Method and system for using subjects in instant messaging sessions on a mobile device
A system and method are provided that incorporate subjects or subject lines into instant messaging sessions or conversations on a mobile device. During an instant messaging session, the user is provided with an option to specify a subject for at least the current portion of the session or for the entire session. The subject is proposed to the other users in the session, who can accept, ignore or modify the subject at their end. Multiple subjects can be specified for a single conversation if desired, and the subjects can be displayed with the contact in a message list. The instant messaging sessions may then be searched using search tools that are typically used for search email and other data messages.
1. A mobile device comprising:
a display;
a memory; and
a processor electrically coupled with said display and said memory, said processor operable to:
receive a first input defining a first subject for at least a portion of a thread comprising an instant messaging conversation, wherein said first subject is separate and distinct from said portion of the thread;
upon receiving said first input associate a tag with said first subject, said tag indicating one of a plurality of subject modification states associated with said first subject, wherein said first subject and said tag are included within an instant message as separate components; and
send said instant message to at least one other user participating in said thread, said instant message comprising at least said first subject and said tag.
2. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is operable to:
display a first interface for exchanging instant messages for the thread, said thread comprising a plurality of said instant messages listed in chronological order;
display a second interface for identifying said first subject; and
after receiving a second input through said second interface to select said first subject, display said portion of said thread.
3. The mobile device according to claim 2 , wherein said second interface includes a list of one or more contacts, including a contact associated with said instant messaging conversation, and said first subject is displayed in association with said contact.
4. The mobile device according to claim 2 , wherein said second interface includes a list of one or more subjects, including said first subject.
5. The mobile device of claim 4 , wherein said list of one or more subjects includes up to a maximum number of a plurality of most recent subjects in said instant messaging conversation.
6. The mobile device of claim 2 , wherein said portion of said thread is displayed in said first interface for exchanging instant messages.
7. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein said processor is further operable to:
receive a third input entering a second subject; and
embed said second subject into said thread at a second point of creation by displaying said second subject at a second point in said thread without starting a new thread to thereby distinguish between multiple topics covered during a given same conversation by identifying different portions of said thread using said first subject and said second subject.
8. The mobile device of claim 7 , wherein the processor is operable to:
display a first interface for exchanging instant messages for the thread, said thread comprising a plurality of said instant messages listed in chronological order; and
display a second interface for identifying said first subject, wherein said second interface includes a list of subjects, including said first subject and said second subject.
9. A mobile device comprising:
a display;
a memory; and
a processor electrically coupled with said display and said memory, said processor operable to:
receive a first message from a correspondent in an existing thread comprising an instant messaging conversation with a correspondent, said thread comprising a plurality of instant messages, said first message comprising a first subject for a portion of said thread and a tag associated with said first subject, said first subject and said tag being received as separate components within said first message subject and, wherein said tag indicates one subject modification state associated with said first subject from a plurality of subject modification states;
processing said first subject according to said subject modification state, wherein said processing comprises
embedding said first subject into said thread at a first point of creation by displaying said first subject at a first point in said thread along with said plurality of instant messages without starting a new thread,
wherein said processor is operable to process said first subject differently for each subject modification state of said plurality of subject modification states.
10. The mobile device according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is operable to:
provide a second interface for identifying said first subject;
receive a first input to select said first subject; and
wherein said second interface includes a search field and said first input to select said first subject comprises receiving text in said search field specifying said first subject.
11. The mobile device according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is operable to provide a second interface for identifying said first subject, and said second interface includes a list of one or more contacts, including a contact associated with said instant messaging conversation, and said first subject is displayed in association with said contact.
12. The mobile device according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is operable to provide a second interface for identifying said first subject, and said second interface includes a list of one or more subjects, including said first subject.
13. The mobile device of claim 12 , wherein said list of one or more subjects includes up to a maximum number of a plurality of most recent subjects in said instant messaging conversation.
14. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein said portion of said thread is displayed in an interface for exchanging instant messages.
15. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein said processor is further operable to:
receive a second message identifying a second subject; and
embed said second subject into said thread at a second point of creation by displaying said second subject at a second point in said thread along with said plurality of instant messages without starting a new thread to thereby distinguish between multiple topics covered during said conversation by identifying different portions of said thread using said first subject and said second subject.
16. The mobile device of claim 15 , wherein the processor is operable to provide a second interface for identifying said first subject, and said second interface includes a list of subjects, including said first subject and said second subject.
17. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein each subject modification state of said plurality of subject modification states indicates to an instant messaging application how an associated subject is to be processed.
18. The mobile device according to claim 2 , wherein said second interface includes a search field and said second input to select said first subject comprises receiving text in said search field specifying said first subject.