SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMBINING INSTANT MESSAGING WITH EMAIL IN ONE CLIENT INTERFACE
First Claim
1. A method for allowing users to communicate via email and chat sessions in a seamless exchange without separate chat windows and further allowing users to no longer need to manage chat history, the users having email clients to communicate with one another, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying, as a different view in the user'"'"'s email client, one or more conversations;
seamlessly blending both email or chat technology in the user interface of the user'"'"'s email client;
receiving new chat or email content without disrupting the receiving user; and
changing an icon to flag new content unless the new content is already the focus.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for seamlessly merging chats and email into one user interface is provided. The system and method of the present invention does not require that all users have access to the technology. Users of the technology can continue to communicate with others who may use email or their instant messaging system, although some of the minor features require that all users have the same technology. Terms used to describe the invention are “ChatMail” and “ChatThread”. ChatMail suggests the blend of chat and email while ChatThread suggests a blend of chat and an email “thread” which is a common semi-technical term that means a series of emails that share a common subject.
55 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for allowing users to communicate via email and chat sessions in a seamless exchange without separate chat windows and further allowing users to no longer need to manage chat history, the users having email clients to communicate with one another, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying, as a different view in the user'"'"'s email client, one or more conversations; seamlessly blending both email or chat technology in the user interface of the user'"'"'s email client; receiving new chat or email content without disrupting the receiving user; and changing an icon to flag new content unless the new content is already the focus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for operating in a system comprising a network I/O, a CPU, and one or more databases, for implementing a method for combining instant messaging and electronic email into one application, the method comprising the steps of displaying, as a different view in the user'"'"'s email client, one or more conversations;
- seamlessly blending both email or chat technology in the user interface of the user'"'"'s email client;
receiving new chat or email content without disrupting the receiving user; and
changing an icon to flag new content unless the new content is already the focus. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- seamlessly blending both email or chat technology in the user interface of the user'"'"'s email client;
Specification