Creating dynamic interactive alert messages based on extensible document definitions

• US 8,301,701 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Goodman, Brian D., Jania, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Whipple, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US10/685,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20040128353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,303 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities

Abstract

An unsolicited dynamic interactive message is created wherein the message defines any graphical user interface elements to be displayed, the rules associated with the message, the appropriate methods and functions which can be performed and specific contextual interactions supported. The message definition can originate from a local or remote computer and can be pre and post processed as specified by the computing environment and the message definition itself.

Claims

1. A method for creating a message at a first computer system for display on a second computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

initiating a request for a GUI message in response to an event wherein the event and the initiating of the request are external to the second computer system wherein said message is a notification of said event;

defining GUI message attributes;

defining GUI message functionality;

creating the message at the first computer system, the message comprising message content including an alert message, the GUI message attributes and the GUI message functionality such that the message includes aspects of how the second computer system is to display the message content; and

in response to the request, transmitting the message from the first computer system to a group of computer systems wherein the group of computer systems comprises the second computer system, each computer system in said group of computer systems subscribing to messages from said first computer, each computer system in said group of computer systems extracting from said message, said attributes and functionality to instruct said each computer system how to display the user interactive GUI representation at said each computer system, the display of the message under individual control of each computer system in said group of computer systems; and

filtering the message by a filter in each computer system in said group of computer systems, each filter for filtering for keywords of interest to the respective other computer system such that the message would have to contain the keywords of interest before the respective computer system sees the message and messages not containing the keywords are blocked by said filter from being seen by said respective computer system.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the attributes comprise any one of:

background color, background images, shape of GUI image, location on the display, alpha blending of any attribute, alpha blending of a window, size of the container, size of an attribute, text font, text color, size of text, the z-order (is window topmost or not), the resizability of window, resizeability of features, the movability of the window, movability of features, the associated audio component, audio volume, audio looping, audio equalization, audio synthesized voice accent, audio speech rate, audio stereo/mono aspects, audio background music, audible animation, visual animation, audio/visual synchronization, inline binary data, computer program instructions, rich media content, instructions for displaying the GUI, GUI display location, GUI display size, GUI display shape or preferred input types, the preferred input types comprising any one of keyboard, mouse, voice, biometric system, application program interface or network attached device.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the functionality for said alert message comprises any one of:

removing the GUI image after a predetermined time, removing the GUI image unless a user takes an action within a predetermined time, moving the GUI image across a display when instantiating the GUI image, moving the GUI image across the display when removing the GUI image, saving a history of messages, saving active messages off screen, buttons, standard, check, radio, menus, toolbars, hyperlinks, tree, table, custom controls described by standard mark up language (e.g. XUL), a widget which is appropriate to the interaction requested by the alert message, a button widget to start poll, a widget which is appropriate to the modification of the alert content, a widget to translate text to or from languages, a widget which is appropriate to the interaction with the alert message content, a button widget to search text for keywords, a start/stop movie widget, a start/stop sound widget, zoom image, a widget which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message presentation, a slider widget to change value of font size, audible cue widget, audible cue widget for limited response vocabulary, limited response grammar, predefined sounds, a cue which is appropriate to the interaction requested by the alert message, a text cue to start a poll, a cue which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message content, a text cue to select a language in which to hear the alert message content, a cue which is appropriate to the interaction with the alert message content, a query keyword, a repeat message keyword, a cue which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message presentation or a combination of aural and visual elements.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the content comprises any one of text, translated text, translated aural message, translated aural message according to location, translation of aural message according to local language, image, video, animation, sound, binary file, hyperlink to execute a file with an application, visual markup, synthesized voice or a combination of an aural and visual element.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the message further comprises routing information for any one of forwarding or acknowledging the message.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein each computer system in said group of computer systems is anonymous to the first computer system and the other computer systems in said group of computer systems, and the message is transmitted to the group by way of a pub/sub service.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the message is any one of unsolicited by the first computer system, initiated by a program event, or initiated by a user action, and said message includes instructions for a desired length of time said alert message is to be displayed.

8. A method for presenting a message received from a first computer system for display on a second computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

subscribing by said second computer system, to messages from said first computer system;

receiving the message from the first computer system at the second computer system wherein the message includes an alert message of an event wherein the event is external to the second computer system, said message including aspects of how the second computer system is to display the message, the display of the message under individual control of the second computer system;

decoding the message at the second computer system, the decoding resulting in a format suitable for processing on second computer system;

extracting said aspects including attributes, functionality and content from the message at the second computer system to instruct said second computer system how to display the user interactive GUI representation;

creating a user interactive GUI representation at the second computer system, the user interactive GUI representation comprising one or more user input functions, the user input function selectable by a user, the interactive GUI representation further comprising attributes, content and functionality defined by the extracted attributes, content and functionality of the message;

filtering the message by a filter in said second computer system, said filter for filtering for keywords of interest to the second computer system such that the message would have to contain the keywords of interest before the second computer system sees the message and messages not containing the keywords are blocked by said filter from being seen by said second computer system; and

displaying the user interactive GUI representation seen at the second computer system.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the attributes comprise any one of:

background color, background images, shape of GUI image, location on the display, alpha blending of any attribute, alpha blending of a window, size of the container, size of an attribute, text font, text color, size of text, the z-order (is window topmost or not), the resizability of window, resizeability of features, the movability of the window, movability of features, the associated audio component, audio volume, audio looping, audio equalization, audio synthesized voice accent, audio speech rate, audio stereo/mono aspects, audio background music, audible animation, visual animation, audio/visual synchronization, inline binary data, computer program instructions, rich media content, instructions for displaying the GUI, GUI display location, GUI display size, GUI display shape or preferred input types, the preferred input types comprising any one of;

keyboard, mouse, voice, biometric system, application program interface or network attached device.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein the functionality of said alert message comprises any one of:

removing the GUI image after a predetermined time, removing the GUI image unless a user takes an action within a predetermined time, moving the GUI image across a display when instantiating the GUI image, moving the GUI image across the display when removing the GUI image, saving a history of messages, saving active messages off screen, buttons, standard, check, radio, menus, toolbars, hyperlinks, tree, table, custom controls described by standard mark up language (e.g. XUL), a widget which is appropriate to the interaction requested by the alert message, a button widget to start poll, a widget which is appropriate to the modification of the alert content, a widget to translate text to or from languages, a widget which is appropriate to the interaction with the alert message content, a button widget to search text for keywords, a start/stop movie widget, a start/stop sound widget, zoom image, a widget which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message presentation, a slider widget to change value of font size, audible cue widget, audible cue widget for limited response vocabulary, limited response grammar, predefined sounds, a cue which is appropriate to the interaction requested by the alert message, a text cue to start a poll, a cue which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message content, a text cue to select a language in which to hear the alert message content, a cue which is appropriate to the interaction with the alert message content, a query keyword, a repeat message keyword, a cue which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message presentation or a combination of aural and visual elements.

11. The method according to claim 8 wherein the content comprises any one of:

text, translated text, translated aural message, translated aural message according to location, translation of aural message according to local language, image, video, animation, sound, binary file, hyperlink to execute a file with an application, visual markup, synthesized voice or a combination of an aural and visual element.

12. The method according to claim 8 wherein the second computer system is anonymous to the first computer system and the other computer systems and the message is received by way of a pub/sub service.

13. The method according to claim 8 wherein the message is any one of unsolicited by the second computer system, initiated by a program event or initiated by a user action, and said message includes instructions for a desired length of time said alert message is to be displayed.

14. The method according to claim 8 wherein extracting content of the message comprises the further steps of:

identifying routing information.

15. The method according to claim 14 comprising the further step of modifying the GUI based on the routing information.

16. The method according to claim 8 comprising the further step of launching an application program according to attributes of the message content.

17. The method according to claim 8 wherein the attributes comprise any one of inline binary data, computer program instructions, rich media content, instructions for displaying the GUI, GUI display, size or shape.

18. The method according to claim 8 wherein the attributes identify preferred input types, the types comprising any one of keyboard, mouse, voice, biometric system, application program interface or network attached device.

19. The method according to claim 8 wherein the GUI display is overridden by local GUI settings.

20. The method according to claim 8 comprising the further step of saving the message in a list view, the list view comprising history of messages.

