Communication system and method

• US 8,489,691 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skype S.Ã R.L. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Blackburn, Helen, McLaughlin, Mark, Eardley, Rachel, Laasik, Marek, Kaal, Madis
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chambers, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US12/455,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20100060788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/206, 345/667, 379/399.01, 379/88.17, 715/92, 715/792, 348/563
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4728 for selecting a Region Of Interest [ROI], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

A method of initiating a communication event via a packet-based communication network in a media appliance having a processor executing a communication client, comprising: retrieving a stored list comprising a plurality of contacts associated with a user of the communication client; generating a first two-dimensional contact grid comprising a first arrangement of entries; displaying the first contact grid on a display means such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, wherein the graphical representations are sized so as to fit in the entries of the first contact grid; receiving a selection of a subset of the graphical representations in the first contact grid from a user of the communication client; generating a second contact grid comprising a second arrangement of entries corresponding to the selected subset; displaying the second contact grid on the display means in replacement of the first contact grid, such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, and wherein the graphical representations are resized so as to fit in the entries of the second contact grid; receiving a selection of one of the graphical representations in the second contact grid from the user of the communication client; and initiating a communication event with the contact represented by the selected graphical representation via the packet-based communication network.

Claims

1. A method of initiating a communication event via a packet-based communication network in a media appliance having a processor executing a communication client, comprising:

retrieving a stored list comprising a plurality of contacts associated with a user of the communication client;

generating a first two-dimensional contact grid comprising a first arrangement of entries;

displaying the first contact grid on a display means such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, wherein the graphical representations are of equal size and are sized so as to fit in the entries of the first contact grid;

receiving a selection of a subset of the graphical representations in the first contact grid from a user of the communication client, the subset being two or more of the graphical representations in the first contact grid, the subset being highlighted by a movable selection box which shows which graphical representations will be displayed on a next zoom level;

generating a second contact grid comprising a second arrangement of entries corresponding to the selected subset;

displaying the second contact grid on the display means in replacement of the first contact grid, such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, and wherein the graphical representations are of equal size and are resized so as to fit in the entries of the second contact grid;

receiving a selection of one of the graphical representations in the second contact grid from the user of the communication client; and

initiating a communication event with the contact represented by the selected graphical representation via the packet-based communication network.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving commands to move the movable selection box in two-dimensions on the first contact grid from the user of the communication client.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical representations comprise information regarding the respective contact comprising at least one of a user identity, a picture for representing the respective contact, presence information, and text data defined by the respective contact.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising upon resizing the graphical representations so as to fit in the entries of the second contact grid, determining whether additional information regarding the respective contact is able to be displayed in the graphical representations.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising prior to generating the first contact grid, determining whether the number of contacts in the plurality of contacts is smaller than the number of entries in the first contact grid, and if so, reducing the dimensions of the first contact grid to the smallest extent such that the number of entries in the first contact grid remains greater than or equal to the number of contacts.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising prior to generating the first contact grid, determining whether the number of contacts in the plurality of contacts is larger than a predetermined maximum number of entries in the first contact grid, and if so, selecting a group of contacts from the plurality of contacts to be displayed in the first contact grid, wherein the number of contacts in the group of contact equals the predetermined maximum.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising receiving a command from the user to scroll the display of the first contact grid, such that the contacts in the plurality of contacts not in the group of contacts are displayed in the grid.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving alphanumeric data from the user and filtering the displayed graphical representations to display only the graphical representations of contacts matching the alphanumeric data.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a command from the user to revert to the display of the first contact grid.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a further selection of a subset of the graphical representations in the second contact grid from a user of the communication client;

generating a third contact grid comprising a third arrangement of entries corresponding to the selected subset; and

displaying the third contact grid on the display means in replacement of the second contact grid, such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, and wherein the graphical representations are resized so as to fit in the entries of the third contact grid.

11. A method according claim 1, wherein the communication event is one of a voice call, video call and instant message conversation.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication event is established via a peer-to-peer connection in the packet based communication network

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the display means is a television set.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the media appliance comprises one of television set, a set-top box arranged to connect to a television set, a video disc player arranged to connect to a television set, a personal video recorder arranged to connect to a television set, and a games console arranged to connect to a television set.

15. A computer program product, embodied on a computer-readable storage memory, comprising program code which, when executed by a computer implement a method comprising:

retrieving a stored list comprising a plurality of contacts associated with a user of a communication client;

generating a first two-dimensional contact grid comprising a first arrangement of entries;

displaying the first contact grid on a display means such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, wherein the graphical representations are sized so as to fit in the entries of the first contact grid;

receiving a selection of a subset of the graphical representations in the first contact grid from a user of the communication client, the subset being two or more of the graphical representations in the first contact grid, the subset being highlighted by a movable selection box which shows which graphical representations will be displayed on a next zoom level;

generating a second contact grid comprising a second arrangement of entries corresponding to the selected subset;

displaying the second contact grid on the display means in replacement of the first contact grid, such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, and wherein the graphical representations are resized so as to fit in the entries of the second contact grid;

receiving a selection of one of the graphical representations in the second contact grid from the user of the communication client; and

initiating a communication event with the contact represented by the selected graphical representation via the packet-based communication network.

16. A media appliance, comprising:

a memory storing a communication client application;

a processor, coupled to the memory and operable to execute the communication client application, wherein the client application is programmed so as when executed to allow a user to establish a call with one or more other users via a packet-based communication network and output display signals to generate a user interface for display on a display means,

wherein the media appliance is arranged to retrieve a stored list comprising a plurality of contacts associated with the user of the communication client, generate a first two-dimensional contact grid comprising a first arrangement of entries, output display signals to display the first contact grid on the user interface such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, wherein the graphical representations are sized so as to fit in the entries of the first contact grid, receive a selection of a subset of the graphical representations in the first contact grid from a user of the communication client, the subset being two or more of the graphical representations in the first contact grid, the subset being highlighted by a movable selection box which shows which graphical representations will be displayed on a next zoom level, generate a second contact grid comprising a second arrangement of entries corresponding to the selected subset, output display signals to display the second contact grid on the display means in replacement of the first contact grid, such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, and wherein the graphical representations are resized so as to fit in the entries of the second contact grid, receive a selection of one of the graphical representations in the second contact grid from the user of the communication client, and initiate a communication event with the contact represented by the selected graphical representation via the packet-based communication network.

17. A media appliance according to claim 16, further comprising a remote control unit comprising at least one wireless communication means arranged to transmit data to the processor, a control means coupled to the wireless communication means and configured to control the wireless communication means, and user input means coupled to the control means and arranged to receive input commands from the user and provide the input commands to the control means.

18. A media appliance according to claim 17, wherein the selection of a subset of the graphical representations in the first contact grid and the selection of one of the graphical representations in the second contact grid are received at the control means from the user input means, and transmitted to the communication client using the at least one wireless communication means.

19. A media appliance according to claim 17, wherein the at least one wireless communication means comprises at least one of a radio transmitter and an infra-red transmitter.

20. A media appliance according to claim 16, wherein the communication client application is arranged to decode audio and video packets received at the processor over the packet-based communication network as audio and video data.

21. A media appliance according to claim 16, wherein the communication client application is arranged to encode audio and video signals received at the processor as voice over internet protocol packets and video packets for transmission over the packet-based communication network.

22. A method of initiating a communication event via a packet-based communication network in a media appliance having a processor executing a communication client, comprising:

retrieving a stored list comprising a plurality of contacts associated with a user of the communication client;

generating a first two-dimensional contact grid comprising a first arrangement of entries;

displaying the first contact grid on a display means such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, wherein the graphical representations are sized so as to fit in the entries of the first contact grid;

receiving a selection of a subset of the graphical representations in the first contact grid from a user of the communication client, the subset being two or more of the graphical representations in the first contact grid, the subset being highlighted by a movable selection box which shows which graphical representations will be displayed on a next zoom level;

generating a second contact grid comprising a second arrangement of entries corresponding to the selected subset;

displaying the second contact grid on the display means in replacement of the first contact grid, such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, and wherein the graphical representations are resized so as to fit in the entries of the second contact grid;

receiving a selection of one of the graphical representations in the second contact grid from the user of the communication client; and

initiating a communication event with the contact represented by the selected graphical representation via the packet-based communication network, wherein the communication event is one of a voice call, video call and instant message conversation.