U.S. patent application number 10/330786 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-10 for instant messaging system.
Invention is credited to Bell, John Francis III, Meservy, David Albert.
Application Number | 20030131064 10/330786 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23349470 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030131064 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bell, John Francis III ; et
al. |
July 10, 2003 |
Instant messaging system
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.
Inventors: |
Bell, John Francis III;
(Houston, TX) ; Meservy, David Albert; (Houston,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Woodard, Emhardt, Naughton,
Moriarty and McNett LLP
Bank One Center/Tower
111 Monument Circle, Suite 3700
Indianapolis
IN
46204-5137
US
|
Family ID: |
23349470 |
Appl. No.: |
10/330786 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60344197 |
Dec 28, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/206 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 51/224 20220501;
H04L 51/226 20220501; H04L 51/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/206 |
International
Class: |
G06F 015/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
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 said second party; and a display associated
with said first party for displaying said information concerning
said second party.
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 said recipients; and a display
associated with said first party for displaying information
concerning a particular one of said recipients whenever a message
is sent to said recipient.
3. An instant messaging system comprising: first means for
receiving a message from a plurality of second means;
prioritization means associated with said first means for assigning
a priority level to each of said second means; and means for
organizing messages received from each of said second means in
accordance with said priority levels.
4. An instant messaging system comprising: means for determining at
least one attribute associated with the sender of a received
message; means for assigning a priority level to said received
message based on said attribute; and means for directing said
message to a recipient in response to said priority level.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from a Provisional
Application Serial No. 60/344,197, filed Dec. 28, 2001, which is
hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to internet-based
communications systems and, more particularly, to an instant
messaging system that provides the user with information and
control over handling of message for multiple conversations.
[0003] Instant messaging has become a powerful and popular
communication tool that is used by individuals and businesses alike
as an effective means to transfer and relay information to other
individuals and/or to customers. Instant messaging permits group or
two-party conversations to occur in a reasonable approximation of
real time. Instant messaging system currently available are not
dependent upon the use of any particular hardware, such that
parties can communicate through instant messaging without regard
for the particular types of devices or computer hardware that each
party is using.
[0004] Instant messaging systems permit parties to engage in
multiple conversations contemporaneously. It is not unusual for one
person to be engaged in five or more separate conversations with
different individuals at the same time. Maintaining control over
multiple conversations is difficult, however, as it is easy to
forget details about a particular conversant or about the history
of the conversation to the current point in time. Often, too, one
or more conversations may become more important than others, but
with current instant messaging systems, messages arrive at a user's
desktop in the order in which they are delivered, such that several
or many messages from "less important" conversants may arrive
before a message from the desired conversant. Keeping track of the
message thread with particular individuals may be difficult and may
cause messages to be missed or ignored inadvertently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an instant messaging system that presents to the sender of
a message information about the recipient at the time a message is
sent.
[0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an instant messaging system that permits users to establish
priority levels of active conversants. Messages from conversants
having a higher set priority than other conversant will be
delivered and displayed to the user before messages are delivered
from lower priority conversants.
[0007] It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide an instant messaging system that permits routing of
messages and setting of priority of senders based on sender
attributes.
[0008] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide an instant messaging system that permits storage of
conversant data to occur locally, centrally or in a distributed
storage system.
[0009] These and other objects will become apparent from the
illustrated drawing and the description of the embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an instant messaging system in
accordance the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an instant messaging system in
accordance with another aspect of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an instant messaging system in
accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an instant messaging
system 10 that includes a server 12, which may be formed as part of
network server that performs a number of tasks in addition to
managing instant messages. The instant messaging capability of
server 12 allows two or more individual users to send instant
messages to one another in approximation of real time. Server 12 is
shown illustratively as utilizing the internet, identified as
element 14 in FIG. 1, as its communications link. FIG. 1
illustratively shows individual users 16 and 18, although it is
understood that many users can be associated with instant messaging
system 10 at any given time. Individual user 16 is shown as
comprising a computer 20 incorporating a processor 22 and memory
24, which may comprise one or more types of computer memory, such
as hard disc memory, RAM, or solid state memory. User 16 also
comprises a display 26. Individual user 18 is shown a comprising a
computer 28 having a processor 30 and memory 32, such as that used
in computer 20, and a display 34. User 16 communicates via the
internet by way of communications means 36, which may be any type
of communications device, such as a cable modem or telephonic
modem, for example. Likewise, user 18 communicates through the
internet using a communications means 38, which may also be a
variety of different communications devices. The operating systems
of computers 20 and 28 are not required to be the same, as the
instant messaging system operates without regard to the type of
hardware or software used by the individual users.
