Unified and best messaging systems for communication devices

• US 8,644,462 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2013
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovation Company Limited Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Rukman, Jason, Heitzeberg, Joseph Edward, Hoover, Thomas Jay, Lowry, Ethan, Franklin, Patrick Greer
• Primary Examiner(s): ISLAM, MOHAMMAD K
• Application Number:
  US13/765,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20130150103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379 8813- 8818, 379/355, 379/88.11, 704/270, 455/466
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A unified messaging system which can provide messaging services for a plurality of different “message types” is disclosed. The unified messaging system can serve as a single interface to a number of messaging services provided by various messaging components which use different message types (e.g., mail server). A unified message type is implemented and presented to a user as an abstract message. In addition, the unified messaging system can automatically determine, based on a first selected feature, if one or more message types should be used. A particular message type can also be automatically selected as a “best message type” based on one or more selected options.

Claims

1. A handheld communication device for transmission of messages to recipient devices, the handheld communication device comprising:

a display; and

a processor configured, in at least one mode of message composition, to;

present a unified messaging interface to a user via the display for composition of messages which can be transmitted from the handheld communication device in at least two different transmittal message types, including a Short Message Service (SMS) transmittal message type and a Multimedia Message Service (MMS) transmittal message type; and

automatically select one or more transmittal message types from the at least two different transmittal message types based at least in part on whether a feature, associated with a message via said unified messaging interface, is supported by the one or more transmittal message types,

wherein, to perform the automatic selection of the one or more transmittal message types, the processor is configured to;

automatically select an appropriate transmittal message type, from the at least two different transmittal message types, to be used for the transmission of the message, when the message has one or more associated features which are supported by only one of the at least two different transmittal message types; and

automatically select a preferred transmittal message type, from the at least two different transmittal message types, to be used for the transmission of the message, when the message has one or more associated features which are supported by two or more of the at least two different transmittal message types.

2. The handheld communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured, in the at least one mode of message composition, to make one or more options available based on one or more of the capabilities of the at least two different transmittal message types, including at least one option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types.

3. The handheld communication device of claim 2, wherein the at least one option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types includes an option to send to an email address.

4. The handheld communication device of claim 2, wherein the at least one option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types includes an option to send a JPEG image.

5. The handheld communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured, in the at least one mode of message composition, to inhibit selection of a second option based on selection by the user of a first option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types during message composition, thus leaving one or more viable transmittal message types available, the second option not being supported by the one or more viable transmittal message types.

6. The handheld communication device of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured, in the at least one mode of message composition, to inhibit selection of an option to send a JPEG image based on only the SMS transmittal message type being left available as the one or more viable transmittal message types.

7. The handheld communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured, in the at least one mode of message composition, to inhibit use of at least one transmittal message type for the transmission of the message based on selection by the user of an option which is not supported by the at least one transmittal message type.

8. The handheld communication device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured, in the at least one mode of message composition, to automatically select the preferred transmittal message type or the appropriate transmittal message type during further message composition based on selection by the user of an option which is not supported by at least one of the at least two different transmittal message types.

9. The handheld communication device of claim 2, wherein the at least one option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types includes an option to send to an email address, and wherein the processor is configured, in the at least one mode of message composition, to inhibit use of the SMS transmittal message type based on selection by the user of the option to send to an email address.

10. The handheld communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least two different transmittal message types include a further transmittal message type in addition to the SMS transmittal message type and the MMS transmittal message type.

11. The handheld communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to automatically determine the preferred transmittal message type based on one or more user preference settings.

12. The handheld communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured, in the at least one mode of message composition, to automatically select the MMS transmittal message type when the message includes image content.

13. The handheld communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured, in the at least one mode of message composition, to automatically select the SMS transmittal message type to be the preferred transmittal message type when the message includes only text content.

14. The handheld communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured, in the at least one mode of message composition, to send the message using the SMS transmittal message type via a Short Message Service Center messaging server if the SMS transmittal message type is selected to be used for the transmission of the message, and send the message using the MMS transmittal message type via a Multimedia Messaging Service Center messaging server if the MMS transmittal message type is selected to be used for the transmission of the message.

15. The handheld communication device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two different transmittal message types corresponds to a different communications network path.

16. The handheld communication device of claim 15, wherein when the transmittal message type is an SMS transmittal message type, the message is sent via a communications network path including a Short Message Service Center and when the transmittal message type is an MMS transmittal message type, the message is sent via a communications network path including a Multimedia Messaging Service Center.

17. The handheld communication device of claim 1, wherein the unified messaging interface includes a unified messaging inbox in which both received SMS messages and received MMS messages are included.

18. The handheld communication device of claim 1, wherein the unified messaging interface is also for the viewing of one or more sent messages using the at least two different transmittal message types, and wherein the unified messaging interface does not indicate which of the at least two different transmittal message types was used for the one or more sent messages.

19. A method of operating a handheld communication device for transmission of messages to recipient devices, the handheld communication device comprising a display and at least one mode of message composition, the method comprising:

presenting a unified messaging interface to a user via the display for composition of messages which can be transmitted from the handheld communication device in at least two different transmittal message types, including a Short Message Service (SMS) transmittal message type and a Multimedia Message Service (MMS) transmittal message type; and

automatically selecting one or more transmittal message types from the at least two different transmittal message types based at least in part on whether a feature, associated with a message via said unified messaging interface, is supported by the one or more transmittal message types,

wherein the automatically selecting the one or more transmittal message types comprises;

automatically selecting an appropriate transmittal message type, from the at least two different transmittal message types, to be used for the transmission of the message, when the message has one or more associated features which are supported by only one of the at least two different transmittal message types; and

automatically selecting a preferred transmittal message type, from the at least two different transmittal message types, to be used for the transmission of the message, when the message has one or more associated features which are supported by two or more of the at least two different transmittal message types.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the unified messaging interface makes one or more options available based on one or more of the capabilities of the at least two different transmittal message types, including at least one option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two transmittal different message types includes an option to send to an email address.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types includes an option to send a JPEG image.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprises inhibiting selection of a second option based on selection by the user of a first option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types during message composition, thus leaving one or more viable transmittal message types available, the second option not being supported by the one or more viable transmittal message types.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprising inhibiting selection of an option to send a JPEG image based on only the SMS transmittal message type being left available as the one or more viable transmittal message types.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprises inhibiting use of at least one transmittal message type of the at least two different transmittal message types based on selection by the user of an option which is not supported by the at least one transmittal message type.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprises automatically selecting the preferred transmittal message type or automatically selecting the appropriate transmittal message type during further message composition based on selection by the user of an option which is not supported by at least one of the at least two different transmittal message types.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types includes an option to send to an email address, and wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprises inhibiting use of the SMS transmittal message type for the transmission of the message based on selection by the user of the option to send to an email address.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least two different transmittal message types include a further transmittal message type in addition to the SMS transmittal message type and said MMS transmittal message type.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the automatically selecting a preferred transmittal message type is based on one or more user preference settings.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the MMS transmittal message type is automatically selected when the message includes image content.

31. The method of claim 19, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the SMS transmittal message type is automatically selected to be the preferred transmittal message type when the message includes only text content.

32. The method of claim 19, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprises:

sending the message using the SMS transmittal message type via a Short Message Service Center messaging server if the SMS transmittal message type is selected to be used for the transmission of the message; and

sending the message using the MMS transmittal message type via a Multimedia Messaging Service Center messaging server if the MMS transmittal message type is selected to be used for the transmission of the message.

33. The method of claim 19, wherein each of the at least two different transmittal message types corresponds to a different communications network path.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprises:

sending the message via a communications network path including a Short Message Service Center when the transmittal message type is an SMS transmittal message type; and

sending the message via a communications network path including a Multimedia Messaging Service Center when the transmittal message type is an MMS transmittal message type.

