System and method for managing on-line discussion having multiple topics in a collaborative data processing environment

• US 6,557,027 B1
• Filed: 08/05/1999
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cragun, Brian John
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/369,094
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709/217, 709/219, 709/328, 709/329, 345/329, 345/330, 345/331, 345/332
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

A data processing system that manages operator intercommunication in a collaborative data processing environment is capable of receiving first and second messages and respectively associated first and second sub-topic identifiers from a discussion forum, displaying each message associated with the first sub-topic identifier in a message window utilizing a first presentation format, and displaying each message associated with the second sub-topic identifier in the message window utilizing a second presentation format. In an illustrative embodiment, each message associated with the first sub-topic identifier is displayed in a first column in the message window and each message associated with the second sub-topic identifier is displayed in a second column in the message window.

Claims

1. A method for managing operator intercommunication in a collaborative data processing environment, said method comprising:

displaying a message window for a discussion forum in a display device of a workstation of a participant in said discussion forum, said discussion forum having a plurality of participants at respective workstations, each participant having access to all messages of said discussion forum;

receiving first and second messages and respectively associated first and second sub-topic identifiers from said discussion forum;

displaying each message associated with said first sub-topic identifier within said message window utilizing a first presentation format; and

displaying each message associated with said second sub-topic identifier within said message window utilizing a second presentation format.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

creating a new sub-topic identifier having an associated new presentation format in response to operator input;

automatically associating a default label with said new sub-topic identifier; and

displaying said default label in said display device utilizing said new presentation format.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

creating a new sub-topic identifier having an associated new presentation format in response to operator input;

associating an operator-specified label with said new sub-topic identifier; and

displaying said operator-specified label in said display device utilizing said new presentation format.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said workstation is a first workstation, said display device is a first display device, and said message window is a first message window, said method further comprising:

displaying said first and second messages utilizing said first and second presentation formats, respectively, within a second message window in a second display device of a second workstation; and

in response to operator input that associates said first message with said second sub-topic identifier in lieu of said first sub-topic identifier, displaying said first message utilizing said second presentation format in lieu of said first presentation format within each of said first and second message windows.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein:

said steps of displaying each message associated with said first sub-topic identifier in said first and second message windows comprise displaying each such message in a first column within said first and second message windows;

said steps of displaying each message associated with said second sub-topic identifier in said first and second message windows comprise displaying each such message in a second column within said first and second message windows; and

said step of altering said first and second message windows comprises displaying said first message in said second column in lieu of said first column in a vertical position that indicates a relative chronology of said first and second messages.

2. A method for managing operator intercommunication in a collaborative data processing environment, said method comprising:

displaying a message window in a display device of a workstation;

receiving first and second messages and respectively associated first and second sub-topic identifiers from a discussion forum;

displaying each message associated with said first sub-topic identifier within said message window utilizing a first presentation format, wherein said step of displaying each message associated with said first sub-topic identifier comprises displaying cach such message in a first column within said message window; and

displaying each message associated with said second sub-topic identifier within said message window utilizing a second presentation format, wherein said step of displaying each message associated with said second sub-topic identifier comprises displaying each such message in a second column within said message window.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising:

automatically scrolling said first column horizontally in response to receipt of said second message.

4. The method according to claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a third message and an associated third sub-topic identifier from said discussion forum;

assigning each message associated with said third sub-topic identifier to a third column;

automatically ascertaining which column among said first and second columns was a least recently updated column; and

automatically displaying said third column within said message window in lieu of said least recently updated column.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein, when a compressed presentation mode is active, messages within said first column are maintained in relative vertical positions that indicate a relative chronology of said messages within said first column.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, when a chronological presentation mode is active, said first and second messages in said first and second columns are maintained in relative vertical positions that indicate a relative chronology of said first and second messages.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein said workstation is a first workstation, said display device is a first display device, and said message window is a first message window, said method further comprising:

displaying a second message window in a second display device of a second workstation; and

in response to operator input requesting consolidation of said first and second columns, displaying said first and second messages in a single column within each of said first and second message windows, wherein vertical positions of said first and second messages indicate a relative chronology of said first and second messages.

12. A program product for managing operator intercommunication in a collaborative data processing environment, said program product comprising:

a window generator that displays a message window for a discussion forum in a display device of a workstation of a participant in said discussion forum, said discussion forum having a plurality of participants at respective workstations, each participant having access to all messages of said discussion forum;

a message acquisition facility that receives first and second messages and respectively associated first and second sub-topic identifiers from said discussion forum;

a message formatting facility that displays each message associated with said first sub-topic identifier within said message window utilizing a first presentation format and that displays each message associated with said second sub-topic identifier within said message window utilizing a second presentation format; and

a computer usable medium encoding said window generator, said message acquisition facility, and said message formatting facility.

19. The program product according to claim 12 further comprising:

a sub-topic generator that creates a new sub-topic identifier having an associated new presentation format in response to operator input; and

an automatic label generator for automatically associating a default label with said new sub-topic identifier, such that said default label is displayed in said display device utilizing said new presentation format.

20. The program product according to claim 12 further comprising:

a sub-topic generator that creates a new sub-topic identifier having an associated new presentation format in response to operator input; and

a label entry facility for associating an operator-specified label with said new sub-topic identifier, such that said operator-specified label is displayed in said display device utilizing said new presentation format.

21. The program product according to claim 12, wherein:

said workstation is a first workstation, said display device is a first display device, and said message window is a first message window;

said window generator and said message formatting facility display said first and second messages utilizing said first and second presentation formats, respectively, within a second message window in a second display device of a second workstation; and

said message formatting facility includes a message alteration facility that causes said first message to be displayed utilizing said second presentation format in lieu of said first presentation format within said first and second message windows in response to operator input associating said first message with said second sub-topic identifier in lieu of said first sub-topic identifier.

22. The program product according to claim 21, wherein:

said message formatting facility causes each message associated with said first sub-topic identifier to be displayed in a first column within said first and second message windows;

said message formatting facility causes each message associated with said second sub-topic identifier to be displayed in a second column within said first and second message windows; and

said message alteration facility causes said first message to be displayed in said second column in lieu of said first column in a vertical position that corresponds to a relative chronology of said first and second messages.

13. A program product for managing operator intercommunication in a collaborative data processing environment, said program product comprising:

a window generator that displays a message window in a display device of a workstation;

a message acquisition facility that receives first and second messages and respectively associated first and second sub-topic identifiers from a discussion forum;

a message formatting facility that displays each message associated with said first sub-topic identifier within said message window utilizing a first presentation format and that displays each message associated with said second sub-topic identifier within said message window utilizing a second presentation format, wherein said message formatting facility displays each message associated with said first sub-topic identifier in a first column within said message window and each message associated with said second sub-topic identifier in a second column within said message window; and

a computer usable medium encoding said window generator, said message acquisition facility, and said message formatting facility.

14. The program product according to claim 13, wherein said message formatting facility automatically scrolls said first column horizontally in response to receipt of said second message.

15. The program product according to claim 13, wherein:

said message acquisition facility includes means for receiving a third message and an associated third sub-topic identifier from said discussion forum; and

said message formatting facility includes;

means for assigning each message associated with said third sub-topic identifier to a third column;

a column-age evaluator that automatically ascertains which column among said first column and said second column was a least recently updated column; and

an automatic column exchanger that automatically causes said third column to be displayed within said message window in lieu of said least recently updated column.

16. The program product according to claim 13, wherein said message formatting facility includes a compressed presentation mode which causes said message formatting facility to maintain messages within said first column in relative vertical positions that indicate a relative chronology of said messages within said first column.

17. The program product according to claim 16, wherein said message formatting facility includes a chronological presentation mode which causes said message formatting facility to maintain said first and second messages in said first and second columns in relative vertical positions that indicate a relative chronology of said first and second messages.

18. The program product according to claim 13, wherein:

said workstation is a first workstation, said display device is a first display device, and said message window is a first message window;

said window generator also displays a second message window in a second display device of a second workstation; and

in response to operator input requesting consolidation of said first and second columns, said message formatting facility causes said first and second messages to be displayed in a single column within each of said first and second message windows, wherein vertical positions of said first and second messages indicate a relative chronology of said first and second messages.

23. A data processing system that manages operator intercommunication in a collaborative data processing environment, said data processing system comprising:

a processor and a memory in communication with said processor;

a display device in communication with said processor; and

an intercommunication manager stored in said memory and executable by said processor, said intercommunication manager including;

a window generator for displaying a message window for a discussion forum in said display device, said discussion forum having a plurality of participants at respective display devices of at least one data processing system, each participant having access to all messages of said discussion forum;

a message acquisition facility for receiving first and second messages and respectively associated first and second sub-topic identifiers from said discussion forum; and

a message formatting facility for displaying each message associated with said first sub-topic identifier within in said message window utilizing a first presentation format and for displaying each message associated with said second sub-topic identifier within said message window utilizing a second presentation format.

30. The data processing system according to claim 23, wherein said intercommunication manager further comprises:

a sub-topic generator that creates a new sub-topic identifier having an associated new presentation format in response to operator input; and

an automatic label generator for automatically associating a default label with said new sub-topic identifier, such that said default label is displayed in said display device utilizing said new presentation format.

31. The data processing system according to claim 23, wherein said intercommunication manager further comprises:

a sub-topic generator that creates a new sub-topic identifier having an associated new presentation format in response to operator input; and

a label entry facility for associating an operator-specified label with said new sub-topic identifier, such that said operator-specified label is displayed in said display device utilizing said new presentation format.

32. A collaborative communications system that manages intercommunication among data processing system operators, said collaborative communications system comprising:

a data processing system having a first display device and a first message window according to claim 23;

a workstation having a second display device for displaying said first and second messages utilizing said first and second presentation formats, respectively, within a second message window in said second display device; and

a network infrastructure connecting said data processing system and said workstation; and

wherein;

said message formatting facility includes a message alteration facility that causes said first message to be displayed in said second presentation format in lieu of said first presentation format within each of said first and second message windows in response to operator input associating said first message with said second sub-topic identifier in lieu of said first sub-topic identifier.

33. A collaborative communications system according to claim 32, wherein:

said message formatting facility causes each message associated with said first sub-topic identifier to be displayed in a first column within said first and second message windows;

said message formatting facility causes each message associated with said second sub-topic identifier to be displayed in a second column within said first and second message windows; and

said message alteration facility causes said first message to be displayed in said second column in lieu of said first column in a vertical position that corresponds to a relative chronology of said first and second messages.

24. A data processing system that manages operator intercommunication in a collaborative data processing environment, said data processing system comprising:

a processor and a memory in communication with said processor;

a display device in communication with said processor; and

an intercommunication manager stored in said memory and executable by said processor, said intercommunication manager including;

a window generator for displaying a message window in said display device;

a message acquisition facility for receiving first and second messages and respectively associated first and second sub-topic identifiers from a discussion forum; and

a message formatting facility for displaying each message associated with said first sub-topic identifier within in said message window utilizing a first presentation format and for displaying each message associated with said second sub-topic identifier within said message window utilizing a second presentation format, wherein said message formatting facility displays each message associated with said first sub-topic identifier in a first column within said message window and each message associated with said second sub-topic identifier in a second column within said message window.

25. The data processing system according to claim 24, wherein said message formatting facility automatically scrolls said first column horizontally in response to receipt of said second message.

26. The data processing system according to claim 24, wherein:

said message acquisition facility includes means for receiving a third message and an associated third sub-topic identifier from said discussion forum; and

said message formatting facility includes;

means for assigning each message associated with said third sub-topic identifier to a third column;

a column-age evaluator that automatically ascertains which column among said first column and said second column was a least recently updated column; and

an automatic column exchanger that automatically causes said third column to be displayed within said message window in lieu of said least recently updated column.

27. The data processing system according to claim 24, wherein said message formatting facility includes a compressed presentation mode which causes said message formatting facility to maintain messages within said first column in relative vertical positions that indicate chronology of said messages within said first column.

28. The data processing system according to claim 27, wherein said message formatting facility includes a chronological presentation mode which causes said message formatting facility to maintain said first and second messages in said first and second columns in relative vertical positions that indicate chronology of said first and second messages.

29. A collaborative communications system that manages intercommunication among data processing system operators, said collaborative communications system comprising:

a data processing system having a first display device and a first message window according to claim 24;

a workstation having a second display device for displaying said first and second messages in first and second columns, respectively, within a second message window in said second display device; and

a network infrastructure connecting said data processing system and said workstation; and

wherein;

in response to operator input requesting consolidation of said first and second columns, said message formatting facility causes said first and second messages to be displayed in a single column within each of said first and second message windows in vertical positions that indicate a relative chronology of said first and second messages.