System and method for incorporating short message service (SMS) and multimedia messaging service (MMS) contacts into an instant messaging interface

• US 9,014,729 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2011
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Arnold, Scott, Vymenets, Leonid, Chen, Henry Yao-Tsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hua, Quan M
• Application Number:
  US13/224,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20120165049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/414.1, 455/557, 715/733, 715/730, 715/700, 715/752, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27467 Methods of retrieving data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A system and method are provided wherein SMS-only contacts are integrated into an IM environment. An IM contact list interface distinguishes between SMS and IM chats (and contacts), such that limitations and potential differential costs associated with the respective mediums can be identified. The system is also configured to route SMS messages into the IM contact list interface for later filtering and/or selection by the user. By providing SMS-specific categories with the IM contact list interface SMS integration operations such as routing of SMS messages can be controlled to avoid degrading the user'"'"'s experience.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile device having an instant message conversation user interface for an instant messaging application, the method comprising:

receiving, at the mobile device, a short message service message for a short message service application on the mobile device;

providing, on the mobile device, the received short message service message to the instant messaging application on the mobile device, the instant messaging application used for conducting instant messaging and being a separate application from the short message service application;

extracting, by the instant messaging application, the short service message and identifying a contact associated with the short message service message; and

displaying the short service message and the identified associated contact in a conversation instance of the instant message conversation user interface, wherein the instant message conversation user interface displays an indicator of a short message service protocol with the identified contact.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising enabling an entry to be added in a short message service category in an instant messaging contact list interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providing is initiated via selection of a menu option.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the providing is performed on a plurality of short message service messages concurrently.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of short message service messages relate to a same contact.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providing is performed at a plurality of predetermined times.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providing is performed on new short message service messages as each new short message service message is received.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying an entry in a pending short message service contacts category in an instant messaging contact list interface.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a contact is common to the short message service message and an entry in an instant messaging contact list interface; and

incorporating the short message service message into an instant messaging conversation associated with the entry.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by a computing device having an instant message conversation user interface for an instant messaging application, cause the computing device to operate to:

receive, at the mobile device, a short message service message for a short message service application on the mobile device;

provide, on the mobile device, the received short message service message to the instant messaging application on the mobile device, the instant messaging application used for conducting instant messaging and being a separate application from the short message service application;

extract, by the instant messaging application, the short service message and identify a contact associated with the short message service message; and

display the short service message and the identified associated contact in a conversation instance of the instant message conversation user interface, wherein the instant message conversation user interface displays an indicator of a short message service protocol with the identified contact.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 10, further comprising instructions for enabling an entry to be added in a short message service category in an instant messaging contact list interface.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the providing is initiated via selection of a menu option.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the providing is performed on a plurality of short message service messages concurrently.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of short message service messages relate to a same contact.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the providing is performed at a plurality of predetermined times.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the providing is performed on new short message service messages as each new short message service message is received.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 10, further comprising instructions for displaying an entry in a pending short message service contacts category in an instant messaging contact list interface.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 10, further comprising instructions for:

determining that a contact is common to the short message service message and an entry in an instant messaging contact list interface; and

incorporating the short message service message into an instant messaging conversation associated with the entry.

19. A mobile device comprising a processor, an instant message conversation user interface for an instant messaging application, and memory, the memory storing computer executable instructions that when executed cause the processor to operate to:

receive, at the mobile device, a short message service message for a short message service application on the mobile device;

provide, on the mobile device, the received short message service message to the instant messaging application on the mobile device, the instant messaging application used for conducting instant messaging and being a separate application from the short message service application;

extract, by the instant messaging application, the short service message and identify a contact associated with the short message service message; and

display the short service message and the identified associated contact in a conversation instance of the instant message conversation user interface, wherein the instant message conversation user interface displays an indicator of a short message service protocol with the identified contact.

20. The mobile device according to claim 19, further comprising instructions for enabling an entry to be added in a short message service category in an instant messaging contact list interface.

21. The mobile device according to claim 19, wherein the providing is initiated via selection of a menu option.

22. The mobile device according to claim 21, wherein the providing is performed on a plurality of short message service messages concurrently.

23. The mobile device according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of short message service messages relate to a same contact.

24. The mobile device according to claim 19, wherein the providing is performed at a plurality of predetermined times.

25. The mobile device according to claim 19, wherein the providing is performed on new short message service messages as each new short message service message is received.

26. The mobile device according to claim 19, further comprising instructions for displaying an entry in a pending short message service contacts category in an instant messaging contact list interface.

27. The mobile device according to claim 19, further comprising instructions for:

determining that a contact is common to the short message service message and an entry in an instant messaging contact list interface; and

incorporating the short message service message into an instant messaging conversation associated with the entry.