Voice messaging interface

• US 9,356,891 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• 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: Wu, Shuwu, Crawford, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazaro, David
• Application Number:
  US13/617,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/204, 709/205, 709/226, 709/227, 709/228, 715/744, 715/751, 715/578, 715/759
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2236 Quality of speech transmission monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/305 testing of physical copper line parameters, e.g. capacitance or resistance locating faults in cables G01R31/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network

Abstract

Systems and techniques for transferring electronic data include enabling instant messaging communication between a sender an at least one recipient through an instant messaging host. In addition, voice communication is enabled between the sender and the recipient through the instant messaging host.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing, for presentation to a user of a communication system, a graphical user interface configured to facilitate use of the communications system, wherein the graphical user interface;

includes a listing of at least one additional user of the communication system, wherein the at least one additional user is identified by the user as being associated with the user, and

includes a voice communication icon associated with the at least one additional user;

determining the at least one additional user is present on a device;

determining, by one or more processors, that the device on which the at least one additional user is present has voice communication capabilities; and

in response to the determination that the device on which the at least one additional user is present has voice communication capabilities, activating the voice communication icon associated with the at least one additional user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the device on which the at least one additional user is present has voice communication capabilities comprises detecting that the device comprises a microphone and a speaker.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the device on which the at least one additional user is present has voice communication capabilities comprises monitoring the voice communication capabilities of the device in real time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface indicates an online status of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the device on which the at least one additional user is present no longer has voice communication capabilities; and

in response to the determination that the device on which the at least one additional user is present no longer has voice communication capabilities, deactivating the voice communication icon associated with the at least one additional user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein deactivating the voice communication icon associated with the at least one additional user comprises changing the visual appearance of the voice communication icon.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein changing the visual appearance of the voice communication icon comprises changing the color of the voice communication icon.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a selection, from the user, of the voice communication icon; and

in response to detecting the selection of the voice communication icon, providing a connection acceptance icon to the at least one additional user.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, in response to detecting the selection of the voice communication icon, enabling presentation, to the user, of a second graphical user interface, wherein the second graphical interface is configured to provide the user control of an active voice communication session.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second graphical user interface comprises a cancel voice communication icon configured to terminate the active voice communication session.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the second graphical user interface comprises a hold icon configured to suspend the active voice communication session.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the second graphical user interface comprises a conferencing icon configured to add an additional user to the active voice communication session.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the second graphical user interface further comprises a mute icon configured to prevent audio transmission during the active voice communication session.

14. A method comprising:

providing, to a user of a communication system, a first user interface to facilitate use of the communication system, wherein the first user interface includes a listing of at least one additional user of the communication system, wherein the at least one additional user is identified by the user as being associated with the user;

detecting, using one or more processors, a selection by the user of the at least one additional user from the listing;

presenting, in response to the selection, a second user interface configured to facilitate communication between the user and the at least one additional user, wherein the second user interface includes a plurality of communications options including a voice communication option;

determining the at least one additional user is present on a device; and

determining that the device on which the at least one additional user is present has voice communication capabilities.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, in response to the determination that the device on which the at least one additional user is present has voice communication capabilities, activating the voice communication option.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining that the device on which the at least one additional user is present no longer has voice communication capabilities; and

in response to the determination that the device on which the at least one additional user is present no longer has voice communication capabilities, de-activating the voice communication option.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein de-activating the voice communication option comprises changing the visual appearance of the voice communication option.

18. A system comprising;

at least one processor; and

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

provide a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface comprising;

a first user interface configured to facilitate use of a communication system by a user, wherein the first user interface comprises a listing of at least one additional user of the communication system; and

a second user interface, presented in response to the user selecting the at least one additional user, the second user interface configured to facilitate communication between the user and the at least one additional user, wherein the second user interface comprises;

a text box configured to accept text entered by the user for sending to the at least one additional user; and

a voice communication icon configured to initiate a voice communication session with the at least one additional user;

determine the at least one additional user is present on a device;

determine that the device on which the at least one additional user is present has voice communication capabilities; and

in response to the determination that the device on which the at least one additional user is present has voice communication capabilities, activate the voice communication icon.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a third user interface, presented in response to the user selecting the voice communication icon, the third user interface configured to control an active voice communication session, wherein the third user interface comprises a cancel voice communication icon configured to terminate the active voice communication session.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the third user interface further comprises a volume control icon.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the third user interface further comprises a volume meter that indicates a level of volume of the user'"'"'s voice.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the third user interface further comprises:

a mute icon configured to prevent audio transmission during the active voice communication session;

a hold icon configured to suspend the active voice communication session; and

a conferencing icon configured to add an additional user to the active voice communication session.