THEME-BASED INSTANT MESSAGING COMMUNICATIONS
First Claim
1. An instant messaging computer system comprising:
- an instant messaging server computer comprisinga data storage module for storing a plurality of instant messaging client system themes, each said theme defining elements of an instant messaging client system instance,an input module for receiving requests for instant messaging client system themes,a processing module for processing said requests to identify and retrieve a stored instant messaging client system theme, andan output module for sending a retrieved instant messaging client system theme to a requester; and
an instant messaging client computer comprisingan output module for sending a request for a instant messaging client system theme to said instant messaging server computer,an input module for receiving a instant messaging client system theme from said instant messaging server computer,a data storage module for storing said received instant messaging client system theme, anda processing module for recalling said stored instant messaging client system theme and creating an instance of said theme for use by a user of said instant messaging client computer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Instant messaging communications are controlled using themes. A theme is a definition of properties and features of a specific instance of an instant messaging communications environment. Themes are stored at a server computer and may be requested by users of a client computer. Themes may be made available to users based on enterprise policies established by the owner of the server computer. Once downloaded to the client computer, a theme may be personalized by the user of the client computer provided personalization is consistent with the enterprise policy. Inheritance techniques may be used to provide personalized themes that remain consistent with enterprise policy while extending functions not defined in the enterprise policy. A user may select different themes manually. Alternatively, theme selection may be automated based on system detection of events such as time of day, user location, availability of network connections and the like. Changes in a downloaded theme may be returned to and stored by the server for future use by the user of the client computer.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An instant messaging computer system comprising:
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an instant messaging server computer comprising a data storage module for storing a plurality of instant messaging client system themes, each said theme defining elements of an instant messaging client system instance, an input module for receiving requests for instant messaging client system themes, a processing module for processing said requests to identify and retrieve a stored instant messaging client system theme, and an output module for sending a retrieved instant messaging client system theme to a requester; and an instant messaging client computer comprising an output module for sending a request for a instant messaging client system theme to said instant messaging server computer, an input module for receiving a instant messaging client system theme from said instant messaging server computer, a data storage module for storing said received instant messaging client system theme, and a processing module for recalling said stored instant messaging client system theme and creating an instance of said theme for use by a user of said instant messaging client computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of controlling the use of instant messaging client system instances in a computer network comprising:
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at an instant messaging server computer storing a plurality of instant messaging client system themes, each said instant messaging client system theme defining elements of an instant messaging client system instance, receiving requests for instant messaging client system themes, processing said requests to identify and retrieve a stored instant messaging client system theme, and sending a retrieved instant messaging client system theme to a requester; and at an instant messaging client computer sending a request for an instant messaging client system theme to said instant messaging server computer, receiving an instant messaging client system theme from said instant messaging server computer, storing said received instant messaging client system theme, and recalling said stored instant messaging client system theme and creating an instance of said instant messaging client system theme for use by a user of said instant messaging client computer. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. An instant messaging server computer for use in an instant messaging computer system, said instant messaging server computer comprising:
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a data storage module for storing a plurality of instant messaging client system themes, each said instant messaging client system theme defining elements of an instant messaging client system instance; an input module for receiving requests for instant messaging client system themes; a processing module for processing said requests to identify and retrieve a stored instant messaging client system theme; and an output module for sending a retrieved instant messaging client system theme to a requester. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method performed in an instant messaging server computer for controlling the use of instant messaging client system instances in a computer system comprising:
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storing a plurality of instant messaging client system themes, each said instant messaging client system theme defining elements of an instant messaging client system instance, receiving requests for instant messaging client system themes, processing said requests to identify and retrieve a stored instant messaging client system theme, and sending a retrieved instant messaging client system theme to a requester. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product for controlling the use of instant messaging client system instances in a computer system, said computer program product comprising a recording medium having computer usable program code recorded thereon, said computer usable program code when loaded into and executed by an instant messaging server computer causing said instant messaging server computer to perform a method comprising:
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storing a plurality of instant messaging client system themes, each said instant messaging client system theme defining elements of an instant messaging client system system instance; receiving requests for instant messaging client system themes; processing said requests to identify and retrieve a stored instant messaging client system theme; and sending a retrieved instant messaging client system theme to a requester. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An instant messaging client computer for use in an instant messaging computer system, said instant messaging client computer comprising:
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an output module for sending a request for an instant messaging client system theme to an instant messaging server computer, an input module for receiving an instant messaging client system theme from said instant messaging server computer, a data storage module for storing said received instant messaging client system theme, and a processing module for recalling said stored instant messaging client system theme and creating an instance of said stored instant messaging client system theme for use by a user of said instant messaging client computer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method performed in an instant messaging client computer for controlling the use of instant messaging client system instances in a computer network comprising:
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sending a request for an instant messaging client system theme to an instant messaging server computer, receiving an instant messaging client system theme from said instant messaging server computer, storing said received instant messaging client system theme in a data storage module, and recalling said stored instant messaging client system theme and creating an instance of said stored instant messaging client system theme for use by a user of said instant messaging client computer. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer program product for controlling the use of instant messaging client system instances in a computer network, said computer program product comprising a recording medium having computer usable program code recorded thereon, said computer usable program code when loaded into and executed by an instant messaging client computer causing said instant messaging client computer to perform a method comprising:
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sending a request for an instant messaging client system theme to an instant messaging server computer; receiving an instant messaging client system theme from said instant messaging server computer; storing said received instant messaging client system theme in a data storage module; and recalling said stored instant messaging client system theme and creating an instance of said stored instant messaging client system theme for use by a user of said instant messaging client computer. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification