Specifying monitored user participation in messaging sessions

• US 20030055897A1
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Lawrence, Kelvin Roderick
• Granted Patent: US 7,062,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• 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]

Abstract

A method, system, and program for specifying monitored user participation in a messaging session is provided. A time status for a messaging system element is determined. The time status corresponds to a type of participation by at least one user in a messaging session. An output attribute is assigned to the messaging system element according to the time status, such that output of the messaging system element is specified to depict time status for the messaging session. A client messaging system, receiving the messaging system element with the output attribute, graphically displays the messaging system element in order to graphically reflect user participation in a messaging session.

Claims

1. A method for specifying output of monitored user participation in a messaging session, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a time status for a messaging system element, wherein said time status corresponds to participation by at least one user in a messaging session; and

assigning an output attribute to said messaging system element according to said time status, such that output of said messaging session element is specified to depict said time status for said messaging session.

2. The method for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 1, said step of determining a time status for a messaging system element further comprising the step of:

determining a time status comprising at least one from among a time on-line, a time off-line, a time inactive, a rate of participation, an estimated time to return, and a time surfing.

3. The method for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 1, said step of determining a time status for a messaging system element further comprising the step of:

determining a time status for said messaging system element wherein said messaging system element comprises at least one of a channel identifier, a topic identifier, a user identifier, a message entry, and a messaging session window.

4. The method for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 1, said step of assigning an output attribute to said messaging system element further comprising the step of:

assigning a graphical output specification to said messaging system element to represent said time status.

5. The method for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 1, said step of assigning an output attribute to said messaging system element further comprising the step of:

assigning a time value to said messaging system element to represent said time status, wherein a client messaging system received said time value is enabled to utilize said time value to said assign a graphical output specification for said messaging system element.

6. The method for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 1, said step of assigning an output attribute to said messaging system element further comprising the steps of:

assigning said output attribute to said messaging system element according to preferences for a particular user from among a plurality of users; and

transmitting said messaging session element with said assigned output attribute to said particular user.

7. A system for specifying output of monitored user participation in a messaging session, said system comprising:

a server system communicatively connected to a network;

said server system further comprising;

means for determining a time status for a messaging system element, wherein said time status corresponds to participation by at least one user in a messaging session; and

means for assigning an output attribute to said messaging system element according to said time status, such that output of said messaging session element is specified to depict said time status for said messaging session.

8. The system for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 7, said means for determining a time status for a messaging system element further comprising:

means for determining a time status comprising at least one from among a time on-line, a time off-line, a time inactive, a rate of participation, an estimated time to return, and a time surfing.

9. The system for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 7, said means for determining a time status for a messaging system element further comprising:

means for determining a time status for said messaging system element wherein said messaging system element comprises at least one of a channel identifier, a topic identifier, a user identifier, a message entry, and a messaging session window.

10. The system for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 7, said means for assigning an output attribute to said messaging system element further comprising:

means for assigning a graphical output specification to said messaging system element to represent said time status.

11. The system for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 7, said means for assigning an output attribute to said messaging system element further comprising:

means for assigning a time value to said messaging system element to represent said time status, wherein a client messaging system received said time value is enabled to utilize said time value to said assign a graphical output specification for said messaging system element.

12. The system for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 7, said means for assigning an output attribute to said messaging system element further comprising:

means for assigning said output attribute to said messaging system element according to preferences for a particular user from among a plurality of users; and

means for transmitting said messaging session element with said assigned output attribute to said particular user.

13. A program for specifying output of monitored user participation in a messaging session, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for determining a time status for a messaging system element, wherein said time status corresponds to participation by at least one user in a messaging session; and

means for assigning an output attribute to said messaging system element according to said time status, such that output of said messaging session element is specified to depict said time status for said messaging session.

14. The program for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 13, said program further comprising:

means for determining a time status comprising at least one from among a time on-line, a time off-line, a time inactive, a rate of participation, an estimated time to return, and a time surfing.

15. The program for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 13, said program further comprising:

means for determining a time status for said messaging system element wherein said messaging system element comprises at least one of a channel identifier, a topic identifier, a user identifier, a message entry, and a messaging session window.

16. The program for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 13, said program further comprising:

means for assigning a graphical output specification to said messaging system element to represent said time status.

17. The program for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 13, said program further comprising:

means for assigning a time value to said messaging system element to represent said time status, wherein a client messaging system received said time value is enabled to utilize said time value to said assign a graphical output specification for said messaging system element.

18. The program for specifying output of monitored user participation according to claim 13, said program further comprising:

means for assigning said output attribute to said messaging program element according to preferences for a particular user from among a plurality of users; and

means for transmitting said messaging session element with said assigned output attribute to said particular user.

19. A method for reflecting user participation in a messaging session, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an output attribute in association with a messaging session element, wherein said output attribute represents a time status for user participation in a messaging session; and

adjusting an output of said messaging session element to a user interface according to said output attribute, such that said user interface is adjusted to reflect said user participation in said messaging session.

20. The method for reflecting user participation according to claim 19, said method further comprising the steps of:

determining a graphical characteristics for said messaging session element from said output attribute; and

adjusting said output of said messaging session element to said user interface according to said graphical characteristic determined from said output attribute.

21. The method for reflecting user participation according to claim 19, said step of adjusting an output of said messaging session element to a user interface further comprising the step of:

adjusting at least one of a user identifier, a channel identifier, a topic identifier, a message entry, and a messaging session window.

