System and method for in-context, topic-oriented instant messaging

• US 20050262199A1
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Walker, Keith Raymond, Handy-Bosma, John Hans, Chen, Yen-Fu, Selvage, Mei Yang
• Granted Patent: US 8,190,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

A method for grouping IM statements together into a plurality of topics and displaying the topics in separate windows comprising a Configuration Program (CP), a Topic Creation Program (TCP), and a Statement Classification Program (SCP). The CP allows a user to configure the global options for the present invention such as designating the parties authorized to create a topic, specifying whether the topic name and/or keywords are negotiable, and specifying whether icons should be displayed with the topic name. The TCP allows a user to create a topic by specifying the topic name, selecting a statement classification method, designating keywords to be used in searching the statements, and adding an icon to the topic name. When a statement is submitted to an IM channel, the SCP places the statement into one of the topics based on the statement classification method selected in the TCP.

Claims

1. A method for grouping a plurality of instant messaging (IM) statements into a plurality of topics, wherein a chat participant does not have to assign one of the topics to each statement, and wherein the statements within each topic are grouped together for display in a separate window.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:

creating the topics, each topic comprising a topic name;

selecting a statement classification method for the statements;

associating each statements with one of the topics based on the statement classification method; and

grouping the statements into topics based on the topic assigned to each statement.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

wherein the statement classification method is by keyword;

assigning a keyword to one of the topics;

determining whether the statements contain the keyword; and

responsive to the determination that the statements contain the keyword, associating the statements containing the keyword with the topic associated with the keyword.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the participants do not associate any of the topics with the statements.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

wherein the statement classification method is by author of the statement, the author being one of the participants;

associating one of the statements with one of the topics by inserting a topic tag into the statement;

associating subsequent statements with the same topic as the statement containing the topic tag; and

ending the association of the statements with the same topic by inserting a second topic tag into one of the subsequent statements.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the author inserts the topic tag into one of the statements to change the topic from the same topic to another topic.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the topic tag is automatically inserted into subsequent statements.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

wherein the statement classification method is by group leader;

associating one of the statements with one of the topics by inserting a topic tag into the statement;

associating subsequent statements with the same topic as the statement containing the topic tag; and

ending the association of the statements with the same topic by inserting a second topic tag into one of the subsequent statements.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the group leader inserts the topic tag into one of the statements to change the topic from the same topic to another topic.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the group leader is the only participant who can insert the topic tag into the statements.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein the topic name is negotiable, thereby allowing any participant to change the topic name.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein the topic name is negotiable, thereby allowing any participant to propose a change the topic name, the proposal subject to approval by a group leader.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein the topic name is not negotiable, thereby prohibiting any participant other than the group leader to change the topic name.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein an alteration of the configuration of the chat participant'"'"'s graphical user interface does not alter the configuration of other chat participants'"'"' graphical user interfaces.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the chat participant'"'"'s graphical user interface comprises a mechanism for expanding and collapsing a plurality of topic windows.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein a second chat participant is granted access to a first topic but is not granted access to a second topic.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein a plurality of the chat participant'"'"'s windows connect together for common movement and action.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the chat participant can save a chat transcript only relating to a designated topic.

19. A program product for grouping a plurality of instant messaging (IM) statements into a plurality of topics, the program product comprising:

a memory;

a set of instructions stored in the memory, the instructions directing a processor to perform steps comprising;

creating a plurality of topics, each topic comprising a topic name;

selecting a statement classification method for the statements;

associating each statements with one of the topics based on the statement classification method; and

grouping the statements into topics based on the topic assigned to each statement.

20. The program product of claim 19 herein the statements within each topic are grouped together for display in a separate window.

21. The program product of claim 20 wherein the participants do not associate any of the topics with the statements.

22. The program product of claim 21 further comprising:

wherein the statement classification method is by keyword;

assigning a keyword to one of the topics;

determining whether the statements contain the keyword; and

responsive to the determination that the statements contain the keyword, associating the statements containing the keyword with the topic associated with the keyword.

23. The program product of claim 22 wherein a chat participant does not have to assign one of the topics to each statement.

24. The program product of claim 22 wherein the topic tag is automatically inserted into subsequent statements.

25. The program product of claim 21 further comprising:

wherein the statement classification method is by author of the statement, the author being one of the participants;

associating one of the statements with one of the topics by inserting a topic tag into the statement;

associating subsequent statements with the same topic as the statement containing the topic tag; and

ending the association of the statements with the same topic by inserting a second topic tag into one of the subsequent statements.

26. The program product of claim 24 wherein the author inserts the topic tag into one of the statements to change the topic from the same topic to another topic.

27. The program product of claim 21 further comprising:

wherein the statement classification method is by group leader;

associating one of the statements with one of the topics by inserting a topic tag into the statement;

associating subsequent statements with the same topic as the statement containing the topic tag; and

ending the association of the statements with the same topic by inserting a second topic tag into one of the subsequent statements.

28. The program product of claim 26 wherein the group leader inserts the topic tag into one of the statements to change the topic from the same topic to another topic.

29. The program product of claim 27 wherein the group leader is the only participant who can insert the topic tag into the statements.

30. The program product of claim 21 wherein the topic name is negotiable, thereby allowing any participant to change the topic name.

31. The program product of claim 21 wherein the topic name is negotiable, thereby allowing any participant to propose a change the topic name, the proposal subject to approval by a group leader.

32. The program product of claim 21 wherein the topic name is not negotiable, thereby prohibiting any participant other than the group leader to change the topic name.

33. The program product of claim 21 wherein the topic name is displayed with an icon.

34. The program product of claim 21 wherein an alteration of the configuration of the chat participant'"'"'s graphical user interface does not alter the configuration of other chat participants'"'"' graphical user interfaces.

35. The program product of claim 21 wherein the chat participant'"'"'s graphical user interface comprises a mechanism for expanding and collapsing a plurality of topic windows.

36. The program product of claim 21 wherein a second chat participant is granted access to a first topic but is not granted access to a second topic.

37. The program product of claim 21 wherein a plurality of the chat participant'"'"'s windows connect together for common movement and action.

38. The program product of claim 21 wherein the chat participant can save a chat transcript only relating to a designated topic.

39. An apparatus for grouping a plurality of instant messaging (IM) statements into a plurality of topics, wherein a chat participant does not have to assign one of the topics to each statement, and wherein the statements within each topic are grouped together for display in a separate window, the apparatus comprising:

creating the topics, each topic comprising a topic name;

selecting a statement classification method for the statements;

associating each statements with one of the topics based on the statement classification method;

grouping the statements into topics based on the topic assigned to each statement;

wherein the statement classification method is by keyword;

assigning a keyword to one of the topics;

determining whether the statements contain the keyword;

responsive to the determination that the statements contain the keyword, associating the statements containing the keyword with the topic associated with the keyword;

wherein the participants do not associate any of the topics with the statements;

wherein the topic name is negotiable, thereby allowing any participant to propose a change the topic name, the proposal subject to approval by a group leader; and

wherein the topic name is displayed with an icon.