System and Apparatus for Whispering in Group Chats
First Claim
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1. A method for whispering in group chats, the method comprising:
- establishing a group chat among a plurality of participants, each participant having an associated computing system, all of the associated computing systems in communication across a network;
displaying a list of the plurality of group chat participants and a real-time log of group chat message entries on monitors associated with the computing systems;
identifying a subgroup of the plurality of participants;
entering a private message on the computing system associated with one member of the identified subgroup of participants;
delivering the entered private message to the computing systems associated with all other members of the identified subgroup of participants; and
displaying the delivered private message during the group chat only in the real-time log of group chat message entries on the monitors associated with the subgroup of participants.
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Abstract
A method, system and program storage device are provided for allowing chat room participants to communicate with other participants privately without requiring general chat “friends” or “buddies” pre-authorization. All chatting dialog including private and public chats are consolidated into a unified group chat dialog window that requires no special handling by a user to see public and private chats. The private and public chat messages are displayed chronologically in a single chat message log within the chat group window.
123 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for whispering in group chats, the method comprising:
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establishing a group chat among a plurality of participants, each participant having an associated computing system, all of the associated computing systems in communication across a network; displaying a list of the plurality of group chat participants and a real-time log of group chat message entries on monitors associated with the computing systems; identifying a subgroup of the plurality of participants; entering a private message on the computing system associated with one member of the identified subgroup of participants; delivering the entered private message to the computing systems associated with all other members of the identified subgroup of participants; and displaying the delivered private message during the group chat only in the real-time log of group chat message entries on the monitors associated with the subgroup of participants. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-readable medium containing a computer-readable code that when read by a computer causes the computer to perform a method for whispering in group chats, the method comprising:
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establishing a group chat among a plurality of participants, each participant having an associated computing system, all of the associated computing systems in communication across a network; displaying a list of the plurality of group chat participants and a real-time log of group chat message entries on monitors associated with the computing systems; identifying a subgroup of the plurality of participants; entering a private message on the computing system associated with one member of the identified subgroup of participants; delivering the entered private message to the computing systems associated with all other members of the identified subgroup of participants; and displaying the delivered private message during the group chat only in the real-time log of group chat message entries on the monitors associated with the subgroup of participants. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification