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; and
displaying time information in association with at least one of two consecutive messages of the conversation only when a time elapsed between communication of the consecutive messages exceeds a predetermined duration, the predetermined duration being variable according to a frequency of messages being exchanged in the conversation of instant messages.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the time information comprises a time stamp.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the time information comprises a relative time stamp representative of time elapsed between communication of the consecutive messages.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the time information is displayed adjacent to the at least one of two consecutive messages.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a handheld electronic device.
6. 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; and
display time information in association with at least one of two consecutive messages of the conversation only when a time elapsed between communication of the consecutive messages exceeds a predetermined duration, the predetermined duration being variable according to a frequency of messages being exchanged in the conversation of instant messages.
7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the time information comprises a time stamp.
8. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the time information comprises a relative time stamp representative of time elapsed between communication of the consecutive messages.
9. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the time information is displayed adjacent to the at least one of two consecutive messages.
10. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the electronic device is a handheld electronic device.
11. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions embedded thereon for execution by a processor of an electronic device for displaying an instant messaging conversation on a display of the electronic device, such that when executed, the processor:
displays a conversation of instant messages; and
displays time information in association with at least one of two consecutive messages of the conversation only when a time elapsed between communication of the consecutive messages exceeds a predetermined duration, the predetermined duration being variable according to a frequency of messages being exchanged in the conversation of instant messages.
12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the time information comprises a time stamp.
13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the time information comprises a relative time stamp representative of time elapsed between communication of the consecutive messages.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the time information is displayed adjacent to the at least one of two consecutive messages.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the electronic device is a handheld electronic device.