22. The method for reflecting user participation according to claim 19, said method further comprising the step of:

adjusting a plurality of other messaging session elements within said user interface, in response to said adjustment of said messaging session element according to said output attribute.

23. A system for reflecting user participation in a messaging session, said system comprising:

a user system communicatively connected to a network;

said user system further comprising;

means for receiving an output attribute in association with a messaging session element, wherein said output attribute represents a time status for user participation in a messaging session; and

means for adjusting an output of said messaging session element to a user interface according to said output attribute, such that said user interface is adjusted to reflect said user participation in said messaging session.

24. The system for reflecting user participation according to claim 23, said user system further comprising:

means for determining a graphical characteristics for said messaging session element from said output attribute; and

means for adjusting said output of said messaging session element to said user interface according to said graphical characteristic determined from said output attribute.

25. The system for reflecting user participation according to claim 23, said means for adjusting an output of said messaging session element to a user interface further comprising:

means for adjusting at least one of a user identifier, a channel identifier, a topic identifier, a message entry, and a messaging session window.

26. The system for reflecting user participation according to claim 23, said user system further comprising:

means for adjusting a plurality of other messaging session elements within said user interface, in response to said adjustment of said messaging session element according to said output attribute.

27. A program for reflecting user participation in a messaging session, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for receiving an output attribute in association with a messaging session element, wherein said output attribute represents a time status for user participation in a messaging session; and

means for controlling adjustment of an output of said messaging session element to a user interface according to said output attribute, such that said user interface is adjusted to reflect said user participation in said messaging session.

28. The program for reflecting user participation according to claim 27, said program further comprising:

means for determining a graphical characteristics for said messaging session element from said output attribute; and

means for controlling adjustment of said output of said messaging session element to said user interface according to said graphical characteristic determined from said output attribute.

29. The program for reflecting user participation according to claim 27, said program further comprising:

means for controlling adjustment of at least one of a user identifier, a channel identifier, a topic identifier, a message entry, and a messaging session window.

30. The program for reflecting user participation according to claim 27, said program further comprising:

means for controlling adjustment of a plurality of other messaging session elements within said user interface, in response to said adjustment of said messaging session element according to said output attribute.

31. A method for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a plurality of user participation rates for a plurality of distinct messaging systems at a client messaging system;

adjusting said plurality of user participation rates into a particular output format at said client messaging system; and

graphically displaying said plurality of user participation rates in said particular output format, such that display of user participation for said plurality of distinct messaging systems is enabled at a client messaging system.

32. The method for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems according to claim 31, said step of detecting a plurality of user participation rates for a plurality of distinct messaging systems further comprising the step of:

detecting said plurality of user participation rates by monitoring user participation in at least one active messaging session received at said client messaging system.

33. The method for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems according to claim 31, said step of detecting a plurality of user participation rates for a plurality of distinct messaging systems further comprising the step of:

detecting said plurality of user participation rates by receiving a plurality of output attributes each assigned to one from among a plurality of messaging session elements, wherein said plurality of output attributes each represent one from among said plurality of user participation rates.

34. The method for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems according to claim 31, said method further comprising the step of:

detecting said plurality of user participation rates at said client messaging system, wherein said client messaging system is communicatively connected to a network.

35. The method for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems according to claim 31, said step of graphically displaying said plurality of user participation rates in said particular output format, further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying said plurality of user participation rates according user preferences for a user utilizing said client messaging system.

36. A system for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems, said system comprising:

a client messaging system communicatively connected to a network;

said client messaging system further comprising;

means for detecting a plurality of user participation rates for a plurality of distinct messaging systems;

means for adjusting said plurality of user participation rates into a particular output format;

means for graphically displaying said plurality of user participation rates in said particular output format.

37. The system for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems according to claim 36, said means for detecting a plurality of user participation rates for a plurality of distinct messaging systems further comprising:

means for detecting said plurality of user participation rates by monitoring user participation in at least one active messaging session received at said client messaging system.

38. The system for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems according to claim 36, said means for detecting a plurality of user participation rates for a plurality of distinct messaging systems further comprising:

means for detecting said plurality of user participation rates by receiving a plurality of output attributes each assigned to one from among a plurality of messaging session elements, wherein said plurality of output attributes each represent one from among said plurality of user participation rates.

39. The system for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems according to claim 36, said client messaging system further comprising:

means for detecting said plurality of user participation rates at said client messaging system, wherein said client messaging system is communicatively connected to a network.

40. The system for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems according to claim 36, said means for graphically displaying said plurality of user participation rates in said particular output format, further comprising:

means for graphically displaying said plurality of user participation rates according user preferences for a user utilizing said client messaging system.

41. A program for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for detecting a plurality of user participation rates for a plurality of distinct messaging systems;

means for adjusting said plurality of user participation rates into a particular output format;

means for graphically displaying said plurality of user participation rates in said particular output format.

42. The program for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems according to claim 41, said program further comprising:

means for detecting said plurality of user participation rates by monitoring user participation in at least one received active messaging session

43. The program for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems according to claim 41, said program further comprising:

means for detecting said plurality of user participation rates by receiving a plurality of output attributes each assigned to one from among a plurality of messaging session elements, wherein said plurality of output attributes each represent one from among said plurality of user participation rates.

44. The program for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems according to claim 41, said program further comprising:

means for detecting said plurality of user participation rates at a client messaging system, wherein said client messaging system is communicatively connected to a network.

45. The program for reflecting user participation in a plurality of distinct messaging systems according to claim 41, said program further comprising:

means for enabling a graphical display of said plurality of user participation rates according user preferences for a user.