System and Method for Enabling Voice and Video Communications Using a Messaging Application

• US 20130111365A1
• Filed: 10/10/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: CHEN, Henry Yao-Tsu, PRETTI, Jennifer Anne
• Granted Patent: US 9,736,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/756
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/06 Message adaptation to terminal or network requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57

Abstract

A method and system are provided for enabling voice communications via a messaging application. The method comprises enabling an instant messaging (IM) presence status option to be selected; and blocking an incoming voice communication when the presence status option has been selected. A method and system are also provided comprising displaying a first instant message in an instant messaging conversation user interface comprising call status information; and displaying updated call status information in the instant messaging conversation user interface after determining whether an call attempt has been successful.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

enabling a particular presence status option to be selected from a plurality of presence status options in an instant messaging application; and

blocking an incoming voice or video communication to the instant messaging application when the particular presence status option has been selected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular presence status option is a chat only status option, the method further comprising displaying an indication of the chat only status option having been selected.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular presence status option is a busy status option.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a message in an instant messaging conversation user interface indicating a missed call.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving a voice note from a caller, and displaying a link to the voice note in the message indicating the missed call.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling an outgoing voice or video communication with a caller associated with the incoming voice or video communication to be initiated using the instant messaging application.

7. A method comprising:

displaying a first instant message in an instant messaging conversation user interface comprising call status information; and

displaying updated call status information in the instant messaging conversation user interface after determining whether an call attempt has been successful.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the updated call status information is displayed in the first instant message.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the call status information indicates that a call is being connected and the updated call status information indicates that the call has been connected.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the updated call status information indicates that a call has not been connected.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein call has not been connected due to being blocked by a contact being called.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the call has not been connected due to a call attempt time out.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the updated call status information indicates that a call has ended.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying a call duration with the updated call status information.

15. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions for:

enabling a particular presence status option to be selected from a plurality of presence status options in an instant messaging application; and

blocking an incoming voice or video communication to the instant messaging application when the particular presence status option has been selected.

16. An electronic device comprising a processor, memory, and a communication module, the memory comprising computer executable instructions to:

enable a particular presence status option to be selected from a plurality of presence status options in an instant messaging application; and

block an incoming voice or video communication to the instant messaging application when the particular presence status option has been selected.

17. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions for:

displaying a first instant message in an instant messaging conversation user interface comprising call status information; and

displaying updated call status information in the instant messaging conversation user interface after determining whether an call attempt has been successful.

18. An electronic device comprising a processor, memory, and a communication module, the memory comprising computer executable instructions to:

display a first instant message in an instant messaging conversation user interface comprising call status information; and

display updated call status information in the instant messaging conversation user interface after determining whether an call attempt has been successful.