Method of and system for providing enhanced user control of computer chat
View Patent ↗A method of and system for providing enhanced user control of computer chat minimize a chat window in response to user input and then restore the chat window in response to receipt of a message from a sender, in which the message has a predetermined characteristic. The user input may include activation of an intelligent or smart minimize function. An example of a predetermined characteristic that may cause the chat window to be restored in the intelligent minimized mode is the presence of the user's name in a chat message. Other examples of predetermined characteristics that may cause the chat window to be restored include the text of the message being in a bold font or otherwise marked as being urgent, the sender of the message being on an exception list or occupying a management position with respect to the recipient. Embodiments may include a shout function by which a sender can override the intelligent mode. Embodiments include informing the other chat participants when a participant is in intelligent minimize mode.
1. A method of providing computer chat, which comprises:
receiving user input from a user to activate an intelligent minimize function, wherein
the user input comprises actuation of a smart icon depicted within a chat session window; wherein
the smart icon is separate from a normal minimize button of the chat session window;
minimizing the chat session window in response to the user activation of the intelligent minimize function, wherein
the intelligent minimize function allows receipt of a message within the chat session window while the chat session window is minimized, without restoring said minimized chat session window unless the message has a predetermined characteristic; wherein
said predetermined characteristic comprises a name of said user in a body of said message; and,
restoring said minimized chat session window in response to a determination that said message has the predetermined characteristic.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said predetermined characteristic comprises:
a sender of the message is on an exception list.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said predetermined characteristic comprises:
at least a portion of said message is designated as urgent.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein
said at least a portion of said message is designated as urgent by a special type font.
5. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein
said at least a portion of said message is designated as urgent by an indication that said message is sent from a sender using a shout button that is provided in addition to and separately from a normal send button.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
notifying participants in a chat session that said user has activated said intelligent minimize function.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said notifying comprises:
displaying to said participants an intelligent minimize indicator in association with said user.
8. A computer chat system, which comprises:
a chat client implemented on a computer memory device, said chat client configured to:
display a chat session window;
display a smart icon within the chat session window, wherein
the smart icon is separate from a normal minimize button of the chat session window; wherein
user input from a user to actuate the smart icon activates an intelligent minimize function;
minimize said chat session window in response to the user input to activate the intelligent minimize function, wherein
the intelligent minimize function allows receipt of a chat message within the chat session window while the chat session window is minimized, without restoring said minimized chat session window unless the chat message has a predetermined characteristic; wherein
said predetermined characteristic comprises a name of said user in a body of said chat message; and,
restore said minimized chat session window in response to determining that the chat message has the predetermined characteristic.
9. The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said predetermined characteristic comprises:
a sender of the chat message is on an exception list.
10. The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said predetermined characteristic comprises:
at least a portion of said chat message is designated as urgent.
11. The system claimed in claim 10 , wherein said at least a portion on said chat message is designated as urgent by a special type font.
12. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said
at least a portion of said chat message is designated as urgent by an indication that said chat message is sent from a sender using a shout button that is provided in addition to and separately from a normal send button.
13. The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said chat client is further configured to:
notify participants in a chat session that said user has activated said intelligent minimize function.
14. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said chat client is further configured to:
display to said participants an intelligent minimize indicator in association with said user.
15. An article of manufacture for implementing a method of computer chat, which comprises:
a computer readable storage medium having computer readable code thereon, said computer readable code comprising:
instructions for displaying a chat session window;
instructions for displaying a smart icon within the chat session window, wherein
user input from a user to actuate the smart icon activates an intelligent minimize function; wherein
the smart icon is separate from a normal minimize button of the chat session window;
instructions for minimizing said chat session window in response to the user input to activate the intelligent minimize function, wherein
the intelligent minimize function allows receipt of a chat message within the chat session window while the chat session window is minimized, without restoring said minimized chat session window unless the chat message has a predetermined characteristic; wherein
said predetermined characteristic comprises a name of said user in a body of said chat message; and,
instructions for restoring said minimized chat session window in response to determining that the chat message has the predetermined characteristic.
16. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 15 , wherein
at least a portion of said message is designated as urgent by an indication that said message is sent from a sender using a shout button that is provided in addition to and separately from a normal send button.