Folding text in side conversations

• US 20060161851A1
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Selvage, Mei Y., Walker, Keith R., Handy-Bosma, John H., Chen, Yen Fu
• Granted Patent: US 7,478,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

An example of a solution provided here comprises receiving a signal for sending in a side conversation, and in response to the signal for sending, sending a first portion of text, in a side conversation. The first portion of text is new, and the first portion of text is not necessarily revealed to some participants.

Claims

1. A method of real-time, or near-real-time, communication in a network environment, said method comprising:

receiving a signal for sending in a side conversation; and

in response to said signal for sending,

sending a first portion of text, in a side conversation;

wherein said first portion of text is new; and

said first portion of text is not necessarily revealed to some participants.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving specifications of access limits; and

setting access limits, in said side conversation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a clue about said first portion of text;

wherein said clue has one or more features chosen from;

a color,

an image, and

a shape;

whereby some information about said first portion of text is conveyed to some participants.

4. A method of real-time, or near-real-time, communication in a network environment, said method comprising:

receiving a signal for sending in a side conversation; and

in response to said signal for sending,

sending a first message portion as a new part of a side conversation, to at least one participant; and

not necessarily revealing said first message portion to another participant.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving specifications of access limits; and

setting access limits, in said side conversation.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

allowing a new participant to have access to said side conversation;

whereby said new participant is brought into said side conversation, after it begins.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing different views for different participants, depending on said access limits.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said first message portion further comprises one or more features chosen from:

graphics,

audio,

motion video, and

an embedded application.

9. A system of real-time, or near-real-time, communication in a network environment, said system comprising:

means for receiving a signal for sending in a side conversation; and

means for sending a first portion of text, in a side conversation;

wherein said first portion of text is new; and

said first portion of text is not necessarily revealed to some participants.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

means for receiving specifications of access limits; and

means for setting access limits, in said side conversation.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

means for providing in said side conversation one or more features chosen from;

graphics,

audio,

motion video, and

an embedded application.

12. A computer-usable medium having computer-executable instructions for real-time, or near-real-time, communication in a network environment, said computer-usable medium comprising:

means for receiving a signal for sending in a side conversation; and

means for sending a first portion of text, in a side conversation;

wherein said first portion of text is new; and

said first portion of text is not necessarily revealed to some participants.

13. The computer-usable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

means for receiving specifications of access limits; and

means for setting access limits, in said side conversation.

14. The computer-usable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

means for providing in said side conversation one or more features chosen from;

graphics,

audio,

motion video, and

an embedded application.