Contact list with conversation point reminder

• US 9,531,657 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nitesh Ratnakar
• Original Assignee: Nitesh Ratnakar
• Inventors: Ratnakar, Nitesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khai N
• Application Number:
  US14/465,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20140365916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.17, 379/93.18, 379/93.19, 379/93.24, 379/93.25, 379/93.26, 379/93.27, 379/110.01, 379/218.01, 379/354, 379/355.01, 379/355.02, 379/355.03, 379/355.04, 379/355.05, 379/355.06, 379/355.07, 379/356.01, 379/357.03, 379/357.04, 379/357.05, 379/373.01, 379/373.02, 379/373.03, 379/373.04, 379/374.01, 379/374.02, 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 3/04842 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 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• 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 2250/68 with means for recording information, e.g. telephone number during a conversation

Abstract

A method is provided to remind a user of a communication device of a conversation point for a future communication. The communication device has access to a contact list, with each contact list entry configured to retrieve a communication address of an entity, a name identifying the entity, and any user-inputted memo for reminding of a conversation point. The method comprises receiving an input indicating a need to activate a first contact list entry for the user to perform at least one of receiving and requesting a communication addressed to the communication address thereof. The method further comprises checking whether there is any user-inputted memo attached to the first contact list entry, and causing an indication indicating a presence of the memo to be automatically displayed on the display screen during activating of the first contact list entry when the memo is detected attached thereto.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a communication device, for reminding a user of the communication device of a conversation point for a future communication, the communication device having a processor and a display screen, the communication device having access to a memory storing a contact list having a list of contact list entries, each contact list entry of the contact list including a first field configured to retrieve a stored communication address of a corresponding entity of the respective contact list entry, a second field configured to retrieve a stored name identifying the corresponding entity, and a memo field configured to attach memo data inputted by the user and displayable to show at least one memo which can be served to remind the user of a conversation point for a future communication between the user and the corresponding entity, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by the processor, a first input indicating a need to activate a first contact list entry of the contact list for the user to perform at least one of receiving and requesting a communication addressed to the stored communication address of the first contact list entry;

(b) checking, by the processor after step (a), whether there is memo data that is attached to the memo field of the first contact list entry;

(c) activating, by the processor, the first contact list entry, such that during the activating of the first contact list entry, the user performs at least one of receiving, requesting, drafting and conducting the communication addressed to the communication address of the first contact list entry; and

(d) causing, by the processor, a first indication indicating a presence of the at least one memo of the attached memo data, to be automatically displayed on the display screen during the activating of the first contact list entry, when it is detected in step (b), by the processor, that there is memo data attached to the memo field of the first contact list entry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored communication address of the first contact list entry of the contact list is a phone number of the corresponding entity of the first contact list entry.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first input indicates that an incoming phone call from the phone number of the first contact list entry of the contact list is received, and during the activating of the first contact list entry, the user accepts the incoming phone call and conducts the incoming phone call with the corresponding entity of the first contact list entry using the communication device as a result of the user'"'"'s accepting the incoming phone call.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first input indicates a request that the phone number of the first contact list entry of the contact list be dialed for an outgoing phone call, and during the activating of the first contact list entry, the phone number of the first contact list entry is dialed for the outgoing call and the user conducts the outgoing phone call with the corresponding entity of the first contact list entry using the communication device as a result of the outgoing phone call being received and accepted by the corresponding entity of the first contact list entry.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored communication address of the first contact list entry of the contact list is a messaging address of the corresponding entity of the first contact list entry.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first input indicates a request that the messaging address of the first contact list entry be selected to send a message to the corresponding entity of the first contact list entry, and during the activating of the first contact list entry, the user operates a messaging client displayed on the display screen to compose and send the message to the corresponding entity of the first contact list entry.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the stored communication address of the first contact list entry of the contact list comprises an email address of the corresponding entity of the first contact list entry.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first input indicates a request that the email address of the first contact list entry be selected to send a message to the corresponding entity of the first contact list entry, and during the activating of the first contact list entry, the user operates an email client displayed on the display screen to compose and send the email to the corresponding entity of the first contact list entry.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first indication comprises contents of the at least one memo of the memo data.

10. The method of claim 1, the memo data attached to the memo field of the first contact list entry comprises at least one of text, audio, image and video that is displayable or otherwise playable to show the at least one memo of the memo data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (b) of checking of whether there is memo data that is attached to the memo field of the first contact list entry is performed before or during the step (c) of activating the first contact list entry.

12. The method of claim 1, the user is provided by the communication device at least one option to erase, save or edit memo data attached to the memo field of the first contact list entry at the end of the communication.