IP Library Granted Patent US 8,943,422
Granted Patent B2
US 8,943,422 · App. 14/444,556 · Granted Jan 27, 2015

System and method for a messaging interface

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,943,422
App. No.
14/444,556
Granted
Jan 27, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Computer-implemented systems and methods for a simplified messaging interface are provided for allowing users to initiate and engage in messaging conversations. In various embodiments, the systems and methods reduce the overhead involved in initiating and/or engaging in messaging conversations. In some embodiments, the messaging interface allows users to initiate and/or engage in conversations without having to open a separate standard messaging window for every conversation. In some embodiments, the simplified messaging interface may be used in conjunction with a standard messaging interface.

Claims (48)

1. A method of providing an electronic messaging interface, the method comprising the following operations performed by one or more processors:

providing instructions to display a contact list in a graphical user interface, the contact list including a separate graphical region within the contact list for each contact in the list;

receiving a selection of a contact in the contact list;

providing instructions to display a message-entry field in the separate graphical region for the selected contact;

receiving a message into the message-entry field in the separate graphical region for the selected contact; and

sending the message to the selected contact.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a response message from the selected contact;

providing instructions to display a response notification window, the response notification window including an additional message-entry field for receiving one or more additional messages.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating a standard messaging window after a threshold message size is received into the message-entry field.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the threshold message size is significantly less than the amount displayed in a standard messaging window.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the threshold message size is 20 characters.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the threshold message size is 100 characters.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the threshold message size is based on the type of language is used to compose the message.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically opening the message-entry field after a response is received from a contact.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selection is a first selection, the contact is a first contact, the message-entry field is a first message-entry field, and the message is a first message; and

wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second selection of a second contact;

providing instructions to display a second message-entry field in the separate graphical region for the second contact, the separate graphical region for the second contact differing from the separate graphical region for the first contact;

receiving a second message into the second message-entry field; and

sending the second message to the second contact.

10. A system for providing an electronic messaging interface, comprising:

a processing system comprising one or more processors; and

a memory system that stores instructions, the instructions being executable by the processing system to perform operations comprising:

providing instructions to display a contact list in a graphical user interface, the contact list including a separate graphical region within the contact list for each contact in the list;

receiving a selection of a contact in the contact list;

providing instructions to display a message-entry field in the separate graphical region for the selected contact;

receiving a message into the message-entry field in the separate graphical region for the selected contact; and

sending the message to the selected contact.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the operations performed by the processing system further comprise:

receiving a response message from the selected contact;

providing instructions to display a response notification window, the response notification window including an additional message-entry field for receiving one or more additional messages.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the operations performed by the processing system further comprise:

initiating a standard messaging window after a threshold message size is received into the message-entry field.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the threshold message size is significantly less than the amount of message displayed in a standard messaging window.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the threshold message size is 20 characters.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold message size is 100 characters.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the threshold message size is based on the type of language used to compose the message.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the operations performed by the processing system further comprise:

automatically opening the message-entry field after a response is received from a contact.

18. A computer-implemented method of providing a messaging interface, comprising:

display a contact list in a graphical user interface, the contact list including a separate graphical region within the contact list for each contact in the list;

receiving a selection of a contact in the contact list;

displaying a first message-entry field in the separate graphical region for the selected contact;

detecting that a message entered into the first message-entry field has exceeded a threshold message size;

displaying a separate window in response to detecting that the message has exceeded the threshold message size, wherein the separate window includes a second message-entry field containing the message that the user entered into the first message-entry field and provides functionality for receiving a message that exceeds the threshold message size;

receiving an indication to send the message in the second message-entry field to the selected contact; and

sending the message to the selected contact.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2021
From: VERIZON MEDIA INC.
To: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
Reel/Frame 057453/0431 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2020
From: OATH INC.
To: VERIZON MEDIA INC.
Reel/Frame 054258/0635 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 24, 2017
From: AOL INC.
To: OATH INC.
Reel/Frame 043672/0369 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2014
From: AOL LLC
To: AOL INC.
Reel/Frame 033409/0705 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2014
From: ARAD, RONEN
To: AOL LLC
Reel/Frame 033409/0788 →