`Klassen et a].
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,745,149 B2
`Jun. 3, 2014
`
`US008745149B2
`
`HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND
`ASSOCIATED METHOD PROVIDING TIME
`DATA IN A MESSAGING ENVIRONMENT
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`Inventors: Gerhard D. Klassen, Waterloo (CA);
`Christopher R. Wormald, Kitchener
`(CA); Lawrence E. Kuhl, Waterloo
`(CA)
`Assignee: BlackBerry Limited, Waterloo (CA)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21)
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
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`(63)
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`Appl. N0.: 13/615,419
`
`Filed:
`
`Sep. 13, 2012
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2013/0002681A1
`
`Jan. 3, 2013
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 13/111,675, ?led on
`May 19, 2011, now Pat. No. 8,301,713, which is a
`continuation of application No. 10/944,925, ?led on
`Sep. 20, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,970,849.
`Provisional application No. 60/504,379, ?led on Sep.
`19, 2003.
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 15/16
`US. Cl.
`USPC ......... .. 709/207; 709/206; 455/566; 455/567;
`715/772
`
`(2006.01)
`
`Field of Classi?cation Search
`USPC .......... .. 709/206, 207; 455/566, 567; 715/772
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`6,301,609 B1
`6,484,196 B1
`6,590,529 B2
`6,603,389 B1*
`6,636,243 B1*
`6,889,063 B2*
`7,043,530 B2
`7,099,700 B2*
`7,111,044 B2*
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`
`10/2001
`Aravamudan et al.
`Maurille
`11/2002
`Schwoegler et al.
`7/2003
`340/72
`Murray
`8/2003
`715/772
`MacPhail
`10/2003
`5/2005
`Yamada ...................... .. 455/567
`5/2006
`Isaacs et al.
`8/2006
`Hwang et al. ............... .. 455/566
`9/2006 Lee .................. ..
`709/204
`2/2007 Appelman et al. .......... .. 709/206
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`CA
`EP
`
`8/2003
`2475319 A1
`0743762 A2 11/1996
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Lastoria, Gianluca; Search Report from corresponding European
`Application No. 101728327; search completed Oct. 1, 2010.
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner * Ario Etienne
`Assistant Examiner * Michael C Lai
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiBrett J. Slaney; Blake,
`Cassels & Graydon LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`An improved handheld electronic device and an associated
`method are provided in which time data regarding certain
`aspects of a messaging conversation on a handheld electronic
`device are made available to a user. Such time data is pro
`vided, for instance, in situations Where an interruption has
`occurred during a messaging conversation. Time data can also
`be provided to a user on demand in certain circumstances.
`
`17 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`75
`
`its
`
`72
`70
`t
`\
`> / r68
`66
`74 Q Hi Honey, how was your day?
`Brutott Lorry emborrossed me in front of
`everybody.
`72 70
`66» Whot 0,1;115053
`68
`742g Yeoh, but I got him book later with o korote chop!
`1 2:44 pm
`78
`
`good for you
`
`5Q
`r
`
`t
`
`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1001
`
`Page 1 of 15
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`
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`US 8,745,149 B2
`Page 2
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`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5/2007 Lapuyade et a1. .......... .. 719/318
`7,219,109 B1 *
`6/2007 Lazaridis et a1.
`7,236,472 B2
`7,305,441 B2* 12/2007 Mathewson et a1. ........ .. 709/206
`7,349,947 B1* 3/2008 Slage et a1. ................. .. 709/217
`2002/0075303 A1
`6/2002 Thompson et al.
`2002/0087649 A1
`7/2002 HorvitZ
`2002/0147135 A1* 10/2002 Schnell ........................... .. 514/3
`2003/0001890 A1* 1/2003 Brin ............................ .. 345/753
`2003/0060240 A1
`3/2003 Graham et a1.
`2003/0104841 A1* 6/2003 Yamamoto .................. .. 455/566
`2003/0134616 A1
`7/2003 Thomsen et a1.
`2004/0137967 A1
`7/2004 BOdley et al'
`............... .. 719/318
`2004/0205775 A1* 10/2004 H '1<
`1 1.
