Patent US6259449B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6259449B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Integrated communication center
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1997-12-10
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Granted: 2001-07-10
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Expires: 2017-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A system for integrating communication programs in a computer is disclosed. A graphical user interface includes a first interface screen which provides display areas for information regarding files and messages sent and received by the computer. The first interface screen also includes option buttons which invoke one or more communication programs executable by the computer. A second interface screen is displayed when the appropriate option button is selected. The second interface screen is depicted as an extension panel connected to the first interface screen. The second interface screen includes information relating to the status of data files or messages sent or received by the computer, or information relating to the identity of remote devices accessible by the computer over a network or phone connection.
Inventors
- 👤 Parichay Saxena
- 👤 Xiaohui Zhang
- 👤 Hiroaki Nakano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:23
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L67/00; H04L67/50; H04L67/75; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/247; H04M1/2473; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; H04M1/2478; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/274; H04M1/2745; H04M1/60; H04M1/6033; H04M1/64; H04M1/65; H04M1/6505
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of integrating a plurality of communication programs in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of: displaying a first graphical user interface screen on a display device of said computer system, said graphical user interface including a first plurality of option buttons which, when selected by a sender, enable the sender to communicate with a receiver using a corresponding sender selected communication program of said plurality of communication programs; and displaying a second graphical user interface screen on said display device when an option button corresponding to a first communication program of said plurality of communication programs is selected, said second graphical user interface screen depicted as an extension panel of said first graphical user interface screen, wherein the extension panel is adjacent to the first graphical user interface display and appears to extend from the side of the first graphical user interface screen.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of integrating a plurality of communication programs in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of: displaying a first graphical user interface screen on a display device of said computer system, said graphical user interface including a first plurality of option buttons which, when selected by a sender, enable the sender to communicate with a receiver using a corresponding sender selected communication program of said plurality of communication programs; and displaying a second graphical user interface screen on said display device when an option button corresponding to a first communication program of said plurality of communication programs is selected, said second graphical user interface screen depicted as an extension panel of said first graphical user interface screen, wherein the extension panel is adjacent to the first graphical user interface display and appears to extend from the side of the first graphical user interface screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said first graphical user interface screen comprises a numeric keypad field, a communication display field, a message display field, and said first plurality of option buttons.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said first graphical user interface screen is depicted as a cellular phone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said a plurality of communication programs comprise a speaker phone program, a video phone program, an electronic mail program, a fax program, and a web browser program.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said second graphical user interface screen comprises a message display screen, said message display screen including: a first display area, said first display area configured to display one or more data files sent or received by said computer system, said one or more data files corresponding to files created or readable by said a plurality of communication applications; and and a second plurality of option buttons, said second plurality of option buttons configured to control the playing or creation of said one or more data files.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said second graphical user interface screen comprises a mailbox display screen, said mailbox display screen including: a first display area, said first display area configured to display identification information regarding one or more storage locations defined on said computer system, each storage location of said a plurality of storage locations capable of storing data files created by said one or more communication programs; and and a second plurality of option buttons, said second plurality of option buttons configured to control the creation or modification of said identification information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said second graphical user interface screen comprises a phone book display screen, said phone book display screen including: a first display area, said first display area configured to display identification information regarding one or more remote devices accessible by said computer system, said identification information stored on a database in said computer system, and comprising a remote device identifier and remote device phone number or electronic address; and and a second plurality of option buttons, said second plurality of option buttons configured to control the creation or modification of said identification information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said second graphical user interface screen comprises a greeting display screen, said greeting display screen including: a first display area, said first display area configured to display identification information regarding one or more greeting messages associated with one or more message mailboxes stored in said computer system, said one or more greetings comprising audio data capable of being played back on a remote device accessed by said computer system; and and a second plurality of option buttons, said second plurality of option buttons configured to create or modify said one or more greetings messages displayed on said first display area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the number of data files received by said computer system is displayed as a numeral in said message display field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said first graphical user interface screen includes an extension panel option button, said extension panel option button configured to: reveal said second graphical user interface screen extension panel when selected a first time; and hide said second graphical user interface screen extension panel when selected a second time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of providing data translation programs which allow data produced by a communication program of said plurality of communication programs to be processed by another communication program of said plurality of communication programs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
A computer comprising a graphical user interface for display on a display device, said graphical user interface comprising: a first interface screen including a first display area, a second display area, an alpha-numeric keypad and a first plurality of option buttons which, when selected by a sender, enable the sender to communicate with a receiver using a corresponding sender selected communication program of said plurality of communication programs; and a second interface screen, said second interface screen displayed when an option button corresponding to a first communication program is selected, said second interface screen depicted as an extension panel of said first interface screen, wherein the extension panel is adjacent to the first graphical user interface display and appears to extend from the side of the first graphical user interface screen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
