Patent ID: 7818375
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. In an instant messaging (IM) system in which a user at a user instant messaging (IM) client initiates an IM chat session with a contact at a contact IM client, a method comprising: receiving an event message at the contact IM client, the event message being received prior to opening an IM chat window at the contact IM client, the event message being indicative of typing of a message of the user being currently typed at the user IM client; determining whether a status of the user is blocked; generating a typing notification message, the typing notification message being indicative of typing by the user at the user IM client; and providing the typing notification message in a display at the contact IM client, the typing notification message configured to provide the message of the user being currently typed, the typing notification message including a user-selectable option to ignore the user's message being currently typed, wherein, when the contact selects the user-selectable option to ignore the user's message being currently typed, changing an availability status of the contact to unavailable, sending an unavailability status indication from the contact to the user currently typing said message and terminating the IM chat session, the typing notification message including a close option to close the typing notification message, the close option being different than the user-selectable option to ignore the message of the user being currently typed, the typing notification message being configured to indicate when the contact is selected as a recipient of the instant message, the typing notification message being displayed prior to display of the IM chat window.