System and method of displaying multiple pending notifications in a single window

• US 20030030670A1
• Filed: 08/10/2001
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Danger Research Inc (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Duarte, Matias G., DeSalvo, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,278,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system and method of displaying multiple, concurrent instant messaging (IM) sessions is described. The system and method includes providing multiple IM sessions, displaying a first one of the IM sessions in an IM session window. Representing each one of the IM sessions as a corresponding one of a number of indicators in the IM session window.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a plurality of concurrent IM sessions:

providing a plurality of IM sessions;

displaying a first one of the plurality of IM sessions in an IM session window; and

representing each one of the plurality of IM sessions as a corresponding one of a plurality indicators in the IM session window.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a plurality of IM sessions includes initiating a plurality of IM sessions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein representing each one of the plurality of IM sessions as a corresponding one of the plurality indicators in the IM session window includes representing each one the non-displayed ones of the plurality of IM sessions as a corresponding one of the plurality indicators in the IM session window.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a second symbol indicating a beginning of a received message that is displayed in the IM session window.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a third symbol indicating a beginning of a sent message that is displayed in the IM session window.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a first message in a selected one of the plurality of IM sessions; and

indicating the first message is received in the indicator that corresponds to the selected session.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing a first symbol indicating a beginning of the first message.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a second message in the selected session; and

indicating the second message is received in the indicator that corresponds to the selected session.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a second one of the plurality of IM sessions, wherein the second session is one of the plurality of IM sessions that was not displayed.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising representing the first one of the plurality of IM sessions only as a corresponding one of the plurality indicators in the IM session window.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising representing the first one of the plurality of IM sessions as a corresponding one of the plurality indicators in the IM session window.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying a second one of the plurality of IM sessions includes:

selecting a hot key.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein selecting a hot key includes:

selecting a numbered key that corresponds to a number assigned to the corresponding one of the plurality indicators in the IM session window.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying a second one of the plurality of IM sessions includes:

selecting the indicator that corresponds to the second one of the plurality of IM sessions.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising prioritizing each one of the plurality of indicators.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the prioritizing each one of the plurality of indicators includes:

prioritizing each one of the plurality of indicators in order of activity of the IM session that corresponds to each one of the plurality of indicators.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the activity of the IM session includes at least one of a group consisting of:

receiving a message in the IM session;

sending a message in the IM session;

displaying the IM session.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the prioritizing each one of the plurality of indicators includes:

assigning the displayed IM session a lowest priority.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the prioritizing each one of the plurality of indicators includes:

assigning the displayed IM session a highest priority.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a plurality of messages in a selected one of the plurality of IM sessions; and

indicating the plurality of messages are received in the indicator that corresponds to the selected session.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein if the number of the plurality of messages exceeds a pre-selected number then:

indicating the plurality of messages are received in the indicator that corresponds to the selected session includes;

displaying a fourth symbol in the indicator that corresponds to the selected session.

22. An instant messaging session window comprising:

a conversation window;

an indicator, wherein the indicator represents a number equal to a number of comments received in the conversation window.

23. An instant messaging session window comprising:

a conversation window;

a plurality indicators wherein each one of the plurality indicators represent a corresponding one of a plurality of IM sessions.

24. A system for instant messaging comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor;

a network coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes instruction that when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

provide a plurality of IM sessions;

display a first one of the plurality of IM sessions in an IM session window; and

represent each one of the plurality of IM sessions as a corresponding one of a plurality indicators in the IM session window.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is coupled to the network via a wireless network.

26. The system of claim 24 further comprising a mobile user terminal, wherein the processor and the display are included in the mobile user terminal.

27. A mobile user terminal comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor;

a wireless network coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes instruction that when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

provide a plurality of IM sessions;

display a first one of the plurality of IM sessions in an IM session window;

represent each one of the plurality of IM sessions as a corresponding one of a plurality indicators in the IM session window;

receive a first message in a selected one of the plurality of IM sessions;

indicate the first message is received in the indicator that corresponds to the selected session; and

prioritize each one of the plurality of indicators.