Method and system for providing virtual messenger service

• US 8,554,194 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jae-Hwan, Kim, Jung-Hun
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TIMOTHY X
• Application Number:
  US11/768,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20070298777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,296 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/420
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

Provided are a method and a system for providing a virtual messenger service between a mobile communication terminal and a computer. The method includes executing a virtual messenger program for controlling a function of a mobile communication terminal, and receiving a telephone directory provided within the mobile communication terminal; displaying a messenger window when receiving a request for activating the messenger window that collectively includes the telephone directory and menus; generating a communication event message related with a selected telephone number of the other party; and transmitting the generated event message to the mobile communication terminal, and displaying a notification of a communication event to an other party.

Claims

1. A method for providing a virtual messenger service in a computer, the method comprising:

executing a virtual messenger program for controlling a function of a mobile communication terminal, and receiving a phonebook list having a plurality of telephone numbers from the mobile communication terminal, when the mobile communication terminal accesses the computer;

displaying a Trayicon expressing a state where the virtual messenger service is available, in a tray area of a screen of the computer prior to displaying a messenger window, when the mobile communication terminal completes an access to the computer by executing the virtual messenger program;

displaying the messenger window when receiving a request for activating the messenger window that collectively includes the phonebook list and menus for controlling the function of the mobile communication terminal;

generating a communication event message for data or an outgoing call to a selected telephone number of an other party when the telephone number is selected from the phonebook list; and

transmitting the generated communication event message to the mobile communication terminal for notifying a communication event to the other party;

determining whether there is the communication event received from the mobile communication terminal in a state where the virtual messenger program is executed; and

displaying a notification of the receipt of the communication event in a pop-up window form on a screen of the computer, when determining that there is the received communication event.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the virtual messenger program is installed in the mobile communication terminal, when the mobile communication terminal accesses the computer; and

installing the virtual messenger program in the mobile communication terminal, when it is determined that the virtual messenger program is not installed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for activating the messenger window is performed by double-clicking the Trayicon with a mouse.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the generation of the communication event message comprises:

displaying a message input window;

converting a format of a created message to a format recognizable by the mobile communication terminal, when the message is created by a user in the message input window; and

generating the communication event message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the messenger window displays an icon including at least one of a letter envelope shape expressing a character message item of the mobile communication terminal, a telephone shape expressing a telephone call item, and a folder shape expressing a file item.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a voice call is performed through a headset connected to the computer when the received communication event is an incoming call.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the messenger window displays an icon based on at least one of a letter envelope shape expressing a character message item of the mobile communication terminal, a telephone shape expressing a telephone call item, and a folder shape expressing a file item.

8. A system for providing a virtual messenger service between a mobile communication terminal and a computer, the system comprising:

the computer for activating the virtual messenger service for controlling a function of the mobile communication terminal and receiving a phonebook list having a plurality of telephone numbers from the mobile communication terminal, when the mobile communication terminal accesses the computer, and generating a communication event message for data or an outgoing call to a selected telephone number of an other party and transmitting the communication event message to the mobile communication terminal, when the telephone number of the other party is selected in a messenger window collectively including the phonebook list and menus for controlling the function of the mobile communication terminal; and

the mobile communication terminal for synchronizing with the computer and transmitting the phonebook list to the computer when accessing the computer, and receiving the communication event message from the computer for notifying a communication event to the other party,

wherein the computer displays a Trayicon for expressing a state where the virtual messenger service is available, in a tray area of a screen of the computer prior to displaying the messenger window, when the mobile communication terminal completes an access to the computer by executing a virtual messenger program,

wherein the computer displays a notification of the receipt of the communication event in a pop-up window form on a screen of the computer, upon receiving the communication event from the mobile communication terminal in a state where the virtual messenger program is executed.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the mobile communication terminal attempts a call connection to the selected telephone number when receiving the communication event message from the computer.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the mobile communication terminal transmits a short message to the selected telephone number through a Short Message Service (SMS) technique when the communication event message received from the computer is the short message.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer displays a message input window when the telephone number of the other party is selected, and converts a format of a created message to a format recognizable by the mobile communication terminal when the message is created by a user in the message input window, thereby generating the communication event message.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer determines whether a virtual messenger program is installed in the mobile communication terminal when the mobile communication terminal accesses the computer, and installs the virtual messenger program in the mobile communication terminal upon determining that the virtual messenger program is not installed.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the mobile communication terminal determines whether the virtual messenger program is installed in the computer when accessing the computer, and installs the virtual messenger program in the computer upon determining that the virtual messenger program is not installed.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the messenger window displays an icon including at least one of a letter envelope shape for expressing a character message item of the mobile communication terminal, a telephone shape for expressing a telephone call item, and a folder shape for expressing a file item.