Preferred contact group centric interface

• US 8,954,891 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Sherrard, Andrew, McNeel, Warren, Chugh, Jasdeep Singh, O'Connor, Stephen John, Koser, Mikkel Crone, Turnnidge, Richard Paul, Hendrick, Michael Thomas, Sentman, Gary, Warfel, Karl, Chang, Wen-Hsing, Abolrous, Sally, Buzescu, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): PITARO, RYAN F
• Application Number:
  US14/089,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20140082510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 715/834
• US Class Current: 715/834
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• 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: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27 Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8066 According to the number of recipients
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A preferred contact group centric interface for a communication device can be used to facilitate communications by a user. The user interface can be arranged to activate from a user'"'"'s “home page” on the display, from an idle screen that is accessed after a timeout period expires, or any other appropriate mechanism that activates the preferred contact group centric experience. A user selects the preferred contact group from among an array of the user'"'"'s contacts. Once the contact group is configured, a minimal number of navigation/selection features is necessary to activate any number of communication modes available to the contacts. The contact group is configured such that simple and quick navigation between the contact members is achieved. The contact group can be presented in 2D and 3D arrangements, in any number of list or geometric configurations. A pricing plan can optionally be tied to each member of the contact group.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a memory for maintaining a subset of contacts selected at least in part by a user of a communications device, wherein the subset of user contacts includes a portion of a set of contacts accessible by the communications device and wherein the subset of contacts includes a plurality of contacts;

a processor;

a user interface component, in communication with the memory and implemented by executing instructions on the processor, the user interface component operative to;

cause the generation of a first display on the communications device without initiating a user contact application for accessing the set of contacts accessible by the communications device, wherein the first display includes a graphical identifier associated with each contact of the subset of contacts;

identify a first message event associated with the user and a first contact from the subset of contacts;

identify a second message event associated with the user and a second contact from the subset of contacts, wherein the second message event corresponds to a different type of message event than the first message event; and

cause the generation of an updated display on the communications device without initiating a user contact application for accessing the set of contacts accessible by the communication device,

wherein the updated display includes the graphical identifiers associated with the subset of contacts presented in the first display;

a first message event indicator positioned adjacent to the graphical identifier associated with the first contact from the subset of contacts; and

a second message event indicator positioned adjacent to the graphical identifier associated with the second contact from the subset of contacts,

wherein the first message event indicator corresponds to the first message event and the second message event indicator corresponds to the second message event,

wherein the first message event indicator and the second message event indicator are different,

wherein the first and second message event indicators include mood information associated with the first and second contacts respectively; and

wherein the mood information is determined as a function of a frequency of communication between the user and the respective contact.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each contact in the subset of contacts is selected by the user of the communications device.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first display and the updated display graphical are caused to be presented on the communications device in one of a home page screen and an idle screen.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first display and the updated display graphical are caused to be presented on the communications device in response to initiation of an idle screen state.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first message event corresponds to one of a missed call, receipt of an email message, receipt of a text message, receipt of a voice mail message, and receipt of a picture message.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the second message event corresponds to one of a missed call, receipt of an email message, receipt of a text message, receipt of a voice mail message, and receipt of a picture message.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first message event and the first message event indicator correspond to a missed call and wherein the second message event and the second message event indicator correspond to an awaiting email message.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

identifying a subset of contacts selected at least in part by a user of a communications device, wherein the subset of user contacts includes a portion of a set of contacts accessible by the communications device and wherein the subset of contacts includes a plurality of contacts;

identifying a first status event associated with the user and a first contact from the subset of contacts;

identifying a second status event associated with the user and a second contact from the subset of contacts; and

causing the generation of a display on the communications device without requiring user input,

wherein the display includes a graphical identifier corresponding to the first contact from the subset and a graphical identifier corresponding to the second contact from the subset,

wherein the display further includes a first status indicator positioned adjacent to the graphical identifier associated with the first contact and a second status indicator positioned adjacent to the graphical identifier associated with the second contact,

wherein the first status indicator corresponds to the first status event and the second status indicator corresponds to the second status event,

wherein the first and second status events correspond to mood information associated with the first and second contacts respectively,

wherein the mood information is determined as a function of a frequency of communication between the user and the respective contact, and

wherein the method is implemented in a computer system.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein each contact in the subset of contacts is selected by the user of the communications device.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the display includes an arrangement of each of the graphical identifiers corresponding to a user contact from the subset.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the graphical identifiers associated with the subset of contacts are caused to be presented on the display in one of a home page screen and an idle screen.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the graphical identifiers associated with the subset of contacts are caused to be presented on the display in response to initiation of an idle screen state.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the second status event corresponds to a different type of status event than the first status event.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first status indicator and the second status indicator are different.

15. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein causing the generation of the display without user input further comprises causing the generation of the display without causing initiation of a user contact application for accessing the set of contacts accessible by the communications device.

16. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising:

identifying a third status event associated with the user and a third contact from the subset of contacts.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the display further includes a third status indicator positioned adjacent to the graphical identifier associated with the third contact and wherein the third status indicator corresponds to the third status event.

18. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first status event corresponds to one of a missed call, receipt of an email message, receipt of a text message, receipt of a voice mail message, and receipt of a picture message.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the second status event corresponds to one of a missed call, receipt of an email message, receipt of a text message, receipt of a voice mail message, and receipt of a picture message.

20. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first status event and the first status event indicator correspond to a missed call and wherein the second status event and the second status event indicator correspond to an awaiting email message.

21. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first and second status events correspond to presence information associated with the first and second contacts respectively.

22. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first and second status events correspond to one of an upcoming date or an appointment associated with the first and second contacts respectively.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the first and second status event indicators identify one of an upcoming date or an appointment associated with the first and second contacts respectively.

24. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the mood information is determined as a function of a relative frequency of communication between the user and the respective contact as compared to a frequency of communication between the user and each of the other contacts from the subset.

36. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising:

causing the generation of a second display on the communications device, the second display comprising a communications option menu including an arrangement of available communication modes associated with a currently selected graphical identifier corresponding to a first contact, wherein the arrangement of available communication modes comprises a second arrangement of graphical identifiers on the display about a central axis, wherein the second arrangement of graphical identifiers comprises at least a portion of a set of graphical identifiers indicative of available communication modes, and wherein one of the graphical identifiers indicative of available communication modes corresponds to a currently selected communication mode.

25. A computer-implemented method comprising:

identifying a subset of contacts, wherein the subset of user contacts includes a portion of a set of contacts accessible by a communications device and wherein the subset of contacts includes a plurality of contacts;

causing the generation of a first display on the communications device without requiring user input when the communications device is in a first state, wherein the first display includes a graphical identifier associated with each contact of the subset of contacts; and

dynamically causing the generation of an updated display while the communications device is in the first state, wherein the updated display includes the graphical identifiers associated with the subset of contacts presented in the first display, a first status indicator positioned adjacent to the graphical identifier associated with a first contact from the subset of contacts, and a second status indicator positioned adjacent to the graphical identifier associated with a second contact from the subset of contacts, wherein the first status indicator corresponds to a status associated with the first contact and the second status indicator corresponds to a status associated with the second contact,

wherein the first and second status indicators include mood information associated with the first and second contacts respectively,

wherein the mood information is determined as a function of a frequency of communication between the user and the respective contact, and

wherein the method is implemented in a computer system.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein each contact in the subset of contacts is selected by the user of the communications device.

27. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the first state comprises one of a default state, an idle state, and a device start-up state.

28. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the first status indicator and the second status indicator are different.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the first status indicator corresponds to a missed call indicator and wherein the second status indicator corresponds to an awaiting email message indicator.

30. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein causing the generation of the first display without user input further comprises causing the generation of the first display without causing initiation of a user contact application for accessing the set of contacts accessible by the communications device.

31. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the updated display further includes a third status indicator positioned adjacent to the graphical identifier associated with a third contact and wherein the third status indicator corresponds to a status associated with the third contact.

32. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the first status indicator corresponds to one of a missed call indicator, receipt of an email message indicator, receipt of a text message indicator, receipt of a voice mail message indicator, and receipt of a picture message indicator.

33. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein the second status indicator corresponds to one of a missed call indicator, receipt of an email message indicator, receipt of a text message indicator, receipt of a voice mail message indicator, and receipt of a picture message indicator.

34. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the first and second status indicators correspond to presence indicators associated with the first and second contacts respectively.

35. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the first and second status indicators correspond to one of an upcoming date indicator or an appointment indicator associated with the first and second contacts respectively.