Method and apparatus for enhancing instant messaging systems

• US 8,140,981 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gusler, Carl P., Hamilton, Rick A. II, Schatz, Harry, Seaman, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao “Kevin”
• Application Number:
  US12/140,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20080250335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 715751-753, 715757-758, 715/772, 715/777, 715/759, 715/797
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer instructions for organizing threads in an instant messaging session. Instant messages are received from a list of contacts. Each of these messages are stored in a set of folders, wherein each folders in the set of folders stores messages for a contact in the number of contacts. Each file is linked for access though a graphical user interface. Message threads are handled by displaying a primary dialog window, wherein the primary dialog window includes an ongoing conversation pane and an outgoing message pane. Responsive to a user input identifying a new thread, a secondary dialog window is displayed, wherein the secondary dialog window includes an ongoing conversation pane and an outgoing message pane. Responses to outgoing messages sent from the outgoing message pane are displayed in the primary dialog window in the ongoing conversation pane in the primary dialog window. Responses to outgoing messages sent from the outgoing message pane in the secondary dialog window are displayed in the ongoing conversation pane in the secondary dialog window, wherein the primary dialog window and the secondary dialog window.

Claims

1. A method for handling message threads, the method comprising the steps of:

a computer displaying a primary dialog window, wherein the primary dialog window includes a first ongoing conversation pane and a first outgoing message pane;

the computer displaying, in the primary dialog window, a first discussion between a first party and a second party during a chat session between the first party and the second party;

during the chat session, the computer receiving an indication, from the first party, of a new thread, wherein the new thread is a subset of the chat session, and wherein the new thread is a second discussion between the first party and the second party;

after receiving the indication, the computer displaying a secondary dialog window, wherein the secondary dialog window includes a second ongoing conversation pane and a second outgoing message pane;

the computer displaying responses to first outgoing messages sent from the first outgoing message pane in the first ongoing conversation pane; and

the computer displaying responses to second outgoing messages sent from the second outgoing message pane in the second ongoing conversation pane.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

after a selection of a contact from a list of contacts, the computer displaying messages for the contact.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

the computer storing messages associated with a contact from a list of contacts in a folder;

the computer linking the folder to the contact; and

the computer providing the first party access to the messages in response to a selection of the contact.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

after receiving the indication, the computer sending a message to an instant messaging program on a remote computer being used by the second party to open a window for the new thread.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

the computer displaying a close button in the secondary dialog window;

the computer receiving a selection of the close button; and

after receiving the selection of the close button, the computer closing the secondary dialog window.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

the computer displaying an invite others button in the secondary dialog window;

the computer receiving a selection of the invite others button; and

after receiving the selection of the invite others button, the computer inviting a third party on a buddy list of the first party to join the new thread.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the new thread comprises the second outgoing messages sent from the second outgoing message pane and the responses to the second outgoing messages.

17. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

the computer displaying a new thread button in the primary dialog window; and

the computer receiving a selection of the new thread button, wherein the indication is the selection of the new thread button.

8. A computer system for handling message threads, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories and one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display a primary dialog window, wherein the primary dialog window includes a first ongoing conversation pane and a first outgoing message pane;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display, in the primary dialog window, a first discussion between a first party and a second party during a chat session between the first party and the second party;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to, during the chat session, receive an indication, from the first party, of a new thread, wherein the new thread is a subset of the chat session, and wherein the new thread is a second discussion between the first party and the second party;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to, after receiving the indication, display a secondary dialog window, wherein the secondary dialog window includes a second ongoing conversation pane and a second outgoing message pane;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display responses to first outgoing messages sent from the first outgoing message pane in the first ongoing conversation pane; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display responses to second outgoing messages sent from the second outgoing message pane in the second ongoing conversation pane.

9. The computer system of claim 8 further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to, after a selection of a contact from a list of contacts, display messages for the contact.

10. The computer system of claim 8 further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to store messages associated with a contact from a list of contacts in a folder;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to link the folder the contact; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to provide to the first party access to the messages in response to a selection of the contact.

11. The computer system according to claim 8 further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display a new thread button in the primary dialog window; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to receive a selection of the new thread button, wherein the indication is the selection of the new thread button.

12. The computer system according to claim 8 further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to, after receiving the indication, send a message to an instant messaging program on a remote computer being used by the second party to open a window for the new thread.

13. The computer system according to claim 8 further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display a close button in the secondary dialog window;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to receive a selection of the close button; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to, after receiving the selection of the close button, close the secondary dialog window.

14. The computer system according to claim 8 further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display an invite others button in the secondary dialog window;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to receive a selection of the invite others button; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to, after receiving the selection of the invite others button, invite a third party on a buddy list of the first party to join the new thread.

15. The computer system according to claim 8, wherein the new thread comprises the second outgoing messages sent from the second outgoing message pane and the responses to the second outgoing messages.

16. A computer program product for handling message threads, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to display a primary dialog window, wherein the primary dialog window includes a first ongoing conversation pane and a first outgoing message pane;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to display, in the primary dialog window, a first discussion between a first party and a second party during a chat session between the first party and the second party;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to, during the chat session, receive an indication, from the first party, of a new thread, wherein the new thread is a subset of the chat session, and wherein the new thread is a second discussion between the first party and the second party;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to, after receiving the indication, display a secondary dialog window, wherein the secondary dialog window includes a second ongoing conversation pane and a second outgoing message pane;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to display responses to first outgoing messages sent from the first outgoing message pane in the first ongoing conversation pane; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to display responses to second outgoing messages sent from the second outgoing message pane in the second ongoing conversation pane.

18. The computer program product according to claim 16 further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to display a new thread button in the primary dialog window; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to receive a selection of the new thread button, wherein the indication is the selection of the new thread button.

19. The computer program product according to claim 16 further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to, after receiving the indication, send a message to an instant messaging program on a remote computer being used by the second party to open a window for the new thread.

20. The computer program product according to claim 16 further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to display a close button in the secondary dialog window;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to receive a selection of the close button; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to, after receiving the selection of the close button, close the secondary dialog window.

21. The computer program product according to claim 16 further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to display an invite others button in the secondary dialog window;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to receive a selection of the invite others button; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to, after receiving the selection of the invite others button, invite a third party on a buddy list of the first party to join the new thread.

22. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the new thread comprises the second outgoing messages sent from the second outgoing message pane and the responses to the second outgoing messages.