System and Method for Conducting Private Messaging

• US 20150288633A1
• Filed: 04/04/2014
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: OGUNDOKUN, Remi Wesley, HUNGERFORD, Sean, LO, Jessica
• Granted Patent: US 9,544,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

A system method are provided for enabling private messaging. The method comprises displaying a first messaging user interface with at least one contact, the first messaging user interface comprising at least one element identifying messaging participants; detecting a first input at the first messaging user interface, to enter a private conversation with the at least one contact; and displaying a second messaging user interface, the second messaging user interface modifying the at least one element to conceal an identity of at least one messaging participant in the second messaging user interface.

Claims

1. A method of messaging comprising:

displaying a first messaging user interface with at least one contact, the first messaging user interface comprising at least one element identifying messaging participants;

detecting a first input at the first messaging user interface, to enter a private conversation with the at least one contact; and

displaying a second messaging user interface, the second messaging user interface modifying the at least one element to conceal an identity of at least one messaging participant in the second messaging user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying comprises concealing the identity of all messaging participants.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying at least one private message in the second messaging user interface;

detecting an event ending the private conversation; and

removing display of the at least one private message when displaying the first messaging user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input comprises receipt of an invitation from the at least one contact.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising detecting a second input accepting the invitation prior to displaying the second messaging user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input comprises selection of an option to enter the private conversation, the method further comprising sending an invitation to the at least one contact.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an indication that the at least one contact has accepted the invitation prior to displaying the second messaging user interface.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second messaging user interface is not displayed until after receiving acceptance of the invitation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein regular messages normally exchanged using the first messaging interface are permitted while awaiting a response to the invitation.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising concealing private messages displayed in the second messaging user interface during a private conversation.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the concealing comprises any one or more of:

fading the content, removing the private message after a period of time, encoding the content, and hiding the content.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one element comprises any one or more of an avatar, a name, and a status message.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein private messages exchanged while displaying the second messaging user interface are modified to remove identifying information of the contact or user.

14. The method of claim 3, wherein the event ending the private conversation comprises detecting a navigation away from the second messaging user interface.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions for messaging, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

displaying a first messaging user interface with at least one contact, the first messaging user interface comprising at least one element identifying messaging participants;

detecting a first input at the first messaging user interface, to enter a private conversation with the at least one contact; and

displaying a second messaging user interface, the second messaging user interface modifying the at least one element to conceal an identity of at least one messaging participant in the second messaging user interface.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the modifying comprises concealing the identity of all messaging participants

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for:

displaying at least one private message in the second messaging user interface;

detecting an event ending the private conversation; and

removing the at least one private message and displaying the first messaging user interface.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for concealing private messages displayed in the second messaging user interface during a private conversation.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein private messages exchanged while displaying the second messaging user interface are modified to remove identifying information of the contact or user.

20. An electronic device comprising a processor, a display, and memory, the memory comprising computer executable instructions for causing the processor to enable messaging on the electronic device, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

displaying a first messaging user interface with at least one contact, the first messaging user interface comprising at least one element identifying messaging participants;

detecting a first input at the first messaging user interface, to enter a private conversation with the at least one contact; and

displaying a second messaging user interface, the second messaging user interface modifying the at least one element to conceal an identity of at least one messaging participant in the second messaging user interface.