SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING MESSAGES IN CONVERSATIONAL-TYPE MESSAGING APPLICATIONS

• US 20110086647A1
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Riddle, Francis Thomas, Parrett, John Bennett
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A system and method are provided for managing messages in conversational-type messaging applications. To provide continuity across all conversations with a particular recipient, an existing or not-yet-created 1:1 conversation can be populated with 1:Many messages that include the same recipient in the list of addressees. In this way, any 1:1 chat or conversation with a particular recipient will contain all correspondences with that recipient, regardless of whether the message was sent or received in a 1:1 or 1:Many context. As such, the user has access to all information that has been exchanged with that recipient in one messaging screen to avoid the need to traverse multiple messaging screens to obtain the context or information related to the recipient that the user requires.

Claims

1. A method for messaging comprising:

obtaining a message for a plurality of recipient addresses; and

populating a one-to-one conversation with said message.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said populating is performed if said one-to-one conversation is ongoing with a respective one of the plurality of recipient addresses.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

if said one-to-one conversation is not ongoing, holding a copy of said message until said one-to-one conversation is created.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said obtaining comprises detecting the message.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said message is an outgoing SMS message being sent to a plurality of SMS recipient addresses.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said message is an Instant Message being sent to a plurality of Instant Messaging recipient addresses.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one message is saved to a record for said at least one of said recipient addresses and, upon said conversation being created, said at least one message is populated in said conversation.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein only up to a predetermined number of said at least one message can be saved and if said predetermined number is exceeded, at least one older message is discarded.

9. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for messaging comprising instructions for:

obtaining a message for a plurality of recipient addresses; and

populating a one-to-one conversation with said message.

10. The computer readable medium according to claim 9 wherein said populating is performed if said one-to-one conversation is ongoing with a respective one of the plurality of recipient addresses.

11. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, further comprising instructions for:

if said one-to-one conversation is not ongoing, holding a copy of said message until said one-to-one conversation is created.

12. The computer readable medium according to claim 9 wherein said obtaining comprises detecting the message.

13. The computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein said message is an outgoing SMS message being sent to a plurality of SMS recipient addresses.

14. The computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein said message is an Instant Message being sent to a plurality of Instant Messaging recipient addresses.

15. The computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein at least one message is saved to a record for said at least one of said recipient addresses and, upon said conversation being created, said at least one message is populated in said conversation.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, wherein only up to a predetermined number of said at least one message can be saved and if said predetermined number is exceeded, at least one older message is discarded.

17. A mobile device configured for messaging by:

detecting a message for a plurality of recipient addresses; and

populating a one-to-one conversation with said message.

18. The mobile device according to claim 17 wherein said populating is performed if said one-to-one conversation is ongoing with one of the plurality of recipient addresses.

19. The mobile device according to claim 18, further configured for:

if said conversation is not ongoing, holding a copy of said message until said conversation is created.

20. The mobile device according to claim 17, wherein said message is an outgoing SMS message being sent to a plurality of SMS recipient addresses.

21. The mobile device according to claim 17, wherein at least one message is saved to a record for said at least one of said recipient addresses and, upon said conversation being created, said at least one message is populated in said conversation.

22. The mobile device according to claim 21, wherein only up to a predetermined number of said at least one message can be saved and if said predetermined number is exceeded, at least one older message is discarded.