Conversation message routing supporting dynamic class transitions

• US 7,870,211 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pascal, Kristin Marie, Klonsky, Andrew, Bailey, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Won, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/343,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20100161738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 709/206, 709/207, 709/204
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides for systems, devices, and methods for dynamic transitioning between messaging conversation classes including 1:1, 1:Many, and Many:Many (N:M) conversation protocols. These messaging topologies can be transitioned based at least in part on the number of conversants, a predetermined threshold value, and both determinations and inference related to the conversation topology, message, and conversants. The claimed subject matter can provide for effective seamless messaging conversations in unified messaging environment by reducing the overhead associated with changing numbers of conversants.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates selection of and dynamic transitioning among messaging conversation classes for mobile computing devices, comprising:

a messaging input component that provides access to information relating to a message for a messaging conversation environment;

a conversation message routing component that can at least in part facilitate selecting a conversation class, wherein a conversation class includes at least a protocol to facilitate messaging communication between at least a determinate plurality of conversants engaging in the messaging conversation environment; and

a messaging output component at least in part facilitating conversant participation in a messaging conversation related to a selected conversation class executed in at least the messaging conversation environment,

wherein dynamic transition between conversation classes is based at least in part on a change in the number of conversants of a messaging conversation environment, and wherein dynamic transition from a first conversation class to a second conversation class is based at least in part on the number of conversants transitioning a predetermined threshold value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the conversation class is a 1:

1 messaging protocol, a 1;

Many messaging protocol, or a Many;

Many messaging protocol.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a 1:

1 messaging protocol facilitates a messaging conversation between a first conversant and a second conversant.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein a 1:

Many messaging protocol facilitates a messaging conversation between a first conversant and a plurality of other conversants, wherein messages for the conversation from any of the plurality of other conversants are visible to the first conversant but not to any other member of the plurality of other conversants.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein a Many:

Many messaging protocol facilitates a messaging conversation between a three or more conversants in which messages between conversants are visible at least a subset of the other conversants.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least a subset of the other conversants is all of the conversants.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least a legacy device support component to facilitate support of legacy devices across supported conversation classes of the messaging conversation environment.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the legacy device support component determines the presence of a legacy device contributing to a messaging conversation environment based at least in part on the absence of indicia of an enabled messaging device in message information from the legacy device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the legacy device support component infers the presence of a legacy device contributing to a messaging conversation environment based at least in part on the absence of indicia of an enabled messaging device in message information from the legacy device.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the legacy device support component can be local to at least one enabled device participating in the messaging conversation environment.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the legacy device support component can be separate from any enabled device participating in the messaging conversation environment.

12. A method that facilitates selection of and dynamic transitioning among messaging conversation classes for mobile computing devices, comprising:

identifying a number of message recipients related to a message for a messaging conversation environment;

determining if that number transitions a predetermined threshold number;

utilizing a computer system to at least in part select a conversation class based at least in part on the identified number of messaging recipients and the determination relating to the threshold number, wherein a conversation class includes at least a protocol to facilitate messaging communication between at least a determinate plurality of conversants engaging in the messaging conversation environment;

determining a change in the number of conversants of the messaging conversation environment; and

based at least in part on any identified change, dynamically transitioning to an appropriate conversation class.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein an appropriate conversation class includes one of a 1:

1 messaging protocol, a 1;

Many messaging protocol, or a Many;

Many messaging protocol.

14. The method of claim 12, dynamically transitioning from a first conversation class to a 1:

Many conversation class when the number of conversants exceeds the threshold number.

15. The method of claim 12, dynamically transitioning form a first conversation class to a Many:

Many conversation class when the number of conversants does not exceed the threshold number.

16. The method of claim 12, dynamically transitioning from a first conversation class to a 1:

1 conversation class when the number of conversants is two (2).

17. A computer based system, embodied in a mobile device, that facilitates selection of and dynamic transitioning among messaging conversation classes related to group threaded messaging environments, comprising:

a conversation message routing component including components for processing protocols related to a 1;

1 messaging protocol, a 1;

Many messaging protocol, and a Many;

Many messaging protocol, wherein, based at least in part on an identified number of message recipients related to messaging conversation environment and a predetermined threshold number, a conversation class can be dynamically selected such that a 1;

1 conversation class is selected when the number of conversants is two (2), a Many;

Many conversation class is selected when the number of conversants does not exceed the threshold number, and a 1;

Many conversation class is selected when the number of conversants exceeds the threshold number; and

a legacy device support component to facilitate support of legacy devices participating in the messaging conversation environment, wherein the legacy device support component determines or infers the presence of a legacy device contributing to a messaging conversation environment based at least in part on the absence of indicia of an enabled messaging device in message information from the legacy device, the legacy device support component further supporting message degradation and message promotion in relation to supporting legacy devices and enabled devices participating in the messaging conversation environment.