T-mobile Usa, Inc.

Jeff Gough

Valerie Lynn Goulart

Patrick Carney

Georgiana Gormley

Paulo S T Chow

Ming Ligh

Anthony J Giardini

Winston Wang

Robert Buck

Barb Brindle

Sinclair M Temple

Andrea Small

Maura Hoven

Maura C Collins

Paulo Chow

A messaging device allows a user to initiate communication to recipients via a graphical user interface. In some embodiments, messages are composed by a user via a touchscreen display. Pre-existing messages may also be retrieved by the user via the display. Icons representing potential message recipients are displayed, and the user may deliver a message to a recipient by associating the message with the icon that represents the desired recipient, such as by a drag-and-drop or pop-and-hop motion. In addition, the user may indicate to which of the recipient's various electronic devices or services the message is to be delivered. In some embodiments, the user may deliver the message to a group of recipients.

Messaging device having a graphical user interface for initiating communication to recipients

A system and method for providing context information along with a voice call is disclosed. In some examples, a calling device receives context information from a user and transmits the context information when establishing a voice call with the user. The context information may include various types of media, such as pictures or videos taken by a calling device. In some examples, a destination mobile device receives a voice call that does have context information and sends a request to a calling mobile device for information related to the voice call.

Providing context information during voice communications between mobile devices, such as providing visual media

A user can initiate the transmission of data on a mobile device by making physical contact with another device. The physical contact can be any type of physical touch that is referred to as a 'tap' or 'tapping.' When a tap is detected by a device, the device may initiate near field communication (NFC) with the other tapping device. NFC may be used to communicate data between the two devices, or NFC may be used to exchange sufficient information to allow the devices to establish a communication channel via another communication link. In some embodiments, an NFC-enabled mobile device can be used to gather group data relating to users having mobile devices that are within NFC range of one another and which initiate the aggregation of group data by the tapping of three or more devices.

Data exchange initiated by tapping devices

Growing community of inventors

Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Jeff Gough