21. The method according to claim 8 comprising the further step of pre-processing the message before the creating the GUI step.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein pre-processing comprises any one of:

highlighting words using a predefined list of keywords, highlighting proper nouns based on word pattern, linking proper nouns to resources containing more information pre-fetching content that is referenced by a URL, virus scanning the message, identifying SPAM, gathering, information of sender to display along with notification, identifying if the sender is currently online, identifying the sender'"'"'s current location to facilitate time difference visuals, identifying the sender'"'"'s attribute to facilitate contacting the sender, decrypting, verifying digital signature, decompression, decoding the message, mapping character, language translation, loading another program as part of notification event, validation of message format, translation of older message formats to newer message formats, logging the message, using the message content to generate statistics of types of content received, using the message content to generate and tweak SPAM identification heuristics, or charging either the sender or the receiver for the transaction.

23. The method according to claim 8 comprising the further step of post-processing the message after the creating the step.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein post-processing comprises any one of:

compression for saving space in long term storage, encryption for secure storage, adding an event to calendar application, adding an event to to-do application, adding an event to history listing, using interaction data to derive “

closeness”

, using interaction data to present visualization of social circles, logging the message, generating statistics of types of content received, generating SPAM identification heuristics or charging either the sender or the receiver for the transaction.

25. A system for creating a message at a first computer system for display on a second computer system, the system comprising:

a network;

the second computer system in communication with the network;

the first computer system in communication with the network, wherein the first computer system includes storage for storing computer instructions to execute a method comprising;

initiating a request for a GUI message in response to an event wherein the event and the initiating of the request are external to the second computer system wherein said message is a notification of said event;

defining GUI message attributes;

defining GUI message functionality;

creating the message at the first computer system, the message comprising message content including an alert message, the GUI message attributes and the GUI message functionality such that the message includes aspects of how the second computer system is to display the message content; and

in response to the request, transmitting the message from the first computer system to a group of computer systems wherein the group of computer systems comprises the second computer system, each computer system in said group of computer systems subscribing to messages from said first computer, each computer system in said group of computer systems extracting from said message, said attributes and functionality to instruct said each computer system how to display the user interactive GUI representation at said each computer system, the display of the message under individual control of the second computer system such that the display of the message at the second computer system is determined by a user of the second computer system, and the message content defines a problem;

a filter in each computer system in said group of computer systems for filtering the problem defined in said message, each filter for filtering for keywords of interest to the respective other computer system such that the message would have to contain the keywords of interest before the respective computer system sees the message and messages not containing the keywords are blocked by said filter from being seen by said respective computer system.

26. The system according to claim 25 wherein the attributes comprise any one of:

background color, background images, length of visual persistence, shape of GUI image, location on the display, alpha blending of any attribute, alpha blending of a window, size of the container, size of an attribute, text font, text color, size of text, the z-order (is window topmost or not), the resizability of window, resizeability of features, the movability of the window, movability of features, the associated audio component, audio volume, audio looping, audio equalization, audio synthesized voice accent, audio speech rate, audio stereo/mono aspects, audio background music, audible animation, visual animation, audio/visual synchronization, inline binary data, computer program instructions, rich media content, instructions for displaying the GUI, GUI display location, GUI display size, GUI display shape or preferred input types, the preferred input types comprising any one of keyboard, mouse, voice, biometric system, application program interface or network attached device.

27. The system according to claim 25 the functionality for said alert message comprises any one of:

removing the GUI image after a predetermined time, removing the GUI image unless a user takes an action within a predetermined time, moving the GUI image across a display when instantiating the GUI image, moving the GUI image across the display when removing the GUI image, saving a history of messages, saving active messages off screen, buttons, standard, check, radio, menus, toolbars, hyperlinks, tree, table, custom controls described by standard mark up language (e.g. XUL), a widget which is appropriate to the interaction requested by the alert message, a button widget to start poll, a widget which is appropriate to the modification of the alert content, a widget to translate text to or from languages, a widget which is appropriate to the interaction with the alert message content, a button widget to search text for keywords, a start/stop movie widget, a start/stop sound widget, zoom image, a widget which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message presentation, a slider widget to change value of font size, audible cue widget, audible cue widget for limited response vocabulary, limited response grammar, predefined sounds, a cue which is appropriate to the interaction requested by the alert message, a text cue to start a poll, a cue which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message content, a text cue to select a language in which to hear the alert message content, a cue which is appropriate to the interaction with the alert message content, a query keyword, a repeat message keyword, a cue which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message presentation or a combination of aural and visual elements.

28. The system according to claim 25 wherein the content comprises any one of:

text, translated text, translated aural message, translated aural message according to location, translation of aural message according to local language, image, video, animation, sound, binary file, hyperlink to execute a file with an application, visual markup, synthesized voice or a combination of an aural and visual element.

29. The system according to claim 25 wherein the message further comprises routing information for any one of forwarding or acknowledging the message.

30. The system according to claim 25 wherein each computer system in said group of computer systems is anonymous to the first computer system and the other computer systems in said group of computer systems, and the message is transmitted to the group by way of a pub/sub service.

31. The system according to claim 25 wherein the message is any one of unsolicited by the second computer system, initiated by a program event or initiated by a user action, and said message includes instructions for a desired length of time said alert message is to be displayed.

32. A system for presenting a message received from a first computer system for display on a second computer system, the system comprising:

a network;

the first computer system in communication with the network;

the second computer system in communication with the network, wherein the second computer system includes storage for storing computer instructions to execute a method comprising;

subscribing by said second computer system, to messages from said first computer system;

receiving the message from the first computer system at the second computer system wherein the message includes an alert message of an event wherein the event is external to the second computer system, said message including aspects of how the second computer system is to display the message, the display of the message under individual control of the second computer system;

decoding the message at the second computer system, the decoding resulting in a format suitable for processing on second computer system;

extracting said aspects including attributes, functionality and content from the message at the second computer system to instruct said second computer system how to display the user interactive GUI representation;

creating a user interactive GUI representation at the second computer system, the user interactive GUI representation comprising one or more user input functions, the user input function selectable by a user, the interactive GUI representation further comprising attributes, content and functionality defined by the extracted attributes, content and functionality of the message;

filtering the message by a filter in said second computer system, said filter for filtering for keywords of interest to the second computer system such that the message would have to contain the keywords of interest before the second computer system sees the message and messages not containing the keywords are blocked by said filter from being seen by said second computer system; and

displaying the user interactive GUI representation seen at the second computer system.

33. The system according to claim 32 wherein the attributes comprise any one of:

background color, background images, shape of GUI image, location on the display, alpha blending of any attribute, alpha blending of a window, size of the container, size of an attribute, text font, text color, size of text, the z-order (is window topmost or not), the resizability of window, resizeability of features, the movability of the window, movability of features, the associated audio component, audio volume, audio looping, audio equalization, audio synthesized voice accent, audio speech rate, audio stereo/mono aspects, audio background music, audible animation, visual animation, audio/visual synchronization, inline binary data, computer program instructions, rich media content, instructions for displaying the GUI, GUI display location, GUI display size, GUI display shape or preferred input types, the preferred input types comprising any one of;

keyboard, mouse, voice, biometric system, application program interface or network attached device.

34. The system according to claim 32 wherein the functionality of said alert message comprises any one of:

removing the GUI image after a predetermined time, removing the GUI image unless a user takes an action within a predetermined time, moving the GUI image across a display when instantiating the GUI image, moving the GUI image across the display when removing the GUI image, saving a history of messages, saving active messages off screen, buttons, standard, check, radio, menus, toolbars, hyperlinks, tree, table, custom controls described by standard mark up language (e.g. XUL), a widget which is appropriate to the interaction requested by the alert message, a button widget to start poll, a widget which is appropriate to the modification of the alert content, a widget to translate text to or from languages, a widget which is appropriate to the interaction with the alert message content, a button widget to search text for keywords, a start/stop movie widget, a start/stop sound widget, zoom image, a widget which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message presentation, a slider widget to change value of font size, audible cue widget, audible cue widget for limited response vocabulary, limited response grammar, predefined sounds, a cue which is appropriate to the interaction requested by the alert message, a text cue to start a poll, a cue which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message content, a text cue to select a language in which to hear the alert message content, a cue which is appropriate to the interaction with the alert message content, a query keyword, a repeat message keyword, a cue which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message presentation or a combination of aural and visual elements.

