Patents
16 patents spanning conversational design, messaging systems, multi-modal communication, and touch interface design.
Conversational & Messaging Design
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc.
Visualizing Multi-Modal Conversations • US20160057181A1
A method for displaying conversations spanning multiple communication types — chat, video, and shared documents — as a unified timeline, making complex collaboration histories navigable and intuitive. Addresses the core challenge of how users make sense of conversations that happen across different channels.
System and Method for Targeted Messaging • US20190050393A1
Detects the context of a message being composed in a group conversation and dynamically updates the recipient list to include only relevant participants. Reduces noise in group communication by ensuring messages reach the right people based on content and context.
Instant Messaging User Interface • US20160364085A1
A redesigned messaging interface that keeps the broader conversation visible and accessible while composing a new message, improving conversational continuity and reducing context-switching.
Interactive Contextual Emojis • US20170331769A1
Emoji responses that adapt based on the context of the conversation rather than offering static generic reactions, enabling more expressive and contextually appropriate communication.
Contextual Messaging Response Slider • US20170083225A1
A UI control that allows users to respond to messages quickly and expressively without interrupting the flow of conversation, balancing efficiency with expressiveness.
Generating Meeting Threads Using Different Collaboration Modalities • US20210168177A1
Links meeting content across chat, video and documents into a unified thread so that context is preserved before, during and after a meeting, enabling continuous conversation across time and modality.
Read Activity of Chat Rooms • US9990108B2
Surfaces who has read messages in a group chat, giving participants awareness of engagement and attention within a conversation, and helping communicators understand whether their message has landed.
Presence Indicator System • US20170331770A1
Communicates user availability and context to others in real time, reducing interruptions and improving the timing and appropriateness of communication.
Chat Room Access Control • US20180006982A1
Enables granular control over who can join and participate in a conversation, with conditions for granting access — addressing trust, privacy and appropriateness in group communication.
Photo Avatars • US9628416B2
A system for automatically capturing and sending a photo of the user alongside an instant message, enriching text-based communication with a visual, real-time representation of the sender.
Techniques for Organizing Participant Interaction During a Communication Session • US20160285921A1
Methods for structuring how participants contribute during live collaborative sessions, improving the quality and flow of group communication.
Collaboration & Content Sharing
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc.
Collaboration Content Sharing • US9740378B2
Notifies participants of content shared during a collaboration event and provides intuitive access to it within the session interface, reducing friction in sharing and retrieving shared materials.
Combining Modalities for Collaborating While Editing and Annotating Files • US20190034395A1
Enables participants to communicate across multiple channels simultaneously while working on shared documents, supporting the natural interplay between conversation and co-creation.
Video Conference Annotation • US9961302B1
Allows participants to annotate shared content during a video conference in real time, bridging verbal and visual communication in collaborative sessions.
Touch Interface Design
Assignee: Sony Ericsson / Xerox
Create Folders on a Touchscreen • US8386950B2
Originally assigned to Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
A one-step gesture-based method for creating folders on a touchscreen by dragging two icons together until they touch, automatically creating a new folder. Invented during the early smartphone era, ahead of the Apple and Google app stores.
Lateral Pressure Sensors for Touch Screens • US8674947B2
Assigned to Xerox Corporation
Hardware interaction design using pressure sensors positioned at the periphery of a touchscreen to allow directional manipulation of content without obscuring the display — expanding the vocabulary of touch interaction beyond the screen surface.