Abstract: Solutions for facilitating enhanced video calling functionality. Embodiments include functionality for handling video calling through a communications hub. According to some embodiments, the communications hub is a user supersystem having multiple clients, each with an integrated camera and display, capable of seamlessly handing off video call functionality among the clients. Other embodiments integrate other functionality of the communications hub (e.g., web browsing, multimedia, etc.) into the video call environment.

Abstract: Solutions for capturing and displaying conversation history for providing conversation capture functionality. Some such solutions use a user supersystem as a communications hub to capture and/or generate relevant information for enhancing conversations with contacts, including address book information, contact notes, conversation history information, and/or conversation anchors. The information may then be processed for display to the user via a graphical interface.

Abstract: Solutions for providing integrated media services, e.g., in the context of communications services offered through a user supersystem configured as an interactive graphical communications hub. For example, interactions with a messaging interface may provide access to media creation functionality, including doodle functionality, in the context of the messaging and/or in the context of other media. In one implementation, the communications interface allows a user to doodle in the context of an image file (e.g., a photo) while in the context of a chat application.

Abstract: Solutions for providing context-driven communications mode determinations. Some such solutions use a communications hub located in a home (e.g., a user supersystem) to facilitate context-driven, multi-modal communications. For example, a tablet system may be used as a graphical communications hub in a family's home, used by the family to communicate to and from the home via multiple communications modes (e.g., family chat, family activities, user-based messaging, etc.) over one or more communications channels. Determination of an appropriate mode for communications may be driven by contextual (rather that channel-based) factors relating to the communications.

Abstract: Solutions for providing intuitive, content-driven navigation through communications and multimedia services offered through, e.g., a user supersystem as a communications hub. For example, in some implementations, various data flows are traversed to move between applications according to interactions with content on those screens, rather than by using icons. In some cases, a small, static set of icons is used to navigate between a set of landing screens representing broad categories of functionality. Within each landing screen environment, content is used to drive navigation to and through application functionality.

Abstract: Solutions for providing an interactive and intuitive video environment. Some such solutions use a user supersystem as an interactive multimedia system, including various features relating to video capture and processing. In some cases, a “live video thumbnail” is provided as part of a media album application, for example, to entice users to capture video (e.g., a photo or video file) using components of the user supersystem. Other implementations facilitate video processing functionality, such as “best frame” selection and auto-cropping of video data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for handling graphical interfacing with a group conversation involving a communications hub and multiple member devices. Embodiments provide a “family chat” communications mode for facilitating a synchronous conversation among all the members of the designated family group. Typically, the conversation may involve a user supersystem (e.g., including one or more graphical communications devices) associated with the family and disposed with the family's local network, and member devices associated with each member of the family group (e.g., cell phones, etc). In some embodiments, the family chat conversation is displayed (e.g., rendered) as a substantially continuous feed graphically indicating the party contributing each message to the feed, the temporal relationship of the various contributions, and other useful information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing integrated, interactive communications services among multiple client devices in a local network. In one embodiment, a supersystem provides interactive communications services within a local network through a tablet, a handset, and a base station. The tablet includes a first client and a first user interface configured to provide interactivity with first communications services. The handset includes a second client and a second user interface configured to provide interactivity with second communications services. The first and second clients are in communication with the local network and with each other (e.g., either directly, or through the base station or other path). The base station includes interface subsystems configured to removably couple with the tablet and/or handset.

Abstract: Solutions for providing integrated media services, e.g., in the context of communications services offered through a user supersystem configured as an interactive graphical communications hub. For example, interactions with a messaging interface may provide access to media creation functionality, including doodle functionality, in the context of the messaging and/or in the context of other media. In one implementation, the communications interface allows a user to doodle in the context of an image file (e.g., a photo) while in the context of a chat application.

Abstract: An approach is provided for exploring connections of a polymorphic note. A polymorphic note manager receives a request to display one or more polymorphic notes connected to a selected polymorphic note. In response to the request, the polymorphic note manager determining the one or more connected polymorphic notes and causes, at least in part, actions that result in display of the selected polymorphic note, the one or more connected polymorphic notes, corresponding connections between the selected polymorphic note and the one or more connection polymorphic notes, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An approach is provided for presenting polymorphic notes in a graphical user interface. A polymorphic note manager receives a request to display a plurality of polymorphic notes on a graphical user interface of a device. In response to the request, the polymorphic note manager determines an order of the plurality of polymorphic notes according to either an associated date or, if there is no associated date, a creation date corresponding to each of the plurality of polymorphic notes.