Handheld electronic device and associated method providing time data in a messaging environment
View Patent ↗An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method are provided in which time data regarding certain aspects of a messaging conversation on a handheld electronic device are made available to a user. Such time data is provided, for instance, in situations where an interruption has occurred during a messaging conversation. Time data can also be provided to a user on demand in certain circumstances.
1. A method of displaying an instant messaging conversation on a display of an electronic device, the method comprising:
displaying a conversation of instant messages;
displaying a first time information for an instant message in the conversation in response to a first input; and
automatically changing the first time information for the instant message to a second time information as time progresses and displaying the second time information instead of the first time information.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first time information comprises an absolute time.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second time information further comprises additional information.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the additional information comprises an indication of a day on which the instant message was sent.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first time information and the second time information comprises a relative time.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second time information comprises an absolute time after expiration of a predetermined duration of time.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first time information is displayed for only a predetermined duration of time.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first comprises detecting a pointing device in proximity to the instant message.
9. An electronic device for displaying an instant messaging conversation, the electronic device comprising:
a display;
a memory; and
a processor electronically coupled with the display and the memory, the processor configured to:
display a conversation of instant messages;
display a first time information for an instant message in the conversation in response to a first input; and
automatically change the first time information for the instant message to a second time information as time progresses and display the second time information instead of the first time information.
10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the first time information comprises an absolute time.
11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the second time information further comprises additional information.
12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the additional information comprises an indication of a day on which the instant message was sent.
13. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first time information and the second time information comprises a relative time.
14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the second time information comprises an absolute time after expiration of a predetermined duration of time.
15. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the first time information is displayed for only a predetermined duration of time.
16. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the first input comprises detecting a pointing device in proximity to the instant message.
17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions embedded thereon for execution by a processor of an electronic device such that, when executed, cause the processor to:
display a conversation of instant messages;
display a first time information for an instant message in the conversation in response to a first input; and
automatically change the first time information for the instant message to a second time information as time progresses and display the second time information instead of the first time information.