Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for sending ephemeral content messages via a communications service. An interface may be presented to allow a user to initially access ephemeral content functionality and select content for inclusion in the ephemeral content message. The interface may present a streamlined set of use cases without regard to the manner in which the content was initially captured. Different types of content may be used as ephemeral content, including images, videos, weather reports, news stories, text, audio recordings, location tags, etc. The ephemeral content may be sent through the communications service as an end-to-end encrypted message. When a user replies to an ephemeral content message, the reply may trigger a one-to-one conversation between the originating user and the replying user. Alternatively, an ephemeral content message may be initially sent to a selected group, and replies may be sent back to the entire group.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing multimedia status updates are described. One implementation includes a server receiving multimedia data from a transmitting mobile device along with an identifier associated with the transmitting mobile device. The server stores the multimedia data and identifies other mobile devices that have indicated an interest in monitoring the transmitting mobile device. The server also sends notifications including the location of the multimedia data on the server to the other mobile devices. The server sends the multimedia data to a receiving mobile device in response to receiving a request to access the multimedia data from the receiving mobile device.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for displaying and interacting with ephemeral content messages in a communication service. Ephemeral content, transmitted as a message in order to preserve end-to-end encryption, may be tagged with an identifier designating the message as an ephemeral content message. A receiving client may recognize the flag and display the content of the message as ephemeral content. The update may include a link to the content that expires under certain conditions. While the link is active, the link may be selected to enter a full-screen presentation of the ephemeral content. Different media types may be associated with different types of full-screen presentations. Displayed ephemeral content from different users may be ranked based on an interest score and displayed in the ranked order. Ephemeral content may be displayed in a user interface on separate tabs.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for dynamically muting or suppressing notifications of new communications. When a new communication is received for a user of a communication device (e.g., a mobile telephone, a computer) while notifications are muted, no notification may be issued to the user or, alternatively, a muted notification that differs from a normal notification may be issued. A muted notification may have muted sound or no sound, abbreviated vibration or no vibration, or may otherwise be a dampened version of a normal notification. Dynamic muting may be applied or managed on the user's device or on a system that hosts the communication application for which notifications are muted. Different applications and/or communication sessions (e.g., different chat groups) may be muted differently (e.g., for different periods of time). When a group chat session is muted, the duration of muting may be proportional to the number of participants.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for transmitting ephemeral content messages. A sending client may establish an end-to-end encrypted session with possible recipients of the message, using a first decryption key during initial session setup. The client may send an ephemeral content message, including encrypted content and a second key, to the recipients through a server. The server may be unable to retrieve the encrypted content due to a lack of the second key. The server may filter a list of intended recipients, and may forward the ephemeral content message to the recipients on the filtered list. The recipients may retrieve the second key from the message, and use the first and second keys to decrypt the encrypted content. The sending client may change the second key each time the recipient list changes from the perspective of the sending client, as determined at the time the ephemeral content message is transmitted.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, graphical user interface and methods are provided for conducting electronic voice communications with status notifications. A user of a first portable device executing a communication application selects a multi-function control that automatically initiates an audio recording, which is automatically sent toward another participant of an active communication session when the control is released. The same multi-function control may be used to transmit a textual message. A representation of the recording is displayed on the user's device, with an indicator that changes appearance when the other participant plays the recording. In addition, when one user initiates an audio recording that will be automatically sent to another user, the other user's device is advised of the initiation of recording and displays that status for the other user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for registering a phone device on a synthetic communication network are described. One implementation receives a request to connect the phone device to a synthetic communication network that transmits messages over a data network using one or more phone numbers from a voice network. A phone number and a country code associated with the phone device to be used for communications over the synthetic network are obtained. The phone number is normalized to a standard format distinguishing the resulting normalized phone number from international phone numbers using the synthetic network. Before the phone device is registered, an association between the normalized phone number and the phone device is verified by sending a verification message addressed to the phone device that loops back to the phone device. If the phone device confirms the verification as authentic, an authorization allows the phone device to communicate over the synthetic network.

Abstract: Methods and systems for registering a phone device on a synthetic communication network are described. One implementation receives a request to connect the phone device to a synthetic communication network that transmits messages over a data network using one or more phone numbers from a voice network. A phone number and a country code associated with the phone device to be used for communications over the synthetic network are obtained. The phone number is normalized to a standard format distinguishing the resulting normalized phone number from international phone numbers using the synthetic network. Before the phone device is registered, an association between the normalized phone number and the phone device is verified by sending a verification message addressed to the phone device that loops back to the phone device. If the phone device confirms the verification as authentic, an authorization allows the phone device to communicate over the synthetic network.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for aggregating communication connections. Multiple users connect to a system (e.g., a web-based system) that hosts an application or service for exchanging communications. Users who exchange communications among themselves may be considered “associates.” When one user who is on-line with the application sends a communication through the system for an associate, the system determines whether the associate is on-line or off-line. If the associate is off-line, the system crafts and sends toward the associate a notification regarding the communication, including an address of the communication server to which the one user is connected. When the associate's device receives the notification, the application may attempt to connect to the specified address. In this way associated users' connections will aggregate or gravitate toward the same communication server, thereby eliminating the latency and cost of exchanging users' communications between multiple communication servers.

