Multi-conversation instant messaging

• US 9,921,729 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marengo Intellectual Property Limited
• Original Assignee: Marengo Intellectual Property Limited
• Inventors: Coutts, Daryl David
• Primary Examiner(s): Dollinger, Tonia L
• Assistant Examiner(s): COONEY, ADAM A
• Application Number:
  US14/330,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20140325397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 709204, 709206, 715751, 715753, 715758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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]

Abstract

A method for facilitating multiple simultaneous instant messaging conversations includes: receiving a first online instant message from a first instant messaging conversation, where the user is a participant in the first instant messaging conversation; receiving a second online instant message from a second instant messaging conversation, in which the user is also a participant; integrating the first online instant message and the second online instant message into a sequence of instant messages; and displaying the sequence of instant messages such that the more recently received instant messages are displayed either below or above less recently received instant messages. If the user directs input at the displayed sequence of messages, a second sequence of messages primarily comprising messages from the first instant messaging conversation is displayed.

Claims

1. A method implemented in an application executing on a computing device associated with a user, the method facilitating multiple simultaneous instant messaging conversations, the method comprising:

receiving a first online instant message from a first instant messaging conversation, the user a participant in the first instant messaging conversation;

receiving a second online instant message from a second instant messaging conversation, the user a participant in the second instant messaging conversation;

receiving a third online instant message;

integrating the first online instant message and the second online instant message and the third online instant message into a first sequence of instant messages;

displaying the first sequence of instant messages in a first window on a display associated with the computing device, the displaying such that more recently received instant messages are displayed one of below and above less recently received instant messages, in the plane of the display and wherein the displaying is such that each of the first online instant message, the second online instant message, and the third online instant message are visible and wherein the displaying is such that the displayed first sequence of instant messages is scrollable by the user; and

responsive to a mouse click directed at the displayed first sequence of instant messages and without requiring further user input, displaying a second sequence of instant messages in a second window on the display, the second sequence of instant messages primarily comprising plural instant messages from the first instant messaging conversation and wherein the displaying of the second sequence of instant messages is such that more recently received instant messages are displayed one of below and above less recently received instant messages, in the plane of the display and wherein the displaying of the second sequence of instant messages in the second window is such that the displayed first sequence of instant messages in the first window is also visible.

2. A method for helping a user of a computing device participate in multiple simultaneous instant messaging conversations, the method implemented by first and second application programs executing on the computing device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the first application program, a first online instant message from a first instant messaging conversation, the user a participant in the first instant messaging conversation;

receiving, by the first application program, a second online instant message from a second instant messaging conversation, the user a participant in the second instant messaging conversation;

receiving, by the first application program, a third online instant message;

integrating, by the first application program, the first online instant message and the second online instant message and the third online instant message into a first sequence of instant messages;

displaying, by the first application program, the first sequence of instant messages in a first window on a display associated with the computing device, the displaying such that more recently received instant messages are displayed one of below and above less recently received instant messages, in the plane of the display and wherein the displaying is such that each of the first online instant message, the second online instant message, and the third online instant message are visible and wherein the displaying is such that the displayed first sequence of instant messages is scrollable by the user;

responsive to a mouse click directed at the first online instant message in the displayed first sequence of instant messages and without requiring further user input, signaling the second application program from the first application program and wherein the second application program is different from the first application program; and

responding, by the second application program, to the signaling, from the first application program by displaying a second sequence of instant messages in a second window on the display, the second sequence of instant messages primarily comprising plural instant messages from the first instant messaging conversation and wherein the displaying of the second sequence of instant messages is such that more recently received instant messages are displayed one of below and above less recently received instant messages, in the plane of the display and wherein the displaying of the second sequence of instant messages in the second window is such that the displayed first sequence of instant messages in the first window is also visible.

3. A method implemented in an application executing on a computing device associated with a user, the method facilitating multiple simultaneous instant messaging conversations, the method comprising:

receiving a first online instant message from a first instant messaging conversation, the user a participant in the first instant messaging conversation;

receiving a second online instant message from a second instant messaging conversation, the user a participant in the second instant messaging conversation;

receiving a third online instant message;

integrating the first online instant message and the second online instant message and the third online instant message into a first sequence of instant messages;

displaying the first sequence of instant messages in a first window on a display associated with the computing device, the displaying such that more recently received instant messages are displayed one of below and above less recently received instant messages, in the plane of the display and wherein the displaying is such that each of the first online instant message, the second online instant message and the third online instant message are visible and wherein the displaying is such that the displayed first sequence of instant messages is scrollable by the user; and

responsive to a finger touch directed at the displayed first sequence of instant messages and without requiring further user input, displaying a second sequence of instant messages in a second window on the display, the second sequence of instant messages primarily comprising plural instant messages from the first instant messaging conversation and wherein the displaying of the second sequence of instant messages is such that more recently received instant messages are displayed one of below and above less recently received instant messages, in the plane of the display and wherein the displaying of the second sequence of instant messages in the second window is such that the displayed first sequence of instant messages in the first window is also visible.