Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Skype Limited

Umberto Abate

Torsten Rehberg

Simon Tickner

Dmytro Izotov

Christopher James Clare

Lyra Xharra Loxha

Hando Tint

Ole Mahrt

Mike Bartlett

Michael Bartlett

Dmytro Izotoy

Techniques for switchable modes for messaging are described. In various implementations, a software application for messaging includes a conversation mode and an engagement mode each representing different respective modes for presenting a message. The engagement mode, for instance, provides a larger portion of an available display area for the message than the conversation mode. According to one or more implementations, switching between the conversation mode and the engagement mode is based on a user behavior indicating a level of engagement of a user relative to the application.

Switchable modes for messaging

Disclosed is a user device comprising a display having an available display area, a network interface, and one or more processors. The network interface is configured to transmit and receive messages between the user device and a communication network in an instant messaging communication session. A client application executed on the one or more processors has a user interface capable of operating in a conversation mode or in an engagement mode. The client application is configured to detect a condition indicative of the level of engagement of the user by analyzing the user's activity at the user device and responsive to the detected condition to modify the client user interface, when configured to operate in one of said modes, to operate in the other of said modes instead.

Instant messaging

Method, computer program product and user device for searching implemented at the user device, wherein an input is received from a user via a touch screen of the user device. Without user initiation of a temporary character recognition mode specifically to receive the input, the input is analyzed using character recognition. Responsive to the character recognition recognizing at least one character in said received input, a search mode is invoked in which one or more search results which at least partially match the at least one recognized character are displayed. The user may select one of the displayed search results.

Searching at a user device

Display screen with graphical user interface

A method of controlling a user interface to display participants of a call in dependence upon the participants' speech activity in the call, the method including monitoring the speech activity of the participants in the call and determining whether a participant is an active participant or an inactive participant in dependence on the participants' speech activity over a minimum time period of the call. In response to determining whether a participant is an active or inactive participant, an active participant is displayed in a first area of the user interface and an inactive participant is displayed in a second area of the user interface. The first area of the user interface is larger than the second area of the user interface.

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Umberto Abate