Patent Publication Number: US-2011055724-A1

Title: Interface for voice communications

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of voice communications, particularly in relation to an interface which facilitates voice communications. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technology has been evolving at a rapid pace in the field of communications, such that common forms of communication are no longer limited to telephone calls, facsimiles, telexes and the like. The increasing reach of the internet coupled with increases in data transmission rates have significantly broadened the forms of communication which are readily available for every person. In light of such developments, it is highly likely that an increasing number of people will change their preferred form of communication to one which utilizes data transmission over the internet. 
     With this change in the preferred form of communication, it is foreseeable that a manner which people communicate would also differ. Consequently, people may use communication devices which differ significantly than the ubiquitous communication device of this generation, namely, the mobile phone. This seismic change in the type of communication device being used has already been demonstrated in the days when paging devices were swapped for mobile phones. A repeat of such a similar event would be highly likely in the coming years. 
     In this regard, the use of purely verbal communication would become increasingly uncommon, and interfaces for communication would need to adapt to changes in the manner of communication. Thus, the present invention aims to optimize the interface for communication to meet the demands of upcoming forms of communication. 
     SUMMARY 
     In a first embodiment, there is provided an interface viewable on a display for a communications apparatus used during a session for voice communications between at least two parties. The interface includes at least one edge of the display having a row of objects, each object of the row being for representing each of the at least two parties; and a main portion of the display being for showing the object of the party speaking at a particular point in time, with a plurality of the objects being shown when a plurality of the parties are speaking at the particular point in time. Advantageously, the object of the speaking party is shown on the main portion when the speaking party&#39;s voice is detected by the speaking party&#39;s communications apparatus, a host server receiving information from the speaking party&#39;s communications apparatus to aid in displaying the object of the speaking party at the particular point in time. It is preferable that the edge is at, for example, left edge, right edge, bottom edge and top edge. 
     It is preferable that the object is selected from, for example, a live video image of each party, a pre-recorded video image of each party, a still picture of each party, an animated representation of each party, or a still representation of each party. The interface may include a sub-portion of the display being for showing a text-identifier of the party speaking at a particular point in time. 
     It is advantageous that the interface may further include a capability to compose and transmit a text message to a party by selecting an object of the party, where composing and transmitting the text message is done using controls in a sub-window in the display. However the capability to compose and transmit a text message amongst parties may be disabled by a party such as, for example, an initiator of the communications session, a hierarchical superior of the other parties in the communications session, or a user of specific types of communications apparatus. 
     The interface may also include a capability to compose and transmit an email message, wherein composing and transmitting the email message is done using controls in a separate email application. 
     The main portion of the display may show content provided by one of the parties relating to a topic for discussion at a particular point in time. The interface may be hosted and controlled by the host server, the host server receiving information from a plurality of communications apparatus and controlling the content to show on the interface on displays for each communications apparatus involved in the voice communications. Preferably, a plurality of the content is organized in a manner of either a row-column grid arrangement or a layering arrangement. The content may be, for example, graphs, slide presentations, pictures, and videos. It is preferable that the plurality of objects is organized in a manner of either a row-column grid arrangement or a layering arrangement. 
     Advantageously, the interface may also include a secondary portion of the display for showing notes recorded by a party of the communications session. However, there may be restricted access to the secondary portion of the display, with access dependent upon either hierarchical level of a party or type of communications apparatus being used in the communications session. 
     In a second embodiment, there is provided an interface viewable on a display for a communications apparatus used during a session for voice communications between at least two parties. The interface includes at least one edge of the display having a row of objects, each object of the row being for representing each of the at least two parties; and a main portion of the display being for showing content relating to a topic for discussion at a particular point in time, with a plurality of the content being shown when a plurality of the parties are presenting content at the particular point in time. It is advantageous that the object of the speaking party is shown to change state at the row of objects when the speaking party&#39;s voice is detected by the speaking party&#39;s communications apparatus, a host server receiving information from the speaking party&#39;s communications apparatus to aid in identifying the identity of the speaking party at the particular point in time. 
     Preferably, the object is selected from, for example, a live video image of each party, a pre-recorded video image of each party, a still picture of each party, an animated representation of each party, or a still representation of each party. The change of state may be, for example, a blinking effect, a single occurrence resizing effect, a transitional blurring effect, a repeated resizing effect, and any combination of the aforementioned. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       In order that the present invention may be fully understood and readily put into practical effect, there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only preferred embodiments of the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings. 
         FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of an interface of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of the interface of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a third embodiment of the interface of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a first embodiment of a messaging sub-window used in the interface of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows an example of a communications apparatus used with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows an overview of a system which supports the interface of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows possible screen arrangements for the interface of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a first embodiment of an interface  20  viewable on a display for a communications apparatus. An example of the communications apparatus  18  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The communications apparatus  18  may be any device which allows communications between a plurality of different parties on at least one communications network. It should be noted that communications include, and is not limited to, voice conferencing, video conferencing and the like. In  FIG. 5 , a display  16  is shown to be have virtual buttons  14  which may be activated because the display  16  is made from a panel which is sensitive to touch (i.e. a touch screen). The display  16  may be either a resistive panel or a capacitive panel. The interface  20  may be generated on the display  16 . While the display  16  is shown to be part of a handheld device, it should be understood that the interface  20  may also be applied to displays of any size, the displays being part of or functionally connected to an communications apparatus. 
       FIG. 6  shows an overview of a system  10  which includes a plurality of the communications apparatus  18 . The plurality of communications apparatus  18  are linked together using the internet  12  (i.e. each of the communications apparatus  18  is logged into the Internet  12 ), and the interface  20  appearing on the display  16  of each communications apparatus  18  is hosted and controlled by at least one host server  14 . The at least one host server  14  may also serve as a storage facility for each party in the communication session, where the storage facility is used to stored data such as, for example, recorded communication sessions, data belonging to a user of each communications apparatus  18  and so forth. 
     The interface  20  may be invoked during a communication session between at least two parties. It should be noted that the communication session is not limited to communications utilising only voice, but relates to communications which includes a voice communication aspect like video conferencing. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the interface  20  includes a first edge  22  of the display  16  having a first row  24  of objects. Each object is shown to be denoted by A, B, C, D, and E. Each object (A, B, C, D, and E) of the first row  24  represents each party in the communication. The first edge  22  may be selected from: a left edge, a right edge, a bottom edge (as shown) and a top edge of the display  16 . The first row  24  may be located at an edge which is preferred/defined by a user. The first row  24  may be in close proximity to the first edge  22  rather than at the first edge  22 . The first row  24  may also be a scrollable list of the objects which denotes all parties who may be involved in the communication. For example, all parties may include, for example, entities in the user&#39;s contact list (address book), entities in a particular organization, entities in a particular grouping, and so forth. The user may select an object from the scrollable list to involve a party associated with the object in the communication session. 
     Each object (A, B, C, D, and E) may be, for example, a live video image of each party in the communication session (not able to be properly expressed in  FIG. 1 ), a pre-recorded video image of each party in the communication session (not able to be properly expressed in  FIG. 1 ), a still picture of each party in the communication session (like E), an animated representation of each party in the communication session (not able to be properly expressed in  FIG. 1 ), a still representation of each party in the communication session (like A, B, C and D) and the like. It should be noted that the animated representation of each party includes a form of a three dimensional avatar. 
     The interface  20  may also include a second edge  23  of the display  16  having a second row  25  of controls, like, for example, “chat”  25 ( a ) to invoke a messaging sub-window  60  as shown in  FIG. 4 , “record”  25 ( b ) to commence recording of a communication session (depending on a preference of a user of each communications apparatus  18 , it may be stored either on the communications apparatus  18  or the at least one host server  14 ), “volume”  25 ( c ) to invoke volume controls during the communication session, “setting”  25 ( d ) to invoke video controls during the communication session, “send”  25 ( e ) to transmit data used for the communication session, “ ”  25 ( f ) to reveal more controls. It should be noted that the aforementioned controls are merely illustrative and neither the order nor the functionality is meant to be limiting in any manner. The second edge  23  may be selected from: a left edge, a right edge, a bottom edge and a top edge (as shown) of the display  16 . The second row  25  may be located at an edge which is preferred by a user. The second row  25  may be in close proximity to the second edge  23  rather than at the second edge  23 . 
     The interface  20  also includes a main portion  26  of the display  16  being for showing the object of the party speaking at a particular point in time. In  FIG. 1 , the object D is shown in the main portion  26  of the display  16 , denoting/identifying that party D is speaking at the particular point in time. The speaking party&#39;s voice is detected by the speaking party&#39;s communications apparatus  18  (possibly using a microphone), and such information relating to the voice detection is relayed to the host server  14 . The information relayed to the host server  14  enables the host server  14  to identify the speaking party&#39;s communications apparatus  18  and correspondingly display the appropriate object of the speaking party. This enables the host server  14  to display the speaking party&#39;s object on the interface  20  shown on displays  16  on each of the plurality of communications apparatus  18  involved in the communications session with each other. A plurality of the objects may be shown in the main portion  26  of the display  16  when a plurality of the parties are speaking concurrently at the particular point in time (not shown in  FIG. 1  to avoid confusion). In such an instance, the plurality of the objects may be arranged in an organized manner in the main portion  26  such that the speaking parties are depicted in the main portion  26  at the particular point in time. The organized manner may be in the form of either a row-column grid arrangement, or a layering arrangement. 
     The interface  20  may also include a sub-portion  28  of the interface  20  for showing a text-identifier of the party(s) speaking at a particular point in time. The text-identifier may be, for example, a name, a pseudo identity, a code and so forth. In this example as shown in  FIG. 1 , party D has a pseudo identity of “RacerBoi”. The sub-portion  28  may be located at any position in the display  16 , not necessarily within the main portion  26  as shown. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown another embodiment of the interface  20 . In this embodiment, the main portion  26  may show content  30  relating to a topic for discussion at a particular point in time, and a secondary portion  27  shows notes recorded by a party of the communications session. The content  30  may be a specific data file that may be transmitted to all parties of the communications session in a manner akin to file sharing if it is not desirable for the content of the specific data file to be viewed in the main portion  26 . The secondary portion  27  may not be viewable/accessible by all parties of the communications session. One such instance of restricted access relates to a situation where parties at different levels of an organizational hierarchy attend the same communications session. The secondary portion  27  may not be accessible by parties at lower levels of the organizational hierarchy. As such, an access level/access rights of a user may be either stored in each communications apparatus  18  or stored on the at least one host server  14 . The access level/access rights of the user may also be dependent on the type of the communications apparatus  18  (i.e. hardware dependent). The content  30  may be provided by at least one of the communicating parties during the communication session using the “send”  25 ( e ) control. 
     The interface  20  is hosted and controlled by the host server  14 . The host server  14  receives information from the plurality of communications apparatus  18  and controls (determines) the content  30  shown on the interface  20  on displays  16  for each communications apparatus  18  involved in the communications session. When a plurality of the parties are presenting content  30  simultaneously, the host server  14  may arrange the presentation of the content  30  in accordance to a set of rules. The set of rules may include, for example, a first-in-first-out rule, prioritization of content based on hierarchical rank of the communicating party, prioritization of content based on type of communications apparatus used and so forth. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the host server  14  may also have a plurality of pre-determined screen arrangements which may be selected for presentation of the content  30 . The plurality of pre-determined screen arrangements may be selected in accordance to the set of rules or may be selected by at least one of the plurality of the parties involved in the communications session. The pre-determined screen arrangements may involve, for example, optimizing appearance of the content  30 , optimizing how the plurality of the parties appear during the communications session, any form of screen content arrangement to enhance comprehensibility of the content  30  shown on the interface  20 , and so forth. It should be appreciated that the plurality of screen arrangements (a), (b), (c), (d) shown in  FIG. 7  is purely illustrative and not limiting in any manner. The features which have been repeatedly used in the screen arrangement examples of  FIG. 7  include the interface  20 , the content  30 , the first row  24  and the second row  25 , all the features being as per the description of the first embodiment in preceding paragraphs. 
     The plurality of the content  30  may be arranged by the host server  14  in an organized manner in the main portion  26  on the display  16  of each communications apparatus  18  such that it is visibly comprehensible by all parties of the communications session. The organized manner may be in the form of either a row/column grid arrangement or an overlaying arrangement. The content  30  may include, for example, graphs (as shown), slide presentations, still images, videos and so forth. In this embodiment, it would be possible for a user with the appropriate access level/access rights to visually ascertain the topic undergoing discussion, review discussion notes (ascertained by looking at the secondary portion  27 ) and the identity of the speaking party(s) (ascertained by looking at the sub-portion  28 ) just by referring to interface  20  shown on the display  16  of the communications apparatus  18 . 
     The interface  20  may further include a functionality to compose and transmit a text message to any party participating in the communications session. This functionality may be invoked when the “chat”  25 ( a ) control is triggered. Triggering the “chat”  25 ( a ) control activates the messaging sub-window  60  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The texting of messages between the plurality of users may be carried out concurrently during the communications session. The texting of messages allow communication between parties involved in the communication session without the knowledge of parties who are either not supposed or not required to know about the texting-based communication. Thus, a degree of confidentiality is enabled with such texting-based communication. It should be noted that the functionality of texting of messages during a communication session may be disabled if desired/necessary. The disabling of this functionality may be done by one of the parties in the communications session. This party may be, for example, an initiator of the communications session, a hierarchical superior (in an organization) of the other parties in the communications session, a user of specific types of communications apparatus  18  and so forth. Typically, the party in the communication session who is the hierarchical superior would have more control over proceedings of the communications session, specifically as they would have access to more available options when triggering the “ ”  25 ( f ) of the interface  20 . This may apply to users of specific types of communications apparatus  18  as well. 
       FIG. 4  shows a first embodiment of a messaging sub-window  60  used in the interface  20 . The messaging sub-window  60  appears when a party participating in the communication session selects the “chat”  25 ( a ) control in the interface  20 . The composition and transmission of the message is done using controls in the sub-window  60 . A first panel  62  of the sub-window  60  shows texting which has taken place between parties involved in the texting session. A second panel  64  of the sub-window  60  shows text input by a party participating in the texting session prior to transmission to the other parties of the texting session. A “send” button  66  is activated to transmit text in the second panel  64  to all parties of the texting session. Finally, the sub-window  60  may include a series  68  of selector boxes where all parties of the texting session would be able to select which parties to include in the texting session. 
     Instead of using texting as mentioned in the previous paragraph, the interface  20  may also include an application where parties of the communications session are able to email one another as emails are typically easily referenced and archived when compared to a chain of textings. The email application may include existing applications such as, for example, Lotus Notes and Microsoft Outlook. Alternatively, the email application may be a proprietary application which mimics the look-and-feel of the interface  20 . As per typical email applications, it is evident that emails sent during the communications session would not require immediate replies unlike the texting session as mentioned earlier. 
     It should be noted that the interface  20  may be controllable by a single party in the communications session. The single party may be able to control an appearance of the interface  20  and dictate all proceedings taking place on the interface  20 . The single party may control the interface  20  by having a requisite set of rights to access the host server  14 . The single party may be, for example, a hierarchical superior of all parties in the communications session, an assistant to the hierarchical superior, an organizer of the communications session, an initiator of the communications session and so forth. 
     In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , there is also shown an interface  40  viewable on a display for a communications apparatus used during a communications session between at least two parties. An example of the communications apparatus  18  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The communications apparatus  18  may be any device which allows communications between different parties. In  FIG. 5 , a display  16  is shown to be have virtual buttons  14  which may be activated because the display  16  is made from a panel which is sensitive to touch (i.e. a touch screen). The display  16  may be either a resistive panel or a capacitive panel. The interface  40  may be seen on the display  16 . While the display  16  is shown to be part of a handheld device, it should be understood that the interface  40  may also be applied to displays of any size, the displays being part of or functionally connected to communications apparatus. 
       FIG. 6  shows an overview of a system  10  which incorporates a plurality of the communications apparatus  18 . The plurality of communications apparatus  18  are linked together using the internet  12 , and the interface  40  appearing on each communications apparatus  18  is hosted and controlled by at least one host server  14 . The at least one host server  14  may also serve as a storage facility for each party in the communication session, where the storage facility is used to store recorded communication sessions. 
     The interface  40  may be used during a communication session between at least two parties. It should be noted that the communication session is not limited to communications utilising only voice, but relates to communications which includes a voice communication aspect like video conferencing. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the interface  40  includes a third edge  42  of the display  16  having a third row  44  of objects. Each object is shown to be denoted by A, B, C, D, and E. Each object (A, B, C, D, and E) of the third row  44  is for representing each party in the communication. The third edge  42  may be selected from a left edge, a right edge, a bottom edge (as shown) and a top edge of the display  16 . The third row  44  may be located at an edge which is preferred by the user. It is not necessary for the third row  44  to be located at the third edge  42 . The third row  44  may be in close proximity to the third edge  42  rather than at the third edge  42 . The third row  44  may also be a scrollable list of the objects which denotes all parties who may be involved in the communication. For example, all parties may include, for example, entities in the user&#39;s contact list (address book), entities in a particular organization, entities in a particular grouping, and so forth. The user may select an object from the scrollable list to involve a party associated with the object in the communication session. 
     Each object (A, B, C, D, and E) may be, for example, a live video image of each party in the communication session (not able to be properly expressed in  FIG. 2 ), a pre-recorded video image of each party in the communication session (not able to be properly expressed in  FIG. 2 ), a still picture of each party in the communication session (like E), an animated representation of each party in the communication session (not able to be properly expressed in  FIG. 2 ), a still representation of each party in the communication session (like A, B, C and D) and the like. It should be noted that the animated representation of each party includes a form of a three dimensional avatar. 
     The interface  40  may also include a fourth edge  43  of the display  16  having a fourth row  45  of controls, like, for example, “chat”  45 ( a ) to invoke a messaging sub-window  60  as shown in  FIG. 4 , “record”  45 ( b ) to commence recording of a communication session (stored either on the communications apparatus  18  or the at least one host server  14 ), “volume”  45 ( c ) to invoke volume controls during the communication session, “setting”  45 ( d ) to invoke video controls during the communication session, “send”  45 ( e ) to transmit data used for the communication session, “ ”  45 ( f ) to reveal more controls. It should be noted that the aforementioned controls are merely illustrative and neither the order nor the functionality is meant to be limiting in any manner. The fourth edge  43  may be selected from: a left edge, a right edge, a bottom edge and a top edge (as shown) of the display  16 . The fourth row  45  may be located at an edge which is preferred by a user. The fourth row  45  may be in close proximity to the fourth edge  43  rather than at the fourth edge  43 . 
     The interface  40  also includes a main portion  46  of the display  16  for only showing content  48  relating to a topic for discussion at a particular point in time. In  FIG. 2 , a graph is shown as the content  48  in the main portion  46  of the display  16 , denoting that the content  48  relates to the topic for discussion at the particular point in time. The content  48  may be provided by any party involved in the communication session. When a plurality of the parties are presenting content  48  simultaneously, the host server  14  may arrange the presentation of the content  48  in accordance to a set of rules. The set of rules may include, for example, a first-in-first-out rule, prioritization of content based on hierarchical rank of the communicating party, prioritization of content based on type of communications apparatus used and so forth. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the host server  14  may also have a plurality of pre-determined screen arrangements which may be selected for presentation of the content  30 . The plurality of pre-determined screen arrangements may be selected in accordance to the set of rules or may be selected by at least one of the plurality of the parties involved in the communications session. The pre-determined screen arrangements may involve, for example, optimizing appearance of the content  30 , optimizing how the plurality of the parties appear during the communications session, any form of screen content arrangement to enhance comprehensibility of the interface  20 , and so forth. It should be appreciated that the plurality of screen arrangements (a), (b), (c), (d) shown in  FIG. 7  is purely illustrative and not limiting in any manner. The features which have been repeatedly used in the screen arrangement examples of  FIG. 7  include the interface  20 , the content  30 , the first row  24  and the second row  25 , all the features being as per the description of the first embodiment in preceding paragraphs. 
