Claims
- 1. A user interface on a display that enables user perception of information regarding a communications session that leverages an instant messaging platform, the user interface comprising:
an instant messaging application user interface; and one or more tear-off elements corresponding to ongoing instant messaging communications sessions, wherein:
each tear-off element is configured to enable perception and selection by a user of a corresponding one of the instant messaging communications sessions, and each tear-off element is configured to be independently visually separated from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface and maintained as a separate entity on the instant messaging application user interface.
- 2. The user interface of claim 1 in which the instant messaging application user interface comprises a general interface tear-off element configured to enable perception and selection of several of the tear-off elements collectively and to enable collective visual separation of the several tear-off elements from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 3. The user interface of claim 2 in which the general interface tear-off element comprises a tab.
- 4. The user interface of claim 2 in which the general interface tear-off element comprises a button.
- 5. The user interface of claim 2 in which the interface is configured to enable reattachment to other elements of the general interface.
- 6. The user interface of claim 1 in which one or more tear-off elements are dedicated to and enable perception and selection of a single corresponding instant messaging communications session, the dedicated tear-off elements being independently visually separable from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 7. The user interface of claim 6 in which the dedicated tear-off elements comprise tabs.
- 8. The user interface of claim 6 in which the dedicated tear-off elements comprise buttons.
- 9. The user interface of claim 6 further comprising a manual status control associated with a dedicated tear-off element, the manual status control enabling an indication of whether a message in the corresponding instant messaging communications session has been perceived by the user.
- 10. The user interface of claim 1 in which display of the tear-off element persists when visually separated from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 11. The user interface of claim 1 in which a tear-off element is configured to enable reattachment to other elements of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 12. The user interface of claim 1 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are rendered visually as an integral part of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 13. The user interface of claim 1 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately manipulable.
- 14. The user interface of claim 1 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately removable from the instant messaging application user interface.
- 15. The user interface of claim 1 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately invokable.
- 16. The user interface of claim 1 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately minimizable.
- 17. The user interface of claim 1 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately movable.
- 18. The user interface of claim 1 in which more than one of the tear-off elements are configured to be collectively visually separated from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface and maintained as a separate display element.
- 19. The user interface of claim 1 in which a tear-off element is configured to be individually visually separated from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface and maintained as a separate display element.
- 20. The user interface of claim 1 in which the instant messaging application user interface and tear-off elements are configured to display limited information about one or more concurrent instant messaging sessions, the user interface further enabling a more detailed display of one or more of the instant messaging sessions through selection of a corresponding tear-off element.
- 21. The user interface of claim 1 in which a tear-off element is configured to be reattached to an interface other than the interface from which the tear-off element was separated.
- 22. A computer program, stored on a computer readable medium, comprising instructions for:
rendering a user interface on a display that enables user perception of information regarding a communications session that leverages an instant messaging platform, the user interface comprising an instant messaging application user interface; and rendering one or more tear-off elements corresponding to ongoing instant messaging communications sessions, wherein:
each tear-off element is configured to enable perception and selection by a user of a corresponding one of the instant messaging communications sessions, and each tear-off element is configured to be independently visually separated from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface and maintained as a separate entity on the instant messaging application user interface.
- 23. The computer program of claim 22 in which the instant messaging application user interface comprises a general interface tear-off element configured to enable perception and selection of several of the tear-off elements collectively and to enable collective visual separation of the several tear-off elements from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 24. The computer program of claim 23 in which the general interface tear-off element comprises a tab.
- 25. The computer program of claim 23 in which the general interface tear-off element comprises a button.
- 26. The computer program of claim 23 in which the interface is configured to enable reattachment to other elements of the general interface.
- 27. The computer program of claim 22 in which one or more tear-off elements are dedicated to and enable perception and selection of a single corresponding instant messaging communications session, the dedicated tear-off elements being independently visually separable from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 28. The computer program of claim 27 in which the dedicated tear-off elements comprise tabs.
