System, method and program for managing chat sessions

• US 20080028032A1
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hladik, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

Computer system, method and program product for managing a chat session having a plurality of participants. A server sends to each participant in the chat session, a current local time of each other participant in the chat session. A workstation of each participant in the chat session displays an identity and current local time of each other participant in the chat session. The current local time of each other participant in the chat session can be represented by a graphical representation of the current local time of each other participant in the chat session. The server also sends to each participant in the chat session a current date of each other participant in the chat session. The workstation of each participant in the chat session displays the current date of each other participant in the chat session.

Claims

1. A method for managing a chat session having a plurality of participants, said method comprising the steps of:

a server sending to each participant in the chat session, a current local time of each other participant in the chat session; and

a workstation of each participant in the chat session displaying an identity and current local time of each other participant in the chat session.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of displaying said current local time of said each other participant in the chat session comprises the step of displaying a graphical representation of the current local time of said each other participant in the chat session.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of said server sending to each participant in the chat session an identity of each other participant in the chat session.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of each workstation displaying a window with text fields for respective messages entered or sent by respective participants in the chat session along with an identity of a sender of each of the messages.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

the server sending to each participant in the chat session a current date of each other participant in the chat session; and

the workstation of each participant in the chat session displaying the current date of each other participant in the chat session.

6. A system for managing a chat session having a plurality of participants, said system comprising:

a server including means for sending to each participant in the chat session, a current local time of each other participant in the chat session; and

a plurality of workstations for a respective plurality of participants in the chat session, each of said workstations including means, responsive to receipt of the current local time of each other participant in the chat session, for displaying an identity and current local time of each other participant in the chat session.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the means for displaying said current local time of said each other participant in the chat session comprises means for displaying a graphical representation of the current local time of said each other participant in the chat session.

8. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said server further comprises means for sending to each participant in the chat session an identity of each other participant in the chat session.

9. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said workstations further comprises means for displaying a window with text fields for respective messages entered or sent by respective participants in the chat session along with an identity of an author of each of the messages.

10. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein:

said server further comprising means for sending to each participant in the chat session a current date of each other participant in the chat session; and

said workstation of each participant in the chat session further comprising means, responsive to receipt of said current date of each other participant in the chat session, for displaying the current date of each other participant in the chat session.

11. A computer program product for managing a chat session having a plurality of participants, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable media;

first program instructions, for execution in a server, to initiate sending to each participant in the chat session, a current local time of each other participant in the chat session; and

second program instructions, for execution in each of a plurality of workstations for a respective plurality of participants in the chat session, responsive to receipt of the current local time of each other participant in the chat session, to initiate display of an identity and current local time of said each other participant in the chat session; and

wherein

said first and second program instructions are stored on said media in functional form.

12. A computer program product as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second program instructions display a graphical representation of the current local time of said each other participant in the chat session.

13. A computer program product as set forth in claim 11 further comprising third program instructions, for execution in said server, to initiate sending to each participant in the chat session an identity of each other participant in the chat session;

and wherein said third program instructions are stored on said media in functional form.

14. A computer program product as set forth in claim 11 further comprising third program instructions, for execution in each of said workstations, to initiate display of a window with text fields for respective messages entered or sent by respective participants in the chat session along with an identity of an author of each of the messages;

and wherein said third program instructions are stored on said media in functional form.

15. A system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising:

third program instructions, for execution in said server, to initiate sending to each participant in the chat session a current date of each other participant in the chat session; and

fourth program instructions, for execution in said workstation of each participant in the chat session, responsive to receipt of said current date of each other participant in the chat session, to initiate display of the current date of each other participant in the chat session; and

wherein said third and fourth program are stored on said media in functional form.