PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10051104-B2
Application Number: US-201213471372-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Delivery/read receipts for electronic messaging

Abstract:
Systems, methods, and computer program products for delivery/read receipts for electronic messaging are disclosed. During one-on-one electronic messaging sessions in a conversation view format, only a single read receipt is shown only for the most recent message transmitted in the conversation. In some implementations, a delivery receipt is shown which then can be replaced or morphed into a read receipt. In a group conversation, a read receipt can be displayed for the recipient who most recently caught up in the ongoing conversation.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 at a sender device with a display:
 displaying, on the display, a message conversation that includes a plurality of messages between a sender and a recipient associated with one or more recipient devices, including concurrently displaying:
 a first message sent from the sender device that has been delivered to one or more recipient devices and has been read; 
 a second message sent from the sender device that has been delivered to one or more recipient devices but has not been read; 
 a third message sent from a respective one of the one or more recipient devices to the sender device; and 
 
 displaying a delivery receipt for the second message, the delivery receipt indicating that the second message has been delivered to one or more of the recipient devices, wherein the delivery receipt is displayed at a first respective location in the message conversation; and 
 in response to determining that the second message has been read on at least one of the recipient devices, replacing the delivery receipt with a read receipt for the second message in the message conversation, wherein replacing display of the delivery receipt with the read receipt for the second message includes:
 ceasing to display the delivery receipt in the message conversation; and 
 displaying the read receipt for the second message at the first respective location in the message conversation at which the delivery receipt was previously displayed without displaying a read receipt for the first message and a read receipt for the third message. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein replacing the delivery receipt in the message conversation comprises morphing the delivery receipt into the read receipt. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery receipt or the read receipt includes a graphical confirmation. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that the first message has been read on at least one of the recipient devices, displaying the read receipt for the first message at a second respective location in the message conversation; 
 wherein displaying the read receipt for the second message at the first respective location without displaying the read receipts for the first message and the third message comprises ceasing to display the read receipt for the first message at the second respective location in the message conversation. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second respective location is below the first message and wherein the first respective location is below the second message. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein a separation between the first message and the second or third messages in the message conversation results from displaying the read receipt for the first message; and
 wherein replacing display of the delivery receipt with the read receipt for the second message further includes moving the second or third messages in the message conversation to reduce or eliminate the separation between the first message and the second or third messages. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein replacing display of the delivery receipt with the read receipt for the second message further includes replacing a displayed delivery time of the delivery receipt with a displayed read time of the read receipt. 
     
     
       8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions, which, when executed by a sender device with a display and one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations, comprising:
 displaying, on the display, a message conversation that includes a plurality of messages between a sender and a recipient associated with one or more recipient devices, including concurrently displaying:
 a first message sent from the sender device that has been delivered to one or more recipient devices and has been read; 
 a second message sent from the sender device that has been delivered to one or more recipient devices but has not been read; 
 a third message sent from a respective one of the one or more recipient devices to the sender device; and 
 
 displaying a delivery receipt for the second message, the delivery receipt indicating that the second message has been delivered to one or more of the recipient devices, wherein the delivery receipt is displayed at a first respective location in the message conversation; and 
 in response to determining that the second message has been read on at least one of the recipient devices, replacing the delivery receipt with a read receipt for the second message in the message conversation, wherein replacing display of the delivery receipt with the read receipt for the second message includes:
 ceasing to display the delivery receipt in the message conversation; and 
 displaying the read receipt for the second message at the first respective location in the message conversation at which the delivery receipt was previously displayed without displaying a read receipt for the first message and a read receipt for the third message. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein replacing the delivery receipt in the message conversation comprises morphing the delivery receipt into the read receipt. 
     
     
       10. The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the delivery receipt or the read receipt includes a graphical confirmation. 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
 in response to determining that the first message has been read on at least one of the recipient devices, displaying the read receipt for the first message at a second respective location in the message conversation; 
 wherein displaying the read receipt for the second message at the first respective location without displaying the read receipts for the first message and the third message comprises ceasing to display the read receipt for the first message at the second respective location in the message conversation. 
 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the second respective location is below the first message and wherein the first respective location is below the second message. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 ,
 wherein a separation between the first message and the second or third messages in the message conversation results from displaying the read receipt for the first message; and 
 wherein replacing display of the delivery receipt with the read receipt for the second message further includes moving the second or third messages in the message conversation to reduce or eliminate the separation between the first message and the second or third messages. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein replacing display of the delivery receipt with the read receipt for the second message further includes replacing a displayed delivery time of the delivery receipt with a displayed read time of the read receipt. 
     
