IM contact list entry as a game in progress designate
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for using a contact-list entry of an IM contact-list interface to designate an IM game in progress to facilitate switching between an IM conversation and an IM game.
1. A method comprising:
displaying, in a screen for a mobile device, a game application interface for a game in progress;
enabling game moves to be executed in the game application interface;
enabling a command to be selected from a menu displayed in the screen to invoke a messaging interface for conducting an instant messaging conversation with an opposing player in the game in progress; and
displaying the messaging interface in response to the command being selected, the messaging interface presenting a contact list to a user of the mobile device, the contact list comprising a set of contacts including the opposing player and a plurality of list items, wherein a first list item in the plurality of list items identifies a number of conversations between the user and the set of contacts, and a second list item in the plurality of list items identifies a number of games currently being played by the user, and
wherein the messaging interface displays a graphical indicator designating the game in progress with the opposing player.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing a field for entering instant messages in the messaging interface.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the contact list is part of a conversation screen of the messaging interface, the conversation screen grouping contacts based on instant messaging conversations associated with the contacts.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the game application interface is associated with an instant message contact list entry in the contact list.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising presenting a notification of a new move for the game in progress in the game application interface.
6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising displaying new instant messages over top of the game application interface.
7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions for:
displaying in a screen for a mobile device, a game application interface for a game in progress;
enabling game moves to be executed in the game application interface;
enabling a command to be selected from a menu displayed in the screen to invoke a messaging interface for conducting an instant messaging conversation with an opposing player in the game in progress; and
displaying the messaging interface in response to the command being selected, the messaging interface presenting a contact list to a user of the mobile device, the contact list comprising a set of contacts including the opposing player and a plurality of list items, wherein a first list item in the plurality of list items identifies a number of conversations between the user and the set of contacts, and a second list item in the plurality of list items identifies a number of games currently being played by the user, and
wherein the messaging interface displays a graphical indicator designating the game in progress with the opposing player.
8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 7 , further comprising instructions for providing a field for entering instant messages in the messaging interface.
9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 7 , wherein the contact list is part of a conversation screen of the messaging interface, the conversation screen grouping contacts based on instant messaging conversations associated with the contacts.
10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 7 , wherein the game application interface is associated with an instant message contact list entry in the contact list.
11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 7 , further comprising instructions for presenting a notification of a new move for the game in progress in the game application interface.
12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 7 , further comprising instructions for displaying new instant messages over top of the game application interface.
13. A mobile device comprising:
a processor; and
a memory, the memory storing computer executable instructions which when executed by the processor configure the processor to:
display in a screen for a mobile device, a game application interface for a game in progress;
enable game moves to be executed in the game application interface;
enable a command to be selected from a menu displayed in the screen to invoke a messaging interface for conducting an instant messaging conversation with an opposing player in the game in progress; and
display the messaging interface in response to the command being selected, the messaging interface presenting a contact list to a user of the mobile device, the contact list comprising a set of contacts including the opposing player and a plurality of list items, wherein a first list item in the plurality of list items identifies a number of conversations between the user and the set of contacts, and a second list item in the plurality of list items identifies a number of games currently being played by the user, and
wherein the messaging interface displays a graphical indicator designating the game in progress with the opposing player.
14. The mobile device according to claim 13 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions executable by the processor to provide a field for entering instant messages in the messaging interface.
15. The mobile device according to claim 13 , wherein the contact list is part of a conversation screen of the messaging interface, the conversation screen grouping contacts based on instant messaging conversations associated with the contacts.
16. The mobile device according to claim 13 , wherein the game application interface is associated with an instant message contact list entry in the contact list.
17. The mobile device according to claim 13 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions executable by the processor to present a notification of a new move for the game in progress in the game application interface.
18. The mobile device according to claim 13 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions executable by the processor to display new instant messages over top of the game application interface.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one contact in the set of contacts is presented under at least one of the first list item, the second list item, or a combination thereof.