US 8,015,247 B1Granted

Joint communication sessions

AssigneeAOL Inc.

InventorBrian Curry

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Online communication sessions may be joined in an environment that includes receiving a first communication between a first user and a second user and enabling the rendering of the first communication at devices associated with the first and second users. A second communication between the first user and a third user is received and the rendering of the second communication at devices associated with the first and third users is enabled. After receiving the first and second communications, a trigger to join at least the communication sessions associated with the first, second, and third users is received from the first, second, or third user. Information structured and arranged to render, in a single window, text associated with the first and second communications at the devices associated with the first, second, and third users is generated.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for displaying multiple instant messaging sessions in a single window comprising:

transmitting instructions for displaying a two-way instant messaging session within the single window of at least one device, the two-way instant messaging session including one or more first instant messages from a first source and one or more second instant messages from a second source, the one or more first instant messages being different from the one or more second instant messages;
transmitting instructions for displaying an option enabling the first source to prohibit the second source from authorizing a third source to join the two-way instant messaging session;
receiving a selection of the option by the first source;
determining whether one or more third instant messages from the third source are authorized to join the two-way instant message session, the one or more third instant messages being different from the one or more first instant messages and being different from the one or more second instant messages;
transmitting instructions for displaying a three-way instant messaging session within the single window only when the one or more third instant messages from the third source are authorized to join the two-way instant message session, wherein the one or more third instant messages are determined to be authorized to join the two-way instant message session when the third source is invited from the first source, and the one or more third instant messages are determined to be not authorized to join the two-way instant message session when the third source is invited from the second source;
transmitting instructions for visually distinguishing, within the single window, the display of the two-way instant messaging session from the display of the three-way instant messaging session;
determining whether one or more fourth instant messages from a fourth source are authorized to join the three-way instant messaging session;
and
transmitting instructions for displaying a four-way instant messaging session within the window only when the one or more fourth instant messages from the fourth source are allowed to join the three-way instant messaging session.

6 more elements

A computer-implemented method for displaying multiple instant messaging sessions in a single window comprising:

transmitting instructions for displaying a two-way instant messaging session within a single window of at least one device, the two-way instant messaging session including one or more first instant messages from a first source and one or more second instant messages from a second source, the one or more first instant messages being different from the one or more second instant messages;
transmitting instructions for displaying a option enabling the first source to prohibit the second source from authorizing a third source to join the two-way instant messaging session;
receiving a selection of the option by the first source;
determining whether one or more third instant messages from the third source are authorized to join the two-way instant message session, the one or more third instant messages being different from the one or more first instant messages and being different from the one or more second instant messages;
transmitting instructions for displaying a three-way instant messaging session within the single window only when the one or more third instant messages from the third source are authorized to join the two-way instant message session, wherein the one or more third instant messages are determined to be authorized to join the two-way instant message session when the third source is invited from the first source, and the one or more third instant messages are determined to be not authorized to join the two-way instant message session when the third source is invited from the second source;
and
transmitting instructions for visually distinguishing, within the single window, a display of the two-way instant messaging session from a display of the three-way instant messaging session.

4 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program instructions for performing, when executed by at least one processor, a method for displaying multiple instant messaging sessions in a single window, the method comprising:

transmitting instructions for displaying a two-way instant messaging session within a single window of at least one device, the two-way instant messaging session including one or more first instant messages from a first source and one or more second instant messages from a second source, the one or more first instant messages being different from the one or more second instant messages;
transmitting instructions for displaying a first option enabling the first source to prohibit the second source from authorizing a third source to join the two-way instant messaging session;
receiving a selection of the first option by the first source;
determining whether one or more third instant messages from the third source are authorized to join the two-way instant message session, the one or more third instant messages being different from the one or more first instant messages and being different from the one or more second instant messages;
transmitting instructions for displaying a three-way instant messaging session within the single window only when the one or more third instant messages from the third source are authorized to join the two-way instant message session, wherein the one or more third instant messages are determined to be authorized to join the two-way instant message session when the third source is invited from the first source, and the one or more third instant messages are determined to be not authorized to join the two-way instant message session when the third source is invited from the second source;
transmitting instructions for visually distinguishing, within the single window, a display of the two-way instant messaging session from a display of the three-way instant messaging session;
transmitting instructions for displaying a second option enabling at least one of the first source or the second source to prohibit the third source from sending a type of instant message in the three-way instant messaging session;
and
preventing sending of one or more third instant messages to at least one of the first source or the second source when the second option is selected and when the one or more third instant messages includes the type of instant message.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/535,565Filed 27 Sep 2006 · us provisional application
Priority: 24 May 2006
Granted: 6 Sep 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H04L 51/04
User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail: real-time or…
H04L 12/1822
For computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms: conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants,…
H04L 51/52
User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail: for…
H04L 65/403
Support for services or applications: arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences