Apple iMessage Patent Describes the Ability to Edit Already Sent Texts

[leVel]

cool. now put imessage in a web-ui

 

[Puppuccino]

I don’t see the point in editing messages if it shows the edit history. Then you may as well just send another message correctly the above message you sent.

It’s like Twitter not having an edit option. Delete it and re-send.

 

[a.coward]

How is this a valid patent? Surely editing instant messages has been around for eons... Does this not get affected by "prior Art"?

In general, an "idea", such as being able to edit send messages, cannot be patented. But, this patent application is not for an "idea", but the "process" of editing a message, which can be patented. As long as the process is novel, then it is not considered "prior art".

 

[Mascots]

The patent isn't about editing messages, it's about the user interface/look and feel/gestures used to edit messages. It's clear if you actually read the claims in the patent.

It's ridiculous that this patent was granted and it would most likely be invalidated on challenge.

All this patent does is vaguely and broadly describe the iMessage GUI in paragraph form (avatars next to messages is an example it draws) and in ways which already exist in peeexisting app UIs, then go on state iMessage deficiencies as if they are something common to every other messaging app in existence (hint: they aren't) and then finally give vague and broad ways to change UI to solve them.

The first message can be edited, despite the fact that it has already been sent [...] To initiate the editing of the first message, the user selects the first message with a predefined touch input (e.g., a tap gesture, long press gesture, light press gesture, or deep press gesture) on the first message or the message region for the first message.

Quite literally all of these inputs have been done in existing applications. And this covers every basic input possible. This patent is about editing messages because Apple decided to give it vague-ness and broadness like that

 

[TechieGeek]

Maybe it's time to release an iMessage app for Android

 

[Tofupunch]

I'm a little confused. So others can see the message was edited. They can't see the edits you made can they?

 

[4jasontv]

Shame on Apple. Make this available for flagship phones not just the SE. /s

 

[ThisBougieLife]

This will greatly help my drunk texting.

 

[luvbug]

And here I thought WeChat was just a tape recorder!

 

[cmaier]

In general, an "idea", such as being able to edit send messages, cannot be patented. But, this patent application is not for an "idea", but the "process" of editing a message, which can be patented. As long as the process is novel, then it is not considered "prior art".

No, the patent application is not on the process of editing a message. Read the claims.

 

[zombierunner]

Twitter be like 😳

 

[tyranne201]

why is this patented? I mean, its just copied from other messaging apps.

 

[RumorConsumer]

Tell you what would be a killer feature, the ability to do a search in iMessage that's actually useful. It's one of the reasons I use WhatsApp.

It’s pathetic how badly it works

 

[Bnazzaro]

Screenshots are going to be crucial.

 

[tyranne201]

The patent isn't about editing messages, it's about the user interface/look and feel/gestures used to edit messages. It's clear if you actually read the claims in the patent.

a patent of a text inside a rectangle box. you touch it and it edits the message. seems legit. basically this is a patent troll.

 

[cmaier]

why is this patented? I mean, its just copied from other messaging apps.

It’s not patented.
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a patent of a text inside a rectangle box. you touch it and it edits the message. seems legit. basically this is a patent troll.

That’s not what the patent is about. This article is wrong.

 

[TiggrToo]

It’s a patent application, not a patent.

And contrary to everything in this post, as it stands now, the application is not trying to patent anything to do with editing messages.

Here’s an example of what Apple is actually trying to get a patent on:

1. A method, comprising: at an electronic device having one or more processors, memory, a touch-sensitive surface, a digital camera, and a display: displaying a messaging user interface on the display, the messaging user interface including a conversation transcript of a messaging session between a user of the electronic device and at least one other user, a message-input area, at least one avatar corresponding to a first other user included in the messaging session, and an application affordance; while displaying the messaging user interface, detecting a first input on the touch sensitive surface; in response to detecting the first input: in accordance with a determination that the first input corresponds to selection of the at least one avatar displayed in the messaging user interface, displaying a menu that contains a plurality of activatable menu items associated with the at least one avatar overlaid on the messaging user interface; and in accordance with a determination that the first input corresponds to selection of the application affordance, displaying a plurality of application launch icons for a plurality of corresponding applications within the messaging user interface, wherein activation of a respective application launch icon in the plurality of application launch icons causes a corresponding application to be displayed within the messaging user interface, and wherein displaying the plurality of application launch icons for the plurality of corresponding applications within the messaging user interface includes: in accordance with a determination that the messaging user interface included display of a keyboard at the time the first input was detected, displaying the plurality of application launch icons while maintaining display of the message-input area at a location at which it was displayed prior to detecting the first input; and in accordance with a determination that the messaging user interface did not include display of a keyboard at the time the first input was detected, displaying the conversation transcript in a first area of the display and shifting the message-input area in a first direction in order to display the plurality of application launch icons in a second area of the display, distinct from the first area.

So, editing text messages then.

I read the thing, I still don't get how is not affected by Prior Art. They've literally described multiple different apps.

Rather than just regurgitate the text, how about you educate us idiots about how this differs from normal text editing on apps such as Slack? Where is the originality here?

Don't get me wrong, I love me my Apple stuff, just don't get this patent application is all.
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The patent isn't about editing messages, it's about the user interface/look and feel/gestures used to edit messages. It's clear if you actually read the claims in the patent.

In what way is this different from other messaging Apps? I'm seeing prior art all over this.

 

[cmaier]

So, editing text messages then.

I read the thing, I still don't get how is not affected by Prior Art. They've literally described multiple different apps.

Rather than just regurgitate the text, how about you educate us idiots about how this differs from normal text editing on apps such as Slack? Where is the originality here?

Don't get me wrong, I love me my Apple stuff, just don't get this patent application is all.
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In what way is this different from other messaging Apps? I'm seeing prior art all over this.

The claims have nothing to do with editing text. They are directed to a device with a certain user interface in a messaging app, with a menu that works a certain way, etc. Different claims are directed to different things, but none of them has to do with editing text in a text message.

 

[TiggrToo]

The claims have nothing to do with editing text. They are directed to a device with a certain user interface in a messaging app, with a menu that works a certain way, etc. Different claims are directed to different things, but none of them has to do with editing text in a text message.

displaying the conversation transcript in a first area of the display and shifting the message-input area in a first direction in order to display the plurality of application launch icons in a second area of the display, distinct from the first area.

How is this not editing text? You seem to be very sure it's not so why don't you explain in simple English why its nothing to do with it.

MR seen to think this has everything to do with editing iMessage texts.

 

[cmaier]

How is this not editing text? You seem to be very sure it's not so why don't you explain in simple English why its nothing to do with it.

MR seen to think this has everything to do with editing iMessage texts.

Because the word ”editing” occurs nowhere in the claims. The scope of a patent is determined by its claims. The claims talk about user interfaces for things in general, and do not discuss anything about editing text.

 

[SigEp265]

They should patent something that if the iPhone detects alcohol on your breath, the message will be undeliverable until the next morning. Then you won't need the edit feature at all.

We might need an unsend feature too haha

 

[TiggrToo]

Because the word ”editing” occurs nowhere in the claims. The scope of a patent is determined by its claims. The claims talk about user interfaces for things in general, and do not discuss anything about editing text.

So, MacRumors is incorrect then? They also seem to think this has everything to do with editing iMessage messages.

 

[SigEp265]

would love message scheduling, and a quick compose feature tied to a button press. we "filthy awful stupid edgy jailbreakers" used to call it biteSMS.

LOVED BiteSMS

 

[cmaier]

So, MacRumors is incorrect then? They also seem to think this has everything to do with editing iMessage messages.

Yes, they are incorrect. The patent specification, which is very long, does mention text editing. But that doesn’t mean that, if this application ever turns into a patent, that the patent will cover text editing. Your patent covers only what is in the claims. And the claims do not discuss editing text.

 

[timborama]

Wonder how they can patent "editing after sent" since messaging apps like Telegram have had this functionality for years?

You mean “edit patent after filed”. LOL