Method and system for workgroup instant message
A method for managing instant message communications, including conducting an instant message (IM) session between a first member of a callable workgroup and an external user participant that calls the callable workgroup; initiating, by the first member of the callable workgroup, a second IM session between the first member and at least one other member of the callable workgroup; and conducting the second IM session between the first member and the at least one other member of the callable workgroup, the at least one other member of the callable workgroup participating in the second IM session capable of monitoring communications of the first IM session between the first member and the external user.
1. A method comprising:
conducting a first instant message (IM) session between a first member of a callable workgroup, the callable workgroup comprising a plurality of members having the first member and a second member, the first IM session being between the first member of the callable workgroup and an external user participant not a member of the callable workgroup that calls the callable workgroup to initiate the first IM session, wherein the call to initiate the first IM session is directed to all the members of the workgroup;
initiating, by the first member of the callable workgroup, a second IM session between the first member and the second member of the callable workgroup;
conducting the second IM session between the first member and the second member of the callable workgroup, the second member of the callable workgroup participating in the second IM session and not participating in the first IM session for at least a first period of time, the second IM session being separate from the first IM session; and
the second member of the callable work group monitoring communications of the first IM session between the first member and the external user via the second IM session.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of communications of the first IM session between the first member and the external user includes the second member of the callable workgroup participating in the second IM session viewing the communications of the first IM session from the second IM session.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the workgroup also has a third member and wherein the second IM session also includes the third member of the callable workgroup such that the second IM session is between the first member, the second member and the third member.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
presenting an invitation to participate in the first IM session from the external user to the callable workgroup; and
responding first to the invitation by the first member of the callable workgroup such that the invitation for the first IM session is no longer offered to the second member of the callable workgroup.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the external user of the first IM session is unaware of the second member of the callable workgroup participating in the second IM session monitoring communications of the first IM session between the first member and the external user.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first member belongs to more than one workgroup.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the initiation of the second IM session is done automatically in response to the first member participating in the first IM session with the external user.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the second member of the callable workgroup participating in the second IM session and subsequently interrupting the first IM session by joining the first IM session without an invitation to do so to participate in the first IM session, the first period of time being a time extending from a time the second IM session was initiated to a time the second member interrupted the first IM session to join the first IM session without an invitation.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second IM sessions are conducted simultaneously.
10. A non-transitory medium having program instruction stored thereon, the instructions being executable by at least one computing processor, the medium comprising:
instructions to conduct a first instant message (IM) session between a first member of a callable workgroup and an external user participant not a member of the callable workgroup that calls the callable workgroup to initiate the first IM session, wherein the workgroup is comprised of a plurality of members comprising the first member and a second member and wherein the call is directed to all the members of the workgroup;
instructions to initiate, by the first member of the callable workgroup, a second IM session between the first member and the second member of the callable workgroup; and
instructions to conduct the second IM session between the first member and the second member of the callable workgroup, the second member of the callable workgroup participating in the second IM session and not participating in the first IM session for a first period of time; the first IM session being separate from the second IM session, and
instructions for monitoring such that the second member monitors communications of the first IM session between the first member and the external user via the second IM session.
11. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions for monitoring comprises instructions for the second member to view communications of the first IM session via the second IM session.
12. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the members of the callable workgroup also comprises a third member, the third member also being involved in the second IM session such that the second IM session is between the first member, the second member, and the third member.
13. The medium of claim 10 , further comprising:
instructions to present an invitation to participate in the first IM session from the external user to the all the members of the callable workgroup; and
instructions to respond first to the invitation by the first member of the callable workgroup such that the invitation for the first IM is no longer offered to the second member of the callable workgroup.
14. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the external user of the first IM session is unaware of the second member of the callable workgroup participating in the second IM session monitoring communications of the first IM session between the first member and the external user.
15. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the first member belongs to more than one workgroup.
16. The medium of claim 10 , further comprising instructions to automatically invoke the initiation of the second IM session in response to the first member participating in the first IM session with the external user.
17. The medium of claim 10 , further comprising instructions for the second member of the callable workgroup to interrupt and join the first IM session without an invitation to do so to participate in the first IM session, the first period of time extending from a time the second IM session was initiated to a time the second member interrupts the first IM session to join the first IM session without the invitation to join the first IM session.
18. The medium of claim 10 , further comprising instruction to conduct the first and second IM sessions simultaneously.