Method and apparatus for displaying information during an instant messaging session

• US 8,554,861 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Christie, Gregory N., Westen, Peter T., Lemay, Stephen O., Alfke, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shepperd, Eric W
• Application Number:
  US12/726,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 709/209, 709/204, 709/206, 709/207, 709227-229, 715/700, 715/715, 715/733, 715/751, 715757-759
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

A method and an apparatus are provided for controlling a graphical user interface to display information related to a communication session. Information relating to data produced by a first participant to the communication session is displayed on a first display unit, wherein the information produced by the first participant is displayed at a first position on the first display unit. Data is received from a second participant to the communication session, and information relating to the data received from the second participant is displayed on the first display unit, wherein the information received from the second participant is displayed at a second position on the first display unit. The first and second positions are horizontally spaced apart.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a computing device with a display;

displaying a communication session window on the display, the communication session window partitioned to display instant messages from a first participant in speech balloons in a right region of the communication session window and instant messages from a second participant in speech balloons in a left region of the communication session window during an instant messaging session between the first participant and the second participant, wherein instant messages in the instant messaging session are displayed vertically in the communication session window based on a time order in which the instant messages are received;

receiving a signal indicating the second participant is preparing an instant message;

in response to receiving the signal indicating the second participant is preparing an instant message, displaying a thought bubble in the left region of the communication session window, wherein a vertical position of the thought bubble in the left region is based on a time that the thought bubble was created;

while displaying the thought bubble in the left region of the communication session window, receiving an instant message from the first participant;

in response to receiving the instant message from the first participant, displaying a speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region of the communication session window, wherein the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region is below the vertical position of the thought bubble in the left region;

while displaying the thought bubble in the left region and the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region, receiving the instant message prepared by the second participant that corresponds to the thought bubble in the left region; and

,

in response to receiving the instant message prepared by the second participant that corresponds to the thought bubble in the left region;

ceasing to display the thought bubble in the left region; and

displaying a speech balloon containing the instant message prepared by the second participant in the left region of the communication session window, wherein the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region is above the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message prepared by the second participant in the left region.

2. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a communication session window on the display, the communication session window partitioned to display instant messages from a first participant in speech balloons in a right region of the communication session window and instant messages from a second participant in speech balloons in a left region of the communication session window during an instant messaging session between the first participant and the second participant, wherein instant messages in the instant messaging session are displayed vertically in the communication session window based on a time order in which the instant messages are received;

receiving a signal indicating the second participant is preparing an instant message;

in response to receiving the signal indicating the second participant is preparing an instant message, displaying a thought bubble in the left region of the communication session window, wherein a vertical position of the thought bubble in the left region is based on a time that the thought bubble was created;

while displaying the thought bubble in the left region of the communication session window, receiving an instant message from the first participant;

in response to receiving the instant message from the first participant, displaying a speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region of the communication session window, wherein the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region is below the vertical position of the thought bubble in the left region;

while displaying the thought bubble in the left region and the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region, receiving the instant message prepared by the second participant that corresponds to the thought bubble in the left region; and

,

in response to receiving the instant message prepared by the second participant that corresponds to the thought bubble in the left region;

ceasing to display the thought bubble in the left region; and

displaying a speech balloon containing the instant message prepared by the second participant in the left region of the communication session window, wherein the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region is above the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message prepared by the second participant in the left region.

3. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a communication session window on the display, the communication session window partitioned to display instant messages from a first participant in speech balloons in a right region of the communication session window and instant messages from a second participant in speech balloons in a left region of the communication session window during an instant messaging session between the first participant and the second participant, wherein instant messages in the instant messaging session are displayed vertically in the communication session window based on a time order in which the instant messages are received;

receive a signal indicating the second participant is preparing an instant message;

in response to receiving the signal indicating the second participant is preparing an instant message, display a thought bubble in the left region of the communication session window, wherein a vertical position of the thought bubble in the left region is based on a time that the thought bubble was created;

while displaying the thought bubble in the left region of the communication session window, receive an instant message from the first participant;

in response to receiving the instant message from the first participant, display a speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region of the communication session window, wherein the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region is below the vertical position of the thought bubble in the left region;

while displaying the thought bubble in the left region and the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region, receive the instant message prepared by the second participant that corresponds to the thought bubble in the left region; and

,

in response to receiving the instant message prepared by the second participant that corresponds to the thought bubble in the left region;

cease to display the thought bubble in the left region; and

display a speech balloon containing the instant message prepared by the second participant in the left region of the communication session window, wherein the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region is above the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message prepared by the second participant in the left region.