Viewpoint collaboration

• US 8,612,861 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Martinez, Anthony Edward, Rahn, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pesin, Boris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ell, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US11/758,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20070233797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,387 Days
• Field of Search: 715/230, 715/231, 715/738
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing messages. A viewport is displayed on a display in association with a chat window in which the viewport defines an area on the display. The image is defined as graphical data in the area defined by the viewport to form a selected image in response to a user input to select an image. A marker is placed in a text message in the chat window in which the marker is associated with the selected image.

Claims

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

a computer displaying a viewport on a display, the viewport being adjacent to and in association with a chat window, wherein a region visible through the viewport encompasses an area on the display to be captured;

the computer controlling, responsive to a user input, the viewport to select the area on the display to be captured as a selected image;

the computer placing a marker in a text message in the chat window, wherein the marker is associated with the selected image;

the computer displaying, responsive to detecting movement of a pointer over the marker in the chat window, the selected image at a size that is larger than a size of the marker;

the computer resizing, responsive to detecting a pointer dragging a side in a plurality of sides of the viewport to a new location, the viewport to include the new location of the side, wherein the plurality of sides of the viewport define a size of the area on the display to be captured by the viewport;

the computer moving, responsive to a user input, the viewport on the display; and

the computer resizing, responsive to detecting placement of the viewport over an object on the display, the viewport to encompass the object.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the computer sending, responsive to a user input to send the text message, the text message and the image to a target, wherein the text message and the image are displayed at the target.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the marker is an icon or a thumbnail representation of the image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the viewport is attached to the chat window.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein messages, markers in the messages, and images are stored in a log allowing for later review of the log with the images being displayed in proper context with the text.

6. A computer system for managing messages, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories and one or more computer-readable, storage devices, and program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to display a viewport on a display, the viewport being adjacent to and in association with a chat window, wherein a region visible through the viewport encompasses an area on the display to be captured;

program instructions to control the viewport to select the area on the display to be captured as a selected image in response to a user input;

program instructions to place a marker in a text message in the chat window, wherein the marker is associated with the selected image;

program instructions to display, responsive to detecting movement of a pointer over the marker in the chat window, the selected image at a size that is larger than a size of the marker;

program instructions to resize, responsive to detecting a pointer dragging a side in a plurality of sides of the viewport to a new location, the viewport to include the new location of the side, wherein the plurality of sides of the viewport define a size of the area on the display to be captured by the viewport;

program instructions to move, responsive to a user input, the viewport on the display; and

program instructions to resize, responsive to detecting placement of the viewport over an object on the display, the viewport to encompass the object.

7. The computer system of claim 6 further comprising:

program instructions to send, responsive to a user input to send the text message, the text message and the image to a target, wherein the text message and the image are displayed at the target.

8. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the marker is an icon or a thumbnail representation of the image.

9. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the viewport is attached to the chat window.

10. The computer system of claim 6, wherein messages, markers in the messages, and images are stored in a log allowing for later review of the log with the images being displayed in proper context with the text.

11. A computer program product for managing messages, the computer program product comprising:

one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored on the storage devices, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to display a viewport on a display, the viewport being adjacent to and in association with a chat window, wherein a region visible through the viewport encompasses an area on the display to be captured;

program instructions to control, responsive to a user input, the viewport to select the area on the display to be captured as a selected image;

program instructions to place a marker in a text message in the chat window, wherein the marker is associated with the selected image;

program instructions to display, responsive to detecting movement of a pointer over the marker in the chat window, the selected image at a size that is larger than a size of the marker;

program instructions to resize, responsive to detecting a pointer dragging a side in a plurality of sides of the viewport to a new location, the viewport to include the new location of the side, wherein the plurality of sides of the viewport define a size of the area on the display to be captured by the viewport;

program instructions to move, responsive to a user input, the viewport on the display; and

program instructions to resize, responsive to detecting placement of the viewport over an object on the display, the viewport to encompass the object.

12. A method in a data processing system for managing messages, the method comprising:

displaying a polygonal-shaped viewport on a display, the viewport being adjacent to and in association with a chat window, wherein a region visible through the viewport encompasses an area on the display to be captured as an image;

displaying a marker in a text message field in the chat window, wherein the marker indicates an association with the area on the display;

responsive to detecting movement of a pointer by a user over the marker in the chat window, displaying the area of the display at a size that is larger than a size of the marker;

responsive to a user dragging a side of the viewport to a new location, resizing the viewport to include the new location of the dragged side and encompass a corresponding area on the display to be captured by the resized viewport;

responsive to a user input, moving the resized viewport on the display to the new location; and

responsive to detecting the new location of the viewport being over an object on the display, resizing the resized viewport to encompass the object.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

sending, by the one or more processors responsive to a user input to send the text message, the text message and the image to a target, wherein the text message and the image are displayed at the target.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the marker is a thumbnail representation of the image.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the viewport is attached to the chat window.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein messages, markers in the messages, and images are stored in a log allowing for later review of the log with the images being displayed in proper context with the text.

17. A computer program product for managing messages, the computer program product comprising:

one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored on the storage devices, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to display a polygonal-shaped viewport on a display, the viewport being adjacent to and in association with a chat window, wherein a region visible through the viewport encompasses an area on the display to be captured as an image;

program instructions to display a marker in a text message field in the chat window, wherein the marker indicates an association with the area on the display;

program instructions, responsive to detecting movement of a pointer by a user over the marker in the chat window, to display the area of the display at a size that is larger than a size of the marker;

program instructions, responsive to a user dragging a side of the viewport to a new location, to resize the viewport to include the new location of the dragged side and encompass a corresponding area on the display to be captured by the resized viewport;

program instructions, responsive to a user input, to move the resized viewport on the display to the new location; and

program instructions, responsive to detecting the new location of the viewport being over an object on the display, to resize the resized viewport to encompass the object.

18. A computer system for managing messages, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories and one or more computer-readable, storage devices, and program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to display a polygonal-shaped viewport on a display, the viewport being adjacent to and in association with a chat window, wherein a region visible through the viewport encompasses an area on the display to be captured as an image;

program instructions to display a marker in a text message field in the chat window, wherein the marker indicates an association with the area on the display;

program instructions, responsive to detecting movement of a pointer by a user over the marker in the chat window, to display the area of the display at a size that is larger than a size of the marker;

program instructions, responsive to a user dragging a side of the viewport to a new location, to resize the viewport to include the new location of the dragged side and encompass a corresponding area on the display to be captured by the resized viewport;

program instructions, responsive to a user input, to move the resized viewport on the display to the new location; and

program instructions, responsive to detecting the new location of the viewport being over an object on the display, to resize the resized viewport to encompass the object.