Algorithm used to maintain the relative position of the online contact that has focus in the screen when new presence data requires an update of the online contacts screen

• US 20070271515A1
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Park, Kenneth J.
• Application Number:
  US11/437,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271515A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method for maintaining focus on a selected online user includes the steps of obtaining a list of online users including the selected online user and an non-selected online user, forming a focus on the selected online user, changing the status of the non selected online user, and maintaining said focus on said selected online user after the status of the non-selected online user has changed.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining focus on a selected online user, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a list of online users including said selected online user and an non-selected online user;

forming a focus on said selected online user;

changing the status of said non selected online user;

maintaining said focus on said selected online user after said status of said non-selected online user has changed.

2. A method for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 1, wherein said online users are online for instant messaging.

3. A method for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 1, wherein said step of changing the status includes moving said non-selected user from an off-line user to an online user.

4. A method for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 1, wherein said step of changing the status includes moving from an online user to an off-line user.

5. A method for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 1, wherein said selected and non-selected online users are displayed on a screen.

6. A method for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 5, wherein only a portion of said non-selected online users are displayed on said screen.

7. A method for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 1, wherein said selected and non-selected online users collapse from the top after the change in status of said non-selected user.

8. A method for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 1, wherein said display of said selected and non-selected online users collapse from the bottom after the change in status of said non-selected online user.

9. A method for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 1, wherein said focus changes to said selected online user and maintains the relative position of said focus.

10. A method for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 5, wherein said screen is not fully populated with said selected and non-selected on line users after said change in said status of said non-selected online user.

11. A system for maintaining focus on a selected online user, comprising:

an output device for displaying a list of online users including said selected online user and an non-selected online user;

a computer coupled to said output device for forming a focus on said selected online user;

said computer changing the status of said non selected online user;

said computer maintaining said focus on said selected online user after said status of said non-selected online user has changed.

12. A system for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 11, wherein said online users are online for instant messaging.

13. A system for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 11, wherein said computer moves said non-selected user from an off-line user to an online user.

14. A system for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 11, wherein said computer moves from an online user to an off-line user.

15. A system for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 11, wherein said output device includes a screen for displaying said selected and non-selected online users.

16. A system for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 15, wherein said screen displays only a portion of said non-selected online users.

17. A system for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 11, wherein said computer collapses said selected and non-selected online users from the top after the change in status of said non-selected user.

18. A system for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 11, wherein said computer collapses the display of said selected and non-selected online users from the bottom after the change in status of said non-selected online user.

19. A method for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 11, wherein said computer changes said focus on said selected online user and maintains the relative position of said focus on said output device.

20. A method for maintaining focus on a selected online user as in claim 15, wherein said screen is not fully populated with said selected and non-selected on line users after said change in said status of said non-selected online user.