`2004/0228531 A1 11/2004 anjrslcfezaetal'
`2005/0080866 A1* 4/2005 Kent etal. ................... .. 709/207
`2005/0165543 A1* 7/2005 Yokota ........................ .. 701/204
`
`EP
`GB
`GB
`GB
`JP
`W0
`
`1/2002
`1176840 A1
`6/2000
`2350746 A
`2350746 A * 12/2000 ............ .. H04L 12/54
`2384150 A
`7/2003
`200311145 A 12/1990
`WO 01/30091 A1
`4/2001
`
`WO 02/21413 A2
`W0
`W0 02/065250 A2
`W0
`W0 WO 2004/064362 A1
`
`3/2002
`8/2002
`7000“
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Varma, S.; Search Report from corresponding PCT Application No.
`PCT/CA2004/001712; search completedDec. 1,2004.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 2 of 15
`
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`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2014
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`Sheet 1 017
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`US 8,745,149 B2
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`_000
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`Page 3 of 15
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`US. Patent
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`Jun. 3, 2014
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`Sheet 2 0f 7
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`US 8,745,149 B2
`
`}
`I
`INPUT
`APPARATUS
`
`MEMORY
`K
`55
`
`(
`l
`MP
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`f /
`(
`0UTPUT
`APPARATUS [a
`20
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`104
`f ,1 so
`DEVICE ' \
`
`SERVER
`
`FIGS
`
`I
`
`Page 4 of 15
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`US. Patent
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`Jun. 3, 2014
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`Sheet 3 of7
`
`US 8,745,149 B2
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`70
`
`\>
`
`72
`
`/f
`
`,76
`
`[so
`
`{"68
`66
`74 { Hi Honey, how was your day? )f78
`\< Brut . Lorry embarrassed me in front of
`everybody.
`72 70
`68}
`66» Whoi bio/rigéw
`{68
`74w< Yeah, but I 901 him back Ioier wiih o koroie chop!
`2:44 pm
`55$ good for you 178
`(84
`\76
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`Z
`/ (68 so
`72
`
`F]G.4
`
`76
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your day?
`< Bruiol! Lorry emborrossed me in fronf of
`everybody.
`> Whoi o Jerk!
`< Yeoh, buf I 901 him book loier wiih o koroie chop!
`80
`72
`2144 Pm
`> \goodm
`\84
`68
`/\/72 4156 pm—\
`92
`> / Hey, wont f0 go our ionigbi?
`Y
`80
`/
`
`F165
`
`Page 5 of 15
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`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2014
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`Sheet 4 of7
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`US 8,745,149 B2
`
`(50
`J
`
`95
`/
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your day?
`< Brutal! Larry embarrassed me in irani of
`everYbOdY'
`Hide Menu
`> Whai a Jerk!
`?nd
`< Yeah, but I goiBilim back iaier wiih Seled
`00d for W 2'44 pm
`Clear conversaiion
`> g
`Y 92,456 pm
`View Coniaci Lisi
`W
`End Conversation
`
`,\ ,
`
`> Hey, wani #0 go out ionighi?
`< Sure, sounds fun.
`> Greai, l'LL pick you up in an hour.
`
`< Can'i waii X68
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your day?
`< Bruial! Larry embarrassed me in front of
`everybody.
`> Who! 0 Jerk!
`< Yeah, but i goi him back iaier wiih a karaie chap!
`2:44 pm\84
`
`> good for you
`
`4:56 pm f92
`> Hey, word 40 go our ionighi?
`< Sure, sounds fun.
`> Greoi, i'LL pick you up in an hour.
`5:04 pm\98
`
`< Can’i woiikH68
`
`Page 6 of 15
`
`
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`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2014
`
`Sheet 5 0f7
`
`US 8,745,149 B2
`
`> Hi Honey, how wos your day?
`< Bruyol! Lorry emborrossed me in froni of
`everybody.
`> Who’r o Jerk!
`< Yeoh, bui I goi‘ him back later w?h 0 koroie chop!
`> Hey, woni i0 go oui fonighi?\/~180
`188
`2:44 Pm “A184
`/ 4:56 pm\192
`< Sure, sounds fun.
`> Greoi, I’LL pick you up in on hour.
`( Con’i woii
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Page 7 of 15
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`
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`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2014
`
`Sheet 6 0f 7
`
`US 8,745,149 B2
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your day?
`< Brutal! Larry embarrassed me in from of
`everybody.
