System and method for providing a messaging interface

• US 9,413,701 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Artman (Arad), Ronen
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGGETT, ANDREA C.
• Application Number:
  US14/929,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20160057085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 715/758, 715/752
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• 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

Abstract

Computer-implemented systems and methods for providing a simplified messaging interface are provided for allowing users to initiate and engage in messaging conversations. In some embodiments, the systems and methods reduce the overhead involved in initiating and/or engaging in messaging conversations. In addition, the messaging interface may allow users to initiate and/or engage in conversations without having to open a separate standard messaging window for every conversation. Further, the simplified messaging interface may be used in conjunction with a standard messaging interface.

Claims

1. A method for providing an electronic messaging interface, the method comprising the following operations performed by one or more processors:

providing instructions to display a contact list in a graphical user interface of a user device;

providing instructions to display a first textual input field within the contact list;

receiving a message entered into the first textual input field; and

in response to a determination that the message has exceeded a threshold size, providing instructions to automatically display a second textual input field in the graphical user interface, the second textual input field being displayed outside of the contact list.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing instructions to display, in association with the second textual input field, a transcript of a first conversation, the conversation including an identification of at least one contact of the contact list.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions to display the second textual input field include instructions to display a standard messaging window and instructions to display the second textual input field within the standard messaging window.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold size is significantly less than an amount displayed in a standard messaging window.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold size is 20 characters.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold size is 100 characters.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold size is based on a type of language used to compose the message.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing instructions to display, within the second textual input field, the message entered into the first textual input field.

9. A system for providing an electronic messaging interface, comprising:

a processing system comprising one or more processors; and

a memory system that stores instructions, the instructions being executable by the processing system to perform operations comprising;

providing instructions to display a contact list in a graphical user interface of a user device;

providing instructions to display a first textual input field within the contact list;

receiving a message entered into the first textual input field; and

in response to a determination that the message has exceeded a threshold size, providing instructions to automatically display a second textual input field in the graphical user interface, the second textual input field being displayed outside of the contact list.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations performed by the processing system further comprise:

providing instructions to display, in association with the second textual input field, a transcript of a first conversation, the conversation including an identification of at least one contact of the contact list.

11. The system of claim 9, the instructions to display the second textual input field include instructions to display a standard messaging window and instructions to display the second textual input field within the standard messaging window.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the threshold size is significantly less than an amount displayed in a standard messaging window.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the threshold message size is based on a type of language used to compose the message.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations performed by the processing system further comprise providing instructions to display, within the second textual input field, the message entered into the first textual input field.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

provide instructions to display a contact list in a graphical user interface of a user device;

provide instructions to display a first textual input field within the contact list;

receive a message entered into the first textual input field; and

in response to a determination that the message has exceeded a threshold size, provide instructions to automatically display a second textual input field in the graphical user interface, the second textual input field being displayed outside of the contact list.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

provide instructions to display, in association with the second textual input field, a transcript of a first conversation, the conversation including an identification of at least one contact of the contact list.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions to display the second textual input field include instructions to display a standard messaging window and instructions to display the second textual input field within the standard messaging window.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the threshold size is significantly less than an amount displayed in a standard messaging window.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the threshold size is based on a type of language used to compose the message.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to provide instructions to display, within the second textual input field, the message entered into the first textual input field.