Intelligent user interfaces for multiple communication lines

• US 9,900,423 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2016
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: He, Tony, Chory, Susan, Howard, Gregory, Bergler, Peter, Qin, Lijuan, Arnett, Jon, Lee, Janis Jungeun, Mikkola, Petteri, Khoury, Issa Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US15/249,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20160366270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Various user interfaces and other technologies for interacting with devices that support multiple communication lines can be implemented. Scenarios providing separate communications lines, such as voice over internet protocol (VOIP), social network communications, and the like can be supported. For example, communication-line-separated and communication-line-aggregated user interface paradigms can be supported. Intelligent selection of an appropriate paradigm can support user preferences, conversation user interfaces, and the like. Other features such as communication line defaults can help users deal with multiple communication line scenarios. A consistent, compact user interface for switching communication lines can be supported. Users can interact with their devices more efficiently and with less frustration. A wide variety of use scenarios are supported.

Claims

1. A method implemented at least in part by a computing system, the method comprising:

by the computing system;

presenting a first user interface implementing a communication-line-separated user interface paradigm, wherein the communication-line-separated user interface paradigm separates communication, contact, or communication events for VOIP lines into different user interface elements, lists, or screens, and a user interface element, list, or screen is limited to a single VOIP line;

presenting a second user interface implementing a communication-line-aggregated user interface paradigm, wherein the communication-line-aggregated user interface paradigm presents communications, contacts, or communication events for a plurality of VOIP lines in a single instance of a user interface element, list, or screen;

receiving user input via at least one of the user interfaces; and

responsive to the user input, navigating to another user interface or performing one or more communications actions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the second user interface implementing the communication-line-aggregated user interface paradigm comprises an interface showing information regarding at least one communication transmitted or received via a first communication line and information regarding at least one communication transmitted or received via a second, different communication line.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first user interface implementing the communication-line-separated user interface paradigm comprises an interface limited to information regarding communications transmitted or received via a single communication line.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

choosing which user interface paradigm to present according to input factors.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the input factors comprise a user interface type being displayed; and

choosing which user interface paradigm to present is based at least on the user interface type being displayed.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the input factors comprise a stored user interface paradigm preference; and

choosing which user interface paradigm to present is based at least on the stored user interface paradigm preference.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the stored user interface paradigm preference is one or multiple separate stored user interface paradigm preferences, and the multiple separate stored user interface paradigm preferences are associated with different communication types.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the first user interface is of a user interface type; and

the second user interface is of the same user interface type;

wherein the method further comprises;

changing user interface paradigm for the same user interface type according to the stored paradigm preference, whereby the same user interface type is presented according to two different user interface paradigms at different times.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the paradigm preference is applicable to messaging; and

the method further comprises;

presenting a conversation user interface implementing a communication-line-aggregated user interface paradigm, even when the paradigm preference indicates communication-line-separated preference.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

presenting a user interface comprising a first activatable user interface element representing call initiation for a first communication line and a second activatable user interface element representing call initiation for a second communication line;

receiving an activation of one of the first activatable user interface element or second activatable user interface element, thereby indicating a selected communication line; and

presenting the first user interface implementing the communication-line-separated user interface paradigm for the selected communication line.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

the first user interface comprises a call history for the selected communication line; and

the method further comprises;

responsive to activation of a represented call in the call history from a contact, placing a call to a VOIP user name associated with the represented call with the communication line selected.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein:

the first user interface comprises a call history for the selected communication line; and

the method further comprises;

via the first user interface, receiving an indication to place a call with another communication line different than the selected communication line; and

placing a call with the different communication line.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first user interface comprises a conversation list user interface presenting a summary of a plurality of conversations according to a communication-line-separated user interface paradigm; and

the second user interface is displayed responsive to activation of a particular conversation out of the plurality of conversations and presents a list of messages for the particular conversation according to a communication-line-aggregated user interface paradigm.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

choosing a default communication line for a contact point based at least on a factor selected from the group consisting of;

a subscriber identity module card on which the contact point resides;

a subscriber identity module card from which the contact point was imported; and

a communication line most recently involved in communications activity.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

presenting an indication of the default communication line on a contact card for the contact point while a different default communication line is presented for another contact point on the contact card.

16. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory storing one or more user interface paradigm preferences operable to indicate a communication-line-separated user interface paradigm or a communication-line-aggregated user interface paradigm;

a user interface paradigm selection engine operable to receive the stored user interface paradigm preferences and a user interface type being displayed and output a chosen user interface paradigm based on user interface paradigm selection rules, wherein the user interface paradigm selection engine supports a communication-line-separated user interface paradigm and a communication-line-aggregated user interface paradigm; and

a display operable to present a user interface according to the chosen user interface paradigm;

wherein the system is configured to;

receive user input via the user interface presented according to the chosen user interface paradigm; and

responsive to the user input, navigate to another user interface or perform one or more communications actions;

wherein the communication-line-separated user interface paradigm separates communication, contact, or communication events for VOIP lines into different user interface elements, lists, or screens, and a user interface element, list, or screen is limited to a single VOIP line; and

wherein the communication-line-aggregated user interface paradigm presents communications, contacts, or communication events for a plurality of VOIP lines in a single instance of a user interface element, list, or screen.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein:

the memory further stores a plurality of user interface definitions comprising user interface definitions implementing a communication-line-separated user interface paradigm and user interface definitions implementing a communication-line-aggregated user interface paradigm; and

wherein the user interface presented by the display is presented according to the chosen user interface paradigm as defined in the user interface definitions.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein:

the one or more stored user interface paradigm preferences comprise;

a paradigm preference for calling; and

a paradigm preference for messaging.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the user interface paradigm selection engine is configured to choose a communication-line-aggregated user interface definition when the user interface type being displayed is a conversation user interface, even though the paradigm preference for messaging indicates a communication-line-separated user interface paradigm.

20. One or more computer-readable memories, magnetic storage devices, or optical storage devices comprising computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

presenting a home user interface comprising a first activatable user interface element configured to initiate messaging via a first communication line and a second activatable user interface element configured to initiate messaging via a second communication line;

receiving activation of the first activatable user interface element;

responsive to receiving activation of the first activatable user interface element, showing a conversation list user interface for the first communication line, wherein the conversation list user interface implements a communication-line-separated user interface paradigm, wherein the communication-line-separated user interface paradigm separates communication, contact, or communication events for VOIP lines into different user interface elements, lists, or screens, and a user interface element, list, or screen is limited to a single VOIP line; and

;

receiving activation of a particular conversation out of conversations presented as part of the conversation list user interface; and

responsive to activation of the particular conversation, presenting a conversation user interface comprising a message of the first communication line and a message of the second communication line, thereby implementing a communication-line-aggregated user interface paradigm, wherein the communication-line-aggregated user interface paradigm presents communications, contacts, or communication events for a plurality of VOIP lines in a single instance of a user interface element, list, or screen, and the communication-line-aggregated user interface paradigm shows information regarding at least one communication transmitted or received via a first VOIP line and information regarding at least one communication transmitted or received via a second, different VOIP line.