Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving an integrated message using portable device

Abstract

A method of sending an integrated message using a portable device according includes executing an integrated message application supporting a plurality of channels including at least two channels having different messaging schemes. An input window permits entry of a message, and the message is displayed on a message display window. In response to a user selection for displaying icons of a hidden state that corresponds to the plurality of respective channels, displaying the icons corresponding to the plurality of respective channels in response to the user choice, and sending the message using at least one activated channel of the plurality of channels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for sending a message to a recipient device by using a portable device, the method comprising:
 executing an integrated messaging application supporting a plurality of channels including a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel and the second channel are used for different types of messaging services;   displaying a first Graphical User Interface (GUI) element to receive a touch input for activating the second channel;   in response to the first GUI element being selected, transmitting the message via the first channel when the second channel is not owned by the recipient device; and   in response the first GUI element not being selected, transmitting the message via the first channel regardless of whether the second channel is owned by the recipient device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message is transmitted via the second channel, when the first GUI element is selected and the second channel is owned by the recipient device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, when the first GUI element is selected and the second channel is not owned by the recipient device, the message is transmitted via the first channel without attempting transmission over the second channel beforehand. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing in a memory of the portable device an indication of whether the second channel is owned by the recipient device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, when the first GUI element is selected and the second channel is not owned by the recipient device, the message is transmitted via the first channel after a failure is generated as a result of an attempted transmission of the message over the first channel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, when the first GUI element is selected, the first channel is selected for transmission of the message based on the portable device lacking access to a predetermined communication network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising changing a characteristic of a window of the integrated messaging application based on whether the first GUI element is selected. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising modifying a button that is part of the integrated messaging application based on whether the first GUI element is selected. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising changing a label of a second GUI element that is part of the integrated messaging application based on whether the first GUI element is selected. 
     
     
         10 . An electronic device for sending a message to a recipient device, the electronic device comprising a controller configured to:
 execute an integrated messaging application supporting a plurality of channels including a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel and the second channel are used for different types of messaging services;   display a first Graphical User Interface (GUI) element to receive a touch input for activating the second channel;   in response to the first GUI element being selected, transmit the message via the first channel when the second channel is not owned by the recipient device; and   in response the first GUI element not being selected, transmit the message via the first channel regardless of whether the second channel is owned by the recipient device.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the message is transmitted via the second channel, when the first GUI element is selected and the second channel is owned by the recipient device. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein, when the first GUI element is selected and the second channel is not owned by the recipient device, the message is transmitted via the first channel without attempting transmission over the second channel beforehand. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , further comprising a memory storing an indication of whether the second channel is owned by the recipient device. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein, when the first GUI element is selected and the second channel is not owned by the recipient device, the message is transmitted via the first channel after a failure is generated as a result of an attempted transmission of the message over the first channel. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein, when the first GUI element is selected, the first channel is selected for transmission of the message based on the controller lacking access to a predetermined communication network. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to change a characteristic of a window of the integrated messaging application based on whether the first GUI element is selected. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to modify a button that is part of the integrated messaging application based on whether the first GUI element is selected. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to change a label of a second GUI element that is part of the integrated messaging application based on whether the first GUI element is selected.