     
       15. A sender device comprising:
 a display 
 one or more processors; 
 memory coupled to the one or more processors and configured to store instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 displaying, on the display, a message conversation that includes a plurality of messages between a sender and a recipient associated with one or more recipient devices, including concurrently displaying:
 a first message sent from the sender device that has been delivered to one or more recipient devices and has been read; 
 a second message sent from the sender device that has been delivered to one or more recipient devices but has not been read; 
 a third message sent from a respective one of the one or more recipient devices to the sender device; and 
 
 displaying a delivery receipt for the second message, the delivery receipt indicating that the second message has been delivered to one or more of the recipient devices, wherein the delivery receipt is displayed at a first respective location in the message conversation; and 
 in response to determining that the second message has been read on at least one of the recipient devices, replacing the delivery receipt with a read receipt for the second message in the message conversation, wherein replacing display of the delivery receipt with the read receipt for the second message includes:
 ceasing to display the delivery receipt in the message conversation; and 
 displaying the read receipt for the second message at the first respective location in the message conversation at which the delivery receipt was previously displayed without displaying a read receipt for the first message and a read receipt for the third message. 
 
 
 
     
     
       16. The sender device of  claim 15 , where replacing the delivery receipt in the message conversation comprises morphing the delivery receipt into the read receipt. 
     
     
       17. The sender device of  claim 15 , wherein the delivery receipt or the read receipt includes a graphical confirmation. 
     
     
       18. The sender device of  claim 15 , the operations further comprising:
 in response to determining that the first message has been read on at least one of the recipient devices, displaying the read receipt for the first message at a second respective location in the message conversation; 
 wherein displaying the read receipt for the second message at the first respective location without displaying the read receipts for the first message and the third message comprises ceasing to display the read receipt for the first message at the second respective location in the message conversation. 
 
     
     
       19. The sender device of  claim 18 , wherein the second respective location is below the first message and wherein the first respective location is below the second message. 
     
     
       20. The sender device of  claim 18 , wherein a separation between the first message and the second or third messages in the message conversation results from displaying the read receipt for the first message; and
 wherein replacing display of the delivery receipt with the read receipt for the second message further includes moving the second or third messages in the message conversation to reduce or eliminate the separation between the first message and the second or third messages. 
 
     
     
       21. The sender device of  claim 15 , wherein replacing display of the delivery receipt with the read receipt for the second message further includes replacing a displayed delivery time of the delivery receipt with a displayed read time of the read receipt.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure is related generally to electronic messaging. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A prominent feature of many conventional messaging applications is delivery and read receipts, which indicate to message senders when a message has been delivered or read by a message recipient. Some conventional electronic messaging applications indicate delivery and read status by one or more checkmarks displayed next to the message. For example, some applications display a single checkmark next to a message when it has been delivered and a second checkmark next to the message when it has been read. The display of numerous checkmarks next to each message in an electronic messaging session can quickly clutter the graphical user interface (GUI) for the messaging application. 
     SUMMARY 
     Systems, methods, and computer program products for delivery/read receipts for electronic messaging are disclosed. During a one-on-one electronic messaging session in a conversation view format, only a single read receipt is shown only for the most recently transmitted message in the conversation. In some implementations, a delivery receipt is shown which can then be replaced or morphed into a read receipt. In a group conversation, a read receipt can be displayed for the recipient who most recently caught up in the ongoing conversation. 
     Particular implementations of delivery/read receipts for electronic messaging disclosed herein provide one or more of the following advantages. By showing a single read receipt, screen clutter imposed by multiple read and delivery receipts can be reduced. 
     The details of the disclosed implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1-7  illustrate exemplary GUIs for electronic messaging using delivery/read receipts. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow diagram of an exemplary GUI for electronic messaging with delivery/read receipts using graphical confirmations for delivery/read receipts. 
         FIG. 9  is a flow diagram of exemplary process electronic messaging with delivery/read receipts. 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram of an exemplary operating environment capable of implementing an electronic messaging service with delivery/read receipts. 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram of an exemplary architecture of a device capable of implementing electronic messaging with delivery/read receipts. 
     
    
    
     The same reference symbol used in various drawings indicates like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure describes various Graphical User Interfaces (UIs) for implementing various features, processes or workflows. These GUIs can be presented on a variety of electronic devices including but not limited to laptop computers, desktop computers, computer terminals, television systems, tablet computers, e-book readers and smart phones. One or more of these electronic devices can include a touch-sensitive surface. The touch-sensitive surface can process multiple simultaneous points of input, including processing data related to the pressure, degree or position of each point of input. Such processing can facilitate gestures with multiple fingers, including pinching and swiping. 
     When the disclosure refers “to select” or “selecting” user interface elements in a GUI, these terms are understood to include clicking or “hovering” with a mouse or other input device over a user interface element, or touching, tapping or gesturing with one or more fingers or stylus on a user interface element. User interface elements can be virtual buttons, menus, selectors, switches, sliders, scrubbers, knobs, thumbnails, links, icons, radial buttons, checkboxes and any other mechanism for receiving input from, or providing feedback to a user. 
     Exemplary GUIs for Electronic Messaging with Delivery/Read Receipts 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary GUI  102  of an electronic device  100  for electronic messaging using delivery/read receipts. In the example shown, GUI  102  is presenting a conversation view for an electronic messaging session between two users. Received text messages or media items are displayed on the left-hand side  104  of GUI  102  and sent messages or media items are presented on the right-hand side  106  of GUI  102 . In this example, device  100  is a smartphone operated by “Anna Haro.” Anna we received a text message from a friend asking: “How is your trip?” Anna replied “Nice scenery here!” and sent her friend digital image  108 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . When digital image  108  is received by the friend, delivery receipt  110  is presented on GUI  102  beneath digital image  108 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In some implementations, delivery receipt  110  can include the term “delivered” and the time of delivery. In this example, digital image  108  was sent at 9:31 PM and delivered at 9:32 PM. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , read receipt  112  is presented on GUI  102  beneath digital image  108 , indicating that the image file had been read. Thus, read receipt  112  replaced delivery receipt  110  only for the most recent message in the conversation. This replacement resulted in reduced clutter on GUI  102  as compared to conventional electronic messaging applications that use multiple checkmarks to indicate delivery and receipt of messages. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , Ann types and sends the message: “We had a good trip.” Delivery receipt  114  is displayed under the message on GUI  102  indicating that the message was delivered to a recipient device. When the message is read by the recipient, delivery receipt  114  is replaced with read receipt  116  only for the most recent message in the conversation. In this example, the message was delivered at 9:33 PM and read at 10:02 PM. 
     The example described above takes advantage of an inherent property of the conversation view format. If a first individual sends a second individual a first message and then updates the conversation with a second message, and the second individual reads the second or most recent message, the first individual will know that the second individual has also read the first message. This is the case because both the first and second individuals are seeing the same conversation view. Since in conversation view it is the entire conversation being updated and read, instead of the individual messages in the conversation, only a single read receipt is needed on the most recent message. If the first individual knows that the read receipt was received by the second individual, then the first individual knows that the second individual received the previous read receipts as well. 
     Thus, by showing only a single read receipt, one can significantly reduce clutter imposed by conventional read and delivery receipts. As shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , this technique can be further improved by showing a delivery receipt and replacing it with a read receipt. If a message was read, it must have been delivered successfully. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary GUI  700  for an electronic messaging system with delivery/read receipts, where three or more individuals are communicating in a group conversation. In this example, Lisa, Bert and Joe are communicating on GUI  702  and their respective messages are displayed in conversation view  702 . Joe starts the conversation with the text message: “Heading up to tahoe this week.” Lisa responds with the text message: “I&#39;m in. Friday?” Lisa&#39;s text message is followed by read receipt  704  indicating that Lisa&#39;s text message was read by Joe. Next Bert responds with the text message: “Friday&#39;s good for me. Let&#39;s go!!” Bert&#39;s text message is followed by read receipt  706  indicating that the message was read by both Bert and Lisa. Thus, the example described above provides read receipts only for the most recent individuals who have caught up in the conversation. 
       FIG. 8  is a flow diagram of an exemplary GUI for electronic messaging with delivery/read receipts using graphical confirmations for delivery/read receipts. In some implementations, a text message balloon  802  of GUI  800  can include graphical confirmation  804 . In the example shown, a check is used as the graphical confirmation of a delivery/read receipt. Other graphical representations can also be used. The graphical confirmation can be included in text message balloon, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     Exemplary Process 
