Interlacing responses within an instant messaging system

• US 9,514,442 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Abernethy, Michael N., Grigsby, Travis M., Jania, Frank L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAILU, TADESSE
• Application Number:
  US12/117,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20090282347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,133 Days
• Field of Search: 715753-760
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of interlacing responses within an instant messaging (IM) system can include, responsive to a request from a user in an IM session, storing an IM message fragment input by the user and associating the IM message fragment with a message selected from an IM session transcript. The method can include recalling the IM message fragment and outputting, at least in part, the IM message fragment in response to the message.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method within an instant messaging (IM) system, comprising:

storing, responsive to a request from a user within an IM session, an IM message fragment;

receiving, from the user, a selection of one of a plurality of messages within an IM session transcript;

generating an association between the stored IM message fragment and the selected one of the plurality of messages;

recalling, responsive to a user input, the stored IM message fragment; and

presenting the recalled IM message fragment within an input field of the IM session, wherein

the IM message fragment has not been transmitted from the user to an intended recipient of the IM message fragment, and

the IM session transcript includes messages from both the user and the intended recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

the IM message fragment is stored within a list of IM message fragments.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein

the list of IM message fragments is presented to the user responsive to the user input.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein

the recalled IM message fragment is selected, by the user, from the list of IM message fragments.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising

outputting the IM message fragment, as a completed message, and the association.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein

an identifier specifies the association, and

the IM message fragment and the identifier are sent to an IM server connecting the user to the intended recipient or an IM client of the intended recipient.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein

the completed message is displayed within an IM transcript window, of an IM client of the user, that displays the IM transcript.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein

the IM message fragment is all data within the input field upon receiving the request.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising

visually displaying the association between the IM message fragment and the selected one of the plurality of messages.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising

visually distinguishing, upon the IM message fragment being dragged over the selected one of the plurality of messages, the selected one of the plurality of messages from other messages in an IM transcript window, of an IM client of the user, that displays the IM transcript.

11. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-usable storage device having stored therein computer-usable program code

the computer-usable program code, which when executed on a computer hardware system including an instant messaging (IM) system, causes the computer hardware system to perform;

storing, responsive to a request from a user within an IM session, an IM message fragment;

receiving, from the user, a selection of one of a plurality of messages within an IM session transcript;

generating an association between the stored IM message fragment and the selected one of the plurality of messages;

recalling, responsive to a user input, the stored IM message fragment; and

presenting the recalled IM message fragment within an input field of the IM session, wherein

the IM message fragment has not been transmitted from the user to an intended recipient of the IM message fragment,

the IM session transcript includes messages from both the user and the intended recipient, and

the computer-usable storage device does not consist of a transitory, propagating signal.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein

the IM message fragment is stored within a list of IM message fragments.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein

the list of IM message fragments is presented to the user responsive to the user input.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein

the recalled IM message fragment is selected, by the user, from the list of IM message fragments.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer-usable program code further causes the computer hardware system to perform

outputting the IM message fragment, as a completed message, and the association.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein

an identifier specifies the association, and

the IM message fragment and the identifier are sent to an IM server connecting the user to the intended recipient or an IM client of the intended recipient.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein

the completed message is displayed within an IM transcript window, of an IM client of the user, that displays the IM transcript.

18. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein

the IM message fragment is all data within the input field upon receiving the request.

19. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer-usable program code further causes the computer hardware system to perform

visually displaying the association between the IM message fragment and the selected one of the plurality of messages.

20. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer-usable program code further causes the computer hardware system to perform

visually distinguishing, upon the IM message fragment being dragged over the selected one of the plurality of messages, the selected one of the plurality of messages from other messages in an IM transcript window, of an IM client of the user, that displays the IM transcript.