Dynamically mapping chat session invitation history

• US 20070168446A1
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Murillo, Jessica, Keohane, Susann, McBrearty, Gerald, Shieh, Johnny
• Granted Patent: US 8,332,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• 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, system, and program are provided for dynamically mapping chat session invitation history. A chat controller for facilitating a chat session enables chat participants to invite additional users to join in the chat session. The chat controller dynamically generates a mapping of the chat participants to graphically represent a separate correspondence between each invited additional user and each inviting chat participant. The mapping is displayed within a user interface of a current participant or an invited additional user. Further, the displayed mapping is dynamically updated to reflect additional invitation history as the chat session continues.

Claims

1. A method, at at least one computer system for facilitating a chat session enabling chat participants to invite additional users to join in the chat session, for mapping the invitations to the chat session, comprising:

dynamically generating a mapping of the chat participants to graphically represent a separate correspondence between each invited additional user and each inviting chat participant; and

displaying the mapping within a user interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein dynamically generating a mapping of the chat participants further comprises:

dynamically generating the mapping of the chat participants to graphically represent an ordering of invitation of each of the chat participants and each invited additional user accepting the invitation to join the chat session.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein dynamically generating a mapping of the chat participants further comprises:

graphically representing for each invited additional user a separate reason for invitation to join said chat session.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein dynamically generating a mapping of the chat participants further comprises:

graphically representing a separate business hierarchy level for each of the chat participants in relation to each of the other chat participants.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein dynamically generating a mapping of the chat participants further comprises:

graphically representing a separate presence indicator for each of the chat participants, wherein each separate presence indicator comprises at least one from among an availability of each chat participant to participate in a chat session, an availability of each chat participant to continue participating in a chat session, and an estimated network connection strength for each chat participant.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

enabling, within at least one of an interface displaying at least one entry of the chat session and an interface displaying an invitation to one of the invited additional users to join the chat session, a selectable trigger that upon selection triggers generating and displaying the mapping in association with the interface.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to detecting at least one invitation history addition comprising at least one of an adjustment to a status of one of the chat participants, an acceptance of an invitation to join the chat session, a decline of an invitation to join the chat session, and an end to the chat session, dynamically adjusting the mapping within the user interface for each invitation history addition.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the mapping within a user interface further comprises:

graphically displaying the mapping within the user interface comprising at least one of an entry within the chat session and a display window.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the mapping according to at least one user preference specifying at least one from among a graphical treatment preference and a data security preference.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

for each separate generation of the mapping, logging each separate generation of the mapping in a displayable log file for the chat session.

11. A system for mapping the invitations to a chat session, comprising:

at least one computing system for facilitating a chat session enabling chat participants to invite additional users to join in the chat session;

said at least one computing system further comprising;

means for dynamically generating a mapping of the chat participants to graphically represent a separate correspondence between each invited additional user and each inviting chat participant; and

means for displaying the mapping within a user interface.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said means for dynamically generating a mapping of the chat participants further comprises:

means for dynamically generating the mapping of the chat participants to graphically represent an ordering of invitation of each of the chat participants and each invited additional user accepting the invitation to join the chat session.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said means for dynamically generating a mapping of the chat participants further comprises:

means for graphically representing for each invited additional user a separate reason for invitation to join said chat session.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said means for dynamically generating a mapping of the chat participants further comprises:

means for graphically representing a separate business hierarchy level fore each of the chat participants in relation to each of the other chat participants.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said means for dynamically generating a mapping of the chat participants further comprises:

means for graphically representing a separate presence indicator for each of the chat participants, wherein the separate presence indicator comprises at least one from among an availability of each chat participant to participate in a chat session, an availability of each chat participant to continue participating in a chat session, and an estimated network connection strength for each chat participant.

16. The system according to claim 11, said at least one computing system further comprising:

means for enabling, within at least one of an interface displaying at least one entry of the chat session and an interface displaying an invitation to one of the invited additional users to join the chat session, a selectable trigger that upon selection triggers generating and displaying the mapping in association with the interface.

17. The system according to claim 11, said at least one computing system further comprising:

means, responsive to detecting at least one invitation history addition comprising at least one of an adjustment to a status of one of the chat participants, an acceptance of an invitation to join the chat session, a decline of an invitation to join the chat session, and an end to the chat session, for dynamically adjusting the mapping within the user interface for each invitation history addition.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said means for displaying the mapping within a user interface further comprises:

means for graphically displaying the mapping within the user interface comprising at least one of an entry within the chat session and a display window.

19. The system according to claim 11, said at least one computing system further comprising:

means for logging each separate generation of the mapping in a displayable log file for the chat session.

20. A program for mapping the invitations to the chat session, said program embodied in a computer-readable medium, said program comprising computer-executable instructions which cause a computer to perform the steps of:

enabling chat participants to a chat session to invite at least one additional user to join in the chat session;

controlling generation of a mapping of the chat participants to graphically represent a separate correspondence between each invited additional user and each inviting chat participant; and

controlling display of the mapping within a user interface.