Method and apparatus for initiating and managing chat sessions
First Claim
1. A machine-implemented method performed by a machine for initiating a chat session, the method comprising:
- monitoring user activities of a remote user with respect to a data processing system that are unrelated to chat services, the user activities including a mobile phone communication session between a local user of the data processing system and the remote user;
receiving a request to initiate a chat session between the local user and the remote user;
determining whether the mobile phone communication session ended within a predetermined period of time prior to the request;
based on the determination that the mobile phone communication session ended within the predetermine period of time, selecting a first chat service account from a list of a plurality chat service accounts associated with the remote user based on the monitored user activities, wherein the first chat service account is associated with the mobile phone of the remote user;
initiating a chat session using the selected first chat service account of the remote user and a second chat service account selected for the local user;
exchanging, via the first and second chat service accounts, content of the chat session with the mobile phone of the remote user over an SMS (short message service) communications channel; and
displaying information within a chat window indicating that the chat session is conducted between the first and second chat service accounts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for initiating and managing a chat session are described herein. According to one embodiment, user activities with respect to the data processing system are monitored, including user activities that are unrelated to chat services. In response to a request to initiate a chat session between a local user and a remote user, a first chat service account is selected from a list of chat service accounts associated with the remote user based on the monitored user activities. A chat session is initiated using the selected first chat service account of the remote user and a second chat service account selected for the local user. Certain information is displayed within a chat window indicating that the chat session is conducted between the first and second chat service accounts. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A machine-implemented method performed by a machine for initiating a chat session, the method comprising:
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monitoring user activities of a remote user with respect to a data processing system that are unrelated to chat services, the user activities including a mobile phone communication session between a local user of the data processing system and the remote user; receiving a request to initiate a chat session between the local user and the remote user; determining whether the mobile phone communication session ended within a predetermined period of time prior to the request; based on the determination that the mobile phone communication session ended within the predetermine period of time, selecting a first chat service account from a list of a plurality chat service accounts associated with the remote user based on the monitored user activities, wherein the first chat service account is associated with the mobile phone of the remote user; initiating a chat session using the selected first chat service account of the remote user and a second chat service account selected for the local user; exchanging, via the first and second chat service accounts, content of the chat session with the mobile phone of the remote user over an SMS (short message service) communications channel; and displaying information within a chat window indicating that the chat session is conducted between the first and second chat service accounts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing machine-executable instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method performed within a machine for initiating a chat session, the method comprising:
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monitoring user activities of a remote user with respect to a data processing system that are unrelated to chat services, the user activities including a mobile phone communication session between a local user of the data processing system and the remote user; receiving a request to initiate a chat session between the local user and the remote user; determining whether the mobile phone communication session ended within a predetermined period of time prior to the request; based on the determination that the mobile phone communication session ended within the predetermine period of time, selecting a first chat service account from a list of a plurality chat service accounts associated with the remote user based on the monitored user activities, wherein the first chat service account is associated with the mobile phone of the remote user; initiating a chat session using the selected first chat service account of the remote user and a second chat service account selected for the local user; exchanging, via the first and second chat service accounts, content of the chat session with the mobile phone of the remote user over an SMS (short message service) communications channel; and displaying information within a chat window indicating that the chat session is conducted between the first and second chat service accounts. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A machine-implemented method performed by a machine for initiating a chat session, the method comprising:
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in response to a request from a local user to add a remote user to a chat room by selecting a first chat service account of the remote user, determining whether the first chat service account is compatible with a chat service provider currently hosting the chat room; automatically selecting a second chat service account from a list of a plurality of chat service accounts associated with the remote user, if the first chat service account is incompatible with the chat service provider, wherein the remote user is associated with a plurality of chat service accounts provided by a plurality of chat service providers, including the first and second chat service accounts; sending an invitation to the remote user via the second chat service account to invite the remote user to participate in the chat room; and displaying an identifier of the second chat service account within a chat window associated with the chat room indicating that the local user is currently chatting with the remote user via the second chat service account instead of the first chat service account selected by the local user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing machine-executable instructions which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method performed within a machine for initiating a chat session, the method comprising:
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in response to a request from a local user to add a remote user to a chat room by selecting a first chat service account of the remote user, determining whether the first chat service account is compatible with a chat service provider currently hosting the chat room; automatically selecting a second chat service account from a list of a plurality of chat service accounts associated with the remote user, if the first chat service account is incompatible with the chat service provider, wherein the remote user is associated with a plurality of chat service accounts provided by a plurality of chat service providers, including the first and second chat service accounts; sending an invitation to the remote user via the second chat service account to invite the remote user to participate in the chat room; and displaying an identifier of the second chat service account within a chat window associated with the chat room indicating that the local user is currently chatting with the remote user via the second chat service account instead of the first chat service account selected by the local user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification