Method and apparatus for initiating and managing chat sessions

1. A machine-implemented method performed by a machine for initiating a chat session, the method comprising:

monitoring user activities of a remote user with respect to a data processing system that are unrelated to chat services, the user activities including a mobile phone communication session between a local user of the data processing system and the remote user;

receiving a request to initiate a chat session between the local user and the remote user;

determining whether the mobile phone communication session ended within a predetermined period of time prior to the request;

based on the determination that the mobile phone communication session ended within the predetermine period of time, selecting a first chat service account from a list of a plurality chat service accounts associated with the remote user based on the monitored user activities, wherein the first chat service account is associated with the mobile phone of the remote user;

initiating a chat session using the selected first chat service account of the remote user and a second chat service account selected for the local user;

exchanging, via the first and second chat service accounts, content of the chat session with the mobile phone of the remote user over an SMS (short message service) communications channel; and

displaying information within a chat window indicating that the chat session is conducted between the first and second chat service accounts.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the second chat service account from a list of a plurality of chat service accounts associated with the local user based on the monitored user activities, wherein the second chat service account is selected to be most compatible with the first chat service account.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first chat service account and the second chat service account are associated with an identical chat service provider.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying within the chat window information indicating that the chat session is being conducted with the mobile phone of the remote user via the SMS communications channel.

5. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing machine-executable instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method performed within a machine for initiating a chat session, the method comprising:

monitoring user activities of a remote user with respect to a data processing system that are unrelated to chat services, the user activities including a mobile phone communication session between a local user of the data processing system and the remote user;

receiving a request to initiate a chat session between the local user and the remote user;

determining whether the mobile phone communication session ended within a predetermined period of time prior to the request;

based on the determination that the mobile phone communication session ended within the predetermine period of time, selecting a first chat service account from a list of a plurality chat service accounts associated with the remote user based on the monitored user activities, wherein the first chat service account is associated with the mobile phone of the remote user;

initiating a chat session using the selected first chat service account of the remote user and a second chat service account selected for the local user;

exchanging, via the first and second chat service accounts, content of the chat session with the mobile phone of the remote user over an SMS (short message service) communications channel; and

displaying information within a chat window indicating that the chat session is conducted between the first and second chat service accounts.

6. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises selecting the second chat service account from a list of a plurality of chat service accounts associated with the local user based on the monitored user activities, wherein the second chat service account is selected to be most compatible with the first chat service account.

7. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the first chat service account and the second chat service account are associated with an identical chat service provider.

8. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises displaying within the chat window information indicating that the chat session is being conducted with the mobile phone of the remote user via the SMS communications channel.

9. A machine-implemented method performed by a machine for initiating a chat session, the method comprising:

in response to a request from a local user to add a remote user to a chat room by selecting a first chat service account of the remote user, determining whether the first chat service account is compatible with a chat service provider currently hosting the chat room;

automatically selecting a second chat service account from a list of a plurality of chat service accounts associated with the remote user, if the first chat service account is incompatible with the chat service provider, wherein the remote user is associated with a plurality of chat service accounts provided by a plurality of chat service providers, including the first and second chat service accounts;

sending an invitation to the remote user via the second chat service account to invite the remote user to participate in the chat room; and

displaying an identifier of the second chat service account within a chat window associated with the chat room indicating that the local user is currently chatting with the remote user via the second chat service account instead of the first chat service account selected by the local user.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

displaying the list of the chat service accounts associated with the remote user, including the first chat service account; and

allowing a local user to drag and drop a graphical representation of the first chat service account into the chat room for the purpose of selecting the first chat service account to send the invitation to invite the remote user to join the chat room.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying a list of a plurality of chat service accounts associated with the local user to allow the local user to select one of the chat service accounts for chatting.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the lists of chat service accounts are displayed in a menu having a TO section and a FROM section, and wherein the list of chat service accounts of the remote user is displayed in the TO section and the list of chat service accounts of the local user is displayed in the FROM section.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second chat service account is associated with the chat service provider of the chat room, and wherein the first chat service account is associated with another chat service provider.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the chat room uses a feature, and wherein the first chat service is incompatible with the chat service provider because the first chat service does not support the feature.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing machine-executable instructions which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method performed within a machine for initiating a chat session, the method comprising:

in response to a request from a local user to add a remote user to a chat room by selecting a first chat service account of the remote user, determining whether the first chat service account is compatible with a chat service provider currently hosting the chat room;

automatically selecting a second chat service account from a list of a plurality of chat service accounts associated with the remote user, if the first chat service account is incompatible with the chat service provider, wherein the remote user is associated with a plurality of chat service accounts provided by a plurality of chat service providers, including the first and second chat service accounts;

sending an invitation to the remote user via the second chat service account to invite the remote user to participate in the chat room; and

displaying an identifier of the second chat service account within a chat window associated with the chat room indicating that the local user is currently chatting with the remote user via the second chat service account instead of the first chat service account selected by the local user.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

displaying the list of the chat service accounts associated with the remote user, including the first chat service account; and

allowing a local user to drag and drop a graphical representation of the first chat service account into the chat room for the purpose of selecting the first chat service account to send the invitation to invite the remote user to join the chat room.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises displaying a list of a plurality of chat service accounts associated with the local user to allow the local user to select one of the chat service accounts for chatting.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the lists of chat service accounts are displayed in a menu having a TO section and a FROM section, and wherein the list of chat service accounts of the remote user is displayed in the TO section and the list of chat service accounts of the local user is displayed in the FROM section.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the second chat service account is associated with the chat service provider of the chat room, and wherein the first chat service account is associated with another chat service provider.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the chat room uses a feature, and wherein the first chat service is incompatible with the chat service provider because the first chat service does not support the feature.