Voice communications with real-time status notifications

• US 9,226,121 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WhatsApp LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: WhatsApp LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Inventors: Koum, Jan, Donohue, Michael B., Acton, Brian, Reed, Erik James, Stukalov, Dima
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M
• Application Number:
  US13/958,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20150038121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.2, 455/566, 455/567, 455/466
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2083 Confirmation by serviced party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0051 where the data service is a multimedia messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A system, apparatus, graphical user interface and methods are provided for conducting electronic voice communications with status notifications. A user of a first portable device executing a communication application selects a multi-function control that automatically initiates an audio recording, which is automatically sent toward another participant of an active communication session when the control is released. The same multi-function control may be used to transmit a textual message. A representation of the recording is displayed on the user'"'"'s device, with an indicator that changes appearance when the other participant plays the recording. In addition, when one user initiates an audio recording that will be automatically sent to another user, the other user'"'"'s device is advised of the initiation of recording and displays that status for the other user.

Claims

1. A method of providing real-time notifications of audio communication status, the method comprising:

receiving from a first device a first notification transmitted after commencement of an audio recording at the first device;

relaying, using a processor of a computing device, the first notification toward a second device during the recording of the audio at the first device, wherein the second device displays a status of the audio recording in response to the first notification;

transmitting the audio recording toward the second device;

receiving from the second device a second notification transmitted after commencement of playback of the audio recording at the second device; and

relaying, using the processor, the second notification toward the first device, wherein the first device changes a display of a status of the second device in response to the second notification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first notification is received from the first device and relayed to the second device in real-time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second notification is received from the second device and relayed to the first device in real-time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second notification is received from the second device and relayed to the first device during playback of the audio recording at the second device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the audio recording toward the second device comprises:

receiving the audio recording from the first device;

transmitting a textual message to the second device, wherein the textual message comprises a link associated with the audio recording; and

transmitting the audio recording toward the second device upon receipt of selection of the link from the second device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the first device a third notification transmitted upon termination of the audio recording at the first device; and

relaying the third notification to the second device, wherein the second device removes the status of the audio recording in response to the third notification.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein removing the status of the audio recording comprises replacing the status of the audio recording with a status of the first device that was displayed on the second device before the status of the audio recording was displayed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the status of the audio recording displayed on the second device is a textual message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the display of the status of the second device in response to the second notification comprises altering an appearance of a graphical representation associated with a status of the audio recording at the second device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device changes the display of the status of the second device before playback of the audio recording at the second device has completed.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

transmission of the first notification from the first device is triggered by activation of a control in a first mode by a user of the first device; and

activation of the control in a second mode by the user triggers transmission of a textual message.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of providing real-time notifications of audio communication status, the method comprising:

receiving from a first device a first notification transmitted after commencement of an audio recording at the first device;

relaying, using the processor, the first notification toward a second device during the recording of the audio at the first device, wherein the second device displays a status of the audio recording in response to the first notification;

transmitting the audio recording toward the second device;

receiving from the second device a second notification transmitted after commencement of playback of the audio recording at the second device; and

relaying, using the processor, the second notification toward the first device, wherein the first device changes a display of a status of the second device in response to the second notification.

13. A communication system for providing real-time notifications of audio communication status, the system comprising:

a communication server comprising a first processor and a first memory storing instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the communication server to;

receive from a first communication device a first notification transmitted upon commencement of an audio recording at the first communication device; and

relay the first notification toward a second communication device during the recording of the audio at the first communication device, wherein the second communication device displays a status of the audio recording in response to the first notification; and

a media server comprising a second processor and a second memory storing instructions that, when executed by the second processor, cause the media server to;

store the audio recording;

receive from the second communication device a signal identifying the audio recording; and

in response to the signal, transmit the audio recording toward the second communication device;

wherein the first memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the communication server to;

receive from the second communication device a second notification transmitted upon commencement of playback of the audio recording at the second communication device; and

relay the second notification toward the first communication device, wherein the first communication device changes a display of a status of the second communication device in response to the second notification.

14. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the first communication device and the second communication device are engaged in a real-time communication session.

15. The communication system of claim 14, wherein the communication session comprises an exchange of textual messages before and/or after the audio recording.

16. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the first memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the communication server to:

transmit the first notification toward a third communication device, wherein the third communication device displays a status of the audio recording in response to the first notification;

wherein the first communication device, the second communication device and the third communication device are engaged in a group real-time communication session.

17. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the first memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the communication server to:

receive from the third communication device a fourth notification transmitted upon commencement of playback of the audio recording at the third communication device; and

transmit the fourth notification toward the first communication device, wherein the first communication device changes a display of a status of the third communication device in response to the fourth notification.

18. An apparatus for providing real-time notifications of audio communication status, the apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

receive from a first wireless communication device a first notification transmitted upon commencement of an audio recording at the first wireless communication device;

relay the first notification toward a second wireless communication device during the recording of the audio at the first wireless communication device, wherein the second wireless communication device displays a status of the audio recording in response to the first notification;

transmit the audio recording toward the second wireless communication device;

receive from the second wireless communication device a second notification transmitted upon commencement of playback of the audio recording at the second wireless communication device; and

relay the second notification toward the first wireless communication device, wherein the first wireless communication device changes a display of a status of the second wireless communication device in response to the second notification.