Integrated instant messaging and web browsing client and related methods

• US 8,290,541 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Microfolio Data LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Marsh, Shaun, Schultz, Michael, Headley, Paul, Kehoe, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Cho, Un C
• Application Number:
  US12/799,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20100279720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/406, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/552.1, 455/566, 455/90.1, 705/51, 709/203, 709/206, 709/207
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

An integrated web browser, instant messaging system is presented. The system operates on mobile devices and other types of embedded devices. The system is an integrated instant messaging and web browsing application controlled by an embedded application on a mobile device. Today most web browsers, instant messaging, and other programs are separate or discrete applications that are executed on an either/or type of situation. The present system provides an integrated application environment that is a single application that shares data between instant messaging and web browser sub-modules, which allows users to simultaneously message and browse. The system may also be deployed as part of an overall method for enhancing safety and producing revenue for communications networks.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions corresponding to an embedded application on the mobile device that integrates a messaging function and a browsing function; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to;

control an activity thread corresponding to the messaging function substantially simultaneously with an activity thread corresponding to the browsing function;

cause display of messages received or sent resulting from the activity thread corresponding to the messaging function on a first portion of a monitor substantially simultaneously with a display of webpage data resulting from the activity thread corresponding to the browsing function on a second portion of the monitor; and

switch the display of messages received or sent on the first portion of the monitor with the display of webpage data on the second portion of the monitor in response to an input.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions corresponding to the embedded application to wirelessly transmit an outbound text message to a second device or to wirelessly receive an inbound text message from the second device.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to corresponding to the embedded application to cause display of a notification icon in response to wirelessly receiving the inbound text message.

4. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions to corresponding to the embedded application to wirelessly transmit a request for content to a global communications network.

5. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions corresponding to the embedded application to wirelessly receive the content from the global communications network.

6. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions corresponding to the embedded application to wirelessly receive only approved content from the global communications network.

7. A device, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions corresponding to messaging application and a browsing application; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to;

control an activity thread corresponding to the messaging application substantially simultaneously with an activity thread corresponding to the browsing application;

cause display of data resulting from the activity thread corresponding to the messaging application substantially simultaneously with a display of data resulting from the activity thread corresponding to the browsing application;

cause display of the data resulting from the activity thread corresponding to the messaging application on a first portion of a display screen; and

cause display of the data resulting from the activity thread corresponding to the browsing application on a second portion of the display screen; and

switch display of the data resulting from the activity thread corresponding to the messaging function from the first portion to the second portion of the display screen substantially simultaneously with switching display of the data resulting from the activity thread corresponding to the browsing function from the second portion to the first portion of the display screen.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

means for storing instructions corresponding to an application embedded on the apparatus that integrates a messaging function and a browsing function;

means for managing an activity thread resulting from execution of the instructions corresponding to the messaging function substantially simultaneously with an activity thread resulting from execution of the instructions corresponding to the browsing function;

means for displaying messages received or sent corresponding to the activity thread corresponding to the messaging function on a first portion of a display substantially simultaneously with displaying web data corresponding to the browsing function on a second portion of the display; and

means for switching the display of messages received or sent on the first portion of the display with the display of webpage data on the second portion of the display in response to an input.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

means for wirelessly transmitting an outbound text message to a device; and

means for wirelessly receiving an inbound text message from the device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for displaying a notification icon in response to wirelessly receiving the inbound text message.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for wirelessly transmitting a request for content to a global communications network.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for wirelessly receiving the content from the global communications network.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for blocking the content from display in response to disapproving the content.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

means for storing instructions corresponding to a messaging application and a browsing application;

means for managing an activity thread resulting from execution of the instructions corresponding to the messaging application substantially simultaneously with an activity thread resulting from execution of the instructions corresponding to the browsing application;

means for displaying data of the activity thread corresponding to the messaging application substantially simultaneously with displaying data of the browsing application;

means for displaying the data corresponding to the messaging application on a first portion of a display screen;

means for displaying the data corresponding to the browsing application on a second portion of the display screen; and

means for switching display of the data corresponding to the messaging application from the first portion to the second portion of the display screen substantially simultaneously with switching display of the data corresponding to the browsing application from the second portion to the first portion of the display screen.

15. A method, comprising:

controlling an activity thread corresponding to a messaging function operating on a mobile device substantially simultaneously with controlling an activity thread corresponding to a browsing function operating on the mobile device;

displaying messages received or sent resulting from controlling the activity thread corresponding to the messaging function on a first portion of a screen substantially simultaneously with displaying web data resulting from controlling the activity thread corresponding to the browsing function on a second portion of the screen; and

switching displaying messages received or sent on the first portion of the screen with displaying webpage data on the second portion of the screen in response to an input;

wherein the messaging function and the browsing function are integrated in an application operating on the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising wirelessly transmitting an outbound text message to a second device or wirelessly receiving an inbound text message from the second device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying a notification icon in response to wirelessly receiving the inbound text message.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising wirelessly transmitting a request for content to a global communications network.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising wirelessly receiving the content from the global communications network.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising wirelessly receiving only approved content from the global communications network.

21. The method of claim 15, substantially simultaneously executing instructions corresponding to the messaging application and instructions corresponding to the browsing application.

22. A method comprising:

controlling an activity thread corresponding to a messaging application operating on a device substantially simultaneously with controlling an activity thread corresponding to a browsing application operating on the device;

displaying data resulting from controlling the activity thread corresponding to the messaging application substantially simultaneously with displaying data resulting from controlling the activity thread corresponding to the browsing application;

displaying the data corresponding to the messaging application on a first portion of a display screen; and

displaying the data corresponding to the browsing application on a second portion of the display screen; and

switching display of the data corresponding to the messaging application from the first portion to the second portion of the display screen substantially simultaneously with switching display of the data corresponding to the browsing application from the second portion to the first portion of the display screen.