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

• US 9,414,210 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2015
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• 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:
  US14/671,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20150208215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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, the short message service message having been sent to the mobile device via a short message service protocol;

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

identifying a contact associated with the short message service message; and

displaying, in a conversation instance of the instant message conversation user interface, the short service message, the identified associated contact, and an indicator of the short message service as a message sent by the short message service protocol.

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

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providing is performed on a plurality of short message service messages.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of short message service messages relates to a same contact.

5. 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.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to operate to:

receive, at the mobile device, a short message service message for a short message service application, the short message service message having been sent to the mobile device via a short message service protocol;

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

identify a contact associated with the short message service message; and

display, in a conversation instance of the instant message conversation user interface, the short service message, the identified associated contact, and an indicator of the short message service as a message sent by the short message service protocol.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 6, wherein the providing is initiated via selection of a menu option.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 6, wherein the providing is performed on a plurality of short message service messages.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of short message service messages relates to a same contact.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 6, wherein the providing is performed on new short message service messages as each new short message service message is received.

11. A mobile device comprising a processor 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, the short message service message having been sent to the mobile device via a short message service protocol;

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

identify a contact associated with the short message service message; and

display, in a conversation instance of the instant message conversation user interface, the short service message, the identified associated contact, and an indicator of the short message service as a message sent by the short message service protocol.

12. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the providing is initiated via selection of a menu option.

13. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the providing is performed on a plurality of short message service messages.

14. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of short message service messages relates to a same contact.

15. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the providing is performed on new short message service messages as each new short message service message is received.