35. The system according to claim 32 wherein the content comprises any one of:

text, translated text, translated aural message, translated aural message according to location, translation of aural message according to local language, image, video, animation, sound, binary file, hyperlink to execute a file with an application, visual markup, synthesized voice or a combination of an aural and visual element.

36. The system according to claim 32 wherein the second computer system is anonymous to the first computer system and the other computer systems, and the message is received by way of a pub/sub service.

37. The system according to claim 32 wherein the message is any one of unsolicited by the first computer system, initiated by a program event or initiated by a user action, and said message includes instructions for a desired length of time said alert message is to be displayed.

38. The system according to claim 32 wherein extracting content of the message comprises the further steps of:

identifying routing information.

39. The system according to claim 38 comprising the further step of modifying the GUI based on the routing information.

40. The system according to claim 32 comprising the further step of launching an application program according to attributes of the message content.

41. The system according to claim 32 wherein the attributes comprise any one of inline binary data, computer program instructions, rich media content, instructions for displaying the GUI, GUI display, size or shape.

42. The system according to claim 32 wherein the attributes identify preferred input types, the types comprising any one of keyboard, mouse, voice, biometric system, application program interface or network attached device.

43. The system according to claim 32 wherein the GUI display is overridden by local GUI settings.

44. The system according to claim 32 comprising the timber step of saving the message in a list view, the list view comprising history of messages.

45. The system according to claim 32 comprising the further step of pre-processing the message before the creating the GUI step.

46. The system according to claim 45 wherein pre-processing comprises any one of:

highlighting words using a predefined list of keywords, highlighting proper nouns based on word pattern, linking proper nouns to resources containing more information pre-fetching content that is referenced by a URL, virus scanning the message, identifying SPAM, gathering, information of sender to display along with notification, identifying if the sender is currently online, identifying the sender'"'"'s current location to facilitate time difference visuals, identifying the sender'"'"'s attribute to facilitate contacting the sender, decrypting, verifying digital signature, decompression, decoding the message, mapping character, language translation, loading another program as part of notification event, validation of message format, translation of older message formats to newer message formats, logging the message, using the message content to generate statistics of types of content received, using the message content to generate and tweak SPAM identification heuristics, or charging either the sender or the receiver for the transaction.

47. The system according to claim 32 comprising the further step of post-processing the message after the creating the step.

48. The system according to claim 47 wherein post-processing comprises any one of:

compression for saving space in long term storage, encryption for secure storage, adding an event to calendar application, adding an event to to-do application, adding an event to history listing, using interaction data to derive “

closeness”

, using interaction data to present visualization of social circles, logging the message, generating statistics of types of content received, generating SPAM identification heuristics or charging either the sender or the receiver for the transaction.

49. A computer program product for creating a message at a first computer system for display on a second computer system, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising;

initiating a request for a GUI message in response to an event wherein the event and the initiating of the request are external to the second computer system wherein said message is a notification of said event;

defining GUI message attributes;

defining GUI message functionality;

creating the message at the first computer system, the message comprising message content including an alert message, the GUI message attributes and the GUI message functionality such that the message includes aspects of how the second computer system is to display the message content;

in response to the request, transmitting the message from the first computer system to a group of computer systems wherein the group of computer systems comprises the second computer system, each computer system in said group of computer systems subscribing to messages from said first computer, each computer system in said group of computer systems extracting from said message, said attributes and functionality to instruct said each computer system how to display the user interactive GUI representation at said each computer system, the display of the message under individual control of each computer system in said group of computer systems; and

filtering the message by a filter in each computer system in said group of computer systems, each filter for filtering for keywords of interest to the respective other computer system such that the message would have to contain the keywords of interest before the respective computer system sees the message and messages not containing the keywords are blocked by said filter from being seen by said respective computer system.

