System and method for topic based segregation in instant messaging
In order to be able to discuss multiple topics separately in an electronic chat session, a request to discuss one or more topics in the electronic chat session is detected. In response to detecting the request to discuss the one or more topics in the electronic chat session, a sub-chat session for each of the one or more topics is created within the electronic chat session. Information associated with the sub-chat sessions is sent to the participants of the electronic chat session. This allows each participant to chat separately on each topic via the separate sub-chat sessions; thus creating an individual transcript for each topic.
1. A system for managing an electronic chat session comprising:
a microprocessor; and
a computer readable medium, coupled with the microprocessor and comprising microprocessor readable and executable instructions that cause the microprocessor to execute:
a chat server that establishes, via a communication network, the electronic chat session between a plurality of communication devices of a plurality of participants, end creates a plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions between the plurality of communication devices of the plurality of participants for a plurality of topics, wherein the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions are text sessions, transfers the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions to a voice device of an individual participant, and converts voice into text and text into voice for the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions, wherein the individual participant can switch between the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions based on a voice command or menu selection;
and
a network interface that sends information associated with the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions to the plurality of communication devices of the plurality of participants via the communication network.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a request to discuss one of the plurality of topics is based on detecting a word or phrase in the electronic chat session sent by a moderator of the chat session.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a request to discuss one of the plurality of topics is based on a request sent from the individual participant in the electronic chat session to a moderator of the electronic chat session.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the chat server adds the plurality of participants to the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the chat server adds an additional participant to an individual one of the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a chat monitor attaches a document to an individual one of the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the chat server merges at least two or more of the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions into a single separate electronic sub-chat session.
8. A method for managing an electronic chat session comprising:
establishing, by a processor and via a communication network, the electronic chat session between a plurality of communication devices of a plurality of participants;
creating, by the processor, a plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions between the plurality of communication devices of the plurality of participants for a plurality of topics, wherein the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions are text sessions;
transferring, by the processor, the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions to a voice device of an individual participant;
converting, by the processor, voice into text and text into voice for the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions, wherein the individual participant can switch between the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions based on a voice command or a menu selection;
and
sending, by the processor, information associated with the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions to the plurality of communication devices of the plurality of participants via the communication network.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a request to discuss one of the plurality of topics is based on detecting a word or phrase in the electronic chat session sent by a moderator of the chat session.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein a request to discuss one of the plurality of topics is based on a request sent from the individual participant in the electronic chat session to a moderator of the electronic chat session.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: adding the plurality of participants to the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising: adding an additional participant to an individual one of the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: attaching a document to an individual one of the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: merging at least two or more of the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions into a single separate electronic sub-chat session.
15. The method of claim 8 , wherein when the individual participant switches from a first separate electronic sub-chat session to a second separate electronic sub-chat session, the processor plays, as a voice message, any missed texts that were sent in the second separate electronic sub-chat session while the individual participant was in other ones of the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the individual participant switches from the first separate electronic sub-chat session to the second separate electronic sub-chat session using Dual Tone Multifunction (DTMF) tones to indicate a particular separate electronic sub-chat session.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the merged at least two or more of the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions are merged in a serial manner.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the merged at least two or more of the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions are merged based on a time of individual messages within the merged at least two or more of the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions.
19. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: receiving a request to unmute the individual participant from the individual one of the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions and unmuting the individual participant from the individual one of the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions.
20. The system of claim 1 , wherein when the individual participant switches from a first separate electronic sub-chat session to a second separate electronic sub-chat session, the chat server plays, as a voice message, any missed texts that were sent in the second separate electronic sub-chat session while the individual participant was in other ones of the plurality of separate electronic sub-chat sessions.