Handling an audio conference related to a text-based message

• US 8,583,729 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2012
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mousseau, Gary Phillip, Ng, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): MIRZA, ADNAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/409,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20120164998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/204
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/102 Gateways arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1093 by adding participants; by removing participants
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4015 where at least one of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. white board sharing, collaboration or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4046 with distributed floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast

Abstract

A client for a text-based messaging application for a dual-mode mobile communication device may initiate an audio conference based on a text-based message. Contents of fields of the text-based message may be extracted and utilized to construct an audio conference request message that is subsequently transmitted to an audio conference gateway. Where the text-based messaging application is an instant messaging (IM) client application, it may be configured to recognize a voice connection as being related to an ongoing Data Mode IM conversation. As a consequence of the recognition, the IM client application may maintain the user interface for facilitating participation in the Voice Mode IM conversation. Updates related to the status of the Voice Mode IM conversation may be received at the dual-mode mobile communication device over the voice connection and reflected in changes to the user interface.

Claims

1. A method for creating a graphical user interface, the method performed by a mobile device comprising a processor and a memory encoded with program instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the mobile device to perform the method, the method comprising:

presenting on a display of the mobile device a plurality of group names each associated with a conference of a plurality of conferences;

determining a status for each of the plurality of conferences, and

indicating on the display for each of the plurality of group names a status of the associated conference, wherein at least one conference status is voice mode and at least one conference status is data mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining connection capabilities of each of one or more conference participants, wherein the connection capabilities include data mode, voice mode, or both data and voice mode; and

presenting on the display an expanded group name including the one or more conference participants and one or more icons indicative of the determined connection capabilities for each of the one or more conference participants.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

presenting on the display the expanded group name further including one or more potential conference participants and for each potential conference participant presenting on the display an icon indicative of voice mode.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a first menu on the display including an open session command, that when executed opens a session associated with a first group name, of the plurality of group names.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the session is an instant messaging session.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

presenting on the display the instant messaging session including at least a portion of one or more text based messages;

presenting a second menu on the display including a change to voice option, that when executed causes the mobile device to generate and send a change request to an audio conference gateway;

establishing a voice connection with the audio conference gateway as part of a voice conference; and

updating the status of the first group name to indicate voice mode.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one of one or more potential conference participants become participants in the voice conference.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said voice connection is a public switched telephone network (PSTN) connection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein status for each of the conferences are selected from a group consisting of:

inviting, invited, accepting, accepted, data mode, voice mode, idle, closing, and closed.

10. A mobile device for creating a graphical user interface, the device comprising:

a processor;

a display; and

a memory storing computer instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile device to perform a method, the method comprising;

presenting on the display of the mobile device a plurality of group names each associated with a conference of a plurality of conferences,

determining a status for each of the plurality of conferences, and

indicating on the display for each of the plurality of group names a status of the associated conference, wherein at least one conference status is voice mode and at least one conference status is data mode.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the memory is further encoded with executable program instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method further comprising:

determining connection capabilities of each of one or more conference participants, wherein the connection capabilities include data mode, voice mode, or both data and voice mode; and

presenting on the display an expanded group name including the one or more conference participants and one or more icons indicative of the determined connection capabilities for each of the one or more conference participants.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the memory is further encoded with executable program instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method further comprising presenting on the display the expanded group name further including one or more potential conference participants and for each potential conference participant presenting on the display an icon indicative of voice mode.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the memory is further encoded with executable program instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method further comprising presenting a first menu on the display including an open session command, that when executed opens a session associated with a first group name, of the plurality of group names.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the session is an instant messaging session.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the memory is further encoded with executable program instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method further comprising:

presenting on the display the instant messaging session including at least a portion of one or more text based messages;

presenting a second menu on the display including a change to voice option, that when executed causes the mobile device to generate and send a change request to an audio conference gateway;

establishing a voice connection with the audio conference gateway as part of a voice conference; and

updating the status of the first group name to indicate voice mode.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one of one or more potential conference participants become participants in the voice conference.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein said voice connection is a public switched telephone network (PSTN) connection.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein status for each of the conferences are selected from a group consisting of:

inviting, invited, accepting, accepted, data mode, voice mode, idle, closing, and closed.

19. A graphical user interface stored on one or more non-transitory computer readable mediums storing computer instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the mobile device to present the graphical user interface on a display, the graphical user interface comprising:

a plurality of group names each associated with a conference of a plurality of conferences; and

an indication on the display for each of the plurality of group names of a status of the associated conference, wherein at least one conference status is voice mode and at least one conference status is data mode.