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`US 7,181,497 B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`(12) Unlted States Patent
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`Appelman et a].
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Feb. 20, 2007
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`USOO7181497B1
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`(54) MESSAGING APPLICATION USER
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`INTERFACE FOR AUTO-COMPLETING
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`ADDRESS TEXT AND MODIFYING THE
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`AUTO_COMPLETION BEHAVIOR
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`(75)
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`Inventors: Barry Appelman, Great Falls, VA
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`Andrew L' WICk’ Falrfax’ VA
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`(73) Asslgnee’ Amerlca Onhne’ Inc" Dunes’ VA (Us)
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`( * ) NOtiC33
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`SUbjeCt.t0 any diSCIaimers. the term Of this
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`patent IS 6Xtended 01‘ adjuSted under 35
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`U.S.C. 154(b) by 729 days.
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`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
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`claimer.
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`
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`(21) A 1 N 10/348 004
`pp .
`o.:
`,
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`
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`......... .. 365/189.01
`4/1999 Miller etal.
`5,896,321 A *
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`
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`
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`............... .. 715/780
`3/2001 Atlas et al.
`6,208,339 B1*
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`8/2001 De Vorchik et a1.
`6,279,016 B1
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`4/2002 Hachamovitch et al.
`6,377,965 B1
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`6,480,885 B1* 11/2002 Olivier ..................... .. 709/207
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`
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`
`
`
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`
`
`
`
`Thompson, “How to enable ‘AutoComplete’
`feature”, Google
`Group compiunixishellhtm, Dec. 23, 1998].*
`
`
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`
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`
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`Pioch, Nicholas. A Short IRC Primer [online], Jan. 1997. [retrieved
`
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`on Mar. 14, 2002] Retrieved from the Internet: <URL: http://www.
`irchelp. 0rg/irchelp/ircprimer.html>.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Polito, Julie. “Track your key contacts; Multiactive Maximizer 5.0
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`vs. Polaris Packrat Pro 6.1” PC Computing, Oct. 1, 1998 p. 120
`
`(abstract).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(Continued)
`
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`
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`
`
`
`Primary Examiner7Wen-Tai Lin
`
`
`
`
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiFish & Richardson P.C.
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`
`
`Jan. 22, 2003
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`A messaging application user interface has an input element
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`for receiving electronic messages and an output element for
`Related US. Application Data
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`
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`diSplayin§i eleCtrOIgic melssages' ghe messaging applicagon
`(63) Continuation of application No 09/404 757 filed on
`user inter ace can e imp emente so as to maintain a su set
`’
`’
`’
`
`
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`
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`Sep. 24, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,539,421.
`
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`of the plurality of potential message recipients, the subset
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`
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`Int Cl
`being determined using a predetermined criterion. The mes-
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(2006 01)
`G01;F 5/16
`saging application user interface also can be implemented so
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`(200601)
`G06F 3/00
`as to auto-complete a partially entered address based on the
`
`
`
`
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`subset of potential message recipients. A set of user-select-
`(52) US. Cl.
`..................... .. 709/206; 709/207; 715/780
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`able signals that modify auto-completion behavior also can
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................... .. None
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`be used with the messaging application user interface. The
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`See application file for complete search history.
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`messaging application user interface can be used in an
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`instant messaging system to allow a user to send instant
`References Cited
`
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`messages to and exchange comments with a plurality of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`other users without having to switch among several instant
`
`
`message Wlndows'
`
`(22)
`
`
`
`Filed:
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`(51)
`
`
`
`(56)
`
`
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`
`
`
`US PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`9/1998 Miller
`5,805,911 A
`5,832,497 A
`11/1998 Taylor
`
`
`
`5,845,300 A
`12/1998 Comer et al.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`35 Claims, 21 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`
`404
`
`
`
`408
`
`406
`
`
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`
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`
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`
`
`
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`LAST-ADDRVESS SIGNAL
`
`
`
`RECEIVE PARTIALADDRESS
`
`
`
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`USE LAST ADDRESS AS
`CURRENT ADDRESS
`
`
`
`
`USE SECONDTOIAST ADDRESS
`AS CURRENT ADDRESS
`
`
`
`
`
`PERFORM MOST-RECENT-
`SEARCH OF ADDRESS LIST
`
`
`
`
`
`USE MOST RECENT MATCH
`AS CURRENT ADDRESS
`
`
`
`
`N0 AUTOCOMPLETE;
`RECEIVE ADDRESS
`
`
`
`NO AUTOCOMPLETE;
`RECEIVE ADDRESS
`
`
`
`AUTOCOMPLETE WITH
`MATCHINGADDRESS
`
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`
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 1
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`
`
`
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 1
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`

`

`
`
`US 7,181,497 B1
`Page 2
`
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
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`
`Elkins, M.: “The Mutt E-Mail Client, version 1.0pre2”, Internet
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`
`
`
`
`
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`
`Document,
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`1, 1999, pp. 1-84, XP002245042,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Retrieved from the Internet: URL:ftp://ftp.n1uug.n1/pub/mai1/mutt/
`
`
`
`
`
`historic/mutt-l.Opre2.tar.gz [retrieved on Jun. 17, 2003].
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`Anonymous: “Readme of archive for TNT 1.7”, Internet Document,
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`
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`
`
`
`[Online], Dec. 4, 1998, pp. 1-4, XP002245043, Retrieved from the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Internet: URL :http ://WWW.mit.edu/afs/athena/system/pmaxiu 14/
`
`
`
`srvd.74/usr/sipb/src/tnt/tnt-1.7.tar.gz [retrieved on Jun. 17, 2003]
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the Whole document.
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`
`
`Stephenson, P.: “Auser’s Guide to the Z-Shell”, Internet Document,
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`[Online}, Jun. 2, 1999, pp. 1-335, XP002245044, Retrieved from
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`
`
`
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`
`
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`Internet:
`URL:http://zsh.sunsite.dldGuide/zshguidepdf
`the
`
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`
`[retrieved on Jun. 17, 2003].
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`
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`Internet
`Anonymous: “AOL Instant Messenger, User’s Guide”,
`
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`Document,
`[Online], Feb. 25, 1998, pp. 1-23, XP002245045,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Retrieved from the Internet: URL:http://WWW.aim.aol.com/beta/
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`
`
`
`
`uguide/indexhtml [retrieved on Jun. 6, 2003] the Whole document.
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`
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`
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`
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`Anonymous: “Netscape Page info for http://www.aim.aol.com/beta/
`
`
`
`
`
`
`uguide/indexhtml”,
`Internet Document,
`Feb.
`25,
`1998,
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`
`
`
`
`
`XP002245046, [retrieved on Jun. 17, 2003].
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`
`
`
`Anonymous: “Mutt News”, Internet Document, [Online], pp. 1-2,
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`
`XP002245047, Retrieved from the Internet: URL:http://Www.mutt.
`
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`
`
`
`org/newshtml [retrieved on Jun. 17, 2003].
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`
`
`
`
`Anonymous: “FTP Page”, Internet Document, [Online], Dec. 4,
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`1998, p. 1, XP002245048, Retrieved from the Internet: URL:http://
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`www.mit.edu/afs/athena/system/pmaxiu14/srvd.74/usr/sipb/src/
`
`
`tnt/.html [retrieved on Jun. 17, 2003].
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`
`
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 2
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 2
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 20, 2007
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`Sheet 1 of 21
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`US 7,181,497 B1
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`DISPLAY
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`100
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`105
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`103
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`ID
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`APPLICATION
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`1 27
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`FIG. 1
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`(PRIOR ART)
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 3
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 3
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 20, 2007
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`Sheet 2 of 21
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`US 7,181,497 B1
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`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 4
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 20, 2007
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`Sheet 3 of 21
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`US 7,181,497 B1
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`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 20, 2007
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`Sheet 4 of 21
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`US 7,181,497 B1
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`CONVENTIONAL ART
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`140
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`FIG. 4
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 6
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 6
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 7
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 7
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 8
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 8
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 20, 2007
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`Sheet 7 of 21
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`US 7,181
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`497 B1
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 9
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 9
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 20, 2007
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`Sheet 8 of 21
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`AUTO-COMPLETE
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 10
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`2
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 10
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`U.S. Patent
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`FIG. 9
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 11
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 11
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 20, 2007
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`Sheet 10 0f 21
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`US 7,181,497 B1
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 12
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 12
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 20, 2007
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`Sheet 11 of 21
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`RECEIVE MESSAGE BODY
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`SEND INSTANT MESSAGE
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`UPDATE ADDRESS LIST
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`FIG. 11
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 13
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 13
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 20, 2007
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`
`
`
`Sheet 12 of 21
`
`
`
`US 7,181,497 B1
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`618
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`
`
`620
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`
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 14
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 14
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`Feb. 20, 2007
`
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`
`
`Sheet 13 0f 21
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`
`
`US 7,181,497 B1
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`
`BUI — Conversations
`
`
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 15
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 15
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`Feb. 20, 2007
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`
`
`Sheet 14 0f 21
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`
`
`US 7,181,497 B1
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`642
`
`
`
`644
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`
`
`638
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`
`
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`T > 13:20:05 mroel934:
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 16
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 16
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`Feb. 20, 2007
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 15 of 21
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`
`
`US 7,181,497 B1
`
`
`
`668
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`T > 13:21:12 mroel934:
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`F > 13:21:39 mroel934:
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`
`T > 13:20:05 mroel934:
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`
`F > 13:20:27 mroe1934:
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`T > 13:21:12 mroel934:
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`F > 13:21:39 mroe1934:
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`
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`in tonight's game
`
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`
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`
`Hello, Mary.
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`Hi, John
`
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`How are you?
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`
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`604
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`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 17
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 17
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`Feb. 20, 2007
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 16 of 21
`
`
`
`US 7,181,497 B1
`
`
`
`
`BUI — Conversations
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Hello, Mary.
`T > 13:20:05 mIoe1934:
`
`
`
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`
`Hi, John
`F > 13:20:27 mme1934:
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`T > 13:21:12 mroel934:
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`T > 13:23:14 mjohnson1934:
`Hey1 M], are
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`you free tonight?
`
`F >13:23:32 mjohnsonl934:
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`704
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`EU! — Conversations
`
`
`
`
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`
`T > 13:20:05 11110131934:
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`F > 13:20:27 mroe1934:
`
`
`
`T > 13:21: 12 mrocl934:
`
`
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`P > 13:21:39 mroe1934:
`
`
`in tonight's game,
`
`
`
`T > 13:23:14 mjohnson1934:
`
`
`
`you free tonight?
`
`
`
`F > 13:23:32 mjohnson1934:
`
`
`
`
`Hello, Mary.
`
`
`Hi, John
`
`
`How are you?
`
`
`
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`
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`
`Hey, M], are
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`FIG. 21
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 18
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 18
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`Feb. 20, 2007
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 17 0f 21
`
`
`
`US 7,181,497 B1
`
`
`
`
`BUI — Conversations
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`T > 13:20:05 mroe1934:
`
`
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`
`F > 13:20:27 mroel934:
`
`
`
`T> 13:21:12 mroel934:
`
`
`
`F > 13:21 :39 1111061934:
`
`
`
`in tonight's game.
`
`
`T > 13:23:14 mjohnson1934:
`
`
`
`you free tonight?
`
`
`
`F > 13:23:32 mjohnson1934:
`
`
`
`
`Hello, Mary.
`
`
`Hi, John
`
`
`How are you?
`
`
`
`I'm sick. 1 can't play
`
`
`
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`
`Hey, M], are
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`
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`BUI — Conversations
` T > 13:20:05 mroe1934:
`
`
`
`
`
`Hello, Mary.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`F > 13:20:27 mroe1934:
`Hi, John
`
`
`
`
`
`T> 13:21:12 1111061934:
`How are you?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`F > 13:21 :39 mroel934:
`I'm sick. I can't play
`
`
`
`
`in tonight's game.
`
`
`
`T > 13:23:14 mjohnson1934:
`
`
`
`you free tonight?-
`
`
`
`
`
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`F > 13:23:32 mjohnson1934:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Hey, M], are
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
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`
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`
`mjohnson193 I Do you want to play tonight?
`
`612
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`
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`
`FIG. 23
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 19
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 19
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`Feb. 20, 2007
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 18 0f 21
`
`
`
`US 7,181,497 B1
`
`
`BUI - Conversations
`
`
`
`
`
`Howareyou?
`
`
`
`
`I'm sick. I can't play in tonight's
`
`Q13
`
`
`
`
`Hey, M], are you free
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`T> 13:21:12 mroe1934:
`
`
`
`F > 13:21 :39 mroe1934:
`
`game.
`
`
`
`T > 13:23:14 mjohnson1934:
`
`tonight?
`Yes.
`
`
`
`
`
`F > 13:23:32 mjohnson1934:
`
`
`
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`
`T >13125z3 mjohnson1934:
`Do you want to play
`716
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`
`724
`726
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`FIG. 24
`
`
`BUI — Conversations
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`T> 13:21:12 mroe1934:
`
`
`F > 13:21:39 mroel934:
`
`game.
`
`
`T > 13:23:14 mjohnson1934:
`
`tonight?
`
`
`F > 13:23:32 mjohnson1934:
`
`
`T > 13:25:30 mjohnson1934:
`
`tonight?
`
`
`
`F > 13:25:38 mjohnson1934:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`How are you?
`
`
`
`
`I'm sick. I can't play in tonight‘s
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`Hey, M3, are you free
`
`
`
`
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`
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`
`
`Yes.
`
`
`Do you want to play
`
`
`
`Sure.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`736
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`
`FIG. 25
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 20
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 20
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`Feb. 20, 2007
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 19 0f 21
`
`
`
`US 7,181,497 B1
`
`
`BUI — Conversations
`
`
`
`5
`
`600
`
`
`
`
`
`game.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`T > 13:21:12 mroe1934:
`
`
`
`F > 13:21:39 mroe1934:
`
`
`
`
`T > 13:23:14 mjohnson1934:
`
`tonight?
`
`
`F > 13:23:32 mjohnson1934:
`
`
`T > 13:25:30 mjohnson1934:
`
`tonight?
`
`
`
`F > 13:25:38 mjohnson1934:
`
`738
`
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`
`How are you?
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`
`
`
`I'm sick. I can't play in tonight's
`
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`
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`
`Hey, M], are you free
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`
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`
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`
`FIG. 26
`
`
`
`600
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`
`
`
`
`BUI — Conversations
`
`
`
`T > 13:23:14 mjohnson1934:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Hey, M], are you free
`
`
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`
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`
`T > 13:27:]
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`lF >El13228:24IEs,mith
`
`
`
`750
`
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`
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`F > 13:23:32 mjohnson1934:
`
`
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`T > 13:25:30 mjohnson1934:
`
`'
`746
`:
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`
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`rsmith1934:
`M] is going to play tonigh
`1934:
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`760
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`Patth Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 21
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 21
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`Feb. 20, 2007
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 20 of 21
`
`
`
`US 7,181,497 B1
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`600
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Hey, M], are you free
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`BUI — Conversations
`
`
`
`
`T > 13:23: 14 mjohnson1934:
`
`tonight?
`
`
`
`F > 13:23:32 mjohnson1934:
`
`
`
`
`T > 13:25:30 mjohnson1934:
`
`tonight?
`
`
`
`F > 13:25:38 mjohnsonl934:
`
`
`
`T > 13:27:17 mroe1934:
`
`
`
`F > 13:28:24 rsmith1934:
`
`612
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`MI is going to play tonight.
`
`Okay.
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`
`
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`FIG. 28
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`BUI — Conversations
`
`tonight?
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`F >13:25:3_8 mjohnson1934
`
`
`
`
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`M] is going to play tonight.
`
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`
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`
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 22
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`
`
`784
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 22
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`Feb. 20, 2007
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 21 0f 21
`
`
`
`US 7,181,497 B1
`
`600
`
`
`
`
`
`
`BUI — Conversations
`
`tonight?
`
`
`
`
`
`F > 13:25:38 mjohnson1934:
`
`
`
`
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`
`T > 13:27:17 rsmithl934: MI is going to play tonight:
`
`
`
`
`
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`Okay.
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`
`
`T > 13:30:54 mjohnson1934:
`
`
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`
`F > 13:32:06 mjohnson1934:
`
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`
`
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`
`M], be there at 6115
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`
`
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`
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`FIG. 30
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`
`
`
`EU! — Conversations
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`T > 13:27:17 rsmithl934:
`
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`
`F > 13:28:24 rsmith1934:
`
`
`T > 13:30:54 mjohnson1934:
`
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`
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`
`F > 13:32:06 mjohnson1934:
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 23
`Google Inc. V. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 23
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`

`

`1
`
`MESSAGING APPLICATION USER
`
`
`
`INTERFACE FOR AUTO-COMPLETING
`
`
`
`ADDRESS TEXT AND MODIFYING THE
`
`
`
`
`
`AUTO-COMPLETION BEHAVIOR
`
`
`
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`
`
`APPLICATIONS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`This application is a continuation of US. application Ser.
`No. 09/404,757, filed Sep. 24, 1999, now US. Pat. No.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`6,539,421 and titled “Messaging Application User Inter-
`
`
`
`
`
`face”, which is incorporated herewith by reference.
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`This application relates to a messaging application (e.g.,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, etc.) user interface.
`BACKGROUND
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`15
`
`
`
`20
`
`
`
`25
`
`
`
`30
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`
`
`35
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`
`
`40
`
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`The computer system 100 illustrates in FIG. 1 represents
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`a typical hardware setup for executing software that allows
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`a user to perform tasks such as communicating with other
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`computer users, accessing various computer resources, and
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`viewing, creating, or otherwise manipulating electronic con-
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`tentithat is, any combination of text,
`images, movies,
`music or other sounds, animations, 3D Virtual worlds, and
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`links to other objects. The system includes various input/
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`output (I/O) devices (mouse 103, keyboard 105, display
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`107) and a general purpose computer 100 having a central
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`processor unit (CPU) 121, an I/O unit 117 and a memory 109
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`that stores data and various programs such as an operating
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`system 111, and one or more application programs 113. The
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`computer system 100 also typically includes some sort of
`communications card or device 123 (e.g., a modem or
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`network adapter) for exchanging data with a network 127
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`via a communications link 125 (e.g., a telephone line).
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`As shown in FIG. 2, a user of a computer system can
`access electronic content or other resources either stored
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`locally at the user’s own client system 202 (for example, a
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`personal or laptop computer) or remotely at one or more
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`server systems 200. An example of a server system is a host
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`computer that provides subscribers with online computer
`services such as e-mail, e-commerce,
`instant messaging,
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`chat rooms, Internet access, online games, electronic news-
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`papers and magazines, etc. Users of a host computer’s online
`services typically communicate with one or more central
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`server systems 200 through client software executing on
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`their respective client systems 202.
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`In practice, a server system 200 typically will not be a
`single monolithic entity but rather will be a network of
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`interconnected server computers, possibly physically dis-
`persed from each other, each dedicated to its own set of
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`duties and/or to a particular geographical region. In such a
`case, the individual servers are interconnected by a network
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`of communication links,
`in a known fashion. One such
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`server system is “America Online 4.0” from America
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`Online, Incorporated of Virginia.
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`One increasingly popular computer network-based activ-
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`ity is referred to as “instant messaging.” An instant message
`is a form of electronic communication between users of a
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`computer network in which a window pops-up on the
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`recipient’s computer screen “instantly” and without
`the
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`recipient having to access an e-mail program or otherwise
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`check for messages. An instant message appears essentially
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`as soon as the message sender clicks the send button subject
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`to any time or propagation delays the message may have
`encountered on the network. In comparison to most e-mail
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`US 7,181,497 B1
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`2
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`applications, instant messaging enables users to communi-
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`cate with each other in a more dynamic, urgent and inter-
`active manner.
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`FIG. 3 is a screen shot of an Instant Message (IM) window
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`130 as used in AOL’s Instant Messenger (“AIM”) system.
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`As shown therein, the window 130 includes a text display
`area 131 and text entry area 132. Both users involved in the
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`IM under consideration (i.e., sender and recipient) would
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`have a similar window displayed on his or her computer
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`monitor. When one user (PhilliszC) types a comment 134
`in text entry area 132 and clicks the Send button 133 (or,
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`depending on the configuration, presses the “ENTER” key
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`on the keyboard), the entered text (e. g., “Hey, did you see the
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`game last night?”) is displayed in the text display area 131
`of the window 130 such that it is visible to both users After
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`FRsnafu enters a comment 135 in response and clicks the
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`Send button 133,
`that comment 135 appears in the text
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`display area 131 underneath the previous comment 134. This
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`exchange of comments continues indefinitely until the users
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`decide to terminate the exchange.
