Method and apparatus for switching between concurrent messaging sessions

• US 9,514,441 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Klassen, Gerhard D., Wisebourt, Shaul
• Primary Examiner(s): DENNISON, JERRY B
• Application Number:
  US11/154,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20060288107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,190 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709/207, 370/260, 715/758
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conducting at least two concurrent conversation sessions is provided whereby a user may quickly switch between sessions. A graphical user interface may be provided comprising a first portion for conducting a first communication session and a second portion for immediately invoking a switch to a second communication session. In operation, the first portion of the graphical user interface is switched to immediately conduct said second communication session in response to a user input to invoke the switch. The second component can display notifications for concurrent session activities and a particular notification selected by a user to invoke the switch.

Claims

1. A method for operating a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

displaying, on the mobile communication device, a graphical user interface for a messaging application, the graphical user interface for the messaging application including;

a message display portion displaying content of a single communication session; and

a message composition portion;

responsive to receipt of a notification relating to a second communication session, reducing a dimension of the message display portion of the graphical user interface to accommodate display of a switch and notification portion;

displaying, in the switch and notification portion, an indication that a message of the second communication session is being composed; and

in response to an input at the switch and notification portion, displaying, in the message display portion, content of the second communication session in place of the content of the single communication session.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the single communication session is a peer-to-peer conversation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said switch and notification portion comprises an activity originator portion and an activity portion, the indication that a message of the second communication session is being composed being displayed in the activity portion.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein when there is a plurality of notifications, said plurality of notifications are provided in a queue in said switch and notification portion in order to facilitate navigation of said notifications and wherein said method further comprises receiving input to select a particular notification from said plurality of notifications.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the single communication session comprises an instant messaging conversation.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said second communication session is a selected one of two or more other communications sessions being concurrently conducted with the single communication session.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a menu of options in response to the input at the switch and notification portion of the graphical user interface, the menu including a link for invoking a switch to the second communication session,

wherein the displaying, in the message display portion, content of the second communication session is responsive to receipt of a selection of the link for invoking the switch.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the switch and notification portion is displayed adjacent to the message composition portion of the graphical user interface.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the messaging application is an instant messaging application.

10. A mobile communication device comprising:

a communications module for sending and receiving messages of communication sessions; and

a processor coupled to the communications module, the processor configured to execute stored machine-readable instructions for causing the mobile communication device to;

display a graphical user interface for a messaging application, the graphical user interface for the messaging application including;

a message display portion displaying content of a single communication session; and

a message composition portion;

responsive to receipt of a notification relating to a second communication session, reduce a dimension of the message display portion of the graphical user interface to accommodate display of a switch and notification portion;

display, in the switch and notification portion, an indication that a message of the second communication session is being composed; and

in response to an input at the switch and notification portion, display, in the message display portion, content of the second communication session in place of the content of the single communication session.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the single communication session is a peer-to-peer conversation.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the instructions further configure the processor to:

provide a menu of options in response to the input at the switch portion of the graphical user interface, the menu including a link for invoking a switch to the second communication session,

wherein the displaying, in the message display portion, content of the second communication session is responsive to receipt of a selection of the link for invoking the switch.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein said switch and notification portion comprises an activity originator portion and an activity portion, the indication that a message of the second communication session is being composed being provided in the activity portion.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein the instructions further configure the processor to queue and facilitate navigation of a plurality of notifications in the switch and notification portion and to receive input to select a particular notification from said plurality of notifications.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein the single communication session comprises an instant messaging conversation.

16. The device of claim 10 wherein the instructions further configure the mobile communication device to display the switch and notification portion adjacent to the message composition portion of the graphical user interface.

17. The device of claim 10 wherein the instructions configure the mobile communication device to hide the switch and notification portion in an absence of the notification.

18. The device of claim 10 wherein the messaging application is an instant messaging application.

19. A non-transitory machine readable medium comprising program code recorded thereon executable by a processor for causing a mobile communication device to:

display a graphical user interface for a messaging application, the graphical user interface for the messaging application including;

a message display portion displaying content of a single communication session; and

a message composition portion;

responsive to receipt of a notification relating to a second communication session, reduce a dimension of the message display portion of the graphical user interface to accommodate display of a switch and notification portion;

display, in the switch and notification portion, an indication that a message of the second communication session is being composed; and

in response to an input at the switch and notification portion, display, in the message display portion, content of the second communication session in place of the content of the single communication session.

20. The medium of claim 19, further comprising program code for causing the mobile communication device to display the switch and notification portion adjacent to the message composition portion of the graphical user interface.

21. The medium of claim 19, further comprising program code for causing the mobile communication device to hide said switch and notification portion in an absence of the notification.

22. The medium of claim 19 wherein the messaging application is an instant messaging application.

23. A method for operating a messaging application on a mobile communication device, the messaging application comprising a graphical user interface having an application identification portion and a main active portion, the method comprising:

displaying the graphical user interface for the messaging application on a display screen of the mobile communication device;

displaying a list of contacts in the main active portion;

in response to receiving a first input indicating selection of a first contact in the list of contacts, displaying, in the main active portion, a first conversation view, the first conversation view relating to a communication session with the first contact, the first conversation view including;

a first message display portion displaying content of the communication session with the first contact; and

a first message composition portion;

responsive to receipt of a notification relating to a second communication session with a second contact, reducing a dimension of the first message display portion of the graphical user interface to accommodate display of a first switch and notification portion;

in response to receiving information related to a second message from the second contact, displaying, in the switch and notification portion, an indication that the second message is being composed; and

in response to receiving a second input indicating selection of the switch and notification portion, displaying, in the main active portion, a second conversation view, the second conversation view relating to the second communication session with the second contact, the second conversation view including;

a second message display portion displaying content of the second communication session with the second contact; and

a second message composition portion.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the application identification portion comprises at least one of messaging application information, mobile communication device status information, a battery level, a wireless network signal level, a current time and a current date.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the messaging application is an instant messaging application.

26. A mobile communication device comprising:

a communications system for sending and receiving messages of communication applications;

a display screen; and

a processor coupled to the communications system and the display screen, the processor configured to execute stored machine-readable instructions for causing the mobile communication device to;

display, on the display screen, a graphical user interface of a messaging application, the graphical user interface having an application identification portion and a main active portion;

display a list of contacts in the main active portion;

in response to receiving a first input indicating selection of a first contact in the list of contacts, display, in the main active portion, a first conversation view, the first conversation view relating to a communication session with the first contact, the first conversation view including;

a first message display portion displaying content of the communication session with the first contact; and

a first message composition portion;

responsive to receipt of a notification relating to a second communication session with a second contact, reducing a dimension of the first message display portion of the graphical user interface to accommodate display of a first switch and notification portion;

in response to receiving information related to a second message from the second contact, display, in the switch and notification portion, an indication that the second message is being composed; and

in response to receiving a second input indicating selection of the switch and notification portion, display, in the main active portion, a second conversation view, the second conversation view relating to the second communication session with the second contact, the second conversation view including;

a second message display portion displaying content of the second communication session with the second contact; and

a second message composition portion.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the application identification portion comprises at least one of messaging application information, mobile communication device status information, a battery level, a wireless network signal level, a current time and a current date.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the messaging application is an instant messaging application.

29. A non-transitory machine readable medium comprising program code recorded thereon executable by a processor for causing a mobile communication device to:

display, on a display screen of the mobile communication device, a graphical user interface of a messaging application, the graphical user interface having an application identification portion and a main active portion;

display a list of contacts in the main active portion;

in response to receiving a first input indicating selection of a first contact in the list of contacts, display, in the main active portion, a first conversation view, the first conversation view relating to a communication session with the first contact, the first conversation view including;

a first message display portion displaying content of the communication session with the first contact; and

a first message composition portion;

responsive to receipt of a notification relating to a second communication session with a second contact, reducing a dimension of the first message display portion of the graphical user interface to accommodate display of a first switch and notification portion;

in response to receiving information related to a second message from the second contact, display, in the switch and notification portion, an indication that the second message is being composed; and

in response to receiving a second input indicating selection of the switch and notification portion, display, in the main active portion, a second conversation view, the second conversation view relating to the second communication session with the second contact, the second conversation view including;

a second message display portion displaying content of the second communication session with the second contact; and

a second message composition portion.

30. The medium of claim 29, wherein the application identification portion comprises at least one of messaging application information, mobile communication device status information, a battery level, a wireless network signal level, a current time and a current date.

31. The medium of claim 29, wherein the messaging application is an instant messaging application.