SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GATHERING CONVERSATION INFORMATION

• US 20090119368A1
• Filed: 11/02/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stern, Edith Helen, Willner, Barry E., O'Sullivan, Patrick Joseph, Weir, Robert Cameron
• Application Number:
  US11/934,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20090119368A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method and computer program product for receiving a request for conversation information, from a requester, concerning an online user of an instant messaging system. The conversation information concerning the online user is obtained and provided to the requestor.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request for conversation information, from a requester, concerning an online user of an instant messaging system;

obtaining the conversation information concerning the online user; and

providing the conversation information to the requestor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the conversation information includes conversation duration information.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

obtaining the conversation information includes determining the conversation duration information for a conversation in which the online user is participating; and

providing the conversation information includes providing the conversation duration information to the requestor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the conversation information includes conversation participant information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

obtaining the conversation information includes determining the conversation participant information for a conversation in which the online user is participating; and

providing the conversation information includes providing the conversation participant information to the requestor.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the conversation information includes conversation topic information.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein:

obtaining the conversation information includes determining the conversation topic information for a conversation in which the online user is participating; and

providing the conversation information includes providing the conversation topic information to the requestor.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein determining the conversation topic information includes:

providing a chronological portion of the conversation to the requestor.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein determining the conversation topic information includes:

providing one or more keywords concerning the conversation to the requestor.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein determining the conversation topic information includes:

providing a summary of at least a portion of the conversation to the requestor.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a request for conversation information, from a requester, concerning an online user of an instant messaging system;

obtaining the conversation information concerning the online user; and

providing the conversation information to the requestor.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the conversation information includes conversation duration information.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein:

obtaining the conversation information includes determining the conversation duration information for a conversation in which the online user is participating; and

providing the conversation information includes providing the conversation duration information to the requestor.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the conversation information includes conversation participant information.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

obtaining the conversation information includes determining the conversation participant information for a conversation in which the online user is participating; and

providing the conversation information includes providing the conversation participant information to the requestor.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the conversation information includes conversation topic information.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein:

obtaining the conversation information includes determining the conversation topic information for a conversation in which the online user is participating; and

providing the conversation information includes providing the conversation topic information to the requestor.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein determining the conversation topic information includes:

providing a chronological portion of the conversation to the requestor.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein determining the conversation topic information includes:

providing one or more keywords concerning the conversation to the requestor.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein determining the conversation topic information includes:

providing a summary of at least a portion of the conversation to the requestor.