Controlling an Integrated Messaging System Using Gestures

• US 20090193348A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Banks, Richard M., Sellen, Abigail, Harper, Richard, Gosset, Philip
• Granted Patent: US 8,762,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for displaying and interacting with messages are described. Messages are displayed using one of a number of different visualization schemes provided. A user can interact with messages or change the selected visualization scheme using gestures and the mapping of gestures to particular actions is different for different visualization schemes. In an embodiment the messages are received via integrated messaging channels and messages are classified using a number of properties. Each of the visualization schemes has a different way of graphically representing messages and each scheme is adapted to emphasize a different combination of message properties.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying messages received using a visualization scheme selected from a set of visualization schemes;

detecting a gesture by a user; and

mapping the gesture to an action, wherein the mapping is dependent upon the selected visualization scheme and wherein the action comprises one of a user interaction with a message and selection of a visualization scheme.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein each visualization scheme provides a different graphical representation of the messages received and wherein each visualization scheme is designed to emphasize a subset of message properties.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the message properties comprise properties relating to content of a message and properties related to transmission of the message.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the messages comprise messages received via integrated messaging channels.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

updating the display according to the action.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

prior to displaying messages, providing a user with the set of visualization schemes; and

receiving an input selecting one of the set of visualization schemes.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein mapping the gesture to an action comprises:

accessing mapping data associated with the selected visualization scheme; and

mapping the gesture to an action using the mapping data.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting a gesture by a user comprises:

detecting a gesture from a set of gestures comprising;

tap, multiple tap, touch and linger, and drag.

9. A messaging system comprising:

an interface to messaging channels;

a touch sensitive display arranged to display messages received via the interface using a selected one of a set of visualization schemes; and

a processing element arranged to enable a user to interact with messages displayed using a gesture on the touch sensitive display and wherein the gesture is mapped to an interaction according to the selected visualization scheme.

10. A messaging system according to claim 9, wherein each message has a plurality of properties and wherein each visualization scheme emphasizes a different subset of the properties.

11. A messaging system according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of properties comprise properties relating to content of messages and properties relating to transmission of messages.

12. A messaging system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a database of message properties comprising properties for messages received via the interface.

13. A messaging system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a database of messages comprising messages received via the interface.

14. A messaging system according to claim 9, wherein the processing element is arranged, on detection of a user gesture, to:

access mapping data for the selected visualization scheme; and

map the gesture to an action using the mapping data,

wherein the action comprises one of a user interaction with a message and selection of a visualization scheme.

15. A messaging system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a database of rendering options comprising the mapping data for each of the set of visualization schemes.

16. A messaging system according to claim 15, wherein the database of rendering options further comprises display data for each of the set of visualization schemes.

17. One or more tangible device-readable media with device-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

displaying received messages using a visualization scheme selected from a set of visualization schemes;

detecting a gesture by a user;

mapping the gesture to an action, wherein the mapping is dependent upon the selected visualization scheme and wherein the action comprises one of a user interaction with a message and selection of a visualization scheme.

18. One or more tangible device-readable media according to claim 17, further comprising device-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

executing the action.

19. One or more tangible device-readable media according to claim 17, wherein each message has a plurality of properties, wherein each visualization scheme emphasizes a different subset of the properties.

20. One or more tangible device-readable media according to claim 19, further comprising device-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

identifying properties for each of the received messages; and

storing the properties for each of the received messages.