Patent ID: 8701020

Claim:
A method, comprising: receiving, by a first computing device, communication data sent from a second computing device while the first computing device and the second computing device are engaged in a real-time video communication session, wherein the communication data comprises first video data; while the first computing device is operating in a video mode, outputting, by the first computing device and for display at a touch-sensitive display, the first video data; receiving, by the first computing device, a text-based message from the second computing device during the real-time video communication session; overlaying, by the first computing device and at the touch-sensitive display, information related to the text-based message onto a display of the first video data; outputting, by the first computing device and for display at the touch-sensitive display, a touch target that, upon activation, toggles the first computing device between operating in the video mode and a text mode; while the first computing device is operating in the video mode, receiving, by the first computing device, one or more activation signals indicating that the touch target is activated; responsive to receiving the one or more activation signals while the first computing device is operating in the video mode, switching the first computing device to operate in the text mode and providing an operation indication to the second computing device indicating that the first computing device is operating in the text mode; while the first computing device is operating in the text mode: transmitting, by the first computing device and to the second computing device during the real-time video communication session, second video data provided by a camera of the first computing device; buffering, by the first computing device, third video data that is received by the first computing device from the second computing device; and after buffering the third video data, switching the first computing device to operate in the video mode; and while the first computing device is operating in the video mode, outputting, by the first computing device and for display at the touch-sensitive display, the third video data.