PRESENTING TEXT MESSAGES

• US 20080307322A1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wood, Justin, Stochosky, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,965,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/752
• 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: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

In an instant messaging application, a message container (e.g., a stylized text bubble) is provided for indicating that an activity has occurred in a non-foreground chat. The message container can be displayed in the chat where the activity occurred. The message container can contain a portion of the message (e.g., the beginning of the message). The message container can contain a summary of the message. The message container can have an arbitrary shape or appearance. The user can define or select the appearance of the message container.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting a representation of a contact in a user interface;

receiving a text message from the contact; and

presenting a message container containing at least a portion of the text message proximate to the representation of the contact in the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the message container when there is no visible representation of a chat conversation with the contact.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

presenting the message container when there is no foreground representation of a chat conversation with the contact.

4. The method of claim 1, where presenting the message container containing the text message includes one or more of:

presenting an entire portion of the text message within the message container;

presenting a beginning portion of the text message within the message container;

or

presenting a summary of the text message within the message container.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an appearance of the message container based on one of a plurality of message container styles.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each message container style specifies one or more of:

a shape of the message container;

a color of the message container;

a border of the message container;

a color of text contained in the message container;

or

a font of text contained in the message container.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving user input selecting the one of the plurality of message container styles.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

identifying a message container style associated with the contact.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input directed to the presentation of the message container; and

presenting a representation of a conversation with the contact.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

removing the presentation of the message container after a determined period of time has elapsed since the presentation of the message container.

11. The method of claim 1, where in the message container is a stylized text bubble.

12. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

presenting a representation of a contact in a user interface;

receiving a text message from the contact; and

presenting a message container containing at least a portion of the text message proximate to the representation of the contact in the user interface.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

presenting the message container when there is no visible representation of a chat conversation with the contact.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

presenting the message container when there is no foreground representation of a chat conversation with the contact.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, where presenting the message container containing the text message includes one or more of:

presenting an entire portion of the text message within the message container;

presenting a beginning portion of the text message within the message container;

or

presenting a summary of the text message within the message container.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

determining an appearance of the message container based on one of a plurality of message container styles.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein each message container style specifies one or more of:

a shape of the message container;

a color of the message container;

a border of the message container;

a color of text contained in the message container;

or

a font of text contained in the message container.

18. A system comprising:

a processor;

memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising;

presenting a representation of a contact in a user interface;

receiving a text message from the contact; and

presenting a message container containing at least a portion of the text message proximate to the representation of the contact in the user interface.

19. The system of claim 18, where presenting the message container containing the text message includes one or more of:

presenting an entire portion of the text message within the message container;

presenting a beginning portion of the text message within the message container;

or

presenting a summary of the text message within the message container.

20. A system comprising:

means for presenting a representation of a contact in a user interface;

means for receiving a text message from the contact; and

means for presenting a message container containing at least a portion of the text message proximate to the representation of the contact in the user interface.