Expandable Graphical Icon for Response to Electronic Text Transmission

• US 20150312180A1
• Filed: 03/31/2015
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jordan H. Taler
• Original Assignee: Jordan H. Taler
• Inventors: Taler, Jordan H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,716,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes

Abstract

A graphical user interface utility for message data sent from a sender personal communications device to a recipient personal communications device displays a base response prompt, according to an instruction from the sender, in the message data that appears on the recipient personal communications device. The graphical user interface utility changes the appearance of the base response prompt when the base response prompt is selected by the recipient by displaying one or more recipient-actuable selection elements along with the message content. At least one of the one or more recipient-actuable selection elements has an associated response signal that is transmitted back to the sender according to recipient selection.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface utility for message data sent from a sender personal communications device to a recipient personal communications device, wherein the graphical user interface utility displays a base response prompt, according to an instruction from the sender personal communications device, in the message data that appears on the recipient personal communications device;

wherein the graphical user interface utility changes the appearance of the base response prompt when the base response prompt is selected by a recipient by displaying one or more recipient-actuable selection elements along with the message content; and

wherein at least one of the one or more recipient-actuable selection elements has an associated response signal that is transmitted back to the sender device according to the recipient selection.

2. The utility of claim 1 wherein the recipient-actuable selection element is a selectable screen button.

3. The utility of claim 2 wherein the associated response signal is transmitted immediately upon recipient selection.

4. The utility of claim 2 wherein the associated response signal is transmitted along with the recipient'"'"'s entered message reply.

5. The utility of claim 1 wherein the associated response signal relates to a corresponding text response to the base response prompt.

6. The utility of claim 1 wherein the base response prompt further displays in the message data that appears on the sender personal communications device.

7. The utility of claim 1 wherein the base response prompt further changes its appearance according to the recipient selection.

8. A graphical user interface utility for eliciting and acquiring a response to an inquiry in an electronic message sent from a first personal communications device of a message sender to a second personal communications device of a message recipient,

the utility executing on a processor on each of the first and second personal communications devices and actuable to display, according to instructions from the sender, a base response prompt to the recipient in the received message on the second personal communications device,

wherein, in response to selection of the base response prompt by the recipient, the utility displays an expanded response prompt on the second personal communications device,

wherein the expanded response prompt comprises a set of one or more selection elements, wherein each member of the set of selection elements has an associated response signal,

and wherein, following selection of a selection element of the expanded response prompt by the recipient, the utility transmits the corresponding response signal back from the second personal communications device to the first personal communications device as the response to the inquiry.

9. The graphical user interface utility of claim 8 wherein the electronic message comprises one or more text characters.

10. The graphical user interface utility of claim 8 wherein the base response prompt is a first base response prompt and the expanded response prompt is a first expanded response prompt and the set of selection elements is the first set of selection elements,

and wherein recipient selection of one member of the first set of selection elements for the first base response prompt causes the utility to display a second base response prompt in the message body of the received message,

wherein, in response to selection of the second base response prompt, the utility displays a second expanded response prompt that comprises a second set of one or more selection elements, wherein each member of the second set of selection elements has an associated response signal.

11. The graphical user interface utility of claim 8 wherein instructions to configure the selection elements of the expanded response prompt are inserted into the electronic message from the first personal communications device.

12. The graphical user interface utility of claim 8 wherein instructions to configure the selection elements of the expanded response prompt are stored on the second personal communications device of the recipient.

13. A method for obtaining a response from a message recipient, the method comprising:

a) receiving, from an electronic message sender at a first personal communications device, an electronic message for display to the message recipient at a second personal communications device;

b) displaying, in response to a received instruction encoded within the electronic message, a base response prompt along with the electronic message on the second personal communications device;

c) responding to recipient selection of the base response prompt by displaying a set of one or more recipient-actuable selection elements within the electronic message on the second personal communications device, wherein each member of the set of recipient-actuable selection elements has an associated response signal; and

d) responding to recipient selection of one member of the set of recipient-actuable selection elements by transmitting the corresponding associated response signal from the second personal communications device to the first personal communications device of the electronic message sender.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the electronic message is a text message.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein selection by the recipient is done using a touch screen.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the response signal is transmitted back to the first personal communications device separately from transmitting a text response to the electronic message.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the response signal is transmitted back to the first personal communications as part of a text response to the electronic message.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the one or more recipient-actuable selection elements have associated text entered by the sender.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the set of recipient-actuable selection elements comprises an adjustable element that provides a variable value.