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates server 12 as managing the instant
messaging system of the present invention, but peer to peer instant
messaging systems are also available and the present invention is
equally adaptable to peer to peer systems and server-based instant
messaging systems. Server 12 includes a processor 40, memory 42,
and a communications device 44 operating through a firewall 46.
Server 12 may also include other components and elements unrelated
to the management of an instant messaging system.
[0015] In operation, user 16 communicates with server 12 in order
to "log on" to the instant messaging system. Server 12 may
recognize user 16 as a previously authorized user, or user 16 may
initiate a new account for purposes of utilizing the instant
messaging functionality of system 10. For illustration purposes,
user 18 was previously utilizing the instant messaging system at
the time user 16 logged on. Server 12 may provide information to
each of the users logged onto the instant messaging system related
to the number and identity of users authorized to use the system,
as well as the identity of users who are currently logged on.
[0016] The operation of instant messaging system 10 may be
illustrated as follows. Upon logging onto the instant messaging
system, user 16 is alerted that user 18 is also currently logged
on. User 16 therefore decides to compose and send an instant
message to user 18. In accordance with an aspect of the present
invention, when user 16 initiates an outgoing message to user 18,
information about user 18 appears on display 26 of user 16. This
information, which may comprise, for example, the name, address,
phone number, email address, notes, conversation logs, business
transaction information, or any other type of information about
user 18 that may be useful to or desired by user 16. This
information could be stored in memory 24 of computer 20 of
individual user 16, or it may be centrally stored in memory 42 of
server 12 and transmitted to user 16 when server 12 recognizes that
user 16 has sent a message to user 18, or it may be stored in some
other location. In a similar manner, when user 18 sends a message
to user 16, information concerning user 16 appears on display 34 of
user 18. The type of information that is presented to user 18 about
user 16 may be the same as that presented to user 16 about user 18,
or it may be different. The information, as described above, is
uniquely determined by each individual user in accordance with
their choices and desires and is typically kept confidential by the
user who creates or designates it, but may be shared with other
users if desired. The present invention, therefore, allows a user
of an instant messaging system to have ready access to information
related to each of the other users with which that user is
communicating. It is not unusual for a user to be in communication
with ten or more other users at the same time, and the present
invention helps each user keep track of pertinent information about
other users in order to aid the user in efficiently managing a
number of simultaneous instant message conversations.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an instant messaging
system 48 in accordance with another aspect of the present
invention. Messaging system 48 is shown in simplified form, but it
is understood that the components of system 48, such as the
computers utilized by individual users, contain all necessary
elements required to fully employ the functionality of messaging
system 48.
[0018] In the example of FIG. 2, messaging system 48 comprises a
central server 50, which communicates via the internet (shown as
element 52). Individual users 54, 56, 58, 60, and 62 are
illustratively shown as being associated with messaging system 48,
although it is understood that messaging system 48 may serve large
numbers of users. Users 54, 56, 58, 60, and 62 may be part of a
designated list of associated users, often known as a buddy list,
or may be participating in a group conversation, such as a chat
room.
[0019] For illustrative purposes, each of users 54, 56, 58, 60, and
62 is carrying on instant message conversations with each of the
other users in that group. In accordance with an aspect of the
present invention, a conversation manager or queuing system allows
each user to designate a priority level to each of the other users
in their instant messaging group. An individual user could also be
engaged in conversations with users in other groups or buddy lists
at the same time. During a conversation session, a message queue
status display available to each user will show the active
conversations ongoing or pending. When a user selects a particular
conversation, a conversation log or history is displayed, along
with information about the other user or conversant. This allows a
user to easily recall the conversation history with that individual
which makes it easier to pick up and continue the conversation,
particularly when several or many conversations are ongoing at one
time with a given user. Once a message is sent, the user may choose
to stay in that conversation, or may switch to a different
conversation. The priority level designated or assigned to other
users will determine how the conversations are selected or switched
by the user designating the priority levels. For example, user 54
may assign a high priority to user 56 (shown as H in FIG. 2), a
medium priority to users 58 and 60 (shown as M in FIG. 2), and a
low priority to user 62 (shown as L in FIG. 2). Users 56, 58, 60,
and 62 may assign the same, or different priority levels to user 54
compared to the priority level user 54 assigns to them. In this
example, three priority levels have been described, but it is
understood that messaging system 48 may be designed and operate
with any number of priority levels. The priority level assigned to
each user will determine which conversations are active with
respect to user 54 at any given time. As messages from user 56, for
example, are routed through server 50 to user 54, the high priority
level assigned to user 56 by user 54 will cause the conversation
between user 54 and user 56 to become active on the display of user
54. As long as messages continue to arrive from user 56, the
particular conversation will remain active and other conversations
will stay inactive and messages from other users will not appear to
user 54 but will stay in a message queue. During lulls in the
conversation between user 54 and user 56, conversations and
associated messages from users having medium priority designations
will become active and be displayed. If a message from user 56
arrives, the conversation will switch based on the higher priority
assigned to user 56. Message of equal priority will be delivered or
serviced on a first in-first out (FIFO) basis.
[0020] It is possible that low priority conversations and their
associated messages may remain in the message queue and never be
serviced if there are a number of higher priority conversation are
those conversations are very active. The messaging system 48 of the
present invention allows a user to set a message queue delay limit
or queue expiration time. This causes a low priority message that
exceeds a delay time without being serviced or delivered to be
elevated in priority within the message queue. Setting of a delay
limit is not required, however, and it is possible that some
conversations will never become active as long as other higher
priority conversations continue.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates an instant messaging system 64 of the
present invention that may be utilized by organizations or entities
rather than individual users. Such an organization may provide
technical assistance or some other form of service, for example.
FIG. 3 shows a server 66, communicating through the internet
(designated as element 68) to individual users 70 and 72. Also
shown as part of messaging system 64 is a communications router 74,
which is used by an organization 76 and is illustratively shown as
being linked to users within organization 76.
[0022] An illustrative example of the operation of messaging system
64 is as follows. For this example, organization or entity 76 is
illustratively described as a technical service department within a
larger organization. When individual user 70 initiates a
conversation with entity or organization 76 by sending a message to
entity 76, communications router 74 receives the message and
delivers it to a service technician, shown in FIG. 3 as users 78
and 80. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention,
conversations may also be transferred from one technician to
another to balance conversation loads. The conversation history and
information about the conversant or conversants will also be
transferred as well, enabling the technician who receives the
transferred conversation to easily come up to speed concerning what
has already transpired in the conversation. In accordance with
another aspect of the present invention, individual users, such as
users 70 and 72, may be assigned different priorities by
communications router 74. For example, if user 72 has paid for a
higher level of technical assistance than user 70, messages from
user 72 will take a higher place in the message queue of entity 76
than will messages from user 70, such that messages from user 72
are processed faster than are messages from user 70. Communications
router 74 may also rout message to particular technicians based on
user priority settings, or based on information about the users who
are sending messages. Again for example, technician 78 may have
particular expertise in an area to which the problem or concern of
a user pertains. Communications router may then rout messages from
users who require the expertise of technician 78 to technician 78.
As another example, technician 80 may be designated as the
technician who services users who have paid for technical
assistance, such that those users receive quick and efficient help
when they contact entity 76.
[0023] The data for the previously described messaging systems,
such as priority settings, user information, and conversation logs
may be stored locally with individual users, on a central server,
or in a distributed data storage system. Any available data storage
technology may be used. If the information is not stored locally, a
user may use any computer to log into the messaging system and
still have previously created user information and priority
settings available without having to recreate the information.
[0024] While the present invention has been illustrated in the
drawing and described in detail in the foregoing description, it is
understood that such illustration and description are illustrative
in nature and are not to be considered restrictive, it being
understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and
described and that all changes and modifications that would be
apparent or would occur to one skilled in the art are to be
protected.
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