50. The computer program product according to claim 49 wherein the attributes comprise any one of:

background color, background images, shape of GUI image, location on the display, alpha blending of any attribute, alpha blending of a window, size of the container, size of an attribute, text font, text color, size of text, the z-order (is window topmost or not), the resizability of window, resizeability of features, the movability of the window, movability of features, the associated audio component, audio volume, audio looping, audio equalization, audio synthesized voice accent, audio speech rate, audio stereo/mono aspects, audio background music, audible animation, visual animation, audio/visual synchronization, inline binary data, computer program instructions, rich media content, instructions for displaying the GUI, GUI display location, GUI display size, GUI display shape or preferred input types, the preferred input types comprising any one of;

keyboard, mouse, voice, biometric system, application program interface or network attached device.

51. The computer program product according to claim 49 wherein the functionality for said alert message comprises any one of:

removing the GUI image after a predetermined time, removing the GUI image unless a user takes an action within a predetermined time, moving the GUI image across a display when instantiating the GUI image, moving the GUI image across the display when removing the GUI image, saving a history of messages, saving active messages off screen, buttons, standard, check, radio, menus, toolbars, hyperlinks, tree, table, custom controls described by standard mark up language (e.g. XUL), a widget which is appropriate to the interaction requested by the alert message, a button widget to start poll, a widget which is appropriate to the modification of the alert content, a widget to translate text to or from languages, a widget which is appropriate to the interaction with the alert message content, a button widget to search text for keywords, a start/stop movie widget, a start/stop sound widget, zoom image, a widget which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message presentation, a slider widget to change value of font size, audible cue widget, audible cue widget for limited response vocabulary, limited response grammar, predefined sounds, a cue which is appropriate to the interaction requested by the alert message, a text cue to start a poll, a cue which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message content, a text cue to select a language in which to hear the alert message content, a cue which is appropriate to the interaction with the alert message content, a query keyword, a repeat message keyword, a cue which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message presentation or a combination of aural and visual elements.

52. The computer program product according to claim 49 wherein the content comprises any one of:

text, translated text, translated aural message, translated aural message according to location, translation of aural message according to local language, image, video, animation, sound, binary file, hyperlink to execute a file with an application, visual markup, synthesized voice or a combination of an aural and visual element.

53. The computer program product according to claim 49 wherein the message further comprises routing information for any one of forwarding or acknowledging the message.

54. The computer program product according to claim 49 each computer system in said group of computer systems is anonymous to the first computer system and the other computer systems in said group of computer systems, and the message is transmitted to the group by way of a pub/sub service.

55. The computer program product according to claim 49 wherein the message is any one of unsolicited by the second computer system, initiated by a program event or initiated by a user action, and said message includes instructions for a desired length of time said alert message is to be displayed.

56. A computer program product recorded on a non-transitory computer readable medium for presenting a message received from a first computer system for display on a second computer system, the computer program product comprising:

subscribing by said second computer system, to messages from said first computer system;

receiving the message from the first computer system at the second computer system wherein the message includes an alert message of an event wherein the event is external to the second computer system, said message including aspects of how the second computer system is to display the message, the display of the message under individual control of the second computer system;

decoding the message at the second computer system, the decoding resulting in a format suitable for processing on second computer system;

extracting said aspects including attributes, functionality and content from the message at the second computer system to instruct said second computer system how to display the user interactive GUI representation;

creating a user interactive GUI representation at the second computer system, the user interactive GUI representation comprising one or more user input functions, the user input function selectable by a user, the interactive GUI representation further comprising attributes, content and functionality defined by the extracted attributes, content and functionality of the message;

filtering the message by a filter in the second computer system, said filter for filtering for keywords of interest to the second computer system such that the message would have to contain the keywords of interest before the second computer system sees the message and messages not containing the keywords are blocked by said filter from being seen by said second computer system; and

displaying the user interactive GUI representation seen at the second computer system.

57. The computer program product according to claim 56 wherein the attributes comprise any one of:

background color, background images, shape of GUI image, location on the display, alpha blending of any attribute, alpha blending of a window, size of the container, size of an attribute, text font, text color, size of text, the z-order (is window topmost or not), the resizability of window, resizeability of features, the movability of the window, movability of features, the associated audio component, audio volume, audio looping, audio equalization, audio synthesized voice accent, audio speech rate, audio stereo/mono aspects, audio background music, audible animation, visual animation, audio/visual synchronization, inline binary data, computer program instructions, rich media content, instructions for displaying the GUI, GUI display location, GUI display size, GUI display shape or preferred input types, the preferred input types comprising any one of;

keyboard, mouse, voice, biometric system, application program interface or network attached device.

58. The computer program product according to claim 56 wherein the functionality of said alert message comprises any one of:

removing the GUI image after a predetermined time, removing the GUI image unless a user takes an action within a predetermined time, moving the GUI image across a display when instantiating the GUI image, moving the GUI image across the display when removing the GUI image, saving a history of messages, saving active messages off screen, buttons, standard, check, radio, menus, toolbars, hyperlinks, tree, table, custom controls described by standard mark up language (e.g. XUL), a widget which is appropriate to the interaction requested by the alert message, a button widget to start poll, a widget which is appropriate to the modification of the alert content, a widget to translate text to or from languages, a widget which is appropriate to the interaction with the alert message content, a button widget to search text for keywords, a start/stop movie widget, a start/stop sound widget, zoom image, a widget which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message presentation, a slider widget to change value of font size, audible cue widget, audible cue widget for limited response vocabulary, limited response grammar, predefined sounds, a cue which is appropriate to the interaction requested by the alert message, a text cue to start a poll, a cue which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message content, a text cue to select a language in which to hear the alert message content, a cue which is appropriate to the interaction with the alert message content, a query keyword, a repeat message keyword, a cue which is appropriate to the modification of the alert message presentation or a combination of aural and visual elements.

59. The computer program product according to claim 56 wherein the content comprises any one of:

text, translated text, translated aural message, translated aural message according to location, translation of aural message according to local language, image, video, animation, sound, binary file, hyperlink to execute a file with an application, visual markup, synthesized voice or a combination of an aural and visual element.

60. The computer program product according to claim 56 wherein the second computer system is anonymous to the first computer system and the other computer systems, and the message is received by way of a pub/sub service.

61. The computer program product according to claim 56 wherein the message is any one of unsolicited by the first computer system, initiated by a program event or initiated by a user action, and said message includes instructions for a desired length of time said alert message is to be displayed.

62. The computer program product according to claim 56 wherein extracting content of the message comprises the further steps of:

identifying routing information.

63. The computer program product according to claim 62 comprising the further step of modifying the GUI based on the routing information.

64. The computer program product according to claim 56 comprising the further step of launching an application program according to attributes of the message content.

65. The computer program product according to claim 56 wherein the attributes comprise any one of inline binary data, computer program instructions, rich media content, instructions for displaying the GUI, GUI display, size or shape.

66. The computer program product according to claim 56 wherein the attributes identify preferred input types, the types comprising any one of keyboard, mouse, voice, biometric system, application program interface or network attached device.

67. The computer program product according to claim 56 wherein the GUI display is overridden by local GUI settings.

68. The computer program product according to claim 56 comprising the further step of saving the message in a list view, the list view comprising history of messages.

69. The computer program product according to claim 56 comprising the further step of pre-processing the message before the creating the GUI step.

70. The computer program product according to claim 69 wherein pre-processing comprises any one of:

highlighting words using a predefined list of keywords, highlighting proper nouns based on word pattern, linking proper nouns to resources containing more information pre-fetching content that is referenced by a URL, virus scanning the message, identifying SPAM, gathering, information of sender to display along with notification, identifying if the sender is currently online, identifying the sender'"'"'s current location to facilitate time difference visuals, identifying the sender'"'"'s attribute to facilitate contacting the sender, decrypting, verifying digital signature, decompression, decoding the message, mapping character, language translation, loading another program as part of notification event, validation of message format, translation of older message formats to newer message formats, logging the message, using the message content to generate statistics of types of content received, using the message content to generate and tweak SPAM identification heuristics, or charging either the sender or the receiver for the transaction.

71. The computer program product according to claim 56 comprising the further step of post-processing the message after the creating the step.

72. The computer program product according to claim 71 wherein post-processing comprises any one of:

compression for saving space in long term storage, encryption for secure storage, adding an event to calendar application, adding an event to to-do application, adding an event to history listing, using interaction data to derive “

closeness”

, using interaction data to present visualization of social circles, logging the message, generating statistics of types of content received, generating SPAM identification heuristics or charging either the sender or the receiver for the transaction.