`> What a JeerBZ
`284 < Yeah, but I gai him back later wirh a karaie chap!
`>\[2:44 pm] Hey, wani to go our ionighi? x236
`
`292/ < [4:56 pm] Sure, sounds fumm 294
`280
`> Greoi, l’LLgpick you up in an' hour.
`< Can'i waif 290
`288
`
`F]G.8a
`
`282
`
`Hi Honey, how was your day?
`‘>
`< Bruicd! Larry embarrassed me in froni of
`everybody.
`286
`j280
`> wmr a Jerk!
`< Yeah, but I goi him back la’rer wifh a karaie chop!
`[2:44 pm]\284
`> Hey, wani fa go out ’ronighf?
`< [4:56 pm] Sure, sounds fun.’\~294
`292\/
`> Greai, i'LL pick youhup in an hour.
`< Can’i wah 290
`288
`
`1716.819
`
`Page 8 of 15
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2014
`
`Sheet 7 0f7
`
`US 8,745,149 B2
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your day?
`< Bruiol! Lorry emborrossed me in front of
`everybody.
`> Whol o Jerk!
`( Yeoh, bui l gol him back later wiih o koroie chop!
`(g > Hey, woni 10 go out fonighi‘?
`M4
`358"€€/;u44,
`sounds fun.
`‘\\3;;==:3
`-
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`pm '\
`> Greof, I’LL pick you up in an hour.
`< Con’r wait
`
`378
`
`50
`/)
`,L
`
`> Hi Honey, how was your day?
`< Bruiol! Lorry emborrossed me in froni of
`everybody.
`> Who! 0 Jerk!
`< Yeoh, bui I got him back loier with o koroie chop!
`> Hey, woni 10 go out tonight?
`< Sure, sounds fun.
`> Greoi, i'LL pick you up in on hour.
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`
`Page 9 of 15
`
`
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`US 8,745,149 B2
`
`1
`HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND
`ASSOCIATED METHOD PROVIDING TIME
`DATA IN A MESSAGING ENVIRONMENT
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of US. patent applica
`tion Ser. No. 13/111,675 ?led on May 19, 2011 now US. Pat.
`No. 8,301,713, which is a continuation of US. patent appli
`cation Ser. No. 10/944,925 ?led on Sep. 20, 2004, now US.
`Pat. No. 7,970,849, which claims the bene?t of US. Provi
`sional Application No. 60/504,379 entitled ?led on Sep. 19,
`2003, all of which are hereby incorporated into the present
`application by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The invention relates generally to handheld electronic
`devices and, more particularly, to a handheld electronic
`device and a method for providing information representative
`of the times of certain communications in a messaging envi
`ronment.
`2. Background of the Invention
`Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known.
`Examples of such handheld electronic devices include, for
`instance, personal data assistants (PDAs), handheld comput
`ers, two-way pagers, cellular telephones, and the like. Such
`handheld electronic devices are generally intended to be por
`table, and thus are relatively small. Many handheld electronic
`devices also feature wireless communication capability,
`although many such handheld electronic devices are stand
`alone devices that are functional without communication
`with other devices. With advances in technology, handheld
`electronic devices are being con?gured to include greater
`numbers of features while having relatively smaller form
`factors.
`Electronic devices, including handheld electronic devices,
`are capable of numerous types of communication. One type
`of communication is “messaging”, and one type of messaging
`is “instant messaging” which enables a ?rst device to send a
`message on a more or less instantaneous basis to a second
`device. With most all instant messaging, a given electronic
`device is provided with an interface that outputs the various
`communications that have occurred between the electronic
`device and another electronic device during a messaging
`“conversation”. A sample output on an electronic device that
`is representative of the various communications that have
`occurred during a conversation may be as follows:
`Hi Honey, how was your day?
`<Brutal! Larry embarrassed me in front of everybody.
`What a Jerk!
`<Yeah, but I got him back later with a karate chop! @
`good for you.
`In this example, incoming messages are indicated by a
`greater than “>” mathematical symbol, and outgoing mes
`sages are indicated by a less than “<” mathematical symbol. If
`the conversation continues quickly, i.e., substantially without
`interruption, the messages do not need a time stamp on them.
`In the environment of a handheld electronic device, it would
`be desirable to avoid unnecessary time stamps and other
`unnecessary output since it occupies too much valuable space
`on the limited display of the handheld electronic device.
`In some messaging circumstances, however, it may be
`desirable for information regarding certain timing aspects of
`conversation to be available to a user. Nevertheless, the lim
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`2
`ited space available on a display of a handheld electronic
`device has made a solution dif?cult. It thus wouldbe desirable
`to provide an improved handheld electronic device and an
`associated method that provide time data in a messaging
`environment.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`An improved handheld electronic device and an associated
`method are provided in which time data regarding certain
`aspects of a messaging conversation on a handheld electronic
`device are made available to a user. Such time data is pro
`vided, for instance, in situations where an interruption has
`occurred during a messaging conversation. Time data can also
`be provided to a user on demand in certain circumstances.
`Accordingly, an aspect of the invention is to provide an
`improved handheld electronic device and a method in which
`data regarding the times at which certain communications
`have occurred in a messaging environment are made available
`to a user.
`Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved
`handheld electronic device and a method that enables a user to
`be made aware of certain timing aspects of a conversation in
`a messaging environment.
`Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved
`handheld electronic device and a method in which data
`regarding the times at which certain communications have
`occurred are made available to a user while limiting the
`amount of display area that is occupied by such data.
`Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved
`handheld electronic device and a method in which data can be
`provided regarding the elapsed time since a communication.
`Accordingly, an aspect of the invention is to provide an
`improved method of providing an output on at least one of a
`?rst electronic device and a second electronic device, with the
`?rst electronic device being adapted to be in electronic com
`munication with a second electronic device. The general
`nature of the method can be stated as including determining
`that a ?rst messaging communication has occurred at a ?rst
`time between the ?rst device and the second device, output
`ting a ?rst indication that is representative of at least a portion
`of the ?rst communication, determining that a predetermined
`period of time has elapsed since the ?rst time substantially
`without further communication between the ?rst device and
`the second device and, responsive to determining that a pre
`determined period of time has elapsed, outputting a ?rst time
`stamp representative of the ?rst time.
`Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved
`method of providing an output on at least one of a ?rst elec
`tronic device and a second electronic device, with the ?rst
`electronic device being adapted to be in electronic commu
`nication with a second electronic device. The general nature
`of the method can be stated as including determining that a
`?rst messaging communication has occurred at a ?rst time
`between the ?rst device and the second device, outputting a
`?rst indication that is representative of at least a portion of the
`?rst communication, detecting a predetermined input and,
`responsive to detecting a predetermined input, outputting a
`?rst time stamp representative of the ?rst time.
`Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved
`method of providing an output on at least one of a ?rst elec
`tronic device and a second electronic device, with the ?rst
`electronic device being adapted to be in electronic commu
`nication with a second electronic device. The general nature
`of the method can be stated as including determining that a
`?rst messaging communication has occurred at a ?rst time
`between the ?rst device and the second device, outputting a
`
`Page 10 of 15
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`US 8,745,149 B2
`
`3
`?rst indication that is representative of at least a portion of the
`?rst communication, determining that a ?rst period of time
`has elapsed since the ?rst time substantially without further
`communication between the ?rst device and the second
`device and, responsive to determining that a ?rst period of
`time has elapsed, outputting a ?rst time stamp representative
`of the ?rst period of time.
`Another aspect of the invention is to provide an improved
`handheld electronic device of a type that is adapted to be in
`electronic communication with another electronic device.
`The general nature of the handheld electronic device can be
`stated as including a processor apparatus, an input apparatus,
`and an output apparatus. The processor apparatus includes a
`processor and a memory and is adapted to receive input from
`the input apparatus and to provide output to the output appa
`ratus. The processor apparatus also is adapted to determine
`that a ?rst messaging communication has occurred at a ?rst
`time between the handheld electronic device and the other
`electronic device. The output apparatus is adapted to output a
`?rst indication that is representative of at least a portion of the
`?rst communication. The processor apparatus is adapted to
`determine that a predetermined period of time has elapsed
`since the ?rst time substantially without further communica
`tion between the handheld electronic device and the other
`electronic device. Responsive to a determination that a pre
`determined period of time has elapsed, the output apparatus is
`adapted to output a ?rst time stamp representative of the ?rst
`time.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`A full understanding of the invention can be gained from
`the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments
`when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
`which:
`FIG. 1 is an exemplary top plan view of a handheld elec
`tronic device in accordance with the invention which can be
`used in conjunction with an improved method in accordance
`with the invention;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the handheld electronic
`device of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the handheld electronic
`device of FIG. 1 and another device in a messaging environ
`ment;
`FIG. 4 is an exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 5 is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 6a is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 6b is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 7 is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 8a is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 8b is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention;
`FIG. 9 is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention; and
`FIG. 10 is another exemplary view of an output provided in
`accordance with an aspect of the method of the invention.
`Similar numerals refer to similar parts to the speci?cation.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`An improved handheld electronic device 4 in accordance
`with the invention is indicated generally in FIG. 1 and is
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`depicted schematically in FIG. 2. The exemplary handheld
`electronic device 4 includes a housing 8 upon which are
`disposed an input apparatus 12, an output apparatus 16 and a
`processor apparatus 20. The input apparatus 12 includes a
`keypad 24 that can be said to include a plurality of keys 28.
`The output apparatus 16 includes a display 50. The output
`apparatus 16 can additionally include, for instance, additional
`indicators such as lights, and the like, and can additionally
`include an audible output such as a speaker as well as other
`output devices.
`The processor apparatus 20 includes a processor 52 that
`can be, for instance, and without limitation, a microprocessor
`(pP), and it is responsive to inputs from the input apparatus 12
`and provides output signals to the output apparatus 16. The
`processor apparatus 20 further includes a memory 56 that
`includes a routine 60 stored therein. The exemplary routine 60
`is a messaging routine that can provide a messaging capabil
`ity on the device 4. It is understood that the memory 56 likely
`includes a number of other routines that are not expressly
`mentioned herein. As employed herein, the expression “a
`number of” and variations thereof shall refer broadly to any
`nonzero quantity including a quantity of one. The processor
`52 interfaces with the memory 56, and the routine 60 is
`executable on the processor 52.
`The device 4 further includes a wireless communication
`system. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the device 4 with the routine
`60 can interface with a messaging service 62 to wirelessly
`provide the messaging capability on the device 4. In the
`depicted exemplary embodiment, the messaging service 62
`provides an instant messaging capability on the device 4 and
`on the other electronic devices having routines that are sub
`scribers to the messaging service 62. The messaging service
`62 is schematically depicted as including a server, although
`the teachings herein are not limited to messaging services that
`employ a server. For instance, the messaging service could,
`for example, provide a point-to-point communication capa
`bility such as is provided with the Bluetooth protocol, or may
`provide some other type of communication capability,
`whether or not wireless.
`FIG. 3 further depicts another device 104 as being a device
`having a routine that is another subscriber to the messaging
`service 62. Speci?cally, the device 104 is an electronic device
`having a routine 160 thereon which can communicate with
`the messaging service 62 to provide a messaging capability
`on the device 104. While the exemplary devices 4 and 104 are
`depicted as having a wireless connection with the messaging
`service 62, it is understood that either or both of the devices 4
`and 104 may employ a non-wireless communication capabil
`ity and still not depart from the concept of the invention. It is
`further understood that while only the two devices 4 and 104
`are depicted in FIG. 3 as being subscribers to the messaging
`service 62, many more subscribers to the messaging service
`62 may exist but are not expressly depicted in FIG. 3.
`During the course of an electronic conversation, such as
`depicted in FIG. 4 between, for instance, the devices 4 and
`104, a number of messages 68 are communicated between the
`devices 4 and 104. An incoming message 72 received on, for
`instance, the device 4, provides a visual indication of a com
`munication that has been transmitted from, for instance, the
`device 104 to the device 4. As can be seen in FIG. 4, an
`incoming message 72 includes an incoming symbol 66 and an
`incoming text portion 70. In the exemplary output depicted
`herein, the incoming symbol 66 is a mathematical greater
`than “>” symbol. The text portion 70 is an exemplary linguis
`tic output that could be of numerous types of forms, such as in
`
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`US 8,745,149 B2
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`different languages, and also can include, for instance, sym
`bols and the like that need not necessarily be a part of any
`particular language.
`An outgoing message 76 is depicted as including an out
`going symbol 74, and an outgoing text portion 78. In the
`exemplary output depicted herein, the outgoing symbol 74 is
`a mathematical less than “<” symbol. The text portion 78 is an
`exemplary linguistic output that could be of numerous types
`of forms.
`As can be further seen from FIG. 4, the exemplary conver
`sation depicted therein includes a plurality of incoming mes
`sages 72 and a plurality of outgoing messages 76 that are
`transmitted between the devices 4 and 104 at a conversational
`speed, i.e., at a speed in which back-to-back communications
`between the devices 4 and 104 occur without a meaningful
`delay therebetween. Due to the conversational speed of the
`back-to-back communications, the messages 68 do not
`include an indication of the times at which such messages 68
`were transmitted, it being assumed as a general matter that in
`such circumstances the speci?c time at which a given mes
`sage within such a conversation occurred may not be of sig
`ni?cance to a user.
`At a certain point in the exemplary conversation, though,
`an exemplary message 68 which, for example, may be an
`outgoing message 76, may also become a non-responded-to
`message 80, meaning that subsequent to its transmission sub
`stantially no additional communication occurs between the
`device 4 and 104 within a predetermined duration of time.
`More speci?cally, as the conversation transpires, the back-to
`back incoming messages 72 and outgoing messages 76 are
`displayed adjacent one another. However, after the expiration
`of a predetermined duration of time after the transmission of
`a message 68, for instance ten minutes, in which substantially
`no additional communication occurs between the device 4
`and 104, the message 68 is determined in accordance with the
`invention to be a non-responded-to message 80, and respon
`sive to such determination a ?rst time stamp 84 is output
`adjacent the non-responded-to message 80. For instance, if
`the non-responded-to message 80 was transmitted at 2:44
`PM, and if substantially no additional communication
`between the device 4 and 104 occurs between 2:44 PM and
`2:54 PM, at 2:54 PM the ?rst time stamp 84 “2:44 pm” is
`output to provide to the users of the devices 4 and 104 an
`indication that the conversation was interrupted at 2:44 PM.
`Such selective outputting of the ?rst time stamp 84 generally
`only inresponse to amessage 68 of some signi?cance, such as
`the terminal message of a conversation, saves space on the
`display 50. It is noted that the display of the ?rst time stamp
`84 typically will occur on both the device 4 and the device
`104.
`It is understood, however, that the time duration of ten
`minutes is completely exemplary and that the time duration
`could be set at any duration. It is also understood that the ?rst
`time stamp 84 can be output in response to the occurrence of
`additional and/ or other predetermined events. Moreover, it is
`noted that the predetermined time duration may be variable
`depending upon the characteristics of the conversation. For
`instance, if messages are being exchanged on a more infre
`quent basis, such as every nine minutes, the predetermined
`duration of time after which the ?rst time stamp 84 is output
`may be adjusted to be twenty minutes, for example.
`By way of further example, and as is depicted generally in
`FIG. 5, another message 68 may subsequently be communi
`cated between the devices 4 and 104. Since the message 68
`corresponds with a resumption of communication between
`the devices 4 and 104 after a period of interruption, the mes
`sage 68 is determined to be a resumption message 88, and a
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`45
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`second time stamp 92 is output adjacent the resumption mes
`sage 88. A user thus can determine from the output on the
`display 50 the period of time during which the conversation
`was suspended, i.e., the time between transmission of the
`non-responded-to message 80 and transmission of the
`resumption message 88. Selective outputting of the second
`time stamp 92 saves space on the display 50. In this depicted
`example, the ?rst time stamp 84 is disposed, for example,
`adjacent the non-responded-to message 80, and the second
`time stamp 92 is disposed, for example, adjacent the resump
`tion message 88. It is also noted that the second time stamp 92
`is disposed, for example, between the non-responded-to mes
`sage 80 and the resumption message 88.
`As the conversation continues after transmission of the
`resumption message 88, one of the users of the devices 4 and
`104 may determine that a time stamp would desirably be
`displayed in association with a message 68, such as if the user
`wished to emphasize to himself or herself, or to the other user,
`the time at which the message 68 was transmitted. If such a
`time stamp is desired, the user may activate a user interface
`96, such as the exemplary user interface 96 of FIG. 6a, which
`can manually cause the output of an inserted time stamp 98
`adjacent the message 68, as in FIG. 6b. As mentioned above,
`the inserted time stamp 98 can be made to appear on both the
`device 4 and the device 104, and it is also noted that, if
`desired, the inserted time stamp 98 could be made to appear
`on only one or the other of the devices 4 and 104.
