Abstract:
Methods and systems for providing a depiction of the relative importance of messages directed to a user of a multimodal communication endpoint are provided. More particularly, message indications are placed within a schema having two or more dimensions, depending on a determined classification or importance. Accordingly, the location, and optionally other attributes, of the message indication provides distinguishing characteristics that communicate a relative importance and/or relevance of a message to a user.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for dynamic multimodal visual message prioritization. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Communication devices that handle multiple types of communications are increasingly common. Although the availability of multiple communication modes gives users great flexibility in conducting communications, managing multiple message types can be difficult. 
         [0003]    For example, a typical smart phone supports various types of communications in addition to voice telephony. For example, email, text messaging, and messaging via social networks can be supported. Moreover, smart phones can provide indications to a user when voicemail messages are waiting to be accessed. Techniques for organizing or prioritizing messages have been developed. However, such techniques have typically not applied to multiple communication modes. For example, email systems commonly allow users to direct email messages to different mailboxes or folders, depending on characteristics of the received email. Other systems provide for grouping of messages having common themes. Still other techniques have presented content using a grid of tiles that can be refreshed individually. More particularly, the individual tiles illustrate different messages or information sources. However, there is no provision in such systems for intermingling messages of different types. Moreover, such techniques do not satisfactorily achieve the goal of providing a convenient and readily understood depiction of messages from multiple sources and the priority thereof. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Systems and methods that provide a graphical indication of the relative priority or importance of messages associated with different communication modes are provided. More particularly, a user interface that provides a graphical view or depiction of messages directed to a user is provided. The graphical representation can include a depiction of messages that arranges the messages in a multidimensional format. Moreover, the location of a message within the graphical representation, and relative to other messages, can provide a ready indication to the user of the relative importance of the message. 
         [0005]    In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, the user interface presents an “archery target” design, in which the different concentric circles provide different locations in which to provide a visual indication of a message. The messages included within a particular ring can be of different message types. However, the messages within a particular ring can share a common classification as to priority or importance. Continuing the example of an archery target type embodiment, a user can identify messages as being more important the closer they are to the center of the target. 
         [0006]    Systems in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure include a communication device. Moreover, the communication device can be capable of supporting multiple communication modes. In addition, the communication device includes a display capable of depicting information to a user visually. In particular, the display can present an indication of multiple messages to the user simultaneously. Moreover, the display can arrange the visual indicators of different messages such that the position of a visual indicator within the user interface indicates a classification or priority of the associated message. In accordance with still further embodiments, the user may provide user input through a facility of the communication device, to select a message indication, and to respond to, access, or otherwise interact with the related message. 
         [0007]    Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become more readily apparent from the following description, particularly when taken together with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting components of a system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram depicting components of a communication endpoint in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts a user interface in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart depicting aspects of a method in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting components of a communication system  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In general, the communication system  100  includes one or more communication servers  104 . The communication server  104  is interconnected to a multimodal communication device  108  via one or more communication networks  112 . A user  114  is associated with the multimodal communication device  108 . The system  100  also includes a variety of additional communication endpoints  116 , of various types, which can operate to engage in communications with the multimodal communication device  108  via one or more of the networks  112 , and/or the communication server  104 . 
         [0013]    The communication server  104  can provide communication services to client devices, including but not limited to the multimodal communication device  108 . As an example, a communication server  104  may comprise an enterprise server that routes communications addressed to the multimodal communication device  108  when such device  108  is available, and/or stores such messages for later retrieval by the multimodal communication device  108  or an affiliated device of the user  114 . Accordingly, a communication server  104  may comprise a telephony server, an email server, a text messaging server, a multimedia server, a social media server, or the like. Moreover, a single communication server  104  can provide support to a multimodal communication device  108  with respect to a plurality of communication modes. As a further example, some or all of the communication servers  104  operating in support of a multimodal communication device  108  may support a single communication mode. Moreover, multiple communication servers  104  may operate in series. For example, a first communication server  104  may provide support to a multimodal communication device  108  for communications of various modes over a cellular network, which can be used to deliver voice telephony communications received from a second communication server  104  comprising a voice telephony server, email communications from a third communication server  104  comprising a mail server, and social network messages from a fourth communication server  104  comprising a social network server. In addition, different communication servers  104  or combinations of communication servers  104  may operate in connection with a multimodal communication device  108  at different times. For instance, a first communication server  104  may operate in connection with a first network  112  comprising a cellular telephony network to support voice communications, at the same time that a second communication server  104  in connection with a second network  112  comprising an IP data network supports email and other data transmitted across the IP network. 
         [0014]    The multimodal communication device  108  generally supports multiple message types. In general, the messages are directed to or associated with the user  114  of the multimodal communication device  108 . In an exemplary embodiment, the multimodal communication endpoint  108  comprises a mobile communication device capable of wireless communications over one or more networks  112 . Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, a multimodal communication endpoint  108  is a smart phone. However, embodiments of the present disclosure can be used with any communication endpoint  108  capable of supporting multiple communication modes and of providing graphical user interface to a user, including static endpoints. Therefore, other examples of a multimodal communication endpoint  108  include a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a set top box, or the like. 
         [0015]    The different message endpoints  116  represent endpoints that may engage in communications with the multimodal communication device  108 . Accordingly, examples include short message service (SMS)  120 , multimedia messaging service (MMS)  124 , voice telephony  128 , email  132 , and social media  136  endpoints or sources. Such endpoints or sources  116  may comprise stand alone devices and/or multimodal devices. Such endpoints or sources  116  are also typically associated with a user, however this is not necessarily the case. For example, an endpoint  116  may comprise an automated device, such as an interactive voice response (IVR) system. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram depicting a multimodal communication endpoint  108  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The multimodal communication endpoint  108  includes a processor  204  capable of executing program instructions. The processor  204  can include any general purpose programmable processor or controller for executing application programming. Alternatively, the processor  204  may comprise a specially configured application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The processor  204  generally functions to run programming code implementing various functions performed by the multimodal communication endpoint  108 . For example, the processor  204  can implement functions including the classification and display of message notifications or indications as described herein. 
         [0017]    The multimodal communication endpoint  108  also generally includes memory  208 . The memory  208  can be used in connection with the execution of programming by the processor  204 , and for the temporary or long term storage of data or program instructions. For example, the memory  208  can provide for the storage of a priority display application  212  that classifies, determines a location within a display at which to present an indication of a message, and controls operation of the user interface as described herein. As additional examples, the memory  208  can provide storage for an email application  216 , an SMS/MMS application  220 , a social media application  224 , a telephony application  228 , a video telephony application  232 , a browser  236 , or other communication applications  240 . The memory  208  can include solid state memory that is resident, removable, and/or remote in nature, such as DRAM and SDRAM. Alternatively or in addition, the memory  208  can include magnetic, optical, or other storage devices. Moreover, the memory can include a plurality of discrete components of different types and/or a plurality of logical partitions. 
         [0018]    In addition, the multimodal communication endpoint  108  includes one or more user input devices  244 , and one or more user output devices  248 . Examples of user input devices  244  include a keyboard, a numeric keypad, touch screen, microphone, and pointing device combined with a screen or other position encoder. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the user output includes a visual display  252 , such as but not limited to a liquid crystal display. Moreover, the display  252  may be capable of presenting two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images. The display  252  may also be combined with a user input  244  to provide a touch screen display. Other examples of user output devices  248  include a speaker and indicator lamps. 
         [0019]    A multimodal communication endpoint  108  also includes one or more communication interfaces  256 . In general, a communication interface  256  supports communications between the multimodal communication endpoint  108  and another endpoint or source  116 , and/or a communication server  104 , via a network  112 . Moreover, examples of communication interfaces  256  include both wire line and wireless interfaces. Accordingly, examples of communication interfaces  256  include a circuit switched or plain old telephony system, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, cellular telephony, satellite telephony, Bluetooth, or the like. 
         [0020]    With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a user interface  304 , such as can be presented by the display  252  of a multimodal communication endpoint  108  operating a priority display application  212  as described herein is depicted. In general, the user interface  304  provides a graphical depiction that includes a multidimensional framework or schema  308  for presenting a plurality of message indications  312 . Moreover, the multidimensional schema  308  may represent different classifications of message indications  312 . For example, as depicted in  FIG. 3 , the schema  308  can comprise a plurality of concentric rings, where each ring is associated a different message classification. Alternatively or in addition, a relative classification or prioritization between individual message indications  312  can be provided. For example, a message indication  312  that is closer to the center of the concentric circles of the schema  308  indicates that the associated message is more important or has received a higher level classification than a message associated with a message indication  312  that is farther from the center of the schema  308 . In the exemplary schema  308 , the different bands created by the different concentric rings  316  represent different classification assignments of messages pending action by the user  114 . For instance, the center ring or circle  316   a  can be reserved for indications associated with messages from the user&#39;s  114  workplace. The second ring  316   b  can be associated with messages from the user&#39;s  114  family. The outer ring  316   c  can contain indications  312  associated with messages from the user&#39;s  114  friends or other contacts. Indications of messages  312  outside of the outermost ring  316   c  may be associated with messages from unidentified contacts. Accordingly, in this exemplary schema  308 , proximity to the center of the concentric rings  316  indicates a degree of importance or the classification rank assigned to a message associated with the indication  312 . Moreover, while relative position can indicate relative importance, the provision of graphical depictions of different classes can assist a user  114  in readily identifying the class assigned to a message associated with a message indication  312 . In accordance with still other embodiments, the schema  308  is not limited to two dimensions. For example, a display  252  capable of rendering three dimensions can be used. In such embodiments, the third dimension, for example represented by the relative apparent height of the message indication  312  from the background of the user interface  304  can indicate an urgency associated with a message represented by a message indication  312 . Alternatively or in addition, message indications  312  can be provided in different colors, fonts and the like, to provide additional information discriminating between associated messages to the user  114 . 
         [0021]    The user interface  304  can also provide for controls that enable the user  114  to interact with or concerning messages associated with message indications  312 . For example, a spotlight or active area  320  can be provided to initiate actions and/or to indicate a current activity. Thus, in the illustrated example, the activation area  320  indicates that the multimodal communication endpoint  108  is currently engaged in a voice call with “Susan”  324 . The activation area  320  can also be used to facilitate the handling of messages associated with message indications  312 . For example, a user  114  can enter input, such as tapping and dragging a message indication  312  to the activation area  320 , in order to answer a message comprising a call, access a voicemail, read the text of a message and launch a reply to the message, and the like. Other controls  328  can also be provided, for example to initiate communications utilizing various modes without necessarily referencing a message associated with a message indication  312 . 
         [0022]    With reference now to  FIG. 4 , aspects of a method in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure are depicted. Initially, at step  404 , a determination is made as to whether a message has been received with respect to a multimodal communication endpoint  108 . As used herein, the receipt of a message can include the notification that a message addressed or otherwise directed to the multimodal communication endpoint  108  is available. Accordingly, a message may be received in the form of a ring associated with a telephony call, a notification that an email, voicemail, or other data is available for retrieval from a communication server  104 , a text message is received, or the like. In general, the process idles at step  404  until a message has been received. 
         [0023]    Once a message is received, a classification of the message is determined (step  408 ). For example, the priority display application  212  may operate to determine the classification of the message. Determining the classification of a message can include implementing a rules engine for providing an assignment of the message to a predefined classification, or to assign a classification or priority of the message relative to other messages pending handling by the user  114 . The classification can be assigned by the rules engine in various ways. For instance, a classification or priority may be assigned by some other entity of authority, such as the communication server  104 , or a sending device  116 . Alternatively or in addition, a classification or priority can be determined by information or metadata associated with the message. For instance, the name of the sender, domain of the sender, time of the message, content of the message, whether the message is from a human or non-human source or sender, or any other characteristic included in or associated with the message can be utilized in order to determine the classification assigned to the message by the priority display application  212 . 
         [0024]    At step  412 , a location for the message indication  312  associated with the receipt of a message within the schema  308  is selected (step  412 ). For instance, where the schema  308  provides different distinct areas in which message indications  312  can be displayed, one of those areas can be selected by the priority display application  212 , in view of the determined classification, for presenting the message indication  312 . Moreover, where multiple message indications  312  are presented by a user interface  304  simultaneously, the priority display application  212  can also determine a position or location in which to present a particular message indication  312 , relative to other message indications  312 . For instance, the relative distance to the center of the schema  308  can provide a representation of a relative importance of a message associated with a message indication  312 . Proximity to different axes can also be used. For instance, proximity to a vertical axis that extends through the center of the schema  308  can be reserved for relatively more important message indications  312 . Moreover, in addition to a location, other aspects of the message indication  312  can be selected in order to indicate a classification or prioritization of a message. For example, a bright color, bold type, or other feature can be selected in view of the determined classification. The indication of the message  312  can then be presented at the selected location, and with any other selected attributes (step  416 ). At step  420 , a determination can be made as to whether operation of the priority display application  212  is to be continued. If operation is to be continued, the process can return to step  404 , to await receipt of an additional message or notification of a message. Alternatively, the process can end. 
         [0025]    As can be appreciated by one of skill in the art after consideration of the present disclosure, methods and systems that facilitate the identification of messages requiring prioritized handling by a user  114  are provided. Although certain examples that include the use of multiple concentric circles have been discussed, other schemas  308  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure can be utilized. For instance, any graphically depicted topography, in which a relative location of a message indication  312  signifies relative importance of an associated message can be utilized. For example, the topography can be in the form of a map in which different locations or regions are utilized for message indications  312  having different determined classifications. A schema can also include regions, locations and/or rings that are reserved for message indications  312  associated with messages that are from a non-human source, such as automatic notifications. Accordingly, any schema  308  in which message indications  312  are presented in two or more dimensions can be utilized. 
         [0026]    In addition, although embodiments in which a priority display application  212  is executed in a multimodal communication device  108  have been discussed, other configurations are possible. For example, a priority display application  212  can be executed by a communication server  104 , or other device or server on behalf of a multimodal communication endpoint  108 . Moreover, different users  114  can be associated with different rules engines and/or priority schemes that determine the presentation of message indications  312  by the priority display application  212  on a display  252 . 
         [0027]    The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Further, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain the best mode presently known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such or in other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application or use of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.