Relationship-based and context-based user interfaces for exchanging data

• US 8,762,891 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2009
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Wang, Winston, Buck, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): RIEGLER, PATRICK F
• Application Number:
  US12/368,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20090300549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,960 Days
• Field of Search: 715/853, 715/716, 715/751, 715/764, 715/810, 715/835, 715/864
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00

Abstract

A system and method for presenting an interface to a user of a mobile device, the interface allowing a user to identify and select data that is to be transmitted to another mobile device. In some embodiments, the interface generated by the system allows the user to select data for transmission based on relationship associations. The relationship associations, for example, may include pre-defined groupings of data that are tailored to a specific relationship between the user and another person. Accordingly, the user may employ the interface to quickly locate data that would be appropriate to transmit given the particular relationship between the user and the person to receive the data. In some embodiments, the interface generated by the system allows the user to select data for transmission based on context associations. Individual context associations may contain a smaller subset of data corresponding to a specific relationship association.

Claims

1. A method of identifying data to transmit from one mobile device to another mobile device, the method comprising:

presenting a root user interface on a display of the mobile device to a user,

wherein the root user interface has a plurality of graphical indicators that each correspond to a type of relationship between the user of the mobile device and another individual, and

wherein each of the plurality of graphical indicators also have an associated set of data that is related to the corresponding type of relationship;

receiving a selection from the user of one of the plurality of graphical indicators;

presenting a secondary user interface on the display of the mobile device to the user,

wherein the secondary user interface corresponds to the graphical indicator selected by the user and displays the associated set of data that is related to the type of relationship reflected by the selected graphical indicator,

wherein the associated set of data includes at least two data items that are selectable for transmission to another mobile device, and

wherein the associated set of data that is related to the type of relationship is determined by analyzing the contents of the set of data;

and receiving a selection from the user of a data item of the displayed set of data for transmission to a mobile device of an individual having the type of relationship with the user reflected by the selected graphical indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the selected data item of the displayed set of data to the mobile device of the other individual.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selected data item of the displayed set of data is automatically transmitted after selection.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the selected data item of the displayed set of data is transmitted after receiving a confirmation from the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of relationship comprises social, personal, and business relationships.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of relationship includes a default relationship.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical indicators comprise radial sectors on the display.

8. A method of identifying data to transmit from one mobile device to another mobile device, the method comprising:

presenting a root user interface on a display of a mobile device to a user,

wherein the root user interface has a plurality of display sections that each correspond to a type of relationship between the user of the mobile device and another individual, and

wherein each of the plurality of display sections represents a grouping of data stored on the mobile device that is related to the type of relationship;

presenting a graphical indicator representing a contextual association on at least one of the plurality of display sections,

wherein the graphical indicator is associated with a subset of data selected from the grouping of data corresponding to that display section, and

wherein the subset of data that is selected from the grouping of data is determined by analyzing the contents of the grouping of data;

receiving an input from the user corresponding to a selection of the context association; and

transmitting the subset of data associated with the selected context association to a mobile device of an individual having the type of relationship reflected by the display section of the selected context association.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting the subset of data is carried out wirelessly.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting the subset of data occurs without any further user intervention.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the type of relationship is a social relationship and the contextual association is a social networking context, and wherein the subset of data pertains to the social networking context.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the type of relationship is a business relationship and the contextual association is a business card, and wherein the subset of data pertains to the business card.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the type of relationship is a personal relationship and the contextual association is an electronic payment, and wherein the subset of data pertains to the electronic payment.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of display sections are radial sectors on the display.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the graphical indicator of the contextual associations comprises an icon.

16. A system for incorporation in a mobile device to allow a user to identify data to transmit from the mobile device to another mobile device, the system comprising:

a memory storing computer-executable instructions of;

an interface component configured to;

present a root user interface on a display of a mobile device to a user,

wherein the root user interface has a plurality of display sections that each correspond to a type of relationship between the user of the mobile device and another individual, and

wherein each of the plurality of display sections represents a grouping of data stored on the mobile device that is related to the type of relationship; and

present a graphical indicator representing a contextual association on at least one of the plurality of display sections,

wherein the graphical indicator is associated with a subset of data selected from the grouping of data corresponding to that display section, and

wherein the subset of data is determined by programmatically analyzing the contents of the grouping of data; and

an input component for receiving an input from the user corresponding to a selection of the context association,

wherein the input component is configured to retrieve the subset of data associated with the selected context association and to provide the retrieved subset of data for transmission to a mobile device of an individual having the type of relationship of the display section of the selected context association; and

a processor for executing the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the transmission of the subset of data is carried out wirelessly.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the transmission of the subset of data occurs without any further user intervention.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the type of relationship is a social relationship and the contextual association is a social networking context, and wherein the subset of data pertains to the social networking context.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the type of relationship is a business relationship and the contextual association is a business card, and wherein the subset of data pertains to the business card.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the type of relationship is a personal relationship and the contextual association is an electronic payment, and wherein the subset of data pertains to the electronic payment.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of display sections are radial sectors on the display.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the graphical indicator of the contextual associations comprises an icon.