Method and apparatus for providing an instant message notification

• US 20050223069A1
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Van Dok, Cornelis K., Cooperman, Hillel N., Ligameri, Mark R., De Bonte, Austina M., Proteau, Stephen P., McNamee, Kathleen B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Abstract

An instant messaging client application is provided that receives requests to initiate instant messaging conversations and, in response to the requests, displays a notification window. The notification window includes information that may allow a user to decide whether or not the user would like to participate in the instant messaging conversation. The notification window is displayed gradually and removed gradually. The notification window contains an indication that another instant messaging user would like to initiate an instant messaging conversation and may include an identification of the remote user. The notification window also contains a description of the topic for the requested instant messaging conversation. The instant messaging client application may also display a notification window each time an instant message is received from a remote user and the application window is in a non-visible or non-active window.

Claims

1. A method for providing a notification that a request to initiate an instant messaging conversation has been received, comprising:

receiving said request to initiate an instant messaging conversation; and

in response to receiving said request, displaying a notification window comprising an identification of an instant messaging user associated with said request and a topic for said instant messaging conversation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying said notification window comprises gradually displaying said notification window.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said notification window is displayed proximate to an icon associated with an instant messaging client application.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said notification window is displayed proximate to an icon associated with said request to initiate an instant messaging conversation.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said icon is displayed in a task bar located along one edge of a user interface desktop.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said icon is displayed in a task bar located along one edge of a user interface desktop.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a request has been received to respond to said request to initiate an instant messaging conversation; and

in response to determining that said request has not been received within a predetermined amount of time, removing said notification window.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein removing said notification window comprises gradually removing said notification window.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said request to respond to said request to initiate an instant messaging conversation is initiated by selecting said identification of said instant messaging user associated with said request or said topic for said instant messaging conversation.

20. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to perform the method of claim 1.

21. A computer-controlled apparatus capable of performing the method of claim 1.

10. A method for providing a notification that an instant message has been received, comprising:

receiving said instant message;

in response to receiving said instant message, displaying a notification window comprising an identification of an instant messaging user associated with said instant message and said instant message.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein displaying said notification window comprises gradually displaying said notification window.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said notification window is displayed proximate to an icon associated with an instant messaging client application.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said notification window is displayed proximate to an icon associated with said instant messaging user.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining whether said instant message is intended for an instant messaging client application window that is not a visible window or that is not a foreground window; and

in response to determining that said instant message is intended for a non-visible or non-foreground window, displaying said notification window as a visible foreground window.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising scrolling said instant message in an icon associated with said instant messaging user.

16. A method for providing a notification that an instant message has been received from a business partner computer, comprising:

receiving said instant message;

in response to receiving said instant message, displaying a notification window comprising an identification of a business partner associated with said instant message and said instant message.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said notification window comprises gradually displaying said notification window.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

directing a web browser to a web site associated with said business partner in response to the selection of said identification of said business partner or said instant message.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining whether a selection of said identification of said business partner or said instant message was received within a predetermined amount of time; and

in response to determining that said selection was not received, gradually removing said notification window.