Patent ID: 7734704
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of redisplaying an instant message in a computing environment, comprising: receiving an instant message at an instant message (IM) client application; storing said instant message in a data repository; displaying said instant message or a notification of said instant message in a first window initially at a first time, said first window capable of being viewed by a user of said IM client application, said first window provided by said IM client application; in response to said displaying said instant message or said notification, obtaining a focus by said first window at said first time, said focus being a visibility of contents of said first window to said user viewing a display device coupled to a computing system on which said IM client application is executing, wherein said visibility of said contents is in response to a viewing by said user of said display device and is not in response to any other interaction with said IM client application, and wherein said contents include said instant message or said notification; closing said first window at a second time subsequent to said first time; determining a time period as a difference between said first time and said second time, wherein said time period is a period of time during which said first window has said focus; determining said time period is an amount of time that is insufficient for said user to read said instant message by determining said time period is less than a pre-defined threshold value, wherein said determining said time period is less than said pre-defined threshold value is based on a reading speed of said user and an amount of text included in said instant message; wherein the reading speed of said user is obtained by an automated reading test provided by the IM client application during setup or configuration; identifying said instant message as being unread by said user based on said time period being said amount of time that is insufficient for said user to read said instant message; generating a request for redisplaying said instant message in response to said determining said time period is less than said pre-defined threshold value; detecting a pre-defined action, said pre-defined action prompting a search of said data repository for any instant message identified as unread by said user via said identifying, wherein said detecting said pre-defined action comprises detecting said request; locating said instant message in said data repository based on said search; and automatically redisplaying said instant message or said notification of said instant message in a second window provided by said IM client application and viewable by said user, said automatically redisplaying performed by a processor of said computing system in response to said identifying, said detecting and said locating.