System and method for an instant messaging interface

• US 8,793,596 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2007
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arad, Ronen
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGGETT, ANDREA C.
• Application Number:
  US11/986,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,437 Days
• Field of Search: 715/758, 715/759
• US Class Current: 715/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services

Abstract

Computer-implemented systems and methods for a simplified instant messaging interface are provided for allowing users to initiate and engage in instant messaging conversations. In various embodiments, the systems and methods reduce the overhead involved in initiating and/or engaging in instant messaging conversations. In some embodiments, the simplified instant messaging interface allows users to initiate and or engage in conversations without having to open a separate standard messaging window for every conversation. In some embodiments, the simplified instant messaging interface may be used in conjunction with a standard instant messaging interface.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing a simplified electronic messaging interface, comprising:

displaying a messaging contact list in a graphical user interface, wherein the messaging contact list is adapted to provide a separate graphical region within the messaging contact list for each contact in the messaging contact list;

receiving an indication that a user wishes to send a message to a selected message recipient, the selected message recipient corresponding to a contact in the messaging contact list;

displaying a message-entry field in the separate graphical region for the contact corresponding to the selected message recipient;

receiving a message into the message-entry field; and

sending the message to the selected message recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a response message from the selected message recipient;

displaying a response notification window, wherein the response notification window includes an additional message-entry field for enabling the user to send one or more additional messages to the selected message recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a standard messaging window after a threshold message size is received into the message-entry field.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the threshold message size is significantly less than the amount displayed in a standard messaging window.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the threshold message size is 20 characters.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the threshold message size is 100 characters.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the threshold message size is based on the language of communication.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically opening the message-entry field after a response is received from a message recipient.

9. A storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for causing a suitable programmed system to process computer-program code by performing the computer implemented method of claim 1 when such program is executed on the system.

10. A system for providing a simplified electronic messaging interface, comprising:

a processing system comprising one or more processors;

a memory system comprising one or more computer-readable media, wherein the memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to perform the operations of;

displaying a messaging contact list in a graphical user interface, wherein the messaging contact list is adapted to provide a separate graphical region within the messaging contact list for each contact in the messaging contact list;

receiving an indication that a user wishes to send a message to a selected message recipient, the selected message recipient corresponding to a contact in the messaging contact list;

displaying a message-entry field in the separate graphical region for the contact corresponding to the selected message recipient;

receiving a message into the message-entry field; and

sending the message to the selected message recipient.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations performed by the processing system further comprise:

receiving a response message from the selected message recipient;

displaying a response notification window, wherein the response notification window includes an additional message-entry field for enabling the user to send one or more additional messages to the selected message recipient.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations performed by the processing system further comprise:

initiating a standard messaging window after a threshold message size is received into the message-entry field.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the threshold message size is significantly less than the amount of message displayed in a standard messaging window.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the threshold message size is 20 characters.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the threshold message size is 100 characters.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the threshold message size is based on the language of communication.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations performed by the processing system further comprise:

automatically opening the message-entry field after a response is received from a message recipient.

18. A computer-implemented method of providing a messaging interface, comprising:

displaying a messaging contact list in a graphical user interface, wherein the messaging contact list is adapted to provide a separate graphical region within the messaging contact list for each contact in the messaging contact list;

receiving an indication that a user wishes to send a message to a selected message recipient, the selected message recipient corresponding to a contact in the messaging contact list;

displaying a first message-entry field in the separate graphical region for the contact corresponding to the selected message recipient;

detecting that the user has entered a message into the message-entry field that exceeds a threshold message size;

displaying a separate window in response to detecting that the user has entered a message into the first message-entry field that exceeds the threshold message size, wherein the separate window includes a second message-entry field containing the message that the user entered into the first message-entry field and provides functionality for allowing the user to enter a message that exceeds the threshold message size;

receiving an indication to send the message in the second message-entry field to the selected message recipient; and

sending the message to the selected message recipient.

19. A computer-implemented method of providing a messaging interface, comprising:

displaying a messaging contact list in a graphical user interface, wherein the messaging contact list provides a separate graphical region within the messaging contact list for each contact in the messaging contact list;

receiving a first indication that a user wishes to send a first message to a first selected message recipient, the first selected message recipient corresponding to a first contact in the messaging contact list;

displaying a first message-entry field in the separate graphical region for the first contact corresponding to the first selected message recipient;

receiving a first message into the first message-entry field;

sending the first message to the first selected message recipient;

receiving a second indication that the user wishes to send a second message to a second selected message recipient, the second selected message recipient corresponding to a second contact in the messaging contact list, wherein the second contact differs from the first contact;

displaying a second message-entry field in the separate graphical region for the second contact corresponding to the second selected message recipient, wherein the separate graphical region for the second contact differs from the separate graphical region for the first contact;

receiving a second message into the second message-entry field; and

sending the second message to the second selected message recipient.