Abstract: Techniques to reconfigure messaging clients during contact information changes are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a messaging component operative to receive a contact phone number update at a messaging client on the client device from a messaging system, the contact phone number update associated with a contact with the messaging client, the contact phone number update comprising a previous phone number and an updated phone number; determine an existing message thread for the messaging client identified based on the previous phone number; and send a user message to the contact via the messaging system using the updated phone number as a destination address; and a user interface component operative to display a contact phone number change notification in the existing message thread; and receive the user message for the contact. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for media album display and management are described. An apparatus may comprise a messaging component operative to receive a plurality of messaging packages from a messaging server and determine a plurality of visual media items referenced by the plurality of messaging packages; a media layout component operative to determine a visual media item layout; and a display component operative to display the plurality of visual media items based on the visual media item layout Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention confirm that a phone number is associated with a particular phone. The phone number is confirmed to be associated with the phone by causing the phone to transmit a verification message addressed to that phone number. Receipt by the phone of the verification message confirms that the number is associated with that phone. Another aspect of the invention concerns updating the status of phones in a status list of phone numbers on a phone by sending the status list and updated status of the phone to a network server. The server monitors the status of at least one of the phones in the status list and transmits that status to the phone, which updated status is then displayed in a display area of the phone.

Abstract: Methods and systems for registering a phone device on a synthetic communication network are described. One implementation receives a request to connect the phone device to a synthetic communication network that transmits messages over a data network using one or more phone numbers from a voice network. A phone number and a country code associated with the phone device to be used for communications over the synthetic network are obtained. The phone number is normalized to a standard format distinguishing the resulting normalized phone number from international phone numbers using the synthetic network. Before the phone device is registered, an association between the normalized phone number and the phone device is verified by sending a verification message addressed to the phone device that loops back to the phone device. If the phone device confirms the verification as authentic, an authorization allows the phone device to communicate over the synthetic network.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for dynamically muting or suppressing notifications of new communications. When a new communication is received for a user of a communication device (e.g., a mobile telephone, a computer) while notifications are muted, no notification may be issued to the user or, alternatively, a muted notification that differs from a normal notification may be issued. A muted notification may have muted sound or no sound, abbreviated vibration or no vibration, or may otherwise be a dampened version of a normal notification. Dynamic muting may be applied or managed on the user's device or on a system that hosts the communication application for which notifications are muted. Different applications and/or communication sessions (e.g., different chat groups) may be muted differently (e.g., for different periods of time). When a group chat session is muted, the duration of muting may be proportional to the number of participants.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for displaying and interacting with ephemeral content messages in a communication service. Ephemeral content, transmitted as a message in order to preserve end-to-end encryption, may be tagged with an identifier designating the message as an ephemeral content message. A receiving client may recognize the flag and display the content of the message as ephemeral content. The update may include a link to the content that expires under certain conditions. While the link is active, the link may be selected to enter a full-screen presentation of the ephemeral content. Different media types may be associated with different types of full-screen presentations. Displayed ephemeral content from different users may be ranked based on an interest score and displayed in the ranked order. Ephemeral content may be displayed in a user interface on separate tabs.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for transmitting ephemeral content messages. A sending client may establish an end-to-end encrypted session with possible recipients of the message, using a first decryption key during initial session setup. The client may send an ephemeral content message, including encrypted content and a second key, to the recipients through a server. The server may be unable to retrieve the encrypted content due to a lack of the second key. The server may filter a list of intended recipients, and may forward the ephemeral content message to the recipients on the filtered list. The recipients may retrieve the second key from the message, and use the first and second keys to decrypt the encrypted content. The sending client may change the second key each time the recipient list changes from the perspective of the sending client, as determined at the time the ephemeral content message is transmitted.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product is provided for processing the status of phone devices having a phone number. A synthetic communication server receives updated status of a target phone device referencing a normalized phone number that specifically identifies the target phone device on a synthetic communication network. Accordingly, the server stores the updated status of the target phone device in a status area referenced by the normalized phone number. The server identifies a subset of phone devices from phone devices on the synthetic communication network interested in the status of the target phone device. For each of the phone devices in the subset, the server pushes the updated status of the target phone device to each phone device in the subset. Yet another aspect of the invention concerns monitoring status of the phone devices in a status list of normalized phone numbers on a phone device. The phone device monitors other phone devices and also provides individual status.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, graphical user interface and methods are provided for conducting electronic voice communications with status notifications. A user of a first portable device executing a communication application selects a multi-function control that automatically initiates an audio recording, which is automatically sent toward another participant of an active communication session when the control is released. The same multi-function control may be used to transmit a textual message. A representation of the recording is displayed on the user's device, with an indicator that changes appearance when the other participant plays the recording. In addition, when one user initiates an audio recording that will be automatically sent to another user, the other user's device is advised of the initiation of recording and displays that status for the other user.

Abstract: Techniques for managing a remote web client from an application on a mobile device are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a messaging application operative on the processor circuit to receive a request from a remote web browser, the request for the remote web browser to receive messaging updates from the messaging application; establish an encrypted connection between the messaging application and the remote web browser; receive a messaging update at the messaging application; and transmit the messaging update from the messaging application to the remote web browser. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques to reconfigure messaging clients during contact information changes are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a messaging component operative to receive a contact phone number update at a messaging client on the client device from a messaging system, the contact phone number update associated with a contact with the messaging client, the contact phone number update comprising a previous phone number and an updated phone number; determine an existing message thread for the messaging client identified based on the previous phone number; and send a user message to the contact via the messaging system using the updated phone number as a destination address; and a user interface component operative to display a contact phone number change notification in the existing message thread; and receive the user message for the contact. Other embodiments are described and claimed.