Directed message notification in chat sessions

• US 9,590,929 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2013
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AirBNB Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Banatwala, Mustansir, Brooks, David A., Russo, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Aftab N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mendez Flores, Jean P
• Application Number:
  US13/860,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20140310357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for managing messages in an instant messaging chat session. A computer receives a directed message in the instant messaging chat session, wherein the directed message includes an identification of one or more accounts associated with individuals in the instant messaging chat session. The computer determines accounts associated with individuals in the instant messaging chat session that correspond to the directed message, wherein the accounts associated with individuals that correspond to the directed message include an account associated with an individual that sent the directed message, and the one or more accounts associated with individuals identified in the directed message. The computer displays directed message notifications to the determined accounts associated with individuals that correspond to the directed message. In another embodiment, the computer receives a response to a directed message, and updates the directed message notifications.

Claims

1. A method for managing messages in an instant messaging chat session, the method comprising:

a computer receiving a directed message input into an instant messaging chat session;

during the instant messaging chat session, by an individual in the instant messaging chat session, wherein the directed message is an instant messaging chat message that is input into a user interface of into the instant messaging chat session, is directed to one or more accounts associated with individuals in the instant messaging chat session, and is displayed in a chat transcript window of the user interface of the instant messaging chat session;

the computer determining accounts associated with individuals in the instant messaging chat session that correspond to the directed message, wherein the accounts associated with individuals that correspond to the directed message include an account associated with an individual that sent the directed message, and the one or more accounts associated with individuals identified in the directed message;

the computer displaying directed message notifications to the determined accounts associated with individuals that correspond to the directed message, wherein the directed message notifications are displayed in a respective user interface of the instant messaging chat sessions corresponding to the determined accounts associated with individuals that correspond to the directed message, and wherein the directed message notifications are displayed as a respective numerical indicator in a participant list portion of the user interface of the instant messaging chat session;

the computer receiving a command, from a participant in the instant messaging chat session, to access a directed message notification displayed in the participant list portion of the user interface, wherein the receiving the command comprises the participant selecting a numerical indicator in the participant list portion of the user interface;

in response to receiving the command from the participant to access the directed message the computer modifying the respective user interface of the instant messaging chat session for the participant to display at least one directed message that is associated with the selected numerical indicator;

the computer receiving a response to at least one directed message that is associated with the selected numerical indicator and is displayed in the respective user interface of the instant messaging chat session, wherein the received response to the directed message is an instant messaging chat message that is displayed in the chat transcript window of the user interface of the instant messaging chat session; and

the computer updating the displayed directed message notification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the response to the directed message associated with the directed message notification comprises:

the computer receiving an indication of the directed message; and

the computer receiving a response to the indicated directed message, wherein the response is a message to the account associated with the individual that sent the directed message, or an indication that the indicated directed message has been answered or to ignore the identified directed message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating of the displayed directed message notifications comprises:

the computer notifying the account associated with the individual that sent the directed message of the response to the directed message; and

the computer reducing the directed message notifications for the accounts associated with the individuals in the instant messaging chat session that correspond to the directed message to indicate that the directed message has a response.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the computer determining the directed message utilizing defined keywords of an account associated with an individual in the instant messaging chat session.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the computer storing a log of the instant messaging chat session in a storage device, wherein the log of the instant messaging chat session includes at least in part, a transcript of the instant messaging chat session, directed messages with corresponding responses, and directed messages without corresponding responses.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer receiving a directed message input into an instant messaging chat session by an individual in the instant messaging chat session, further comprises:

the computer identifying an individual inputting the directed message into a user interface of the instant messaging chat session; and

the computer determining that the input directed message includes text indicating that the directed message is directed to one or more accounts associated with individuals in the instant messaging chat session.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the numerical indicator provides an indication of a number of directed messages that have been (i) input into the instant messaging chat session, (ii) are directed to a particular individual in the instant messaging chat session, and (ii) are directed messages that have been sent from an individual(s) that are in the instant messaging chat session.

12. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the numerical indicator provides an indication of a number of directed messages that have been (i) input into the instant messaging chat session, (ii) are directed to a particular individual in the instant messaging chat session, and (ii) are directed messages that have been sent from an individual(s) that are in the instant messaging chat session.

8. A computer program product for managing messages in an instant

messaging chat session, the computer program product comprising:

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

program instructions to receive a directed message input into an instant messaging chat

session, during the instant messaging chat session, by an individual in the instant messaging chat session, wherein the directed message is an instant messaging chat message that is input into a user interface of the instant messaging chat session, is directed to one or more accounts associated with individuals in the instant messaging chat session, and is displayed in a chat transcript window of the user interface of the instant messaging chat session;

program instructions to determine accounts associated with individuals in the instant messaging chat session that correspond to the directed message, wherein the accounts associated with individuals that correspond to the directed message include an account associated with an individual that sent the directed message, and the one or more accounts associated with individuals identified in the directed message;

program instructions to display directed message notifications to the determined accounts associated with individuals that correspond to the directed message, wherein the directed message notifications are displayed in a respective user interface of the instant messaging chat sessions corresponding to the determined accounts associated with individuals that correspond to the directed message, and wherein the directed message notifications are displayed as a respective numerical indicator in a participant list portion of the user interface of the instant messaging chat session;

program instructions to receive a command, from a participant in the instant messaging chat session, to access a directed message notification displayed in the participant list portion of the user interface, wherein the receiving the command comprises the participant selecting a numerical indicator in the participant list portion of the user interface;

in response to receiving the command from the participant to access the directed message program instructions to modify the respective user interface of the instant messaging chat session for the participant to display at least one directed message that is associated with the selected numerical indicator;

program instructions to receive a response to at least one directed message that is associated with the selected numerical indicator and is displayed in the respective user interface of the instant messaging chat session, wherein the received response to the directed message is an instant messaging chat message that is displayed in the chat transcript window of the user interface of the instant messaging chat session; and

program instructions to update the displayed directed message notification.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to receive the response to the directed message associated with the directed message notification comprises program instructions to:

receive an indication of the directed message; and

receive a response to the indicated directed message, wherein the response is a message to the account associated with the individual that sent the directed message, or an indication that the indicated directed message has been answered or to ignore the identified directed message.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to update the displayed directed message notifications comprises program instructions to:

notify the account associated with the individual that sent the directed message of the response to the directed message; and

reduce the directed message notifications for the accounts associated with the individuals in the instant messaging chat session that correspond to the directed message to indicate that the directed message has a response.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising program instructions to:

determine the directed message utilizing defined keywords of an account associated with an individual in the instant messaging chat session.

13. A computer system for managing messages in an instant messaging chat session, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer-readable storage media;

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

program instructions to receive a directed message input into an instant messaging chat session, during the instant messaging chat session, by an individual in the instant messaging chat session, wherein the directed message is an instant messaging chat message that is input into a user interface of the instant messaging chat session, is directed to one or more accounts associated with individuals in the instant messaging chat session, and is displayed in a chat transcript window of the user interface of the instant messaging chat session;

program instructions to determine accounts associated with individuals in the instant messaging chat session that correspond to the directed message, wherein the accounts associated with individuals that correspond to the directed message include an account associated with an individual that sent the directed message, and the one or more accounts associated with individuals identified in the directed message;

program instructions to display directed message notifications to the determined accounts associated with individuals that correspond to the directed message, wherein the directed message notifications are displayed in a respective user interface of the instant messaging chat sessions corresponding to the determined accounts associated with individuals that correspond to the directed message, and wherein the directed message notifications are displayed as a respective numerical indicator in a participant list portion of the user interface of the instant messaging chat session;

program instructions to receive a command, from a participant in the instant messaging chat session, to access a directed message notification displayed in the participant list portion of the user interface, wherein the receiving the command comprises the participant selecting a numerical indicator in the participant list portion of the user interface;

in response to receiving the command from the participant to access the directed message, program instructions to modify the respective user interface of the instant messaging chat session for the participant to display at least one directed message that is associated with the selected numerical indicator;

program instructions to receive a response to at least one directed message that is associated with the selected numerical indicator and is displayed in the respective user interface of the instant messaging chat session, wherein the received response to the directed message is an instant messaging chat message that is displayed in the chat transcript window of the user interface of the instant messaging chat session; and

program instructions to update the displayed directed message notification.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the program instructions to receive the response to the directed message associated with the directed message notification comprises program instructions to:

receive an indication of the directed message; and

receive a response to the indicated directed message, wherein the response is a message to the account associated with the individual that sent the directed message, or an indication that the indicated directed message has been answered or to ignore the identified directed message.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the program instructions to update the displayed directed message notifications comprises program instructions to:

notify the account associated with the individual that sent the directed message of the response to the directed message; and

reduce the directed message notifications for the accounts associated with the individuals in the instant messaging chat session that correspond to the directed message to indicate that the directed message has a response.

16. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising program instructions to:

determine the directed message utilizing defined keywords of an account associated with an individual in the instant messaging chat session.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the numerical indicator provides an indication of a number of directed messages that have been (i) input into the instant messaging chat session, (ii) are directed to a particular individual in the instant messaging chat session, and (ii) are directed messages that have been sent from an individual(s) that are in the instant messaging chat session.