INSTANT MESSAGING SYSTEM

• US 20070226309A1
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synacor, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Synacor, Inc.
• Inventors: Bell, John, Meservy, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,628,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities

Abstract

An instant messaging system is disclosed that provides a means for presenting information to a user about current conversants and for managing the handling of multiple messages from different parties. A priority hierarchy is established and set by a user with respect to each conversant. Messages from high priority conversants are delivered and displayed prior to messages from lower priority conversants. In a business setting, messages may be routed to particular individuals or with a particular priority based on characteristics or attributes of the message sender.

Claims

1. An instant messaging system comprising:

means associated with a first party for sending a message to a second party;

means responsive to the identification of said second party for accessing information related to previous messages between said first party and said second party; and

a display associated with said first party for displaying said information concerning said previous messages between said first party and said second party.

5. The instant messaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information related to said previous messages comprises an instant message thread.

2. An instant messaging system comprising:

means associated with a first party for sending messages to a plurality of recipients;

means responsive to the identification of said recipients for accessing information related to previous messages between said first party and each of said recipients; and

a display associated with said first party for displaying information concerning previous messages between said first party and a particular one of said recipients whenever a message is sent to said recipient.

6. The instant messaging system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said information related to said previous messages comprises an instant message thread.

3. An instant messaging system comprising:

a first user receiving messages from a plurality of second users;

prioritization means associated with said first user for assigning a priority level to each of said second users; and

means for determining the order of display by said first user of said messages received from each of said second users in accordance with said priority levels.

7. The instant messaging system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for determining the order of message display overrides an existing instant message conversation if a message having a higher priority is received.

17. The instant messaging system of claim 3, wherein said priority level of at least one of said second users may be increased in response to a message received from said at least one of said second users that has not been displayed for at least a predetermined period of time.

18. The instant messaging system of claim 3, wherein messages from said second users having low priorities are displayed during periods of time when no messages are being received from said second users having high priorities.

4. An instant messaging system comprising:

means for receiving at least one message from each of a plurality of senders;

means for determining at least one attribute associated with each of said plurality of senders;

means for assigning a priority level to said at least one received message from each of said plurality of senders based on said attribute; and

means for controlling the display of said messages by a recipient in response to said priority level.

8. The instant messaging system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for receiving comprises a message server.

11. The instant messaging system of claim 4, wherein said recipient comprises a plurality of service representatives.

12. The instant messaging system of claim 11, wherein said attribute comprises the level of service paid for by said sender.

13. The instant messaging system of claim 11, wherein said attribute comprises the nature of past messages sent by said sender.

14. The instant messaging system of claim 11, wherein said attribute comprises the level of expertise required by said sender.

15. The instant messaging system of claim 11, wherein said priority level may be changed with respect to one or more senders in order to balance the number of messages displayed by each of said service representatives over a period of time.

16. The instant messaging system of claim 11, wherein said priority level may be changed with respect to one or more senders in order to improve the message response time with respect to said one or more senders.

9. A method for operating an instant messaging system comprising the steps of:

receiving by a first user messages from a plurality of second users;

prioritizing said messages received by said first user by assigning a priority level to each of said second users; and

determining the order of display by said first users of said messages received from each of said second users in accordance with said priority levels.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein said priority level of at least one of said second users may be increased in response to a message received from said at least one of said second users that has not been displayed for at least a predetermined period of time.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein messages from said second users having low priorities are displayed during periods of time when no messages are being received from said second users having high priorities.

10. A method for operating an instant messaging system comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one message from each of a plurality of senders;

determining at least one attribute associated with each of said plurality of senders;

assigning a priority level to said at least one received message from each of said plurality of senders based on said attribute; and

controlling the display of said messages by a recipient in response to said priority level.

21. The method of claim 10, wherein said recipient comprises a plurality of service representatives.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said attribute comprises the level of service paid for by said sender.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said attribute comprises the nature of past messages sent by said sender.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said attribute comprises the level of expertise required of said service representatives by said sender.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said priority level may be changed with respect to one or more senders in order to balance the number of messages displayed by each of said service representatives over a period of time.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein said priority level may be changed with respect to one or more senders in order to improve the message response time with respect to said one or more senders.

27. An instant messaging system comprising:

a communication device associated with a first party for sending a message to a second party;

a storage device responsive to the identification of said second party for accessing information related to previous messages between said first party and said second party; and

a display associated with said first party for displaying said information concerning said previous messages between said first party and said second party.

28. The instant messaging system of claim 27, wherein said information related to said previous messages comprises an instant message thread.

29. The instant messaging system of claim 27, further comprising a prioritizer associated with said second party for determining the order of display of messages from said first party with respect to messages from at least one other party.

30. The instant messaging system of claim 29, wherein said prioritizer determines the order of display of messages based on at least one attribute of said first party and said at least one other party.

31. The instant messaging system of claim 30, wherein said attribute comprises the level of response paid for by said first party and said at least one other party.

32. The instant messaging system of claim 30, wherein said attribute comprises the nature of past messages sent by said first party and said at least one other party.

33. The instant messaging system of claim 30, wherein said attribute comprises the response time required by said first party and said at least one other party.