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`Typically, instant messages can be sent to another user
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`only when that user is presently signed on to the computer
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`service. Users who are signed of are unavailable to receive
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`instant messages. Accordingly, another popular innovation
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`introduced by America Online is the “Buddy List,” which
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`allows users to monitor when other specified users (“bud-
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`dies”) are signed onto and/or of of the computer service
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`under consideration (e.g., AOL Instant Messenger).
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`As shown in FIG. 4, the Buddy List is implemented as a
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`window 140 that lists specified users, or buddies, who are
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`signed on to the AIM system. In the example shown, the
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`Buddy List for user “PhilliszC” indicates that four of
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`PhilliszC’s buddies 1417144 currently are signed on to the
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`system and thus available to receive instant messages. The
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`Buddy List is updated based on information received from
`a server to add or delete names of buddies as they sign on
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`and of, respectively. Such Buddy List updates can be
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`accompanied by various audible and visual indications to
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`help notify the user that a buddy has signed on or of.
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`Users may send instant messages to, and exchange com-
`ments with, more than one other user at a time. Conventional
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`instant message client software typically creates a separate
`instant message window for each user that is sent an instant
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`message. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, if a user sends
`three instant messages to three other users, one to each of the
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`users, three separate instant message windows 130a, 130b,
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`and 1300 are created. To change from one instant message
`window to another, the user typically must move and/or
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`press a button on the mouse, or press a sequence of keys on
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`the keyboard, to activate the desired instant message win-
`dow.
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`The present inventors recognized that some users may
`find it undesirable to have to switch between instant message
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`windows in order to send instant messages to and exchange
`comments with more than one other user at a time. There-
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`the present
`inventors recognized that
`it would be
`fore,
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`desirable to provide users with a user interface through
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`which a user can send messages to and exchange comments
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`with one or more users without having to switch among
`several different windows.
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`SUMMARY
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`Implementations may include one or more of the follow-
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`ing features. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method
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`of addressing a message to a member of a plurality of
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`potential message recipients may include maintaining a
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`subset of a plurality of potential message recipients. Each
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`potential message recipient may have an associated address,
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`and the subset may be determined using a predetermined
`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 24
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
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`Patent Owner Exhibit 2001, Page 24
`Google Inc. v. Blackberry Ltd., IPR2017-00911
`
`

`

`US 7,181,497 B1
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`3
`criterion. The method also may include auto-completing a
`partially entered address based on the subset of potential
`message recipients.
`In another aspect, a method of addressing electronic
`messages to users of a computer network may include
`providing a set of user-selectable signals that modify auto-
`completion behavior and auto-completing a partially entered
`address for a message based on entry of one or more of the
`set of signals.
`In another aspect, a method of exchanging instant mes-
`sages among users of a computer network may include
`providing an instance of a user interface having an element
`for receiving addresses of instant message recipients. The
`method also may include allowing a user to send indepen-
`dent instant messages to different recipients by specifying an
`intended recipient’s address in the instance of the user
`interface element.
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`In another aspect, an instant messaging user interface may
`include a user interface element having an input element for
`receiving instant messages for more than one separate
`instant message exchange and an output element for dis-
`playing instant messages for more than one separate instant
`message exchange.
`In another aspect, an instant messaging system may
`include an instant message server and a plurality of clients
`connected to the instant message server via a network. Each
`client may have software embodied in a computer-readable
`medium including instructions for causing the client
`to
`provide a user interface having an element for receiving
`addresses. The software also includes instructions for caus-
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`ing the client to allow a user to address instant messages to
`a first recipient via the user interface element while partici-
`pating in a first instant message exchange and to allow the
`user to address instant messages to another recipient via the
`user interface element while participating in another instant
`message exchange separate from the first instant message
`exchange.
`In another aspect, a protocol for addressing a message to
`a member of a plurality of potential message recipients may
`include one or more user-selectable signals for modifying
`auto-completion behavior, and a predetermined criterion for
`selecting a subset of the plurality of potential message
`recipients. Each potential message recipient may have an
`associated address.
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`One or more of the following advantages may be realized.
`The user interface allows a user to send instant messages to
`and exchange comments with a plurality of other users
`without having to switch among several instant message
`windows and without having to clutter up the user’s display
`screen with several instant message windows. Moreover,
`automatically completing the address of a message based on
`a partiall