`As can be seen in FIG. 7, the output could provide a
`non-responded-to message 180 and a resumption message
`188, with a ?rst time stamp 184 being disposed adjacent the
`non-responded-to message 180, and with a second time stamp
`192 being disposed adjacent the resumption message 188.
`However, in the exemplary output of FIG. 7 the ?rst time
`stamp 184 and the second time stamp 192 are disposed adja
`cent one another and are both disposed between the non
`responded-to message 180 and the resumption message 188.
`Such an exemplary display of the ?rst and second time stamps
`184 and 192 illustrates the gap in the conversation that
`occurred between transmission of the non-responded-to mes
`sage 180 and transmission of the resumption message 188. It
`is noted that the ?rst time stamp 184 and the second time
`stamp 192 may have been generated in a fashion similar to the
`generation of the ?rst time stamp 84 and the second time
`stamp 92.
`As can be seen in FIGS. 8a and 8b, the time stamps can be
`output in other places. For instance, a text portion of a non
`responded-to message 280 may have a beginning 282 and an
`ending 286. Similarly, a text portion of a resumption message
`288 may have a beginning 290 and an ending 294. In accor
`dance with another aspect of the invention, a ?rst time stamp
`284 can be output at either the beginning 282 or the ending
`286 of the text portion of the non-responded-to message 280,
`and in the example of FIG. 8a the exemplary ?rst time stamp
`284 is output at the beginning 282. Also, a second time stamp
`292 can be output at either the beginning 290 or the ending
`294 of the text portion of the resumption message 288, and in
`the example of FIG. 8a the exemplary second time stamp 292
`is output at the beginning 290. Other positioning of the ?rst
`time stamp 284 and the second time stamp 292 are possible
`within the concept of the invention.
`For instance, and as another example, FIG. 8b depicts the
`exemplary ?rst time stamp 284 as being output at the ending
`286 while the exemplary second time stamp 292 is output at
`the beginning 290. FIGS. 8a and 8b depict different exem
`plary ways in which the ?rst and second time stamps 284 and
`292 can be output to provide time data to a user. In FIG. 8a the
`?rst and second time stamps 284 and 292 are disposed at a
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`consistent location, i.e., at the beginnings 282 and 290 of the
`text portions of the non-responded-to message 280 and the
`resumption message 288. FIG. 8b disposes the ?rst and sec
`ond time stamps 284 and 292 generally between the ending
`286 of the non-responded-to message 280 and the beginning
`290 of the resumption message 288, which focuses the atten
`tion of the user on the interval during which the conversation
`was interrupted. Other ways of outputting the ?rst and second
`time stamps 284 and 292 will be apparent.
`Another way of providing time stamps in a fashion that
`saves space on the display 50 is depicted in FIG. 9. Speci?
`cally, the messages 368 are output without displayed time
`stamps, but upon moving a cursor 374 or other pointing
`device or other device in proximity to a given message 368 a
`corresponding requested time stamp is output adjacent the
`message 368. In this way, the messages 368 can be provided
`without also displaying time stamps, but if a time stamp is
`desired as to any of the messages 368 a requested time stamp
`378 can be readily output. In this regard, the requested time
`stamp 378 may be output for only a predetermined duration of
`time, for instance a few seconds, and/or the requested time
`stamp 378 may be deleted from the display 50 upon a detec
`tion of another input, such as from the input apparatus 12 or
`otherwise. In this regard, all of the messages 368 can have
`time stamps associated therewith that are not displayed until
`requested.
`It is also noted that the requested time stamp 378 need not
`be requested by the cursor 374, and rather could be requested
`with virtually any other type of input desired, such as with a
`stylus and a touch sensitive screen, by an actuation of a key, or
`by the use of alternate pointing or other devices. Other ways
`of managing the output of the requested time stamp 378 as to
`any of the messages 368 will be apparent.
`It is noted that the appearances of the various time stamps
`herein is completely exemplary, and that the time stamps
`could be provided in any format without departing from the
`concept of the invention. In this regard, and in accordance
`with another aspect of the invention, a given time stamp may
`be a smart time stamp and provide additional information
`depending upon