35. The method of claim 19, wherein the unified messaging interface includes a unified messaging inbox in which both received SMS messages and received MMS messages are included.

36. The method of claim 19, comprising viewing one or more sent messages using the at least two different transmittal message types in the unified messaging interface, and wherein the unified messaging interface does not indicate which of the at least two different transmittal message types was used for the one or more sent messages.

37. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions thereon, the computer-readable instructions executable by a processor of a handheld communication device to perform a method for transmission of messages from the handheld communication device to recipient devices, the handheld communication device including a display and at least one mode of message composition, the method comprising:

presenting a unified messaging interface to a user via the display for the composition of messages which can be transmitted from the handheld communication device in at least two different transmittal message types, including a Short Message Service (SMS) transmittal message type and a Multimedia Message Service (MMS) transmittal message type; and

automatically selecting one or more transmittal message types from the at least two different transmittal message types based at least in part on whether a feature, associated with a message via said unified messaging interface, is supported by the one or more transmittal message types,

wherein the automatically selecting the one or more transmittal message types comprises;

automatically selecting an appropriate transmittal message type, from the at least two different transmittal message types, to be used for the transmission of the message, when the message has one or more associated features which are supported by only one of the at least two different transmittal message types; and

automatically selecting a preferred transmittal message type, from the at least two different transmittal message types, to be used for the transmission of the message, when the message has one or more associated features which are supported by two or more of the at least two different transmittal message types.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the unified messaging interface makes one or more options available based on one or more of the capabilities of the at least two different transmittal message types, including at least one option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the at least one option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types includes an option to send to an email address.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the at least one option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types includes an option to send a JPEG image.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprises inhibiting selection of a second option based on selection by the user of a first option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types during message composition, thus leaving one or more viable transmittal message types available, the second option not being supported by the one or more viable transmittal message types.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprises inhibiting selection of an option to send a JPEG image based on only the SMS transmittal message type being left available as the one or more viable transmittal message types.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprises inhibiting use of at least one transmittal message type of the at least two different transmittal message types based on selection by the user of an option which is not supported by the at least one transmittal message type.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprises automatically selecting the preferred transmittal message type or automatically selecting the appropriate transmittal message type during further message composition based on selection by the user of an option which is not supported by at least one of the at least two different transmittal message types.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the option which is not supported by one or more of the at least two different transmittal message types includes an option to send to an email address, and wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprises inhibiting use of the SMS transmittal message type for the transmission of the message based on selection by the user of the option to send to an email address.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the at least two different transmittal message types include a further transmittal message type in addition to the SMS transmittal message type and said MMS transmittal message type.

47. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the automatically selecting a preferred transmittal message type is based on one or more user preference settings.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the MMS transmittal message type is automatically selected when the message includes image content.

49. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the SMS transmittal message type is automatically selected to be the preferred transmittal message type when the message includes only text content.

50. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprises:

sending the message using the SMS transmittal message type via a Short Message Service Center messaging server if the SMS transmittal message type is selected to be used for the transmission of the message; and

sending the message using the MMS transmittal message type via a Multimedia Messaging Service Center messaging server if the MMS transmittal message type is selected to be used for the transmission of the message.

51. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein each of the at least two different transmittal message types corresponds to a different communications network path.

52. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 51, wherein, in the at least one mode of message composition, the method comprises:

sending the message via a communications network path including a Short Message Service Center when the transmittal message type is an SMS transmittal message type; and

sending the message via a communications network path including a Multimedia Messaging Service Center when the transmittal message type is an MMS transmittal message type.

53. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the unified messaging interface includes a unified messaging inbox in which both received SMS messages and received MMS messages are included.

54. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, comprising viewing one or more sent messages using the at least two different transmittal message types in the unified messaging interface, and wherein the unified messaging interface does not indicate which of the at least two different transmittal message types was used for the one or more sent messages.