Processing user interface commands in an instant messaging environment

• US 20070005719A1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Szeto, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,454,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Sharing an instant messaging environment is described. The instant messaging environment is selected from a set of stored instant messaging environments. An instant messaging environment identifier corresponding to the selected instant messaging environment is transmitted from a transmitting instant messaging application to a receiving instant messenger application. The instant messaging environment identifier is received and the stored instant messaging environment corresponding to the instant messaging environment identifier is retrieved. The instant messaging environment is activated in the receiving instant messaging application.

Claims

1. A method of processing user interface commands in an instant messaging application, comprising:

receiving a user interface command that is associated with a particular manner of processing the user interface command when a generic instant messaging environment is active in the instant messaging application;

determining whether an instant messaging environment that is currently active in the instant messaging application specifies a different manner of processing the user interface command; and

in response to determining that the instant messaging environment specifies a different manner of processing the user interface command, over-riding the particular manner of processing the user interface command by processing the user interface command in the different manner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein over-riding the particular manner of processing the user interface command comprises re-defining a function performed by the user interface command.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein over-riding the particular manner of processing the user interface command comprises re-defining an action taken in response to executing the user interface command.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein over-riding the particular manner of processing the user interface command comprises re-defining a behavior of the user interface command.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein over-riding the particular manner of processing the user interface command comprises extending a capability of the user interface command.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the user interface command in the different manner comprises executing an instruction specified by the instant messaging environment and then executing the user interface command.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the particular manner of processing the user interface command comprises appending text to a history window; and

wherein processing the user interface command in the different manner comprises appending text to the history window differently than if the user interface command were processed in the particular manner.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the user interface command in the different manner comprises processing the user interface command in a hidden frame of a browser window.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface command is received in a conversation user window of the instant messaging application.

10. A method of processing user interface commands in an instant messaging application, said method comprising:

receiving a user interface command in the instant messaging application;

determining which of a plurality of instant messaging environments is currently active in the instant messaging application;

if a first instant messaging environment is currently active in the instant messaging application, processing the user interface command in a first manner; and

if a second instant messaging environment is currently active in the instant messaging application, processing the user interface command in a second manner;

wherein the first manner is different from the second manner.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first instant messaging environment is a generic instant messaging environment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second instant messaging environment is an instant messaging environment other than the generic instant messaging environment.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein:

processing the user interface command in the first manner comprises performing a first function in a user interface of the instant messaging application; and

processing the user interface command in the second manner comprises performing a second function in the user interface of the instant messaging application;

wherein the first function is different from the second function.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein:

processing the user interface command in the first manner comprises performing a first action in a user interface of the instant messaging application; and

processing the user interface command in the second manner comprises performing a second action in the user interface of the instant messaging application;

wherein the first action is different from the second action.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein:

processing the user interface command in the first manner comprises causing a first behavior to occur in a user interface of the instant messaging application; and

processing the user interface command in the second manner comprises causing a second behavior to occur in the user interface of the instant messaging application;

wherein the first behavior is different from the second behavior.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein:

processing the user interface command in the second manner comprises processing the user interface command in a manner pertaining to a first capability of a user interface of the instant messaging application; and

processing the user interface command in the second manner comprises processing the user interface command in a manner pertaining to a second capability of the user interface of the instant messaging application;

wherein the first capability is different from the second capability.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein processing the user interface command in the second manner comprises executing an instruction specified by the instant messaging environment and then executing the user interface command.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein:

processing the user interface command in the first manner comprises appending text to a history window; and

processing the user interface command in the second manner comprises appending text to the history window differently than if the user interface command were processed in the first manner.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein processing the user interface command in the second manner comprises processing the user interface command in a hidden frame of a browser window.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the user interface command is received in a conversation user window of the instant messaging application.