The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 11, 2008
Filed:
Dec. 19, 2003
Michael Stochosky, San Francisco, CA (US);
Jens Peter Alfke, San Jose, CA (US);
Michael Stochosky, San Francisco, CA (US);
Jens Peter Alfke, San Jose, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for displaying chat messages in selectable balloon styles. In one aspect of the present invention, a method to display a chat message includes: receiving a chat message and a balloon style; and displaying the chat message in a balloon of the received balloon style. In one example, the chat message and the balloon style are received from a network connection; and, the balloon style is selected by a user who sent the chat message. In one example, the chat message and the balloon style are received from input devices for user interaction; and, the chat message and the balloon style is also transmitted to a remote device for display. In one example, the balloon style indicates an emotional state (e.g., happy, angry) associated with the message. In another example, the balloon style indicates a predetermined message (e.g., the user is in the process of preparing a message). In one example, the balloon style is user customized (or user defined).