Templates for themed instant messages

• US 20080189620A1
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bonforte, Jeffrey, Ettenhofer, Jeffrey Robert, Jean, Patrick, Bochatey, Rebecca L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,721,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

A method for templates for implementing instant message themes is provided. For example, the user selects between a “to-do” theme, an “invite” theme, a “postcard” theme, a “reminder” theme, etc. If the user selects the “to-do” theme, the to-do template may prompt the user to input a description of the task to be performed and a due date/time. An instant message is sent to a recipient who is to perform the task. The recipient'"'"'s instant message application displays a to-do in a themed IM window. The themed IM window may have special features that are related to the interactions for the to-do theme. For example, the themed IM window can have a “completed indicator” for the recipient to send a completion notice to the sender. Alternatively, the themed IM window could have a button to perform the task. In response to performing the task, the to-do theme could automatically send a completion notice.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of templates, wherein each template is associated with a set of rules that govern a specific set of interactions associated with a theme;

receiving, at a first instant message (IM) client, first user input from a first user, wherein the first user input selects a particular template of the plurality of templates;

in response to the first user input, prompting the first user for second user input for an interaction from the specific set of interactions;

sending, from the first IM client to a second IM client of a second user, a message that indicates the particular template and includes content that is based on the second user input;

causing the second IM client to generate a display that displays the content, in a manner associated with the theme, based on the particular template.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based on the particular template, prompting the second user for third user input for an interaction from the specific set of interactions.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising causing the second IM client to generate an interface in a manner associated with the theme, based on the particular template.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a response from the second user at the second IM client to the first IM client in a manner associated with the theme, based on the particular template.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising saving information in a manner associated with the theme, based on the particular template.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically transferring data from the second IM client to a server in a manner associated with the theme, based on the particular template.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

processing the data, along with data received at the server from other IM clients to generate results in a manner associated with the theme, based on the particular template; and

transmitting the results to the first IM client, the second IM client, and the other IM clients.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the plurality of templates comprises storing the templates on the first instant message client.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of templates are stored on a third party server and further comprising transferring the particular template to the first IM client in response to the first user selecting the particular template.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of templates are stored on a third party server and further comprising transferring the particular template to the second IM client after the message that indicates the particular template is received by the second IM client.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the message comprises sending the message directly from the first IM client to the second IM client.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the message comprises sending the message from the first IM client to a server and the server forwarding the message to the second IM client.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular template is a to-do template, and wherein prompting the first user for second user input comprises prompting the first user to input a description of a task to perform;

and

further comprising, in response to the second user completing the task, the second IM client sending a message to the first IM client indicating that the second user has completed the task.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular template is an invitation template, and wherein prompting the first user for second user input comprises prompting the first user to input a description of an event;

wherein causing the second IM client to generate a display that displays the content comprising prompting the second user to accept or decline the invitation; and

further comprising, in response to the second user accepting or declining the invitation, the second IM client sending a message to the first IM client indicating whether the second user has accepted or declined the invitation.

15. A computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable media, said program when executed on one or more processors operable to:

receive, at a first instant message (IM) client, first user input from a first user, wherein the first user input selects a particular template of the plurality of templates;

in response to the first user input, prompt the first user for second user input for an interaction from the specific set of interactions;

send, from the first IM client to a second IM client of a second user, a message that indicates the particular template and includes content that is based on the second user input;

cause the second IM client to generate a display that displays the content, in a manner associated with the theme, based on the particular template.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein when executed on the one or more processor is further operable to, based on the particular template, prompt the second user for third user input for an interaction from the specific set of interactions.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein when executed on the one or more processor is further operable to cause the second IM client to generate an interface in a manner associated with the theme, based on the particular template.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein when executed on the one or more processor is further operable to transmit a response from the second user at the second IM client to the first IM client in a manner associated with the theme, based on the particular template.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein when executed on the one or more processor is further operable to save information in a manner associated with the theme, based on the particular template.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein when executed on the one or more processor is further operable to automatically transfer data from the second IM client to a server in a manner associated with the theme, based on the particular template.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein when executed on the one or more processor is further operable to:

process the data, along with data received at the server from other IM clients to generate results in a manner associated with the theme, based on the particular template; and

transmit the results to the first IM client, the second IM client, and the other IM clients.