Methods and apparatus for managing and distinguishing instant messaging sessions and threads

Apparatus for transmitting managing instant messaging communication over a computer network, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory and operative to:
• organize one or more instant messaging session windows in an instant messaging session manager of a first user;
• attribute multiple distinguishing instant messaging session characteristics associated with an instant messaging session conducted with each of one or more separate users to each of the respective one or more separate users, each separate user associated with a respective one of the one or more instant messaging session windows displayed to the first user, and wherein said session characteristics for each respective instant messaging session comprise:
• a color of the respective instant messaging session window;
• intensity of the color of the respective instant messaging session window, wherein the intensity of the color increases continuously as time increases since a most recent message was sent from or received at the respective instant messaging session window;
• multiple audio clips associated with the respective separate user, wherein each respective one of the multiple audio clips is to be played at a distinct first-user-designated time during the respective instant messaging session, wherein the multiple audio clips comprise:
• a first audio clip played when the instant messaging session is opened;
• a second audio clip played when an incoming message is received;
• a third audio clip played when an outgoing message is initiated;
• and
• a fourth audio clip played upon confirmation of an outgoing message;
• displaying a first sound wave of the first audio clip in the respective instant messaging session window when the first audio clip is played;
• displaying a second sound wave of the second audio clip in the respective instant messaging session window when the second audio clip is played;
• displaying a third sound wave of the third audio clip in the respective instant messaging session window when the third audio clip is played;
• displaying a fourth sound wave of the fourth audio clip in the respective instant messaging session window when the fourth audio clip is played;
• a visual object identifying the respective separate user in a message display area of the respective instant messaging session window;
• and
• a name identifying the respective instant messaging session, wherein the name is automatically generated by an artificial intelligence agent based on the content of the respective instant messaging session;
• and
• project to the first user via the instant messaging session manager of the first user, the multiple distinguishing instant messaging session characteristics associated with an instant messaging session conducted with a particular separate user during an instant messaging session with the particular separate user;
• wherein the one or more distinguishing characteristics increase a likelihood of identification of the one or more instant messaging session windows;
• and
• organize one or more instant messaging threads in each instant messaging session window, wherein the step of organizing one or more instant messaging threads comprises displaying a thread menu comprising a new message option, a modify characteristic option, a confirm active option, a deactivate thread option, a name thread option, and an autoname thread option.

An article of manufacture for managing instant messaging communication over a computer network, comprising a non-transitory machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:

• organizing one or more instant messaging session windows in an instant messaging session manager of a first user;
• attributing multiple distinguishing instant messaging session characteristics associated with an instant messaging session conducted with each of one or more separate users to each of the respective one or more separate users, each separate user associated with a respective one of the one or more instant messaging session windows displayed to the first user, and wherein said session characteristics for each respective instant messaging session comprise:
• a color of the respective instant messaging session window;
• intensity of the color of the respective instant messaging session window, wherein the intensity of the color increases continuously as time increases since a most recent message was sent from or received at the respective instant messaging session window;
• multiple audio clips associated with the respective separate user, wherein each respective one of the multiple audio clips is to be played at a distinct first-user-designated time during the respective instant messaging session, wherein the multiple audio clips comprise:
• a first audio clip played when the instant messaging session is opened;
• a second audio clip played when an incoming message is received;
• a third audio clip played when an outgoing message is initiated;
• and
• a fourth audio clip played upon confirmation of an outgoing message;
• displaying a first sound wave of the first audio clip in the respective instant messaging session window when the first audio clip is played;
• displaying a second sound wave of the second audio clip in the respective instant messaging session window when the second audio clip is played;
• displaying a third sound wave of the third audio clip in the respective instant messaging session window when the third audio clip is played;
• displaying a fourth sound wave of the fourth audio clip in the respective instant messaging session window when the fourth audio clip is played;
• a visual object identifying the respective separate user in a message display area of the respective instant messaging session window;
• and
• a name identifying the respective instant messaging session, wherein the name is automatically generated by an artificial intelligence agent based on the content of the respective instant messaging session;
• and
• projecting to the first user via the instant messaging session manager of the first user, the multiple distinguishing instant messaging session characteristics associated with an instant messaging session conducted with a particular separate user during an instant messaging session with the particular separate user;
• wherein the one or more distinguishing characteristics increase a likelihood of identification of the one or more instant messaging session windows, and
• organizing one or more instant messaging threads in each instant messaging session window, wherein the step of organizing one or more instant messaging threads comprises displaying a thread menu comprising a new message option, a modify characteristic option, a confirm active option, a deactivate thread option, a name thread option, and an autoname thread option.