     The plurality of the content  48  may be arranged by the host server  14  in an organized manner in the main portion  46  on the display  16  of each communications apparatus  18  such that it is visibly comprehensible by all parties of the communications session. The organized manner may be in the form of either a row/column grid arrangement or an overlaying arrangement. The content  48  may include, for example, graphs (as shown), slide presentations, still images, videos and so forth. 
     The speaking party&#39;s voice is detected by the speaking party&#39;s communications apparatus  18  (possibly using a microphone), and such information relating to the voice detection is relayed to the host server  14 . This enables the host server  14  to change a state of the speaking party&#39;s object in the interface  40  shown on displays  16  on each of the plurality of communications apparatus  18  involved in communication with each other. The change of state may be in a form of, for example, a blinking effect, a single occurrence resizing effect, a transitional blurring effect, a repeated resizing effect, or any combination of the aforementioned. While the change of state is not able to be properly expressed in the figures of the specification, it should not be necessary to do as a skilled person should be able to understand this aspect relating to the change of state. 
     The interface  40  may also include a sub-portion  50  of the interface  40  for showing a text-identifier of the party(s) speaking at a particular point in time. The text-identifier may be, for example, a name, a pseudo identity, a code and so forth. In this example as shown in  FIG. 2 , party D has a pseudo identity of “RacerBoi”. The sub-portion  50  may be located at any position in the display  16 , not necessarily within the main portion  46  as shown. 
     The interface  40  may further include a functionality to compose and transmit a text message to any party participating in the communications session. This functionality may be invoked when the “chat”  45 ( a ) control is triggered. Triggering the “chat”  45 ( a ) control activates the messaging sub-window  60  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The texting of messages between the plurality of users may be carried out concurrently during the communications session. The texting of messages allow communication between parties involved in the communication session without the knowledge of parties who are either not supposed or not required to know about the texting-based communication. Thus, a degree of confidentiality is enabled with such texting-based communication. It should be noted that the functionality of texting of messages during a communication session may be disabled if desired/necessary. The disabling of this functionality may be done by one of the parties in the communications session. This party may be, for example, an initiator of the communications session, a hierarchical superior (in an organization) of the other parties in the communications session, a user of specific types of communications apparatus  18  and so forth. Typically, the party in the communication session who is the hierarchical superior would have more control over proceedings of the communications session, specifically as they would have access to more available options when triggering the “ ”  45 ( f ) of the interface  40 . This may apply to users of specific types of communications apparatus  18  as well. 
       FIG. 4  shows a first embodiment of a messaging sub-window  60  used in the interface  40 . The messaging sub-window  60  appears when a party participating in the communication session selects the “chat”  45 ( a ) control, where the selection is done in the interface  40 . The composition and transmission of the message is done using controls in the sub-window  60 . A first panel  62  of the sub-window  60  shows texting which has taken place between parties involved in the texting session. A second panel  64  of the sub-window  60  shows text input by a party participating in the texting session prior to transmission to the other parties of the texting session. A “send” button is activated to transmit text in the second panel  64  to all parties of the texting session. Finally, the sub-window  60  may include a series of selector boxes where all parties of the texting session would be able to select which parties to include in the texting session. 
     It should be noted that the interface  20  may be controllable by a single party in the communications session. The single party may be able to control an appearance of the interface  20  and dictate all proceedings taking place on the interface  20 . The single party may control the interface  20  by having a requisite set of rights to access the host server  14 . The single party may be, for example, a hierarchical superior of all parties in the communications session, an assistant to the hierarchical superior, an organizer of the communications session, an initiator of the communications session and so forth. 
     Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations or modifications in details of design or construction may be made without departing from the present invention.