System and method for managing an instant messaging conversation
First Claim
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1. A computer implemented method for managing creation of new threads from existing conversation elements in an instant messaging session, comprising:
- establishing the instant messaging (IM) session at a computer including at least a first conversation element and a second conversation element for a first IM thread having a first IM thread identifier, the first IM thread identifier assigned to both the first and second conversation elements;
displaying the first and second conversation elements consecutively in an IM reader window of a user interface of the computer;
receiving a user input at the IM reader window indicating selection of the second conversation element for creation of a second IM thread within the IM session;
responsive to receiving the user input, updating the second conversation element from the first IM thread identifier to a second IM thread identifier at the computer including mapping the second IM thread identifier to the second IM thread in an IM thread mapping file at the computer; and
responsive to updating the second conversation element and without further user input, displaying the second conversation element in the IM reader window in the second IM thread, and removing the second conversation element from the first IM thread including visually removing the second conversation element from the first IM thread, where the second IM thread is visually distinguished from the first IM thread in the IM reader window.
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Abstract
The invention is a computer implemented system and process for managing a threaded instant messaging conversation. The process comprises establishing an interactive messaging session for exchanging a conversation element; assigning a thread identifier to the conversation element; appending the thread identifier to the conversation element; and displaying the conversation element in a user interface based on the thread identifier.
50 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for managing creation of new threads from existing conversation elements in an instant messaging session, comprising:
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establishing the instant messaging (IM) session at a computer including at least a first conversation element and a second conversation element for a first IM thread having a first IM thread identifier, the first IM thread identifier assigned to both the first and second conversation elements; displaying the first and second conversation elements consecutively in an IM reader window of a user interface of the computer; receiving a user input at the IM reader window indicating selection of the second conversation element for creation of a second IM thread within the IM session; responsive to receiving the user input, updating the second conversation element from the first IM thread identifier to a second IM thread identifier at the computer including mapping the second IM thread identifier to the second IM thread in an IM thread mapping file at the computer; and responsive to updating the second conversation element and without further user input, displaying the second conversation element in the IM reader window in the second IM thread, and removing the second conversation element from the first IM thread including visually removing the second conversation element from the first IM thread, where the second IM thread is visually distinguished from the first IM thread in the IM reader window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for managing the creation of new threads in instant messaging conversations, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor; a memory connected to the processor; an output device connected to the processor; an instant messaging (IM) program including an IM thread manager program in the memory operable to cause the processor to; establish an IM session at a computer including at least a first conversation element and a second conversation element for a first IM thread having a first IM thread identifier, the first IM thread identifier assigned to both the first and second conversation elements; display the first and second conversation elements consecutively in an IM reader window of a user interface of the computer; receive a user input at the IM reader window indicating selection of the second conversation element for creation of a second IM thread within the IM session; responsive to receiving the user input, update the second conversation element from the first IM thread identifier to a second IM thread identifier at the computer including to map the second IM thread identifier to the second IM thread in an IM thread mapping file at the computer; and responsive to updating the second conversation element and without further user input, display the second conversation element in the IM reader window in the second IM thread, and remove the second conversation element from the first IM thread, wherein removing the second conversation element from the first IM thread includes visually removing the second conversation element from the first IM thread, where the second IM thread is visually distinguished from the first IM thread in the IM reader window. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable memory having an instant messaging (IM) computer program including computer program code for performing a method of managing creation of new threads in IM conversations upon being executed by a processor, comprising:
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computer program code which when executed by the processor causes the processor to establish an IM session at a computer including at least a first conversation element and a second conversation element for a first IM thread having a first IM thread identifier, the first IM thread identifier assigned to both the first and second conversation elements; computer program code which when executed by the processor causes the processor to display the first and second conversation elements consecutively in an IM reader window of a user interface of the computer; computer program code which when executed by the processor causes the processor to receive a user input at the IM reader window indicating selection of the second conversation element for creation of a second IM thread within the IM session; computer program code which when executed by the processor causes the processor to, responsive to receiving the user input, update the second conversation element from the first IM thread identifier to a second IM thread identifier at the computer including to map the second IM thread identifier to the second IM thread in an IM thread mapping file at the computer; and computer program code which when executed by the processor causes the processor to, responsive to updating the second conversation element and without further user input, display the second conversation element in the IM reader window in the second IM thread, and remove the second conversation element from the first IM thread, wherein removing the second conversation element from the first IM thread includes visually removing the second conversation element from the first IM thread, where the second IM thread is visually distinguished from the first IM thread in the IM reader window. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification