System and method of displaying multiple pending notifications in a single window

• US 7,278,108 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2001
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Danger Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: DeSalvo, Christopher J., Duarte, Matias G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu; Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US09/927,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20030030670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,244 Days
• Field of Search: 345/764, 345750-759, 345/733, 345/741, 709/204, 709/205, 709/206, 709/207, 709/224, 715/758, 715/759, 715750-753, 715/733, 715/741
• US Class Current: 715/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system and method of displaying multiple, concurrent instant messaging (IM) sessions is described. The system and method includes providing multiple IM sessions, displaying a first one of the IM sessions in an IM session window. Representing each one of the IM sessions as a corresponding one of a number of indicators in the IM session window.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a plurality of concurrent IM sessions:

providing a graphical interface to display information related to a plurality of IM sessions, wherein each IM session in the plurality of IM sessions is with a different session than the sessions of the other IM sessions in the plurality of IM sessions;

displaying a first one of the plurality of IM sessions in a single IM session window;

representing each one of the plurality of IM sessions as a corresponding one of a plurality of indicators in the single IM session window;

receiving a plurality of messages in one or more of the plurality of IM sessions;

indicating the number of messages received in one or more of the plurality of IM sessions in the respective indicators in the single IM session window which corresponds to the one or more of the plurality of IM sessions in response to receiving the plurality of messages, wherein indicating the number of messages comprises displaying a number of first symbols within each of the indicators corresponding to the number of messages; and

upon reaching a number of messages equal to a specified threshold, displaying a second symbol to indicate that the numbers of messages are above the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

initiating a plurality of IM sessions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein representing each one of the plurality of IM sessions as a corresponding one of the plurality of indicators in the single IM session window includes representing each one the non-displayed ones of the plurality of IM sessions as a corresponding one of the plurality of indicators in the single IM session window.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a second symbol indicating a beginning of a received message that is displayed in the single IM session window.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a third symbol indicating a beginning of a sent message that is displayed in the single IM session window.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a message in a selected one of the plurality of IM sessions;

adding the message to the number of previously-received messages in the IM session; and

updating the number of messages received in each of the indicators which corresponds to the one or more of the plurality of IM sessions.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a second one of the plurality of IM sessions, wherein the second session is one of the plurality of IM sessions that was not displayed.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising representing the first one of the plurality of IM sessions only as a corresponding one of the plurality of indicators in the single IM session window.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising representing the first one of the plurality of IM sessions as a corresponding one of the plurality of indicators in the single IM session window.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying a second one of the plurality of IM sessions includes:

selecting a hot key.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein selecting a hot key includes:

selecting a numbered key that corresponds to a number assigned to the corresponding one of the plurality of indicators in the single IM session window.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying a second one of the plurality of IM sessions includes:

selecting the indicator that corresponds to the second one of the plurality of IM sessions.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising prioritizing each one of the plurality of indicators.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the prioritizing each one of the plurality of indicators includes:

prioritizing each one of the plurality of indicators in order of activity of the IM session that corresponds to each one of the plurality of indicators.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the activity of the IM session includes at least one of a group consisting of:

receiving a message in the IM session;

sending a message in the IM session;

displaying the IM session.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the prioritizing each one of the plurality of indicators includes:

assigning the displayed IM session a lowest priority.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the prioritizing each one of the plurality of indicators includes:

assigning the displayed IM session a highest priority.

18. An instant messaging (IM) session graphical user interface for concurrently managing a plurality of IM sessions comprising:

a single IM session window to display text associated with a first one of the plurality of IM sessions, wherein each IM session in the plurality of IM sessions is with a different session than the sessions of the other IM sessions in the plurality of IM sessions; and

a plurality of indicators, displayed in the single IM session window, representing each one of the other plurality of IM sessions, wherein in response to receiving a plurality of messages in one or more of the other plurality of IM sessions, the plurality of indicators in the single IM session window indicate the number of messages received in one or more of the respective IM sessions of the plurality of IM sessions which correspond to the one or more of the plurality of IM sessions, wherein indicatino the number of messages comprises displavinq a number of first symbols within each of the indicators corresponding to the number of messages; and

upon reaching a number of messages equal to a specified threshold, displaying a second symbol to indicate that the numbers of messages are above the threshold.

19. A system for instant messaging comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor;

a network coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes instruction that when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

provide a graphical interface to display information related to a plurality of IM sessions, wherein each IM session in the plurality of IM sessions is with a different session than the sessions of the other IM sessions in the plurality of IM sessions;

display a first one of the plurality of IM sessions in a single IM session window;

represent each one of the plurality of IM sessions as a corresponding one of a plurality of indicators in the single IM session window;

receive a plurality of messages in one or more of the plurality of IM sessions; and

indicate the number of messages received in one or more of the plurality of IM sessions in the respective indicators in the single IM session window which corresponds to the one or more of the plurality of IM sessions in response to receiving the plurality of messages, wherein indicating the number of messages comprises displaying a number of first symbols within each of the indicators corresponding to the number of messages; and

upon reaching a number of messages egual to a specified threshold, displaying a second symbol to indicate that the numbers of messages are above the threshold.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is coupled to the network via a wireless network.

21. The system of claim 19 further comprising a mobile user terminal, wherein the processor and the display are included in the mobile user terminal.

22. A machine-readable medium having program code stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the operations of:

providing a graphical interface to display information related to a plurality of IM sessions, wherein each IM session in the plurality of IM sessions is with a different session than the sessions of the other IM sessions in the plurality of IM sessions;

displaying a first one of the plurality of IM sessions in a single IM session window;

representing each one of the plurality of IM sessions as a corresponding one of a plurality of indicators in the single IM session window;

receiving a plurality of messages in one or more of the plurality of IM sessions; and

indicating the number of messages received from one or more of the plurality of IM sessions in the respective indicators in the single IM session window which corresponds to the one or more of the plurality of IM sessions in response to receiving the plurality of messages, wherein indicating the number of messages comprises displaying a number of first symbols within each of the indicators corresponding to the number of messages; and

upon reaching a number of messages equal to a specified threshold, displaying a second symbol to indicate that the numbers of messages are above the threshold.