Individually specifying message output attributes in a messaging system

• US 7,185,057 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky; Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/915,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,042 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 709/206, 709/227, 709/228, 709201-203, 709217-219, 715/745
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding

Abstract

A method, system and program for specifying message outputs in a messaging session are provided. A message entry is received in association with a particular topic from among multiple available topics from a particular user from among multiple users participating in a messaging session. Output attributes are assigned to the message entry according to receiving user specified output preferences for the particular topic individually specified by each of the receiving users participating in the messaging session, such that output of the message entry is uniquely specified for each of the receiving users participating.

Claims

1. A method for specifying messaging session outputs, comprising the steps of:

receiving a message entry associated with a particular topic from among a plurality of available topics from a sending user who is from among a plurality of users participating in a messaging session, wherein said sending user inserts said message entry in said messaging session in association with said particular tonic, wherein at least one receiving user from among said plurality of users participating in said messaging session is intended to receive said message entry, wherein said messaging session facilitates network based communication via an instant messaging channel between said plurality of users; and

assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry for each said receiving user, wherein each said separate output attribute is assigned according to a plurality of receiving user specified output preferences for said particular topic, wherein each of said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences is associated with one from among each said receiving user, such that output of said message entry is uniquely specified for each said receiving user.

2. The method for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

receiving said message entry at a messaging server communicatively connected via a network to a plurality of messaging systems accessible to said plurality of users.

3. The method for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 1, said step of assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising the step of:

assigning said separate output attribute to said message entry according to channel options for said messaging session.

4. The method for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 1, said step of assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising the step of:

assigning a distinguishable graphic to said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

5. The method for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 1, said step of assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising the step of:

assigning a distinguishable font to said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

6. The method for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 1, said step of assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising the step of:

assigning a particular graphical window for display of said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

7. The method for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 1, said step of assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising the step of:

assigning a particular sound to said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

8. The method for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 1, said step of assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising the step of:

assigning a particular style comprising multiple output attributes to said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

9. The method for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 1, said step of assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising the step of:

assigning said output attributes to said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference based on a device utilized by a user associated with said separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

10. The method for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 1, said step of assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising the step of:

assigning said output attributes to distinguish between said plurality of topics within a channel of said messaging session.

11. The method for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 1, said step of assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising the step of:

assigning said output attributes to distinguish between said plurality of users within a channel of said messaging session.

12. A system for specifying messaging session outputs, comprising:

a messaging system communicatively connected to a network;

said messaging system comprising;

means for receiving a message entry associated with a particular topic from among a plurality of available topics from a sending user who is from among a plurality of users participating in a messaging session, wherein said sending user inserts said message entry in said messaging session in association with said particular topic, wherein at least one receiving user from among said plurality of users participating in said messaging session is intended to receive said message entry, wherein said messaging session facilitates network based communication via an instant messaging channel between said plurality of users; and

means for assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry for each said receiving user, wherein each said separate output attribute is assigned according to a plurality of receiving user specified output preferences for said particular topic, wherein each of said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences is associated with one from among each said receiving user, such that output of said message entry is uniquely specified for each said receiving user.

13. The system for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 12, wherein said messaging system functions as a messaging server communicatively connected via said network to a plurality of messaging systems accessible to said plurality of users.

14. The system for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 12, said means for assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising:

means for assigning said separate output attribute to said message entry according to channel options for said messaging session.

15. The system for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 12, said means for assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising:

means for assigning a distinguishable graphic to said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

16. The system for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 12, said means for assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising:

means for assigning a distinguishable font to said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

17. The system for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 12, said means for assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising:

means for assigning a particular graphical window for display of said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

18. The system for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 12, said means for assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising:

means for assigning a particular sound to said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

19. The system for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 12, said means for assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising:

means for assigning a particular style comprising multiple output attributes to said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

20. The system for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 12, said means for assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising:

means for assigning said output attributes to said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference based on a device utilized by a user associated with said separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

21. The system for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 12, said means for assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising:

means for assigning said output attributes to distinguish between said plurality of topics within a channel of said messaging session.

22. The system for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 12, said means for assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising:

means for assigning said output attributes to distinguish between said plurality of users within a channel of said messaging session.

23. A program for specifying messaging session outputs, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for receiving a message entry associated with a particular topic from among a plurality of available topics from a sending user who is from among a plurality of users participating in a messaging session, wherein said sending user inserts said message entry in said messaging session in association with said particular topic, wherein at least one receiving user from among said plurality of users participating in said messaging session is intended to receive said message entry, wherein said messaging session facilitates network based communication via an instant messaging channel between said plurality of users; and

means for assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry for each said receiving user, wherein each said separate output attribute is assigned according to a plurality of receiving user specified output preferences for said particular topic, wherein each of said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences is associated with one from among each said receiving user, such that output of said message entry is uniquely specified for each said receiving user.

24. The program for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 23, said means for assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry further comprising:

means for assigning said separate output attribute to said message entry according to channel options for said messaging session.

25. The program for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for assigning a distinguishable graphic to said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

26. The program for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for assigning a distinguishable font to said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

27. The program for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for assigning a particular graphical window for display of said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.

28. The program for specifying messaging session outputs according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for assigning a particular sound to said message entry according to a separate receiving user specified output preference from among said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences.