Abstract:
The present application discloses methods, devices, servers, and systems for notification between mobile terminals during communication. When two mobile terminals are in an active communication session, sometimes one terminal fails to respond to the other terminal due to various reasons such as distractions, additional responsibilities, or technical difficulties. The mobile terminal that is not getting a response may then utilize the process herein disclosed to notify the other terminal that a response is expected. By shaking or other convenient approaches, a mobile terminal may send out a notification request during an active communication session. The other terminal may return a notification response indicating whether the other terminal is in a current communication with a third mobile terminal or is in an idle status.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/CN2013/087378, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NOTIFICATION BETWEEN MOBILE TERMINALS DURING COMMUNICATION” filed Nov. 19, 2013, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201210574198.5, “Methods, Devices, Servers, and Systems for Notification between Mobile Terminals during Communication,” filed Dec. 26, 2012, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to methods, devices, servers, and systems for notification between mobile terminals during communication. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    With the rapid development of communication technology, people are increasingly accustomed to using mobile terminals to communicate with friends and family for all types of exchanges, including voice conversations, video conferences, text messages, etc. With the existing technology, the users in an active communication session sometimes have to wait for the other end to reply, having no convenient way to remind the other end, resulting in long waits and waste of time. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, it is necessary and desirable to provide a new technology, so as to resolve the technical problem and improve the above-mentioned approach. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The above deficiencies and other problems associated with notification during communication are reduced or eliminated by the invention disclosed below. In some embodiments, the invention is implemented in a computer system that has one or more processors, memory and one or more modules, programs or sets of instructions stored in the memory for performing multiple functions. Instructions for performing these functions may be included in a computer program product configured for execution by one or more processors. 
         [0006]    One aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method performed by a first mobile terminal. The first mobile terminal may detect a movement status of the first mobile terminal while the first mobile terminal and a second mobile terminal are in an active communication session. The first mobile terminal may then send a notification request to the second mobile terminal through a server when the movement status of the first mobile terminal satisfies a predefined condition, wherein: the notification request contains a second terminal identifier corresponding to the second mobile terminal, and in response to the notification request, the second mobile terminal is configured to return a notification response to the first mobile terminal through the server. After receiving the notification response from the server, the first terminal may display the notification response at the first mobile terminal, wherein the notification response indicates whether the second mobile terminal is in a current communication with a third mobile terminal or is in an idle status. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the invention involves a computer system. The computer system may comprise a server, a first mobile terminal, and at least one second mobile terminal, the first mobile terminal having one or more processors, memory, and one or more programs modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more program modules including: a detection module configured to detect a movement status of the first mobile terminal while the first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal are in an active communication session; a notification request module configured to send a notification request to the second mobile terminal through the server when the movement status of the first mobile terminal satisfies a predefined condition, wherein: the notification request contains a second terminal identifier corresponding to the second mobile terminal, and in response to the notification request, the second mobile terminal is configured to return a notification response to the first mobile terminal through the server; a receiving module configured to receive the notification response from the server; and a display module configured to display the notification response at the first mobile terminal, wherein the notification response indicates whether the second mobile terminal is in a current communication with a third mobile terminal or is in an idle status. 
         [0008]    Another aspect of the invention involves a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which, when executed by a first mobile terminal, cause the first mobile terminal to: detect a movement status of the first mobile terminal while the first mobile terminal and a second mobile terminal are in an active communication session; send a notification request to the second mobile terminal through the server when the movement status of the first mobile terminal satisfies a predefined condition, wherein: the notification request contains a second terminal identifier corresponding to the second mobile terminal, and in response to the notification request, the second mobile terminal is configured to return a notification response to the first mobile terminal through the server; receive the notification response from the server; and display the notification response at the first mobile terminal, wherein the notification response indicates whether the second mobile terminal is in a current communication with a third mobile terminal or is in an idle status. 
         [0009]    Some embodiments may be implemented on either the terminal side or the server side of a terminal-server network environment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The aforementioned features and advantages of the invention as well as additional features and advantages thereof will be more clearly understood hereinafter as a result of a detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of how a server, a first mobile terminal, and a second mobile terminal interact in a notification process in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of how a server, a first mobile terminal, and a second mobile terminal interact in the notification process in accordance with some embodiments of the present application, providing more details. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrative of a method for a notification process between a first mobile terminal and a second mobile terminal in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrative of a first mobile terminal comprising modules configured to provide notification to a second terminal during an active communication session in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrative of a first mobile terminal comprising modules configured to provide notification to a second terminal during an active communication session in accordance with some embodiments of the present application, providing more details for the modules. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrative of a first mobile terminal and a second mobile terminal, both comprising modules configured to provide notification from the first mobile terminal to the second terminal during an active communication session in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a network environment in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of a first mobile terminal in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter presented herein. But it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. 
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a network environment in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. The network environment  700  includes one or more servers  102 , one first mobile terminal  101 , and one second mobile terminal  103 . The first mobile terminal  101  and the second mobile terminal  103  are connected to the server  102  via a network  720  (e.g., the Internet). Through the network  720 , the first mobile terminal  101  and the second mobile terminal  103  in the network environment  700  may exchange information with one another using network applications  101 - 1  and  103 - 1 . The server  102  interacts with the first mobile terminal  101  and the second mobile terminal  102 , maintains communication channels, processes and relays notifications and responses between the first mobile terminal  101  and the second mobile terminal  102 . It should be noted that  FIG. 7  only shows an example, wherein the number of devices and the manner of connection may vary. For example, there may be one or more servers, one or more first mobile terminals, and one or more second mobile terminals, wherein the first mobile terminals are the terminals sending out notification request and the second mobile terminals are the terminals receiving such requests. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of how a server  102 , a first mobile terminal  101 , and a second mobile terminal  103  interact in a notification process in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of how a server  102 , a first mobile terminal  101 , and a second mobile terminal  103  interact in the notification process in accordance with some embodiments of the present application, providing more details. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrative of a method for a notification process between a first mobile terminal and a second mobile terminal in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the first mobile terminal  101  and the second mobile terminal  103  may be in an active communication session  120 . The active communication session may refer to any real-time chat or messaging sessions based on text, audio, or video exchanges, or any combination thereof. The active communication session may refer to a session where no further authorization is required to set up a communication channel. A communication channel between the first mobile terminal  101  and the second mobile terminal  103  has been established and messages from one mobile terminal may reach the other mobile terminal directly without the other mobile terminal&#39;s further authorization. In operation, an active communication session may be reflected by the presence of a communication interface, such as a chat window, wherein the communication interface may be used to exchange text, audio, and/or video messages. 
         [0026]    However, an active communication session does not ensure that both parties are actively engaged in the exchange at the present moment. One party in the active communication session may be idle—the active communication session is still the currently engaged session but the party is not paying attention, or may be engaging in task/communication not involving the other party of the active communication session—e.g. in a current communication with a third party. In operation, an active communication session may be a currently engaged session when the communication interface used for the active communication session is the highlighted or selected interface. On the other hand, an active communication session may be in the background—not a currently engaged session and not being highlighted or selected. 
         [0027]    The first mobile terminal  101  and the second mobile terminal  103  may be any computing device that has networking capability and is able to receive, transfer, play and/or display digital contents such as but not limited to text, pictures, audio, video, and any combination thereof. The first mobile terminal  101  and second mobile terminal  103  may or may not be the same type of devices. The first mobile terminal  101  and/or the second mobile terminal  103  may be a smart phone, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an e-book reader, a vehicle-associated terminal, a digital photo frame, a laptop computer, or a desktop computer. The server  102  may be any computing device that that is capable of providing data processing and networking capabilities. The active communication session  120  may be maintained by the server  102 . It should also be noted that the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-2  are considered examples of the interactions between the devices. The number of devices involved in the current system may vary according to the needs of the users, the capacity of the server and the application programs, and the hardware capabilities of the first mobile terminals and the second mobile terminals. There may be multiple first mobile terminals and/or multiple interacting mobile terminals, forming a number of active communication sessions. In some embodiments, a number of mobile terminals are in an active communication session. The first mobile terminal is the terminal sending out the notification request; and the second mobile terminal generally refers to mobile terminals receiving the notification request. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as shown in step  130 , the first mobile terminal  101  may confirm that the first mobile terminal  101  is in an active communication session. Step  130  may involve self-examination of one-going processes by the first mobile terminal  101 . In some embodiments, being in an active communication session provides a prerequisite for the first mobile terminal  101  to send out a notification request—if the confirmation cannot be completed, the first mobile terminal  101  may not send out the request. Alternatively, step  130  may be optional and the notification request may be sent without final confirmation that the first mobile terminal  101  and the second mobile terminal  103  are in an active communication session. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as shown in step  140 , the first mobile terminal  101  may detect the movement status of the first mobile terminal  101 . Also referring to  FIG. 3 , as shown in step  310 , the first mobile terminal may detect a movement status of the first mobile terminal while the first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal are in an active communication session. 
         [0030]    The movement status may refer to a processed combination of a number of parameters of first mobile terminal  101 . Such parameters may include but not limited to: orientation, position, location, direction, speed, and acceleration. Sensors built in the first mobile terminal  101  or attached to the first mobile terminal  101  may detect the parameters and application programming interfaces (APIs) may be used to determine the movement status of the first mobile terminal  101  based on compilations and calculations. For example, accelerometers and other sensors associated with the first mobile terminal  101  may be used to detect that the first mobile terminal  101  is being shaken—the device is being moved in predefined pattern (e.g. back-and-forth) with speeds/accelerations that fit in a predefined range. The operational approaches to determine the movement status are known in the art and may vary based on the setup of device and preference of the users. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , as shown in step  320 , the first mobile terminal may send a notification request to the second mobile terminal through the server when the movement status of the first mobile terminal satisfies a predefined condition, wherein: the notification request contains a second terminal identifier corresponding to the second mobile terminal, and in response to the notification request, the second mobile terminal is configured to return a notification response to the first mobile terminal through the server. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first mobile terminal  101  may send a notification request  150  to the second mobile terminal  103  through the server  102 . In some embodiments, as indicated above, the notification request  150  is sent only when the movement status of the first mobile terminal  101  satisfies a predefined condition. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, the notification request  150  may contain a second terminal identifier. The second terminal identifier may correspond to the second mobile terminal  103  and may be used to identify the second mobile terminal  103 . Similarly, the first mobile terminal  101  may have a first terminal identifier that may be used to identify the first mobile terminal  101 . The terminal identifiers may be any device, chip, symbol, code, data, or electronic or magnetic information item. A terminal identifier may have a one-to-one corresponding relationship with the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal may be uniquely identified by the terminal identifier. In some embodiments, the first terminal identifier may be a chip/device identification code, a cell phone number, a communication account number, or a server login account number that may be embedded in a notification request. In some embodiments, the terminal identifier may be a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag based on other wireless networking technologies. In some other embodiments, the first terminal identifier may be a barcode (e.g. 2-dimension barcode) attached to the external surface of the mobile terminal. 
         [0034]    The terminal identifiers (e.g. the second terminal identifier) may be acquired by the server or other devices by simple transmission. For example, in some embodiments, the second terminal identifier may be embedded in the notification request and the server may extract the second terminal identifier from the notification request and identify the second mobile terminal based on the second terminal identifier, ensuring correct transmission of the notification request. In addition, the first terminal identifier may also be transmitted in the notification request, allowing the server and the second mobile terminal to identify the mobile terminal that sends out the notification request. 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, the terminal identifiers may be acquired before the notification request is sent. For example, a barcode or a RFID tag terminal identifier may be scanned or detected by another device with scanning or radio-frequency detection before the notification request is transmitted. 
         [0036]    The server  102 , as indicated above, may be any computing device. The server  102  may comprise network applications that may be used to connect to the first mobile terminal  101  and the second mobile terminal  103 . In some embodiments, the server  102  may play a role in filtering the notification request  150 . For example, instead of indiscriminately forwarding all the notification request from the first mobile terminal  101 , the server  102  may further examine whether the first mobile terminal  101  and the second mobile terminal  103  are in an active communication session and only send the notification request  150  to the second mobile terminal  103  when the result is positive. Furthermore, the server  102  may examine whether the active communication session is the currently engaged session for second mobile terminal  103  and only send the notification request  150  to the second mobile terminal  103  when the result is positive. The communication status of the first mobile terminal  101  and second mobile terminal  103  may be acquired by the server through communication reports  105  and  110 , as described below. The filtering approach may limit which notification request  150  may reach the second mobile terminal  103 , preventing disturbance and/or harassment in certain scenarios. 
         [0037]    The notification request  150  is a request from the first mobile terminal  101  to get the attention of the user of the second mobile terminal  103 . In some embodiments, the user of the second mobile terminal  103  may become distracted or get hindered by technical difficulties such as a slow network connection, resulting in lack of communication from the second mobile terminal  103 . The user of the first mobile terminal  101  may want to remind the second mobile terminal  103  that an exchange is taking place and the user of the first mobile terminal  101  is waiting for a response. Thus, the notification request  150  may include a reminder section, which indicates that the first mobile terminal  101  is waiting for a response from the second mobile terminal. 
         [0038]    As indicated in step  320  of  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, the notification request may be sent when the movement status satisfies a predetermined condition. As indicated above, the operational approaches to determine the movement status are generally known. The conditions for the movement status may be set by establishing a combination of patterns and ranges for the parameters that are associated with the movement status. For example, the preset condition may be formulated as: the first mobile terminal is being shaken; and shaking may be further defined by setting certain patterns and ranges for the moving directions, average speed, average distance, and/or average acceleration of the first mobile terminal. By setting proper patterns and ranges, shaking can be effectively distinguished from other movement status such as vibrating. The preset condition for the movement status may be set to any combination or repetition of movements. For example, the preset condition may be that the first mobile terminal is being swirled around. By providing clear definitions for the parameters, the first mobile terminal may determine whether the preset condition is satisfied. In some embodiments, the user may be able to set the predefined conditions. 
         [0039]    The notification request may be sent under a number of conditions. One example of such conditions is listed above—the movement status of the first mobile terminal is that the first mobile terminal is being shaken. Another example of the condition may be that a time period since the first mobile terminal has received the last message from the second mobile terminal exceeds a threshold (e.g. 2 minutes). With such a limitation, the notification request may only be sent if the first mobile terminal has not received a response from the second mobile terminal for an extended period of time—the time period exceeding a threshold. Such optional conditions may prevent unintentional transmission of notification requests. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , after receiving the notification request, the second mobile terminal  103  may be induced to engage in preset actions  160 . The preset actions  160  may be any actions that provide notice to the user of the second mobile terminal  103 . The preset actions  160  may be actions configured by a program in the second mobile terminal  103  or by the user of the second mobile terminal  103 . The preset actions  160  may be: vibrating, flashing, displaying a message, receiving an email, displaying a pop-up window, displaying a picture or photo, playing a sound track, showing a video, or any combination thereof. For example, the preset actions  160  may be displaying the reminder section of the notification request  150 . The preset actions  160  may take place instantaneous after the second mobile terminal  103  receives the notification request  150  or may be delayed by a fixed time period. The preset actions  160  are optional and it is possible that the second mobile terminal  103  does not engage in any actions after receiving the notification request  150 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in step  170 , the second mobile terminal  103  may examine the currently engaged session of the second mobile terminal  103 . As indicated above, the currently engaged session is generally a communication session that the second mobile terminal  103  instantly participants in and is usually the highlighted or selected session. The currently engaged session may be the active communication session  120 . However, the currently engaged session may also be another communication session that is different from the active communication session  120  and/or does not involve first mobile terminal  101 . 
         [0042]    As indicated in step  320  of  FIG. 3 , and also referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the second mobile terminal  103  may send a notification response  180  to the first mobile terminal  101  through the sever  102 . The notification response  180  may inform the first mobile terminal  101  about the currently engage session of the second mobile terminal  103 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , also shown by step  330  of  FIG. 3 , the first mobile terminal  101  may receive the notification response  180  from the second mobile terminal  103 . 
         [0043]    The notification response  180  is an optional response from the second mobile terminal  103  to the first mobile terminal  101 . The notification response  180  may be sent automatically after the second mobile terminal  103  receives the notification request  150 . On the other hand, the notification response  180  may be sent only when certain conditions are satisfied. For example, the second mobile terminal  103  may send out the notification response  180  if the second mobile terminal  103  is in a current communication with a third mobile terminal. When the active communication session  120  is not the currently engaged session for the second mobile terminal  103 , the second mobile terminal  103  may be communicating with a third mobile terminal, making it necessary to notify the first mobile terminal  101  not to wait any more. On the other hand, it may not be necessary to send the notification response  180  when the second mobile terminal  103  is only idle—the active communication session is still the highlighted and/or selected session, only that the user of the second mobile terminal  103  is distracted or hindered by technical difficulties. In such situations, the user the second mobile terminal  103  may simply send a response through user input. Nevertheless, it is possible that the notification response  180  may be sent simply in response to the notification request  150 , without any further conditions. 
         [0044]    The notification response  180  may be based on the first terminal identifier, which uniquely identifies the first mobile terminal  101 . The first terminal identifier, as described above, may be acquired by the second mobile terminal  103  by various processes such as transmission from the first mobile terminal  101  or by searching the server  102 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , also shown by step  190 , the first mobile terminal  101  may display the notification response  180  at the first mobile terminal  101 . Also referring to  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, the notification response may indicate whether the second mobile terminal is in a current communication with a third mobile terminal or is in an idle status. 
         [0046]    As indicated above, after receiving the notification request  150 , the second mobile terminal  103  may examine its currently engaged session in step  170 . Then the second mobile terminal  103  may export the examination results in the notification response  180  to inform the first mobile terminal  101 . The notification response  180  may contain all kinds of information, such as but not limited to the currently engaged session of the second mobile terminal  103 . In some embodiments, the second mobile terminal  103  may be in a current communication with a third mobile terminal or in an idle status with the active communication session as the currently engaged session. The notification response  180  may provide such information to the first mobile terminal  101  so that the user of the first mobile terminal  101  may understand whether it is likely that the user of the second mobile terminal  103  may respond through user input. The notification response  180  may also include other information such as but not limited to: that the user of the second mobile terminal  103  will respond soon through user input; that the second mobile terminal  103  is experiencing technical difficulties; and that the second mobile terminal  103  is no longer in an active communication session with the first mobile terminal  101 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first mobile terminal  101  may, optionally, send first terminal communication reports  105  to the server  102 . Similarly, the second mobile terminal  103  may send second terminal communication reports  110  to the server  102 . The first terminal communication reports  105  and the second terminal communication reports  110  may be sent with or without conditions. In some embodiments, the first terminal communication reports  105  and/or the second terminal communication reports  110  may be sent only when the first mobile terminal  101  and the second mobile terminal  103  are in an active communication session  120 . On the other hand, the first terminal communication reports  105  and/or the second terminal communication reports  110  may be sent automatically without further conditions. 
         [0048]    The first terminal communication report  105  may be sent before or after the notification request  150 . In some embodiments, the first terminal communication reports  105  are associated with or even merge with the notification request  150 . Alternatively, in some embodiments, the first terminal communication reports  105  may be send periodically and repeatedly, but not associated with the notification request  150 . The first terminal communication report  105  may include a number of information items such as but not limited to: the movement status of the first mobile terminal  101 , the first terminal identifier of the first mobile terminal  101 , and the active communication sessions of the first mobile terminal  101 . By receiving the first terminal communication report  105 , the server  102  may be better informed about the operations of the first mobile terminal  101 . Some of the functions stated above as performed by the first mobile terminal  101  may be performed by the server  102 . For example, by receiving and analyzing the movement status of the first mobile terminal  101 , the server  102  may be used as the device that send out the notification request  150 . The first terminal identifier may be used to identify the first mobile terminal  101  when the server  102  is sending the notification response  180  to the first mobile terminal  101 . 
         [0049]    Similarly, the second terminal communication report  110  may be sent before or after the notification request  150 . In some embodiments, the second terminal communication reports  110  are associated with the notification request  150 . In some embodiments, the second terminal communication reports  110  may be associated or merged with the notification response  180 . Alternatively, in some embodiments, the second terminal communication reports  110  may be send periodically and repeatedly, but not associated with the notification request  150  or notification response  180 . The second terminal communication report  110  may include a number of information items such as but not limited to: the second terminal identifier of the second mobile terminal  103 , the active communication sessions of the second mobile terminal  103 , and the currently engaged session of the second mobile terminal  103 . By receiving the second terminal communication report  110 , the server  102  may be better informed about the operations of the second mobile terminal  103 . For example, the second terminal identifier may assist the server  102  in sending the notification request  150  to the second mobile terminal  103 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 4-6  and  8  illustrate the computer systems that may be used to perform the methods described above. To avoid redundancy, not all the details and variations described for the method are herein included for the devices. Such details and variations should be considered included for the description of the devices as long as they are not in direct contradiction to the specific description provided for the methods. 
         [0051]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrative of a first mobile terminal comprising modules configured to provide notification to a second terminal during an active communication session in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. The first mobile terminal may have one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more program modules including: a confirmation module  410  configured to confirm that the first mobile terminal is in an active communication session with a second mobile terminal; a communication report module  420  configured to periodically send a first terminal communication report to the server, wherein the first terminal communication report indicates whether the first terminal is in an active communication session with the second terminal; and a notification request module  440  configured to send a notification request to the second mobile terminal through the server when the movement status of the first mobile terminal satisfies a predefined condition. 
         [0052]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrative of a first mobile terminal comprising modules configured to provide notification to a second terminal during an active communication session in accordance with some embodiments of the present application, providing more details for the modules. The first mobile terminal may have one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more program modules including: a confirmation module  410  configured to confirm that the first mobile terminal is in an active communication session with a second mobile terminal; a communication report module  420  configured to periodically send a first terminal communication report to the server, wherein the first terminal communication report indicates whether the first terminal is in an active communication session with the second terminal; a detection module  430  configured to detect a movement status of the first mobile terminal while the first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal are in an active communication session; a notification request module  440  configured to send a notification request to the second mobile terminal through the server when the movement status of the first mobile terminal satisfies a predefined condition, wherein the notification request contains a second terminal identifier corresponding to the second mobile terminal, and in response to the notification request, the second mobile terminal is configured to return a notification response to the first mobile terminal through the server; a receiving module  450  configured to receive the notification response from the server; and a display module  460  configured to display the notification response at the first mobile terminal, wherein the notification response indicates whether the second mobile terminal is in a current communication with a third mobile terminal or is in an idle status. 
         [0053]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrative of a first mobile terminal and a second mobile terminal, both comprising modules configured to provide notification from the first mobile terminal to the second terminal during an active communication session in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. The first mobile terminal may have one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more program modules including a confirmation module  410 , a communication report module  420 , a detection module  430 , a notification request module  440 , a receiving module  450 , and a display module  460 , as described in  FIG. 5 . The second mobile terminal may have one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more program modules including: a communication status module  610 , configured to examine whether the first mobile terminal is in a current communication with the second mobile terminal; a processing module  620  configured to process the notification request and engage in preset actions upon receiving the notification request, wherein the preset actions causes the second mobile terminal to vibrate, flash, display a message, receive an email, display a pop-up window, display a picture or photo, play a sound track, show a video, or any combination thereof; and a response module  630  configured to return a notification response to the first mobile terminal through the server. 
         [0054]    As indicated above, the second mobile terminal may periodically send a second terminal communication report to the server, and the second terminal communication report may indicate whether the second mobile terminal is in a current communication with the third mobile terminal or is in an idle status. In addition, the notification request may be based on the first terminal identifier and contain a first terminal identifier corresponding to the first terminal, and the notification request may indicate that the first mobile terminal is waiting for a response from the second mobile terminal. 
         [0055]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of a first mobile terminal in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. The exemplary first mobile terminal  101  typically includes one or more processing units (CPU&#39;s)  802 , one or more network or other communications interfaces  804 , memory  810 , and one or more communication buses  809  for interconnecting these components. The communication buses  809  may include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects and controls communications between system components. The first mobile terminal  101  may include a user interface  805 , for instance, a display  806  and a keyboard  808 . When the first mobile terminal  101  is a smart phone or tablet, the user interface  805  may be a touch screen, which is both a display and an input device. Memory  810  may include high speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices. Memory  810  may include mass storage that is remotely located from the CPU&#39;s  802 . In some embodiments, memory  810  stores the following programs, modules and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:
       an operating system  812  that includes procedures for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks;   a network communication module  814  that is used for connecting the first mobile terminal  101  to the server, the mobile terminals, and/or other computers via one or more communication networks (wired or wireless), such as the Internet, other wide area networks, local area networks, metropolitan area networks, and so on;   a user interface module  816  configured to receive user inputs through the user interface  805 ;   and a number of terminal-side application modules  818  including the following:   a confirmation module  410  configured to confirm that the first mobile terminal is in an active communication session with a second mobile terminal;   a communication report module  420  configured to periodically send a first terminal communication report to the server, wherein the first terminal communication report indicates whether the first terminal is in an active communication session with the second terminal;   a detection module  430  configured to use movement status API  830  to detect a movement status of the first mobile terminal while the first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal are in an active communication session;   a notification request module  440  configured to send a notification request to the second mobile terminal through the server when the movement status of the first mobile terminal satisfies a predefined condition, wherein the notification request contains a second terminal identifier corresponding to the second mobile terminal, and in response to the notification request, the second mobile terminal is configured to return a notification response to the first mobile terminal through the server;   a receiving module  450  configured to receive the notification response from the server; and   a display module  460  configured to display the notification response at the first mobile terminal, wherein the notification response indicates whether the second mobile terminal is in a current communication with a third mobile terminal or is in an idle status.       
 
         [0066]    While particular embodiments are described above, it will be understood it is not intended to limit the invention to these particular embodiments. On the contrary, the invention includes alternatives, modifications and equivalents that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter presented herein. But it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. 
         [0067]    The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
         [0068]    As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in accordance with a determination” or “in response to detecting,” that a stated condition precedent is true, depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined [that a stated condition precedent is true]” or “if [a stated condition precedent is true]” or “when [a stated condition precedent is true]” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “in accordance with a determination” or “upon detecting” or “in response to detecting” that the stated condition precedent is true, depending on the context. 
         [0069]    Although some of the various drawings illustrate a number of logical stages in a particular order, stages that are not order dependent may be reordered and other stages may be combined or broken out. While some reordering or other groupings are specifically mentioned, others will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art and so do not present an exhaustive list of alternatives. Moreover, it should be recognized that the stages could be implemented in hardware, firmware, software or any combination thereof. 
         [0070]    The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.