- 29. The computer program of claim 27 in which the dedicated tear-off elements comprise buttons.
- 30. The computer program of claim 27 further comprising instructions for rendering a manual status control associated with a dedicated tear-off element, the manual status control enabling an indication of whether a message in the corresponding instant messaging communications session has been perceived by the user.
- 31. The computer program of claim 22 in which display of the tear-off element persists when visually separated from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 32. The computer program of claim 22 in which a tear-off element is configured to enable reattachment to other elements of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 33. The computer program of claim 22 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are rendered visually as an integral part of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 34. The computer program of claim 22 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately manipulable.
- 35. The computer program of claim 22 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately removable from the instant messaging application user interface.
- 36. The computer program of claim 22 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately invokable.
- 37. The computer program of claim 22 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately minimizable.
- 38. The computer program of claim 22 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately movable.
- 39. The computer program of claim 22 in which more than one of the tear-off elements are configured to be collectively visually separated from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface and maintained as a separate display element.
- 40. The computer program of claim 22 in which a tear-off element is configured to be individually visually separated from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface and maintained as a separate display element.
- 41. The computer program of claim 22 in which the instant messaging application user interface and tear-off elements are configured to display limited information about one or more concurrent instant messaging sessions,
the user interface further enabling a more detailed display of one or more of the instant messaging sessions through selection of a corresponding tear-off element.
- 42. The computer program of claim 22 in which a tear-off element is configured to be reattached to an interface other than the interface from which the tear-off element was separated.
- 43. A computer program, stored on a computer readable medium, the computer program comprising:
means for rendering a user interface on a display that enables user perception of information-regarding a communications session that leverages an instant messaging platform, the user interface comprising an instant messaging application user interface; and means for rendering one or more tear-off elements corresponding to ongoing instant messaging communications sessions, wherein:
each tear-off element is configured to enable perception and selection by a user of a corresponding one of the instant messaging communications sessions, and each tear-off element is configured to be independently visually separated from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface and maintained as a separate entity on the instant messaging application user interface.
- 44. The computer program of claim 43 in which the instant messaging application user interface comprises a general interface tear-off element configured to enable perception and selection of several of the tear-off elements collectively and to enable collective visual separation of the several tear-off elements from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 45. The computer program of claim 44 in which the interface is configured to enable reattachment to other elements of the general interface.
- 46. The computer program of claim 43 in which one or more tear-off elements are dedicated to and enable perception and selection of a single corresponding instant messaging communications session, the dedicated tear-off elements being independently visually separable from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 47. The computer program of claim 43 in which display of the tear-off element persists when visually separated from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 48. The computer program of claim 43 in which a tear-off element is configured to enable reattachment to other elements of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 49. The computer program of claim 43 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are rendered visually as an integral part of the instant messaging application user interface.
- 50. The computer program of claim 43 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately manipulable.
- 51. The computer program of claim 43 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately removable from the instant messaging application user interface.
- 52. The computer program of claim 43 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately invokable.
- 53. The computer program of claim 43 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately minimizable.
- 54. The computer program of claim 43 in which one or more of the tear-off elements are configured to be separately movable.
- 55. The computer program of claim 43 in which more than one of the tear-off elements are configured to be collectively visually separated from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface and maintained as a separate display element.
- 56. The computer program of claim 43 in which a tear-off element is configured to be individually visually separated from other elements of the instant messaging application user interface and maintained as a separate display element.
- 57. The computer program of claim 43 in which the instant messaging application user interface and tear-off elements are configured to display limited information about one or more concurrent instant messaging sessions,
the user interface further enabling a more detailed display of one or more of the instant messaging sessions through selection of a corresponding tear-off element.
- 58. The computer program of claim 43 in which a tear-off element is configured to be reattached to an interface other than the interface from which the tear-off element was separated.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/376,181, filed Apr. 30, 2002, which is incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60376181 |
Apr 2002 |
US |