# US 7,861,176 B2 · Methods and systems for providing online chat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,861,176 B2 - Document ID: US7861176B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/697,654 - Filed: 2007-04-06 - Published: 2007-10-18 - Granted: 2010-12-28 - Earliest claimed: 2006-04-13 - Assignees: TouchCommerce, Inc. - Inventors: Jonathan S. Weisberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7861176B2 ## CPC - G06F 9/451: Execution arrangements for user interfaces - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates generally to digital conferencing. A chat server causes a chat user interface to appear as a popup window hovering over a web page. In response to a first event, the chat server causes the chat user interface to appear as part of the web page. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of providing an online chat session to a user, the method comprising: using a computing device configured to provide chat user interfaces, based at least in part on detecting that the user has accessed a first web page, after the user has accessed the first web page, causing the chat user interface to appear at a first location of the first web page being accessed by a user via a browser, wherein the chat user interface is smaller than the first web page, the chat user interface presenting a message including an inquiry regarding whether the user wants to engage in a chat session with a chat agent; where the chat user interface is configured to be persistently displayed in substantially the same location while the first web page is scrolled through; and when the user browser navigates from the first web page to a second web page via an action other than the user activating a link presented in the chat user interface, using the computing device to cause, at least in part, the chat user interface to appear at the first location in the second web page so that the chat user interface is positioned at the same location as in the first web page, and wherein a chat session is persisted when the browser transitions from the first web page to the second web page. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the chat user interface is initially displayed as a simulated popup window overlaying the first web page using a substantially transparent web page layer, and is then transitioned to appear as part of the first web page so that the chat user interface does not obscure the first web page. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the chat user interface is initially displayed as an actual popup browser window overlaying the first web page, and is then transitioned to appear as part of the first web page so that the chat user interface does not obscure the first web page. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the chat user interface is displayed in a first margin in the first web page as part of the first web page, and is displayed in the first margin in the second web page as part of the second web page. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein contents for the first web page and the second web page are provided by a common source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein when the chat user interface appears as part of the first web page, it is displayed in a first frame and other data in the first web page is displayed using one or more other frames. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a chat server provides centralized chat management for a plurality of websites and provides the chat user interface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein an agent can navigate the user through a plurality of web pages. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein an agent and the user co-browse. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising: detecting when the user has navigated to the second web page; and providing an alert to an agent. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising using tracking pixels to determine when the user has navigated to the second page. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a popup blocker fails to block the chat user interface appearing as a popup window. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a portion of the data displayed on the first web page is hosted on a server different than a server providing the chat user interface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein an agent causes the chat user interface to transition from appearing as a popup window to appearing as part of the first web page. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising causing at least in part a portion of first web page content to be repositioned so as to accommodate the chat user interface as part of the first web page. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising causing at least in part a portion of first web page content to be repositioned so as to accommodate the chat user interface as part of the first web page, wherein a chat state is preserved when the chat user interface becomes part of the first web page. ### Claim 17 A method of providing an online chat session to a user, the method comprising: using a computing device configured to provide chat user interfaces, causing a chat user interface to appear at a first location of a first web page being accessed by a user via a browser, wherein the chat user interface is smaller than the first web page; and when the user browser navigates from the first web page to a second web page, using the computing device to cause, at least in part, the chat user interface to appear at the first location in the second web page so that the chat user interface is positioned at the same location as in the first web page, and wherein a chat session is persisted when the browser transitions from the first web page to the second web page, wherein the chat user interface is initially displayed as a popup window overlaying the first web page and is then transitioned to appear as part of the first web page so that the chat user interface does not obscure the first web page, and wherein when the chat user interface that appears as part of the first web page, the chat user interface has at least partly different text and/or graphics as compared to when the chat user interface appears as a popup window. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the chat user interface is displayed in the first web page and the second web page via a DIV layer. ### Claim 19 A system that provides an online chat session to a user, the system comprising: a computing device; non-transitory, computer readable memory that stores instructions, that when executed by the computing device, configured to perform operations comprising: using a computing device configured to provide chat user interfaces, based at least in part on detecting that the user has accessed a first web page, after the user has accessed the first web page, causing the chat user interface to appear at a first location of the a first web page being accessed by a user via a browser, wherein the chat user interface is smaller than the first web page, the chat user interface presenting a message including an inquiry regarding whether the user wants to engage in a chat session with a chat agent; where the chat user interface is configured to be persistently displayed in substantially the same location while the first web page is scrolled through; and when the user browser navigates from the first web page to a second web page via an action other than the user activating a link presented in the chat user interface, using the computing device to cause, at least in part, the chat user interface to appear at the first location in the second web page so that the chat user interface is positioned at the same location as in the first web page, and wherein a chat session is persisted when the browser transitions from the first web page to the second web page. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the chat user interface is initially displayed as a simulated popup window overlaying the first web page using a substantially transparent web page layer, and is then transitioned to appear as part of the first web page so that the chat user interface does not obscure the first web page. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the chat user interface is initially displayed as an actual popup browser window overlaying the first web page, and is then transitioned to appear as part of the first web page so that the chat user interface does not obscure the first web page. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the chat user interface is displayed in a first margin in the first web page as part of the first web page, and is displayed in the first margin in the second web page as part of the second web page. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein contents for the first web page and the second web page are provided by a common source. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein when the chat user interface appears as part of the first web page, it is displayed in a first frame and other data in the first web page is displayed using one or more other frames. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein a chat server provides centralized chat management for a plurality of websites and provides the chat user interface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein an agent can navigate the user through a plurality of web pages. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein an agent and the user co-browse. ### Claim 28 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising: detecting when the user has navigated to the second web page; and providing an alert to an agent. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The operations as defined in claim 28, the operations further comprising using tracking pixels to determine when the user has navigated to the second page. ### Claim 30 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein a popup blocker fails to block the chat user interface appearing as a popup window. ### Claim 31 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein a portion of the data displayed on the first web page is hosted on a server different than a server providing the chat user interface. ### Claim 32 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein an agent causes the chat user interface to transition from appearing as a popup window to appearing as part of the first web page. ### Claim 33 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising causing at least in part a portion of first web page content to be repositioned so as to accommodate the chat user interface as part of the first web page. ### Claim 34 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising causing at least in part a portion of first web page content to be repositioned so as to accommodate the chat user interface as part of the first web page, wherein a chat state is preserved when the chat user interface becomes part of the first web page. ### Claim 35 A system that provides an online chat session to a user, the system comprising: a computing device; non-transitory, computer readable memory that stores instructions, that when executed by the computing device, configured to perform operations comprising: using a computing device configured to provide chat user interfaces, based at least in part on detecting that the user has accessed a first web page, after the user has accessed the first web page, causing the chat user interface to appear at a first location of the a first web page being accessed by a user via a browser, wherein the chat user interface is smaller than the first web page, the chat user interface presenting a message including an inquiry regarding whether the user wants to engage in a chat session with a chat agent; where the chat user interface is configured to be persistently displayed in substantially the same location while the first web page is scrolled through; and when the user browser navigates from the first web page to a second web page via an action other than the user activating a link presented in the chat user interface, using the computing device to cause, at least in part, the chat user interface to appear at the first location in the second web page so that the chat user interface is positioned at the same location as in the first web page, and wherein a chat session is persisted when the browser transitions from the first web page to the second web page wherein the chat user interface is initially displayed as a popup window overlaying the first web page and is then transitioned to appear as part of the first web page so that the chat user interface does not obscure the first web page, and wherein when the chat user interface that appears as part of the first web page, the chat user interface has at least partly different text and/or graphics as compared to when the chat user interface appears as a popup window.