Method and apparatus for displaying information during an instant messaging session

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• a touch screen display;
• one or more processors;
• memory;
• and
• one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
• displaying a communication session window on the display, the communication session window partitioned to display instant messages from a first participant in speech balloons in a right region of the communication session window and instant messages from a second participant in speech balloons in a left region of the communication session window during an instant messaging session between the first participant and the second participant, wherein instant messages in the instant messaging session are displayed vertically in the communication session window based on a time order in which the instant messages are received;
• receiving a signal indicating the second participant is preparing an instant message;
• in response to receiving the signal indicating the second participant is preparing an instant message, displaying a thought bubble in the left region of the communication session window, wherein a vertical position of the thought bubble in the left region is based on a time that the thought bubble was created;
• while displaying the thought bubble in the left region of the communication session window, receiving an instant message from the first participant;
• in response to receiving the instant message from the first participant, displaying a speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region of the communication session window, wherein the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region is below the vertical position of the thought bubble in the left region;
• while displaying the thought bubble in the left region and the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region, receiving the instant message prepared by the second participant that corresponds to the thought bubble in the left region;
• and,
• in response to receiving the instant message prepared by the second participant that corresponds to the thought bubble in the left region:
• ceasing to display the thought bubble in the left region;
• and
• displaying a speech balloon containing the instant message prepared by the second participant in the left region of the communication session window, wherein the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region is above the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message prepared by the second participant in the left region.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

• display a communication session window on the display, the communication session window partitioned to display instant messages from a first participant in speech balloons in a right region of the communication session window and instant messages from a second participant in speech balloons in a left region of the communication session window during an instant messaging session between the first participant and the second participant, wherein instant messages in the instant messaging session are displayed vertically in the communication session window based on a time order in which the instant messages are received;
• receive a signal indicating the second participant is preparing an instant message;
• in response to receiving the signal indicating the second participant is preparing an instant message, display a thought bubble in the left region of the communication session window, wherein a vertical position of the thought bubble in the left region is based on a time that the thought bubble was created;
• while displaying the thought bubble in the left region of the communication session window, receive an instant message from the first participant;
• in response to receiving the instant message from the first participant, display a speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region of the communication session window, wherein the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region is below the vertical position of the thought bubble in the left region;
• while displaying the thought bubble in the left region and the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region, receive the instant message prepared by the second participant that corresponds to the thought bubble in the left region;
• and,
• in response to receiving the instant message prepared by the second participant that corresponds to the thought bubble in the left region:
• cease to display the thought bubble in the left region;
• and
• display a speech balloon containing the instant message prepared by the second participant in the left region of the communication session window, wherein the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message from the first participant in the right region is above the vertical position of the speech balloon containing the instant message prepared by the second participant in the left region.