Patent ID: 8117623
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of displaying a message, comprising: receiving from a first program the message and a first indication regarding whether a user should be notified that the message is available; receiving from the user a second indication regarding whether at least one form of notification is acceptable; displaying the message in an area in which a message from a second program can be displayed; responsive to the first indication and the second indication, providing a notification to the user that the message is available; receiving a third indication that each of a plurality of elements correspond to the first program and providing first information identifying the plurality of elements and associating such elements with the first program; wherein the message is received from at least one of the plurality of elements corresponding to the first program in a manner allowing the identification of said at least one of the plurality of elements that sent the message providing second information corresponding to said identification of said at least one of the plurality of elements; receiving command input, from the at least one of the plurality of elements corresponding to the first program, including third information different from the message intended for distribution to at least one of the plurality of elements of the first program; and providing the third information different from the message received to at least a subset of the plurality of the elements corresponding to the first program, said subset of the plurality comprising at least one of the plurality of elements different from the at least one of the plurality of elements from which the information was received.