Claims
- 1. A method for communicating via instant messages, the method comprising:
receiving a message from a message sender designated for at least one message recipient; determining when the message is received by the at least one message recipient, wherein a determination that the message is received is confirmed by a message acknowledgement; and providing a status update for the message sender, the status update comprising a visual representation of the message having a first appearance when the message is pending and a second appearance when the message is received by the at least one message recipient.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining when the message is received by the at least one message recipient comprises:
assigning a unique sequential number to the message; and updating a message listing, wherein the message is identified by the unique sequential number in the message listing.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining when the message is received by the at least one message recipient comprises:
assigning a unique sequential number to the message; and providing an acknowledgement to the message sender when the message is received by the at least one message recipient, the acknowledgement identifying the unique sequential number of the message.
- 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the acknowledgement is also assigned a unique sequential number.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual representation is text from the message that alternates between a first color in the first appearance and a second color in the second appearance.
- 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first color indicates the message is pending receipt and the second color indicates the message is received.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual appearance alternates between a first pattern and a second pattern, at least one of the first and the second pattern indicating the message is pending and the other indicating the message is received.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining when the message is received by the at least one message recipient comprises:
providing an acknowledgement to the message sender when the message is received by the at least one message recipient, the acknowledgement identifying the unique sequential number of the message, wherein the visual appearance of the status update before the acknowledgement is received is provided in a first configuration and in a second configuration once the acknowledgement is received.
- 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
sending the message to the at least one message recipient to a plurality devices used by the message recipient.
- 10. A method for establishing instant messaging communications between a message originator and one or more message receivers, the method comprising:
receiving an instant message from the message originator; providing the instant message from the message originator to the one or more message receivers specified by the message originator; and providing an update of a local message display of the message originator once the message originator's instant message is received by the one or more message receivers, wherein the local message display is provided in a pending configuration before the message is received by the one or more message receivers and the local display is provided in a received configuration once the message is received by the one or more message receivers, the receipt of the message being acknowledged by a message acknowledgement sent by the one or more message receivers.
- 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the local message display provides a display of the message text in the pending and received configurations.
- 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
determining when the instant message is received by the one or more message receivers.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining when the instant message is received by the one or more message receivers comprises:
establishing a message listing for the message sender and the one or more message receivers, wherein the message listing updated based on an acknowledgement of the message being received by the one or more message receivers.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the message listing prohibits duplication of the instant message on the one or more message receivers' devices.
- 15. The method of claim 13, wherein each message in the message listing is identified by a unique serial number.
- 16. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for executing the steps comprising:
creating a message listing of one or more pending messages; providing a message indicator in a first appearance for the one more pending messages; updating the message listing based on the receipt of message acknowledgements; and providing the message indicator in a second appearance for the one or more pending messages as the pending messages are deemed to be received.
- 17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first appearance and the second appearance correspond respectively to a first coloration and a second coloration of the message.
- 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:
determining the location of one or more intended recipients of the pending messages.
- 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
removing a message from the message listing when the message is deemed received by the message acknowledgement.
- 20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:
compiling a message listing of all pending messages wherein the message listing is updated when a message is acknowledged as received.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/609,893, filed Jul. 5, 2000. This application also claims the benefit of United States provisional application No. 60/260035, filed Jan. 5, 2001 and United States provisional application No. 60/264421, filed Jan. 26, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Provisional Applications (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60260035 |
Jan 2001 |
US |
|
60264421 |
Jan 2001 |
US |
|
60184180 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09609893 |
Jul 2000 |
US |
Child |
09823167 |
Mar 2001 |
US |