System and method for multi-threaded discussion within a single instant messenger pane

• US 20060059235A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Weksler, Arnold S., Peterson, Nathan J., Waltermann, Rod David
• Application Number:
  US10/941,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20060059235A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A system and method that allows multiple threads, or topics, to be managed and displayed within a single instant messaging session is provided. When an instant messaging session commences, an initial, or first, thread commences to which both parties to the instant messaging session can add comments. Two input areas are provided—one for inputting text to the first conversation thread and a second for inputting text that will commence a new (second) thread. When a second thread is started, three input areas appear for both parties of the instant messaging session: (1) the input area to add text to the first thread, (2) a new input area for adding text to the newly created second thread, and (3) the input area for adding text to a new (third) thread. In this manner, a virtually unlimited number of conversation threads can be included in a single instant messaging session.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving a request for a plurality of discussion threads within a single instant messaging session;

grouping each of a plurality of messages into one of the discussion threads; and

displaying the messages corresponding to one of the discussion threads in a position proximate to one another.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a plurality of input text boxes, wherein a first input text box corresponds to a first of the discussion threads and wherein a second input text box corresponds to a second of the discussion threads;

receiving a new message entered into one of the plurality of input text boxes; and

assigning the new message to the first discussion thread in response to the new message being entered into the first input text box, and assigning the new message to the second discussion thread in response to the new message being entered into the second input text box.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a plurality of input text boxes, wherein a first input text box corresponds to one of the discussion threads and wherein a second input text box corresponds to a request to start a new discussion thread;

receiving a new message entered into one of the plurality of input text boxes;

assigning the new message to the first discussion thread in response to the new message being entered into the first input text box; and

creating a new discussion thread in response to the new message being entered in the second input text box, the creating including assigning the new message to the new discussion thread.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

ordering the displayed messages based upon the order in which the messages were created.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collapsing one of the plurality of discussion threads in response to a request from a user, the collapsing including;

displaying one line of text corresponding to the collapsed discussion thread; and

displaying an expansion icon for the collapsed discussion thread.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

expanding the collapsed discussion thread in response to the user selecting the expansion icon, the expanding including;

displaying a plurality of the messages that correspond to the expanded discussion thread;

allowing the user to view all of the messages that correspond to the expanded discussion thread; and

displaying a collapse icon for the expanded discussion thread.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

displaying the expanded discussion thread in a window, wherein the window includes a scroll bar that allows the user to scroll through the messages that correspond to the expanded discussion thread.

8. An information handling system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory accessible by the processors;

a nonvolatile storage device accessible by the processors; and

a discussion threading tool for providing a plurality of threads in a single instant messaging session, the discussion threading tool including software code effective to;

receive a request for a plurality of discussion threads within the instant messaging session;

group each of a plurality of messages into one of the discussion threads; and

display the messages corresponding to one of the discussion threads in a position proximate to one another.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the discussion threading tool further comprises:

software code effective to display a plurality of input text boxes, wherein a first input text box corresponds to a first of the discussion threads and wherein a second input text box corresponds to a second of the discussion threads;

software code effective to receive a new message entered into one of the plurality of input text boxes; and

software code effective to assign the new message to the first discussion thread in response to the new message being entered into the first input text box, and assigning the new message to the second discussion thread in response to the new message being entered into the second input text box.

10. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the discussion threading tool further comprises:

software code effective to display a plurality of input text boxes, wherein a first input text box corresponds to one of the discussion threads and wherein a second input text box corresponds to a request to start a new discussion thread;

software code effective to receive a new message entered into one of the plurality of input text boxes;

software code effective to assign the new message to the first discussion thread in response to the new message being entered into the first input text box; and

software code effective to create a new discussion thread in response to the new message being entered in the second input text box, the creating including assigning the new message to the new discussion thread.

11. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the discussion threading tool further comprises:

software code effective to order the displayed messages based upon the order in which the messages were created.

12. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the discussion threading tool further comprises:

software code effective to collapse one of the plurality of discussion threads in response to a request from a user, the software code effective to collapse including;

software code effective to display one line of text corresponding to the collapsed discussion thread; and

software code effective to display an expansion icon for the collapsed discussion thread.

13. The information handling system of claim 12 wherein the discussion threading tool further comprises:

software code effective to expand the collapsed discussion thread in response to the user selecting the expansion icon, the software code effective to expand including;

software code effective to display a plurality of the messages that correspond to the expanded discussion thread;

software code effective to allow the user to view all of the messages that correspond to the expanded discussion thread; and

software code effective to display a collapse icon for the expanded discussion thread.

14. A computer program product stored in a computer operable media, said computer program product comprising software code effective to:

receive a request for a plurality of discussion threads within the instant messaging session;

group each of a plurality of messages into one of the discussion threads; and

display the messages corresponding to one of the discussion threads in a position proximate to one another.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising:

software code effective to display a plurality of input text boxes, wherein a first input text box corresponds to a first of the discussion threads and wherein a second input text box corresponds to a second of the discussion threads;

software code effective to receive a new message entered into one of the plurality of input text boxes; and

software code effective to assign the new message to the first discussion thread in response to the new message being entered into the first input text box, and assigning the new message to the second discussion thread in response to the new message being entered into the second input text box.

16. The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising:

software code effective to display a plurality of input text boxes, wherein a first input text box corresponds to one of the discussion threads and wherein a second input text box corresponds to a request to start a new discussion thread;

software code effective to receive a new message entered into one of the plurality of input text boxes;

software code effective to assign the new message to the first discussion thread in response to the new message being entered into the first input text box; and

software code effective to create a new discussion thread in response to the new message being entered in the second input text box, the creating including assigning the new message to the new discussion thread.

17. The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising:

software code effective to order the displayed messages based upon the order in which the messages were created.

18. The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising:

software code effective to collapse one of the plurality of discussion threads in response to a request from a user, the software code effective to collapse including;

software code effective to display one line of text corresponding to the collapsed discussion thread; and

software code effective to display an expansion icon for the collapsed discussion thread.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising:

software code effective to expand the collapsed discussion thread in response to the user selecting the expansion icon, the software code effective to expand including;

software code effective to display a plurality of the messages that correspond to the expanded discussion thread;

software code effective to allow the user to view all of the messages that correspond to the expanded discussion thread; and

software code effective to display a collapse icon for the expanded discussion thread.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising:

software code effective to display the expanded discussion thread in a window, wherein the window includes a scroll bar that allows the user to scroll through the messages that correspond to the expanded discussion thread.