Instant messaging windowing for topic threads

• US 7,383,307 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2004
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Zitiao Network Technology Company Limited (ByteDance Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McCarty, Richard J., Kirkland, Dustin C., Rodriguez, Herman
• Primary Examiner(s): WON, MICHAEL YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/752,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 709/206, 709/207, 709/201, 709/217, 709/248
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing multi-threaded conversations in an instant messaging system. The present invention provides a menu option to allow the start of a new topic of discussion within the current instant messaging session. When a new topic is selected, a new thread of conversation is created within the messaging window that is segregated from previous topics of discussion. This new thread of conversation may be created at all other locations for all of the parties involved in the instant messaging session. In this manner, each party to a messaging session containing multiple conversations may be able to understand which response is related to which thread of conversation. In addition, a menu option may be provided by the instant messaging application to allow a user to merge one or more of the threaded conversations into a single conversation.

Claims

1. A method for communication between a plurality of devices remotely connected via a network, comprising:

within an existing instant messaging session on a first user device associated with a first user, responsive to user input, initiating a new topic session;

within the existing instant messaging session on the first user device, responsive to user input on the first user device, selectively causing the new topic session to be replicated on secondary user devices associated with the first user;

providing a user interface on the first user device, which is capable of distinguishing between data intended for the existing and new sessions; and

sending a message associated with the new topic session, wherein header information in the message indicates that the message is to be replicated on particular secondary user devices associated with the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and secondary user devices include at least one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, and a fax machine, and wherein the user interface distinguishes between the data using (i) device identifiers for the first and secondary user devices that are included with the data, and (ii) conversation identifiers for the existing and new sessions that are included with the data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input is performed by selecting a button in a messaging window.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a recipient has more than one device capable of receiving instant messages; and

selectively sending a message to the recipient'"'"'s devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first user conducts the new topic session which was initiated on the first user device with the recipient using one of the secondary user devices.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein header information in the message indicates that the message is to be replicated on particular recipient devices associated with the recipient, wherein the header information comprises an identifier of the first user, an identifier of the secondary devices associated with the first user, an identifier of the recipient and an identifier of the recipient'"'"'s devices.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the message is received at a recipient device and is selectively forwarded to another recipient device based on thread content of the message that is identified in header information in the message.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first user updates the header information in the message.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein selectively sending a message to the recipient'"'"'s devices is performed by sending the message to all of the recipient'"'"'s devices.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein selectively sending a message to the recipient'"'"'s devices is performed by sending the message to the recipient'"'"'s devices in a priority sequence until a receipt notification is obtained.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface on the first user device distinguishes between data intended for the existing and new sessions by organizing the data in a topical manner, wherein a topic for the data is specified in a header received with the data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one participant in the instant messaging session has a capability to display multiple threads of conversation in multiple devices, and at least another participant in the instant messaging session does not have the capability to display multiple threads of conversation in multiple devices.