Associating an instant message dialog with screen real estate and role based positioning

• US 20060031322A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ullmann, Lorin Evan, Lawton, Craig M., Peters, Christopher Andrew, Lewis, Jonathan Andrew, Kessen, Bethany Lyn, Overby, Jesse B. III, Moore, Martin Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/875,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031322A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for allowing areas of a display to be associated with particular instant messaging users. The present invention provides a menu option to allow a user to select whether to have instant messaging dialog windows open up in the same position as the current window, or alternatively, to have the dialog windows from a specific person open up in a specified location on the display. Thus, the instant messaging software may allow window positions to be associated and “saved” with particular users. A user may create roles or add individual people to a preferences list to allow for different instant messaging window preferences for each role or person. In this manner, a user may specify areas of the display in which an instant messaging dialog window may open according to the various roles.

Claims

1. A method in an instant messaging client for associating an instant messaging dialog with screen real estate, comprising:

responsive to an input to create an instant messaging dialog on a display, determining whether an association between an instant messaging address in the instant messaging dialog and a position on the display exists; and

responsive to a determination that an association exists, displaying the instant messaging dialog in the position specified by the association.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging dialog is created in response to an incoming message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging dialog is created in response to an outgoing message.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the instant messaging dialog in the position specified by the association allows a user to immediately identify the party who sent the incoming message.

5. The method of claim 1, where associations between instant messaging users and instant messaging dialog positions are defined by the instant messaging client.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an instant messaging dialog position is associated with an individual.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an instant messaging dialog position is associated with a role.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination includes analyzing a user'"'"'s ID against a window policy to determine if an instant messaging user is associated with an individual location policy.

9. The method of claim 8, in response to determining that the instant messaging user is not associated with an individual location policy, determining if the instant messaging user is a member of a particular role.

10. The method of claim 9, in response to determining that the instant messaging user is not associated with an individual location policy and is not a member of a particular role, applying a default location policy for the instant messaging dialog with the instant messaging user.

11. A data processing system for associating an instant messaging dialog with screen real estate, comprising:

responsive to an input to create an instant messaging dialog on a display, determining means for determining whether an association between an instant messaging address in the instant messaging dialog and a position on the display exists; and

displaying means for displaying the instant messaging dialog in the position specified by the association in response to a determination that an association exists.

12. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the instant messaging dialog is created in response to an incoming message.

13. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the instant messaging dialog is created in response to an outgoing message.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein displaying the instant messaging dialog in the position specified by the association allows a user to immediately identify the party who sent the incoming message.

15. The data processing system of claim 11, where associations between instant messaging users and instant messaging dialog positions are defined by the instant messaging client.

16. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein an instant messaging dialog position is associated with an individual.

17. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein an instant messaging dialog position is associated with a role.

18. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the determination includes analyzing a user'"'"'s ID against a window policy to determine if an instant messaging user is associated with an individual location policy.

19. The data processing system of claim 18, in response to determining that the instant messaging user is not associated with an individual location policy, determining if the instant messaging user is a member of a particular role.

20. The data processing system of claim 19, in response to determining that the instant messaging user is not associated with an individual location policy and is not a member of a particular role, applying a default location policy for the instant messaging dialog with the instant messaging user.

21. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for associating an instant messaging dialog with screen real estate, comprising:

responsive to an input to create an instant messaging dialog on a display, first instructions for determining whether an association between an instant messaging address in the instant messaging dialog and a position on the display exists; and

second instructions for displaying the instant messaging dialog in the position specified by the association in response to a determination that an association exists.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the instant messaging dialog is created in response to an incoming message.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the instant messaging dialog is created in response to an outgoing message.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein displaying the instant messaging dialog in the position specified by the association allows a user to immediately identify the party who sent the incoming message.

25. The computer program product of claim 21, where associations between instant messaging users and instant messaging dialog positions are defined by the instant messaging client.

26. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein an instant messaging dialog position is associated with an individual.

27. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein an instant messaging dialog position is associated with a role.

28. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the determination includes analyzing a user'"'"'s ID against a window policy to determine if an instant messaging user is associated with an individual location policy.

29. The computer program product of claim 28, in response to determining that the instant messaging user is not associated with an individual location policy, determining if the instant messaging user is a member of a particular role.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, in response to determining that the instant messaging user is not associated with an individual location policy and is not a member of a particular role, applying a default location policy for the instant messaging dialog with the instant messaging user.