System and method for activity monitoring and reporting in a computer network

A computer-readable medium or modulated signal being encoded with computer-executable instructions to perform a method of indicating user input activity comprising:

• receiving, at a first electronic device, an activity indication message indicative of a user having operated, within a predefined period of time, an input device associated with a second electronic device remote from said first electronic device;
• rendering an activity indicator indicating that said user is currently operating said input device;
• receiving a content message from said second electronic device, said content message comprising information entered by said user using said input device;
• determining, based on receipt of said content message, that said user has stopped typing;
• and
• ceasing to render said activity indicator based on said determining step.

A method performed in a first electronic device of communicating to a second electronic device whether user input activity is occurring at the first electronic device, the method comprising:

• determining that a user input device associated with the first electronic device has been operated within a predetermined period of time;
• based on said determining act, sending an activity message to the second electronic device;
• receiving a content message from a user of the first electronic device, said content message having been entered with said user input device;
• receiving, at said first electronic device, an indication that said user desires to transmit said content message to said second electronic device;
• and
• transmitting said content message to said second electronic device as an indication that said user has ceased operating said user input device.

A computer-readable medium or modulated signal being encoded with computer-executable instructions to perform a method in a first electronic device of communicating to a second electronic device whether user input activity is occurring at the first electronic device, the method comprising:

• determining that a user input device associated with the first electronic device has been operated within a predetermined period of time;
• based on said determining act, sending an activity message to the second electronic device;
• receiving a content message from a user of the first electronic device, said content message having been entered with said user input device;
• receiving, at said first electronic device, an indication that said user desires to transmit said content message to said second electronic device;
• and
• transmitting said content message to said second electronic device as an indication that said user has ceased operating said user input device.