Messaging device having a graphical user interface for initiating communication to recipients

• US 9,508,059 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2008
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Ligh, Ming, Chow, Paulo S. T., Goulart, Valerie, Giardini, Anthony, Gormley, Georgiana, Gough, Jeff, Carney, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): HAILU, TADESSE
• Application Number:
  US12/133,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20090271712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,100 Days
• Field of Search: 715751-760
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A messaging device allows a user to initiate communication to recipients via a graphical user interface. In some embodiments, messages are composed by a user via a touchscreen display. Pre-existing messages may also be retrieved by the user via the display. Icons representing potential message recipients are displayed, and the user may deliver a message to a recipient by associating the message with the icon that represents the desired recipient, such as by a drag-and-drop or pop-and-hop motion. In addition, the user may indicate to which of the recipient'"'"'s various electronic devices or services the message is to be delivered. In some embodiments, the user may deliver the message to a group of recipients.

Claims

1. A method of initiating communication to a recipient on an electronic messaging device, the method comprising:

displaying, on a touchscreen of the electronic messaging device, a graphical user interface adapted to display two or more graphics and a composition area,

wherein the at least two graphics are icons associated with at least two respective recipients,

wherein the two or more graphics and the composition area are concurrently displayed on the touchscreen display, and

wherein the composition area is adapted to receive handwriting;

receiving, from the user on the touchscreen display in the composition area, a message,

wherein the message is intended for a recipient or the message is intended to be posted on the graphical user interface;

receiving, from the user on the touchscreen display, a motion,

wherein the motion includes moving the message from the composition area to at least one icon associated with a respective recipient,

wherein the motion is a drag-and-drop motion or a pop-and-hop motion;

determining, on the electronic messaging device, a first delivery option for sending the message to the respective recipient;

determining, on the electronic messaging device, a second delivery option for sending the message to the respective recipient,

wherein the second delivery option is preferred by the respective recipient, and

wherein the second delivery option is stored on the electronic messaging device in association with the respective recipient;

displaying on the touchscreen the first and second delivery options,

wherein the delivery options, the composition area, and the two icons are displaying concurrently;

receiving, from the user, a selection to send the message via the first or second delivery option; and

sending the message to the respective recipient via the selected delivery option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, from the user, the message for delivery to one of recipients further comprises:

indicating, by the user, a selection of a pre-existing message to be delivered to a recipient; and

retrieving the selected pre-existing message for delivery to the recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a recipient may be a group of recipients.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a user of the electronic messaging device, wherein the electronic messaging device is accessible to a plurality of users.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising capturing information that characterizes the user via fingerprint recognition, voice recognition, handwriting recognition, optical character recognition, or a camera.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is included in the plurality of recipients, and wherein each recipient shares at least one delivery option.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the shared at least one delivery option includes an electronic address of the electronic messaging device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first delivery option is a default delivery option.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second delivery option includes an auxiliary delivery option in a list of preferred delivery options associated with the respective recipient, and wherein the list of preferred delivery options is stored on the electronic messaging device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising capturing information that characterizes the user via fingerprint recognition, voice recognition, handwriting recognition, optical character recognition, or a camera.

11. A system for sending messages to recipients via a touchscreen display, the system comprising:

a display, at a touchscreen of an electronic messaging device, configured to display a graphical user interface including two or more icons associated with respective recipients and a composition area,

wherein the two or more icons and the composition area are concurrently displayed on the touchscreen display;

wherein the touchscreen is configured to receive handwriting;

an input component configured to;

receive, from the user in the composition area, a message for delivery; and

receive, from the user, a motion,

wherein the motion includes moving the message from the composition area to an icon associated with a respective recipient,

wherein the motion is a drag-and-drop motion or a pop-and-hop motion;

receive, from the user, a selection of an icon associated with the respective recipient; and

receive, from the user, a selection of a delivery option for the message;

a processing component configured to;

determine a first delivery option for sending the message to the respective recipient;

determine a second delivery option for sending the message to the respective recipient,

wherein the second delivery option is preferred by the recipient, and

wherein the second delivery option is stored on the electronic messaging device in association with the recipient, and

send the message to the respective recipient via the first or second delivery option.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the drag-and-drop motion comprises:

detecting the touching of the message on the display with an implement,

detecting the dragging of the message to the selected icon associated with the intended recipient, and

detecting the release of the implement touching the message.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the pop-and-hop motion comprises:

detecting the touching of the message on the display with an implement,

detecting the tapping of the message, and

detecting the subsequent tapping of the selected icon associated with the intended recipient.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the input component is further utilized for determining a user of the electronic messaging device, wherein the electronic messaging device is accessible to a plurality of users.

15. A tangible computer-readable medium for executing a method for initiating communication to recipients via an electronic messaging device, the method comprising:

displaying, on a touchscreen of the electronic messaging device, a graphical user interface adapted to display two or more graphics and a composition area,

wherein at least two graphics are icons associated with at least two respective recipients, and

wherein the two or more graphics and the composition area are concurrently displayed on the touchscreen display, and

wherein the composition area is adapted to receive handwriting;

receiving from the user inputs on the touchscreen in the composition area;

wherein the inputs create a message for delivery;

determining a first delivery option for sending the message to the respective recipient;

determining, on the electronic messaging device, a second delivery option for sending the message to the respective recipient,

wherein the second delivery option is preferred by the respective recipient, and

wherein the second delivery option is stored on the electronic messaging device in association with the respective recipient, and

displaying on the touchscreen the first and second deliver options,

wherein the delivery options, the composition area, and the two icons are displaying concurrently;

receiving, from the user, a selection to send the message via the first or second delivery option; and

sending the message to the respective recipient via the second delivery option.

16. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

displaying message delivery options, wherein the display of the message delivery options varies based on delivery preferences, availability information of the respective recipient, and type of message.

17. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:

displaying a message graphic in association with the selected graphic, wherein the message graphic indicates that the respective recipient has a message waiting.

18. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:

displaying a message graphic in association with the selected graphic, wherein the message graphic indicates that the respective recipient has opened a waiting message.

19. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:

displaying to the user delivery time options associated with the respective recipient,

wherein the displayed delivery time options include urgent, now and later; and

detecting from the user a selection of a displayed delivery time option.

20. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising capturing information that characterizes the user via fingerprint recognition, voice recognition, handwriting recognition, optical character recognition, or a camera.