through SMS, comprising;

communicating chat information through SMS to the first user'"'"'s mobile device and communicating chat information through the network to the second computer such that the second user is unaware the first user switched to using the mobile device instead of the first computer; and

communicating control information through SMS to the first user'"'"'s mobile device such that the first user can control a full functionality of the chat service using SMS.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the first user'"'"'s mobile device to interface with the chat service at a third computer instead of the mobile device;

configuring the chat service to interface with the third computer, comprising;

communicating chat information through the network to the third computer and communicating chat information through the network to the second computer such that the second user is unaware that the first user switched to using the third computer instead of the mobile device, and

communicating control information through the network to the third computer such that the first user can use the full functionality of the chat service using the network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein configuring the chat service to interface with the first user comprises:

maintaining any chat sessions between the first user and the second user, any other users, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request comprises:

receiving a request from the first user to change a status of the first user from online mode to mobile mode.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

sending all communications to the first user'"'"'s mobile device using SMS.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an SMS request from the first user'"'"'s mobile device to start a chat conversation with a third user at a third computer; and

communicating chat information through SMS to the first user'"'"'s mobile device and communicating chat information to the third computer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating chat information through SMS to the first computer comprises:

receiving a chat message from the second computer; and

transmitting, using SMS, the chat message, and a chat identifier to the first user'"'"'s mobile device.

8. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer program product including instructions being configured to cause a data-processing apparatus to:

execute a chat service through which a first user at a first computer can communicate directly with a second user at a second computer, both the first computer and the second computer communicating with the chat service through a network;

receive from the first computer a request to enable the first user to interface with the chat service through a mobile device of the first user using short message service (SMS) instead of through the network using the first computer; and

configure the chat service to interface with the mobile device through SMS, comprising;

communicating chat information through SMS to the first user'"'"'s mobile device and communicating chat information through the network to the second computer such that the second user is unaware the first user switched to using the mobile device instead of the first computer; and

communicating control information through SMS to the first user'"'"'s mobile device such that the first user can control a full functionality of the chat service using SMS.

9. A server computer for allowing a user to switch between interfacing with a service through a network or through short message service (SMS), comprising a processor and memory configured to:

execute a chat service through which a first user at a first computer can communicate directly with a second user at a second computer, both the first computer and the second computer communicating with the chat service through a network;

receive from the first computer a request to enable the first user to interface with the chat service through a mobile device of the first user using short message service (SMS) instead of through the network using the first computer; and

configure the chat service to interface with the mobile device through SMS, comprising;

communicating chat information through SMS to the first user'"'"'s mobile device and communicating chat information through the network to the second computer such that the second user is unaware the first user switched to using the mobile device instead of the first computer; and

communicating control information through SMS to the first user'"'"'s mobile device such that the first user can control a full functionality of the chat service using SMS.