131 words
A computer comprising a graphical user interface for display on a display device, said graphical user interface comprising: a first interface screen including a first display area, a second display area, an alpha-numeric keypad and a first plurality of option buttons which, when selected by a sender, enable the sender to communicate with a receiver using a corresponding sender selected communication program of said plurality of communication programs; and a second interface screen, said second interface screen displayed when an option button corresponding to a first communication program is selected, said second interface screen depicted as an extension panel of said first interface screen, wherein the extension panel is adjacent to the first graphical user interface display and appears to extend from the side of the first graphical user interface screen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of communication programs comprise a speaker phone program, a video phone program, an electronic mail program, a fax program, and a web browser program.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer according to claim 13 wherein said first interface screen comprises a graphical user interface for said plurality of communication programs depicted as a cellular phone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer according to claim 14 wherein said second interface screen is depicted as an extension panel connected to said cellular phone image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer according to claim 15 wherein said graphical user interface includes a display option button configured such that, said second interface screen is revealed when said display option button is selected a first time; and said second interface screen is hidden when said display option button is selected a second time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
114 words
A computer according to claim 16 further comprising: a processor; a modem coupled to said processor, said modem operable to communicate between said computer and one or more remote terminals over a phone line; and a network interface device coupled to said processor, said network interface device operable to communicate between said computer and a remote computer over a network medium; and wherein said second interface screen comprises; a communication display area which displays information regarding data files sent and received by said computer through said modem or said network interface device; and a plurality of command buttons which control the creation or playback of said data files sent and received by said computer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
A computer according to claim 17 wherein said second interface screen comprises: a communication display area configured to display information regarding identification and access of said remote devices or said remote computers accessible by said computer, and data files sent and received by said computer through said modem or said network interface device; and a plurality of command buttons configured to control the creation or modification of said information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
160 words
A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which are executable by a processor, and which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: displaying a first graphical user interface screen on a display device of a computer system, said graphical user interface including a first plurality of option buttons which, when selected by a sender, enable the sender to communicate with a receiver using to a corresponding sender selected communication program of said plurality of communication programs; and displaying a second graphical user interface screen on said display device when an option button corresponding to a first communication program of said plurality of communication programs is selected, said second graphical user interface screen depicted as an extension panel of said first graphical user interface screen, wherein the extension panel is adjacent to the first graphical user interface display and appears to extend from the side of the first graphical user interface screen.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
160 words
A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which are executable by a processor, and which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: displaying a first graphical user interface screen on a display device of a computer system, said graphical user interface including a first plurality of option buttons which, when selected by a sender, enable the sender to communicate with a receiver using to a corresponding sender selected communication program of said plurality of communication programs; and displaying a second graphical user interface screen on said display device when an option button corresponding to a first communication program of said plurality of communication programs is selected, said second graphical user interface screen depicted as an extension panel of said first graphical user interface screen, wherein the extension panel is adjacent to the first graphical user interface display and appears to extend from the side of the first graphical user interface screen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 19 wherein said first graphical user interface screen comprises a numeric keypad field, a communication display field, a message display field, and said first plurality of option buttons, and wherein said first graphical user interface screen is depicted as a cellular phone.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 20 wherein said plurality of communication programs comprise a speaker phone program, a video phone program, an electronic mail program, a fax program, and a web browser program.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 21 wherein said first graphical user interface screen includes an extension panel option button, said extension panel option button configured to: reveal said second graphical user interface screen extension panel when selected a first time; and hide said second graphical user interface screen extension panel when selected a second time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
155 words
A computer comprising: a processor; a display device coupled to the processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having contained therein sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: displaying a first graphical user interface screen on said display device, said graphical user interface including a first plurality of option buttons which, when selected by a user, provide access to a corresponding communication program of one or more communication programs executable by said processor; and displaying a second graphical user interface screen on said display device when an option button corresponding to a first communication program is selected, said second graphical user interface screen depicted as an extension panel of said first graphical user interface screen, wherein the extension panel is adjacent to the first graphical user interface display and appears to extend from the side of the first graphical user interface screen.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
155 words
A computer comprising: a processor; a display device coupled to the processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having contained therein sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: displaying a first graphical user interface screen on said display device, said graphical user interface including a first plurality of option buttons which, when selected by a user, provide access to a corresponding communication program of one or more communication programs executable by said processor; and displaying a second graphical user interface screen on said display device when an option button corresponding to a first communication program is selected, said second graphical user interface screen depicted as an extension panel of said first graphical user interface screen, wherein the extension panel is adjacent to the first graphical user interface display and appears to extend from the side of the first graphical user interface screen.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-09 | 2005-01-08 | 2005-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-09 | 2009-01-08 | 2009-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-09 | 2013-01-08 | 2013-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |