Event notification

• US 10,389,666 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2014
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBuddy Technologies B.V.
• Original Assignee: eBuddy Technologies B.V.
• Inventors: Taylor, Paulo, Rueb, Jan-Joost C., Bakker, Onno
• Primary Examiner(s): Sun, Scott C
• Application Number:
  US14/458,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20150081786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] H04L51/04; selective video distribution H04N21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1044 Group management mechanisms management of multicast group membership H04L12/185; reconfiguring of node membership in a computing system to eliminate errors G06F11/1425
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

A technique for user notification involves receiving an event notification related to an event associated with user notification by a user; providing the event notification from a stored array to a process executed by a processor; using the event notification as a first title used for the process; providing a second title from the stored array to the process; and using the second title to identify the process to the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining from a title provisioning engine a first title string associated with one or more webpages accessed through a browser;

displaying the first title string at a predetermined position of a screen associated with the browser;

receiving a first event trigger associated with a first event in a web-based instant messaging (IM) process performed through one of the one or more webpages accessed through the browser;

selecting a second title string, associated with the first event in the web-based IM process, from a title array;

determining, based on the first event in the web-based IM process and the second title string, whether to perform;

replacing, following the first event trigger, the first title string with the second title string in the title array, or

appending, following the first event trigger, the second title string to the end of the title array;

replacing, following the first event trigger and in response to the determination, the first title string with the second title string in the title array;

receiving a second event trigger associated with a second event in the web-based IM process;

displaying, following the second event trigger, a third title string associated with the one or more webpages accessed through the browser.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the third title string associated with the one or more webpages accessed through the browser includes replacing the second title string with the third title string.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the first title string with the second title string occurs in a taskbar such that a user can be notified of the first event in the taskbar.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the third title string associated with the one or more webpages accessed through the browser includes reverting from the second title string to the first title string and, at a later time, replacing the first title string with the third title string.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein reverting to the first title string is controlled by a notification timer, an event-specific timer, or a user action.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first event trigger and the second event trigger are associated with first and second events that call for notifying a user in association with the web-based IM process.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the first title string with the second title string leaves a state of the browser unchanged other than a state related to display of the second title string in lieu of the first title string.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the third title string is enqueued on the title array, the method further comprising selecting the third title string from the title array.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second title string includes scrolling text, blinking, or alternating upper and lower case text.

20. The method of claim 1, comprising generating, at a title generator, the first title string.

21. The method of claim 1, comprising generating, at a title generator, the third title string.

22. The method of claim 1, comprising controlling the title array to display the second title string with title display characteristics selected from a group of title display characteristics consisting of scrolling text, blinking, and alternating upper and lower case text.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the title display characteristics consist of scrolling text, comprising cycling through the title array over time to display the first title string after displaying the third title string.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the title display characteristics consist of scrolling text, comprising:

generating at a title generator the third title string;

displaying the first title string after displaying the third title string.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the title display characteristics consist of scrolling text and wherein the second title string includes an actual message displayed over time via scrolling text.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the title display characteristics consist of scrolling text and wherein the second title string and third title string include first and second senders of unread messages.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the title display characteristics consist of blinking and wherein the third title string is a NULL string, comprising periodically alternatively displaying the second title string and the third title string.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the title display characteristics consist of blinking and wherein the third title string is a NULL string, comprising periodically alternatively displaying the third title string and the first title string.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the title display characteristics consist of blinking and wherein the third title string is a NULL string, comprising periodically alternatively displaying the third title string and a fourth title string.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the first title string and the third title string are the same title string, and wherein displaying the third title string includes replacing the second title string with the third title string.

10. A system comprising:

means for obtaining from a title provisioning engine a first title string associated with one or more webpages accessed through a browser;

means for displaying the first title string at a predetermined position of a screen associated with the browser;

means for receiving a first event trigger associated with a first event in a web-based instant messaging (IM) process performed through one of the one or more webpages accessed through the browser;

means for selecting a second title string, associated with the first event in the web-based IM process, from a title array;

means for determining, based on the first event in the web-based IM process and the second title string, whether to perform;

replacing, following the first event trigger, the first title string with the second title string in the title array, or

appending, following the first event trigger, the second title string to the end of the title array;

means for replacing, following the first event trigger, the first title string with the second title string in the title array;

means for receiving a second event trigger associated with a second event in the web-based IM process;

means for displaying, following the second event trigger, a third title string associated with the one or more webpages accessed through the browser.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein displaying the third title string associated with the one or more webpages accessed through the browser includes replacing the second title string with the third title string.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein replacing the first title string with the second title string occurs in a taskbar such that a user can be notified of the first event in the taskbar.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein displaying the third title string associated with the one or more webpages accessed through the browser includes reverting from the second title string to the first title string and, at a later time, replacing the first title string with the third title string.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein reverting to the first title string is controlled by a notification timer, an event-specific timer, or a user action.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the first event trigger and the second event trigger are associated with first and second events that call for notifying a user in association with the web-based IM process.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein replacing the first title string with the second title string leaves a state of the browser unchanged other than state related to display of the second title string in lieu of the first title string.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the third title string is enqueued on the title array, the system further comprising means for selecting the third title string from the title array.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the second title string includes scrolling text, blinking, or alternating upper and lower case text.

31. The system of claim 10, comprising means for generating the first title string.

32. The system of claim 10, comprising means for generating the third title string.

33. The system of claim 10, comprising means for controlling the title array to display the second title string with title display characteristics selected from a group of title display characteristics consisting of scrolling text, blinking, and alternating upper and lower case text.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the title display characteristics consist of scrolling text, comprising cycling through the title array over time to display the first title string after displaying the third title string.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the title display characteristics consist of scrolling text, comprising:

means for generating the third title string;

means for displaying the first title string after displaying the third title string.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the title display characteristics consist of scrolling text and wherein the second title string includes an actual message displayed over time via scrolling text.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the title display characteristics consist of scrolling text and wherein the second title string and third title string include first and second senders of unread messages.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the title display characteristics consist of blinking and wherein the third title string is a NULL string, comprising periodically alternatively displaying the second title string and the third title string.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the title display characteristics consist of blinking and wherein the third title string is a NULL string, comprising periodically alternatively displaying the third title string and the first title string.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein the title display characteristics consist of blinking and wherein the third title string is a NULL string, comprising periodically alternatively displaying the third title string and a fourth title string.

41. The system of claim 10, wherein the first title string and the third title string are the same title string, and wherein displaying the third title string includes replacing the second title string with the third title string.

19. A system comprising:

a title provisioning engine configured to provide a first title string associated with one or more webpages accessed through a browser;

an output device configured to display the first title string at a predetermined position of a screen associated with the browser;

an event processing engine configured to receive a first event trigger associated with a first event in a web-based instant messaging (IM) process performed through one of the one or more webpages accessed through the browser;

wherein, in operation;

the title provisioning engine selects a second title string, associated with the first event in the web-based IM process, from a title array;

the title provisioning engine determines, based on the first event in the web-based IM process and the second title string, whether to perform;

replacing, following the first event trigger, the first title string with the second title string in the title array, or

appending, following the first event trigger, the second title string to the end of the title array;

the title provisioning engine replaces, following the first event trigger, the first title string with the second title string in the title array;

the event processing engine receives a second event trigger associated with a second event in the web-based IM process;

the output device displays, following the second event trigger, a third title string associated with the one or more webpages accessed through the browser.