# US 2014/0195933 A1 · Method and system for automatic switching between chat windows > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0195933 A1 - Document ID: US20140195933A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/738,785 - Filed: 2013-01-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10 - Assignees: VMware, Inc. - Inventors: Raja Rao DV - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195933A1 ## CPC - H04L 51/046: Interoperability with other network applications or services - G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract The disclosure herein describes a chat system for intelligent automatic switching between multiple chat windows. During operation, the system monitors activities occurring within the multiple chat windows and determines whether a window-switching operation is needed based on the monitored activities. In response to determining that the window-switching operation is needed, the system automatically performs the window-switching operation without the need for a user of the chat application to perform the window-switching operation manually. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for intelligent automatic switching between multiple chat windows in an online chat application, comprising: monitoring, by a computer, activities occurring within the multiple chat windows; determining whether a window-switching operation is needed based on the monitored activities; and in response to determining that the window-switching operation is needed, automatically performing the window-switching operation without the need for a user of the chat application to perform the window-switching operation manually. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the activities include at least one of: a message being received; a message being typed; and a message being sent. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a chat window associated with the window-switching operation, wherein the window-switching operation comprises activating the identified chat window. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein identifying the chat window comprises determining priority levels of contacts associated with the chat windows. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein identifying the chat window involves determining a time when a message is received in the chat window. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a window-switching operation is needed involves determining whether an idle time associated with a currently active window exceeds a predetermined value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving feedback from the user for the automatically performed switching operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring chat content within the chat windows; determining whether a message is typed into a wrong chat window based on the monitored chat content; and notifying the user in response to determining that the message is typed into the wrong chat window. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for intelligent automatic switching between multiple chat windows in an online chat application, the method comprising: monitoring activities occurring within the multiple chat windows; determining whether a window-switching operation is needed based on the monitored activities; and in response to determining that the window-switching operation is needed, automatically performing the window-switching operation without the need for a user of the chat application to perform the window-switching operation manually. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the activities include at least one of: a message being received; a message being typed; and a message being sent. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the message further comprises identifying a chat window associated with the window-switching operation, wherein the window-switching operation comprises activating the identified chat window. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The storage medium of claim 11, wherein identifying the chat window involves determining priority levels of contacts associated with the chat windows. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The storage medium of claim 11, wherein identifying the chat window involves determining a time when a message is received in the chat window. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The storage medium of claim 9, wherein determining whether a window-switching operation is needed involves determining whether an idle time associated with a currently active window exceeds a predetermined value. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises receiving feedback from the user for the automatically performed switching operation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises: monitoring chat content within the chat windows; determining whether a message is typed into a wrong chat window based on the monitored chat content; and notifying the user in response to determining that the message is typed into the wrong chat window. ### Claim 17 A computer system for intelligent automatic switching between multiple chat windows in an online chat application, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; a monitoring module configured to monitor activities occurring within the multiple chat windows; a determination module configured to determine whether a window-switching operation is needed based on the monitored activities; and a window-switching module configured to, in response to the determination module determining that the window-switching operation is needed, automatically perform the window-switching operation without the need for a user of the chat application to perform the window-switching operation manually. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer system of claim 17, wherein the activities include at least one of: a message being received; a message being typed; and a message being sent. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The computer system of claim 17, wherein the window-switching module is further configured to identify a chat window associated with the window-switching operation, and wherein the window-switching operation comprises activating the identified chat window. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer system of claim 19, wherein while identifying the chat window the window-switching module is further configured to determine priority levels of contacts associated with the chat windows. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The computer system of claim 19, wherein while identifying the chat window, the window-switching module is further configured to determine a time when a message is received in the chat window. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The computer system of claim 17, wherein while determining whether a window-switching operation is needed the determination module is further configured to determine whether an idle time associated with a currently active window exceeds a predetermined value. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The computer system of claim 17, further comprising a feedback-receiving module configured to receive feedback from the user for the automatically performed switching operation. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The computer system of claim 17, further comprising: a content-monitoring module configured to monitor chat content within the chat windows; an-error detection module configured to detect an error by determining that a message is typed into a wrong chat window based on the monitored chat content; and an error-notification module configured to notify the user of the detected error.