Providing an indication that a user of a communications system is composing a message

• US 8,583,751 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crawford, James
• Primary Examiner(s): SHINGLES, KRISTIE D
• Application Number:
  US13/619,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20130173724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709/227
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

Systems and techniques for transferring a file from a first client associated with a first subscriber to a communications system to a second client associated with a second subscriber to the communications system by connecting from the first client to a communications system host; sending, through the communications system host, a request to the second client to establish a direct connection to the second client; when the second client accepts the request, establishing a direct connection to the second client that bypasses the communications system host; and transferring a file over the direct connection.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, using at least one processor, that a first user of a communication system is composing a first message to a second user of the communications system;

sending an indication to a client device associated with the second user that the first user of the communications system is currently composing the first message to the second user;

receiving a request to send the first message to the second user; and

sending the first message to the second user.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a notification.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication comprises an icon.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication comprises an additional message that specifies the first user is composing the first message.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising enabling display of a messaging interface at the client device associated with the second user, the messaging interface comprising:

a reading field configured to display messages; and

a writing field for composing messages.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the client device comprises a mobile device.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein sending the first message to the second user comprises sending the first message via a direct connection to the client device associated with the second user.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the messages comprises an instant message.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the request to send the first message to the second user comprises the first user selecting a send button.

11. A system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least on processor, cause the system to;

determine that a first user of a communication system is composing a first message to a second user of the communications system;

send an indication to a client device associated with the second user that the first user of the communications system is currently composing the first message to the second user; and

send the first message to the second user.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the indication comprises an additional message that specifies the first user is composing the first message.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the indication comprises an icon.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to enable display of a messaging interface at the client device associated with the second user, the messaging interface comprising:

a reading field configured to display messages; and

a writing field for composing messages.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to send the first message to the second user comprises sending the first message via a direct connection to the client device associated with the second user.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the client device comprises a mobile device.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is part of a server associated with the communications system.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the message comprises an instant message.

19. A method comprising:

displaying, by way of a display device of a first client device associated with a first user of a communications system, a message interface comprising;

a reading field configured to display messages; and

a writing field for composing messages;

determining, using at least one processor, that the first user is composing a message to a second user of the communications system;

sending an indication to a second client device associated with the second user that first user of the communication system is composing a message to the second user; and

sending the message to a server associated with the communication system.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

receiving an indication that the second user of the communication system is composing a second message to the first user;

displaying, in the message interface, an icon indicating the second user is composing the second message;

receiving the second message composed by the second user; and

displaying the second message in the reading field.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising displaying a typing message indicating that the second user is composing the second message.

22. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising sending the indication directly to the second client device via a direct connection with the second client device.

23. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising removing the icon indicating the second user is composing the second message from the message interface when the second user is no longer typing.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the first client device comprises a mobile phone.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer system to perform steps comprising:

displaying, by way of a display device of a first client device associated with a first user of a communications system, a message interface comprising;

a reading field configured to display messages; and

a writing field for composing messages;

determining that the first user is composing a message to a second user of the communications system;

sending an indication to a second client device associated with the second user that first user of the communication system is composing a message to the second user; and

sending the message to a server associated with the communication system.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 25, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to perform steps comprising:

sending the indication directly to the second client device via a direct connection with the second client device.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to perform steps comprising:

receiving an indication that the second user of the communication system is composing a second message to the first user;

displaying, in the message interface, an icon indicating the second user is composing the second message;

receiving the second message composed by the second user; and

displaying the second message in the reading field.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 27, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to perform steps comprising:

displaying a typing message indicating that the second user is composing the second message.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 27, wherein the first client device comprises a mobile.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone.