Method and apparatus for enhancing instant messaging systems

• US 7,693,951 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Seaman, James Wesley, Gusler, Carl Phillip, Schatz, Harry, Hamilton, Rick Allen II
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava; Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Minh-Chau
• Application Number:
  US12/144,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20080250336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer instructions for organizing threads in an instant messaging session. Instant messages are received from a list of contacts. Each of these messages are stored in a set of folders, wherein each folders in the set of folders stores messages for a contact in the number of contacts. Each file is linked for access though a graphical user interface. Message threads are handled by displaying a primary dialog window, wherein the primary dialog window includes an ongoing conversation pane and an outgoing message pane. Responsive to a user input identifying a new thread, a secondary dialog window is displayed, wherein the secondary dialog window includes an ongoing conversation pane and an outgoing message pane. Responses to outgoing messages sent from the outgoing message pane are displayed in the primary dialog window in the ongoing conversation pane in the primary dialog window. Responses to outgoing messages sent from the outgoing message pane in the secondary dialog window are displayed in the ongoing conversation pane in the secondary dialog window, wherein the primary dialog window and the secondary dialog window.

Claims

1. A data processing system for managing messages, the data processing system comprising:

receiving means for receiving a request to store a plurality of instant messages from a particular chat session with a particular contact;

determining means for determining whether the particular contact has a listing on a contact list comprising a plurality of contacts, wherein each contact of the plurality of contacts having a listing on the contact list has an associated folder in a set of folders for storing chat sessions of the associated contact, and wherein each folder in the set of folders is linked with the listing of its associated contact on the contact list through a graphical user interface; and

selecting means, responsive to determining that the particular contact has a listing on the contact list, for selecting the listing of the particular contact from the contact list to store the plurality of instant messages from the particular chat session in the associated folder linked with the listing of the particular contact on the contact list.

2. The data processing system of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying means displaying the contact list;

selecting means, responsive to a user input for selecting the particular contact on the contact list; and

displaying means for displaying instant messages stored in the folder associated with the particular contact.

3. The data processing system of claim 2, wherein the selecting means comprises pointer movable over the listing of the particular contact on the contact list for selecting the particular contact with a right click.

4. The data processing system of claim 2, wherein the selecting means comprises an alt key on a keyboard.

5. The data processing system of claim 2, wherein the a selecting means comprises a shift key on a keyboard.

6. The data processing system of claim 2, wherein the displaying means displays the instant messages in reverse chronological order.

7. The data processing system of claim 2 further comprising:

adding means for adding a new folder to the set of folders when a listing of a new contact is added to the contact list.

8. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein instant messages in a folder, within the set of folders, are stored in files.

9. A data processing system for managing messages, the data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a request to store a plurality of instant messages from a particular chat session with a particular contact, determine whether the particular contact has a listing on a contact list comprising a plurality of contacts, wherein each contact of the plurality of contacts having a listing on the contact list has an associated folder in a set of folders for storing chat sessions of the associated contact, and wherein each folder in the set of folders is linked with the listing of its associated contact on the contact list through a graphical user interface, and, responsive to determining that the particular contact has a listing on the contact list, to select the listing of the particular contact from the contact list to store the plurality of instant messages from the particular chat session in the associated folder linked with the listing of the particular contact on the contact list.

10. A computer program product, stored in a recordable-type computer readable medium, comprising program code for managing message files:

computer readable program code for receiving a request to store a plurality of instant messages from a particular chat session with a particular contact;

computer readable program code for determining whether the particular contact has a listing on a contact list comprising a plurality of contacts, wherein each contact of the plurality of contacts having a listing on the contact list has an associated folder in a set of folders for storing chat sessions of the associated contact, and wherein each folder in the set of folders is linked with the listing of its associated contact on the contact list through a graphical user interface; and

computer readable program code responsive to determining that the particular contact has a listing on the contact list, for selecting the listing of the particular contact from the contact list to store of the plurality of instant messages from the particular chat session in the associated folder linked with the listing of the particular contact on the contact list.