Patent ID: 8443041
Filing Date: 2013-05-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for allowing a user to view communications exchanged between other participants within an online chat room without the user becoming a participant within the online chat room, comprising: enabling a user to perceive the existence of the online chat room without the user becoming a participant within the online chat room, wherein the online chat room enables ongoing exchanges of electronic communications between two or more participants whose participation within the chat room are mutually revealed to each other; receiving selection of the online chat room by the user; responsive to user selection of the online chat room and without the user becoming a participant within the online chat room, making perceivable to the user at least some of the communications exchanged between the participants within the online chat room as the communications are exchanged; and enabling the user to selectively pause and restart viewing the communications exchanged between the participants within the online chat room.