       FIG. 9  is a flow diagram of exemplary process  900  electronic messaging with delivery/read receipts. Process  900  can be implemented using device architecture  1000  operating in environment  900 , as described in reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
     Process  900  can begin when a sending device sends an electronic message or media item to one or more recipients of an electronic messaging session ( 902 ). The sending device can generate a GUI for display that includes a conversation view format for the electronic messaging session. In response to delivery of the transmitted message or media item to one or more recipient(s) in the session a delivery receipt is displayed in the conversation view displayed on the sending device ( 904 ). In some implementations, presenting a delivery receipt before a read receipt can be optional. In some implementations, the delivery receipt can be displayed below the transmitted message in the conversation view. In response to the transmitted message or media item being read by one or more recipients, a read receipt is displayed below the transmitted message or, if a delivery receipt is displayed, the delivery receipt is replaced or morphs into a read receipt only for the most recent message in the conversation view ( 906 ). 
     Exemplary Operating Environment 
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram of an exemplary operating environment capable of implementing electronic messaging with delivered/read receipts. In some implementations, devices  1002   a  and  1002   b  can communicate over one or more wired or wireless networks  1010 . For example, wireless network  1012  (e.g., a cellular network) can communicate with a wide area network (WAN)  1014  (e.g., the Internet) by use of gateway  1016 . Likewise, access device  1018  (e.g., IEEE 802.11g wireless access device) can provide communication access to WAN  1014 . Devices  1002   a ,  1002   b  can be any device capable of displaying GUIs of the disclosed content authoring application, including but not limited to portable computers, smart phones and electronic tablets. In some implementations, the devices  1002   a ,  1002   b  do not have to be portable but can be a desktop computer, television system, kiosk system or the like. 
     In some implementations, both voice and data communications can be established over wireless network  1012  and access device  1018 . For example, device  1002   a  can place and receive phone calls (e.g., using voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) protocols), send and receive e-mail messages (e.g., using SMPTP or Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3)), and retrieve electronic documents and/or streams, such as web pages, photographs, and videos, over wireless network  1012 , gateway  1016 , and WAN  1014  (e.g., using Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP)). Likewise, in some implementations, device  1002   b  can place and receive phone calls, send and receive e-mail messages, and retrieve electronic documents over access device  1018  and WAN  1014 . In some implementations, device  1002   a  or  1002   b  can be physically connected to access device  1018  using one or more cables and access device  1018  can be a personal computer. In this configuration, device  1002   a  or  1002   b  can be referred to as a “tethered” device. 
     Devices  1002   a  and  1002   b  can also establish communications by other means. For example, wireless device  1002   a  can communicate with other wireless devices (e.g., other devices  1002   a  or  1002   b , cell phones) over the wireless network  1012 . Likewise, devices  1002   a  and  1002   b  can establish peer-to-peer communications  1020  (e.g., a personal area network) by use of one or more communication subsystems, such as the Bluetooth™ communication devices. Other communication protocols and topologies can also be implemented. 
     Devices  1002   a  or  1002   b  can communicate with service  1030  over the one or more wired and/or wireless networks  1010 . For example, service  1030  can be an electronic messaging service that manages delivered/read receipts as described in reference to  FIGS. 1-8 . 
     Device  1002   a  or  1002   b  can also access other data and content over one or more wired and/or wireless networks  1010 . For example, content publishers, such as news sites, Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, Web sites and developer networks can be accessed by device  1002   a  or  1002   b . Such access can be provided by invocation of a web browsing function or application (e.g., a browser) running on the device  1002   a  or  1002   b.    
     Devices  1002   a  and  1002   b  can exchange files over one or more wireless or wired networks  1010  either directly or through service  1030 . 
     Exemplary Device Architecture 
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram of an exemplary architecture for a device capable of running a network-enabled content authoring application. Architecture  1100  can be implemented in any device for generating the features described in reference to  FIGS. 1-8 , including but not limited to portable or desktop computers, smart phones and electronic tablets, television systems, game consoles, kiosks and the like. Architecture  1100  can include memory interface  1102 , data processor(s), image processor(s) or central processing unit(s)  1104 , and peripherals interface  1106 . Memory interface  1102 , processor(s)  1104  or peripherals interface  1106  can be separate components or can be integrated in one or more integrated circuits. The various components can be coupled by one or more communication buses or signal lines. 
     Sensors, devices, and subsystems can be coupled to peripherals interface  1106  to facilitate multiple functionalities. For example, motion sensor  1110 , light sensor  1112 , and proximity sensor  1114  can be coupled to peripherals interface  1106  to facilitate orientation, lighting, and proximity functions of the device. For example, in some implementations, light sensor  1112  can be utilized to facilitate adjusting the brightness of touch surface  1146 . In some implementations, motion sensor  1110  (e.g., an accelerometer, gyros) can be utilized to detect movement and orientation of the device. Accordingly, display objects or media can be presented according to a detected orientation (e.g., portrait or landscape). 
     Other sensors can also be connected to peripherals interface  1106 , such as a temperature sensor, a biometric sensor, or other sensing device, to facilitate related functionalities. 
     Location processor  1115  (e.g., GPS receiver) can be connected to peripherals interface  1106  to provide geo-positioning. Electronic magnetometer  1116  (e.g., an integrated circuit chip) can also be connected to peripherals interface  1106  to provide data that can be used to determine the direction of magnetic North. Thus, electronic magnetometer  1116  can be used as an electronic compass. 
     Camera subsystem  1120  and an optical sensor  1122 , e.g., a charged coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) optical sensor, can be utilized to facilitate camera functions, such as recording photographs and video clips. 
     Communication functions can be facilitated through one or more communication subsystems  1124 . Communication subsystem(s)  1124  can include one or more wireless communication subsystems. Wireless communication subsystems  1124  can include radio frequency receivers and transmitters and/or optical (e.g., infrared) receivers and transmitters. Wired communication system can include a port device, e.g., a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port or some other wired port connection that can be used to establish a wired connection to other computing devices, such as other communication devices, network access devices, a personal computer, a printer, a display screen, or other processing devices capable of receiving or transmitting data. The specific design and implementation of the communication subsystem  1124  can depend on the communication network(s) or medium(s) over which the device is intended to operate. For example, a device may include wireless communication subsystems designed to operate over a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, a GPRS network, an enhanced data GSM environment (EDGE) network, 802.x communication networks (e.g., WiFi, WiMax, or 3G networks), code division multiple access (CDMA) networks, and a Bluetooth™ network. Communication subsystems  1124  may include hosting protocols such that the device may be configured as a base station for other wireless devices. As another example, the communication subsystems can allow the device to synchronize with a host device using one or more protocols, such as, for example, the TCP/IP protocol, HTTP protocol, UDP protocol, and any other known protocol. 
     Audio subsystem  1126  can be coupled to a speaker  1128  and one or more microphones  1130  to facilitate voice-enabled functions, such as voice recognition, voice replication, digital recording, and telephony functions. 
     I/O subsystem  1140  can include touch controller  1142  and/or other input controller(s)  1144 . Touch controller  1142  can be coupled to a touch surface  1146 . Touch surface  1146  and touch controller  1142  can, for example, detect contact and movement or break thereof using any of a number of touch sensitivity technologies, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contact with touch surface  1146 . In one implementation, touch surface  1146  can display virtual or soft buttons and a virtual keyboard, which can be used as an input/output device by the user. 
     Other input controller(s)  1144  can be coupled to other input/control devices  1148 , such as one or more buttons, rocker switches, thumb-wheel, infrared port, USB port, and/or a pointer device such as a stylus. The one or more buttons (not shown) can include an up/down button for volume control of speaker  1128  and/or microphone  1130 . 
     In some implementations, device  1100  can present recorded audio and/or video files, such as MP3, AAC, and MPEG files. In some implementations, device  1100  can include the functionality of an MP3 player and may include a pin connector for tethering to other devices. Other input/output and control devices can be used. 
     Memory interface  1102  can be coupled to memory  1150 . Memory  1150  can include high-speed random access memory or non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, or flash memory (e.g., NAND, NOR). Memory  1150  can store operating system  1152 , such as Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks. Operating system  1152  may include instructions for handling basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks. In some implementations, operating system  1152  can include a kernel (e.g., UNIX kernel). 
     Memory  1150  may also store communication instructions  1154  to facilitate communicating with one or more additional devices, one or more computers or servers. Communication instructions  1154  can also be used to select an operational mode or communication medium for use by the device, based on a geographic location (obtained by the GPS/Navigation instructions  1168 ) of the device. Memory  1150  may include graphical user interface instructions  1156  to facilitate graphic user interface processing, such as generating the GUIs shown in  FIGS. 1-9 ; sensor processing instructions  1158  to facilitate sensor-related processing and functions; phone instructions  1160  to facilitate phone-related processes and functions; electronic messaging instructions  1162  to facilitate electronic-messaging related processes and functions as described in reference to  FIGS. 1-9 ; web browsing instructions  1164  to facilitate web browsing-related processes and functions; media processing instructions  1166  to facilitate media processing-related processes and functions; GPS/Navigation instructions  1168  to facilitate GPS and navigation-related processes; camera instructions  1170  to facilitate camera-related processes and functions; and other instructions  1172 , such as instructions for other applications. The memory  1150  may also store other software instructions for facilitating other processes, features and applications, such as applications related to navigation, social networking, location-based services or map displays. 
     Each of the above identified instructions and applications can correspond to a set of instructions for performing one or more functions described above. These instructions need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules. Memory  1150  can include additional instructions or fewer instructions. Furthermore, various functions of the mobile device may be implemented in hardware and/or in software, including in one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits. 
     The features described can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. The features can be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device, for execution by a programmable processor; and method steps can be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions of the described implementations by operating on input data and generating output. 
     The described features can be implemented advantageously in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. A computer program is a set of instructions that can be used, directly or indirectly, in a computer to perform a certain activity or bring about a certain result. A computer program can be written in any form of programming language (e.g., Objective-C, Java), including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. 
     Suitable processors for the execution of a program of instructions include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and the sole processor or one of multiple processors or cores, of any kind of computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memories for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer can communicate with mass storage devices for storing data files. These mass storage devices can include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits). 
     To provide for interaction with an author, the features can be implemented on a computer having a display device such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor for displaying information to the author and a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball by which the author can provide input to the computer. 
     The features can be implemented in a computer system that includes a back-end component, such as a data server or that includes a middleware component, such as an application server or an Internet server, or that includes a front-end component, such as a client computer having a graphical user interface or an Internet browser, or any combination of them. The components of the system can be connected by any form or medium of digital data communication such as a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a LAN, a WAN and the computers and networks forming the Internet. 
     The computer system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other. 
     One or more features or steps of the disclosed embodiments can be implemented using an Application Programming Interface (API). An API can define on or more parameters that are passed between a calling application and other software code (e.g., an operating system, library routine, function) that provides a service, that provides data, or that performs an operation or a computation. 
     The API can be implemented as one or more calls in program code that send or receive one or more parameters through a parameter list or other structure based on a call convention defined in an API specification document. A parameter can be a constant, a key, a data structure, an object, an object class, a variable, a data type, a pointer, an array, a list, or another call. API calls and parameters can be implemented in any programming language. The programming language can define the vocabulary and calling convention that a programmer will employ to access functions supporting the API. 
     In some implementations, an API call can report to an application the capabilities of a device running the application, such as input capability, output capability, processing capability, power capability, communications capability, etc. 
     A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, many of the examples presented in this document were presented in the context of an ebook. The systems and techniques presented herein are also applicable to other electronic text such as electronic newspaper, electronic magazine, electronic documents etc. Elements of one or more implementations may be combined, deleted, modified, or supplemented to form further implementations. As yet another example, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In addition, other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20120514
Publication Date: 20180814
Grant Date: 20180814
Priority Date: 20120514
Inventors: KARUNAMUNI, CHANAKA G.
DELLINGER, RICHARD R.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06Q10/107", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72547", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06Q10/107", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/7243", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/7243", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06Q10/107", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 49549619