Providing a predictive response feature for messaging applications by analyzing the text of a message using text recognition logic

• US 9,237,231 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Swanburg, Scott, Okada, Andre, Hanson, Paul, Young, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Murray, Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US12/279,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20100287241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,850 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 455/466, 705/12, 725/24
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3329 Natural language query formulation or dialogue systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/205 Parsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/221 Parsing markup language streams streaming G06F40/149
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4547 for personal communications, i.e. using a personal identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4594 Address books, i.e. directories containing contact information about correspondents telephone directories in user terminals H04M1/27453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/705 Account settings, e.g. limits or numbers or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 : Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 : Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 : including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 : where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 : where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42357 : where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 : Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 : Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 : for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 : Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 : Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

The present disclosure provides various systems and methods for providing enhanced messaging features. An exemplary method for providing a predictive response messaging feature includes receiving a message from a first device (108) at a second device (110) and analyzing the message to determine at least one response option based upon the content of the message. After determining at least one response option, the at least one response option can be presented on a display (202) of the second device (110). A called party can make a selection of one of the at least one response options and the selection can be received on the second device (110). The selection can trigger the creation of a response message based upon the selected response option and the response message can be sent to the first device (108). Other methods and systems are described.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating, by a sender device comprising a processor, a group message directed to a group of receiver devices, the group message comprising a short message service message that comprises text that identifies a task, and a request for each receiver device of the group of receiver devices to accept or decline the task that is identified by the text;

sending, by the sender device, the group message via a short message service center to the group of receiver devices, wherein each receiver device of the group of receiver devices analyzes the text of the short message service message using text recognition logic that recognizes words in the text, word usage associated with the words, and sentence structure associated with the text to determine a first plurality of responses to be presented, the first plurality of responses comprising a first option to accept the task, a second option to decline the task, and a third option to present a custom field in which to enter a custom response;

receiving, by the sender device and from the group of receiver devices, a second plurality of responses to the group message, each response of the second plurality of responses comprising one response selected from a group of responses comprising accepting the task, declining the task, and the custom response; and

generating, by the sender device, a graphical user interface that comprises a task list view that identifies the task, the task list view comprising a first indication of a number of the second plurality of responses received from the group of receiver devices and response text for each of the second plurality of responses, wherein the task list view is presented in a minimized state that comprises the first indication of the number of the second plurality of responses, wherein details of the second plurality of responses are not presented in the task list view in the minimized state, wherein the task list view is expanded from the minimized state to an expanded state when the sender device receives an input to expand the task list view from the minimized state to the expanded state, and wherein the expanded state comprises the response text for each of the second plurality of responses.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating, by the sender device, the task list view comprises generating, by the sender device, the task list view identifying another task for which another group message was sent.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a poll view of the second plurality of responses, the poll view comprising a first graphical representation indicating a number of acceptances of the task comprised within the second plurality of responses and a second graphical representation indicating a number of declinations of the task comprised within the second plurality of responses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimized state further comprises a time lapse notation indicating a time at which the group message was sent to the group of receiver devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the text of the short message service message comprises a plurality of special characters, and wherein the plurality of special characters define, in a body of the group message, two responses of the first plurality of responses.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the group message comprises sending the group message to an application server that

generates a web page comprising a body of the group message and options associated with the first plurality of responses, and

sends a link to the web page to the group of receiver devices as part of the short message service message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the group of receiver devices generate the second plurality of responses by accessing the web page.

8. A method comprising:

generating, by a first device comprising a processor, a group message directed to a group of devices, the group message comprising a short message service message that comprises text that identifies a task, and a request for each device of the group of devices to accept or decline the task that is identified by the text;

sending, by the first device, the group message via a short message service center to the group of devices, wherein each device of the group of devices analyzes the text of the short message service message using text recognition logic that recognizes words in the text, word usage associated with the words, and sentence structure associated with the text to determine a first plurality of responses to be presented, the first plurality of responses comprising a first option to accept the task, a second option to decline the task, and a third option to present a custom field in which to enter a custom response;

receiving, by the first device and from the group of devices, a second plurality of responses to the group message, each response of the second plurality of responses comprising one response selected from a group of responses comprising accepting the task, declining the task, and the custom response; and

generating, by the first device, a graphical user interface that comprises a task list view that identifies the task, the task list view comprising a first indication of a number of the second plurality of responses received from the group of devices and response text for each of the second plurality of responses, wherein the task list view is presented in a minimized state that comprises the first indication of the number of the second plurality of responses, wherein details of the second plurality of responses are not presented in the task list view in the minimized state, wherein the task list view is expanded from the minimized state to an expanded state when the first device receives an input to expand the task list view from the minimized state to the expanded state, and wherein the expanded state comprises the response text for each of the second plurality of responses.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the text of the short message service message comprises a plurality of special characters, and wherein the plurality of special characters define, in a body of the group message, two responses of the first plurality of responses.

10. A device comprising:

a display;

a processor; and

a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

generating a group message directed to a group of devices, the group message comprising a short message service message that comprises text that identifies a task, and a request for each device of the group of devices to accept or decline the task that is identified by the text,

sending, to the group of devices, the group message via a short message service center, wherein each device of the group of devices analyzes the text of the short message service message using text recognition logic that recognizes words in the text, word usage associated with the words, and sentence structure associated with the text to determine a first plurality of responses to be presented, the first plurality of responses comprising a first option to accept the task, a second option to decline the task, and a third option to present a custom field in which to enter a custom response,

receiving, from the group of devices, a second plurality of responses to the group message, each response of the second plurality of responses comprising one response selected from a group of responses comprising accepting the task, declining the task, and the custom response, and

generating a graphical user interface that comprises a task list view that identifies the task, the task list view comprising a first indication of a number of the second plurality of responses received from the group of devices and response text for each of the second plurality of responses, wherein the task list view is presented on the display in a minimized state that comprises the first indication of the number of the second plurality of responses, wherein details of the second plurality of responses are not presented in the task list view in the minimized state, wherein the task list view is expanded from the minimized state to an expanded state an input is received to expand the task list view from the minimized state to the expanded state, and wherein the expanded state comprises the response text for each of the second plurality of responses.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the minimized state further comprises a time lapse notation indicating a time at which the group message was sent to the group of devices.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein generating the task list view comprises generating the task list view identifying another task for which another group message was sent.

13. The device of claim 10, further comprising presenting, on the display, a poll view of the second plurality of responses, the poll view comprising a first graphical representation indicating a number of acceptances of the task comprised within the second plurality of responses and a second graphical representation indicating a number of declinations of the task comprised within the second plurality of responses.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the text of the short message service message comprises a plurality of special characters, and wherein the plurality of special characters define, in a body of the group message, two responses of the first plurality of responses.