Simultaneous Instant Messaging In Single Window
First Claim
1. A method for providing integrated multi-session instant messaging in a single instant messaging window, said messaging window having a window height and a window width, said method comprising:
- receiving instant messages associated with a plurality of concurrent instant messaging sessions between a local user and a plurality of remote users, wherein each messaging session is between the local user and at least one of the remote users;
generating, for each of the plurality of concurrent instant messaging sessions, a distinct corresponding conversation pane, each conversation pane having a message component for displaying text from at least one of the received instant messages associated with the corresponding messaging session;
defining a conversation display area in the messaging window as a function of the window height and the window width;
associating a set of the conversation panes with the conversation display area, said set having a specific number of conversation panes, wherein the conversation panes of said set are aligned along the height of the messaging window so that the message components of the conversation panes of said set are simultaneously viewable in the conversation display area of the messaging window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Providing integrated multi-session instant messaging in a single instant messaging window. A user interface has an instant messaging window for displaying a plurality of conversation panes representative of concurrent instant messaging sessions between a local user and a plurality of remote users. Each conversation pane represents one of the messaging sessions. A plurality of message components correspond to the conversations panes so that each message component corresponds to one conversation pane. Each message component is arranged in the corresponding conversation pane and displays text from an instant message. The conversation display area displays at least two of the conversation panes linearly along the height of the window so that the message components arranged in the at least two conversation panes are simultaneously viewable.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for providing integrated multi-session instant messaging in a single instant messaging window, said messaging window having a window height and a window width, said method comprising:
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receiving instant messages associated with a plurality of concurrent instant messaging sessions between a local user and a plurality of remote users, wherein each messaging session is between the local user and at least one of the remote users; generating, for each of the plurality of concurrent instant messaging sessions, a distinct corresponding conversation pane, each conversation pane having a message component for displaying text from at least one of the received instant messages associated with the corresponding messaging session; defining a conversation display area in the messaging window as a function of the window height and the window width; associating a set of the conversation panes with the conversation display area, said set having a specific number of conversation panes, wherein the conversation panes of said set are aligned along the height of the messaging window so that the message components of the conversation panes of said set are simultaneously viewable in the conversation display area of the messaging window. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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- 2. The method of claim 2 wherein the specific number of conversation panes in said set is the lesser of the number of concurrent instant messaging sessions and a pre-determined maximum number of conversation panes.
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9. A user interface implemented within computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium, said user interface comprising:
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an instant messaging window displaying a conversation display area within said messaging window, said messaging window having a window height and a window width; a plurality of conversation panes representative of concurrent instant messaging sessions between a local user and a plurality of remote users, wherein each conversation pane represents one of the messaging sessions and each messaging session is between the local user and at least one of the remote users; a plurality of message components being arranged in the plurality of conversation panes, each message component being arranged in one corresponding conversation pane and each message component displaying text from an instant message exchanged between the local user and one of the remote users during the message session represented by the corresponding conversation pane; wherein said conversation display area displays at least two of the conversation panes linearly along the height of the window so that the message components arranged in the at least two conversation panes are simultaneously viewable. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for providing integrated multi-session instant messaging in a single instant messaging window, said messaging window having a window height and a window width, said method comprising:
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receiving instant messages associated with a plurality of concurrent instant messaging sessions between a local user and a plurality of remote users, wherein each messaging session is between the local user and at least one of the remote users; generating, for each of the plurality of messaging sessions, a distinct corresponding conversation pane, each conversation pane having a message component for displaying text from at least one of the received instant messages associated with the corresponding messaging session; identifying a conversation pane corresponding to a selected one of the messaging sessions; associating an input component with the identified conversation pane, said input component for receiving data from the local user for communicating to the remote user of the selected messaging session via an instant message; and defining a conversation display area within the messaging window wherein the identified conversation pane and at least one other conversation pane are aligned in the conversation display area along the height of the messaging window so that the messaging and input components of the identified conversation pane and at least a portion of the messaging component of the other conversation pane are simultaneously viewable in the conversation display area of the messaging window. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification