Instant messaging for multi-user computers

• US 7,640,341 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Regan, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr.; William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bayard; Djenane M
• Application Number:
  US10/600,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,385 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/207, 709/203, 709/206, 709/246, 709/225, 725/139, 455/517, 455/414
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104

Abstract

An instant messaging system provides instant message communication between computers, including multi-user computers. The system provides multiple concurrent instant message user logins on a multi-user computer, one of the multiple concurrent instant message user logins being a registered buddy of a user of a second computer. The second computer is provided an indication that the registered buddy is one of multiple concurrent instant message user logins on a multi-user computer. The user of the second computer can send a message appropriate to be viewed on the multi-user computer. A video display may be rendered concurrently with the multiple concurrent instant message user logins. Instant messages are rendered over a portion of the video display. As a result, the instant messaging can operate smoothly with multi-user computers, protecting the privacy of instant messaging while minimizing the disruptiveness of instant messaging to accommodate shared use of a multi-user computer.

Claims

1. A method for allowing instant messaging between a multi-user computer and an instant messaging device, comprising the steps of:

receiving first login information from a first user of the multi-user computer by an instant messaging system;

receiving second login information from a second user of the multi-user computer by the instant messaging system while the first user is logged in; and

providing a shared use indication, wherein the shared use indication indicates a lack of privacy to the instant messaging device since the first user and the second user are concurrently logged into the instant message system together through the multi-user computer.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the second user is a guest and the second login information does not correspond to a specific instant messaging user.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing a visual user interface to users of the multi-user computer concurrently with visual content from the multi-user computer.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

rendering an instant message from the multi-user computer over a portion of a video display without a visible window surrounding the instant message.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the instant message is rendered with a user-discernible fade in and a user-discernible fade out.

6. The method of claim 4 in which the instant message is rendered over a marginal region of the video display.

7. The method of claim 4 in which the instant message is rendered over a user-selectable portion of the video display.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a visual user interface to users of the multi-user computer concurrently with visual content from another source.

9. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of transmitting one of plural predefined instant messages from the multi-user computer.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving from a wireless remote control device a user indication of the one of plural predefined instant messages transmitted from the multi-user computer.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer usable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method for allowing instant messaging between a multi-user computer and an instant messaging device, comprising the steps of:

receiving first login information form a first user of the multi-user computer by an instant messaging system;

receiving second login information from a second user of the multi-user computer by the instant messaging system while the first user is logged in; and

providing a shared use indication, wherein the shared use indication indicates a lack of privacy to the instant messaging device that the first user and the second user are concurrently logged into the instant message system together through the multi-user computer.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

providing a visual user interface to users of the multi-user computer concurrently with visual content from the multi-user computer.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 further comprising the step of rendering an instant message on a portion of a video display without a visible window surrounding the instant message.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 in which the instant message is rendered with a user-discernible fade in and a user-discernible fade out.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 in which the instant message is rendered over a marginal region of the video display.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 in which the instant message is rendered over a user-selectable portion of the video display.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

providing a visual user interface to users of the multi-user computer concurrently with visual content from another source.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising transmitting one of plural predefined instant messages.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 in which the one of plural predefined instant messages transmitted from the multi-user computer is selected by a user with a wireless remote control device.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the second user is a guest and the second login information does not correspond to a specific instant messaging user.