Abstract:
An instant messaging system provides instant message communication between computers, including multi-user computers. The system provides multiple concurrent instant message user logins on a multi-user computer, one of the multiple concurrent instant message user logins being a registered buddy of a user of a second computer. The second computer is provided an indication that the registered buddy is one of multiple concurrent instant message user logins on a multi-user computer. As a result, the user of the second computer is notified of the lack of privacy at the multi-user computer and can send a message with a topic and language that are appropriate to be viewed by multiple users. A video display, such as a movie or television programming like a sporting event, may be rendered on the multi-user computer concurrently with the multiple concurrent instant message user logins on the multi-user computer. Instant messages are rendered over a portion of the video display in a manner that in unobtrusive to the multiple users. As a result, the instant messaging of the present invention can operate smoothly with multi-user computers, protecting the private nature of conventional instant messaging while minimizing the disruptiveness of instant messaging to accommodate shared use of a multi-user computer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to computer-based instant messaging communication and, in particular, to instant messaging that is compatible with a multi-user computer being viewed concurrently by multiple users.  
         BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Instant messaging is a computer communication tool in which two users communicate with each other privately in real time over a computer network. Successive messages in the sequence of communications between the users are displayed automatically when received at each user&#39;s computer. A user will commonly have a list of “friends” or “buddies” who are other users with whom the user exchanges instant messages. When a user logs in, an instant messaging system will typically notify the user of which “friends” or “buddies” are also logged in and available for instant messaging.  
           [0003]    Instant messaging is distinguished from email in that the former is received in a closed state and must be opened to be read by the user, while instant messaging arrives open and immediately readable. Instant messaging is distinguished from computer chat, bulletin boards, and message boards in that instant messaging relates to private communications between just two users rather than the public communication between multiple participants characteristic of online chat and boards.  
           [0004]    Instant messaging is typically used in situations in which two users are communicating with each other from two separate computers or instant messaging devices (e.g., handheld computers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, etc.). Privacy of the communications is based upon the inherent user-to-user nature of instant messaging communication and the solitary use by each user of his or her computer device.  
           [0005]    With convergence of computing and entertainment applications, some personal computers are being adapted to provide multi-user (e.g., home entertainment) functionality as well as conventional personal computer functionality. For example, these computers are adapted to display television programs or play music or videos (e.g., from DVDs) to multiple simultaneous viewers or users, in addition to operating conventional personal computer programs and applications. An example of one such personal computer application or function is instant messaging.  
           [0006]    In some instances, combining instant messaging with multi-user computer operation can allow groups of users at different multi-user computer to share a common viewing experience (e.g., watch a movie or sporting event) while simultaneously communicating with each other. A problem can arise, however, because the multiple users viewing a multi-user computer undermine the one-on-one privacy that is usually inherent in instant messaging. As a result, the privacy of messages sent to a multi-user computer for viewing by a particular user can be undermined, and sensitive or private information can be inadvertently displayed to multiple users.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, the present invention includes an instant messaging system that provides instant message communication between computers, including multi-user computers. Multi-user computers combine multi-user entertainment functionality with digital or computer functionality and may have any of a variety of implementations, including a personal computer with media capabilities (e.g., video or audio), a video game console, a cable television set-top box, etc.  
           [0008]    In one implementation, the system provides multiple concurrent instant message user logins on a multi-user computer. If one of the multiple concurrent instant message user logins is a registered buddy of a user of a second computer then the second computer is provided an indication that the registered buddy is one of multiple concurrent instant message user logins on a multi-user computer. As a result, the user of the second computer is notified of the lack of privacy at the multi-user computer and can send a message with a topic and language that are appropriate to be viewed by multiple users.  
           [0009]    In another implementation, a video display, such as a movie or television programming like a sporting even, is rendered on the multi-user computer concurrently with the multiple concurrent instant message user logins on the multi-user computer. Instant messages are rendered over a portion of the video display in a manner that in unobtrusive to the multiple users. As a result, the instant messaging of the present invention can operate smoothly with multi-user computers, protecting the private nature of conventional instant messaging while minimizing the disruptiveness of instant messaging to accommodate shared use of a multi-user computer.  
           [0010]    Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustration of a multi-user computer with multiple users viewing a shared display as an operating environment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a computer-implemented multi-user instant messaging method for providing instant messaging to multiple users a of multi-user computer.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is an illustration of an instant messaging friends list graphical user interface including a shared use indication that a user friend is logged into a multi-user computer.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 4A-4C are illustrations of a minimally disruptive instant message display for rendering an instant message on media being rendered on a display screen of a multi-user computer.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an instant message system with accommodation for multi-user computers. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a prior art multi-user computer  100  that is connected to a computer network  102  and has two or more users  104 ,  106 , and  108  (three shown) viewing a shared display  110 , as an operating environment of the present invention. Multi-user computer  100  combines multi-user entertainment functionality with digital or computer functionality and may have any of a variety of implementations, including a personal computer with media capabilities (e.g., video or audio), a video game console, a cable television set-top box, etc.  
         [0017]    The multiple users  104 ,  106 , and  108  could be viewing a video program that is being played locally at computer  100  (e.g., on an included DVD-compatible drive or another connected video replay device, not shown), or is being received over a television-compatible network  112 , or users  104 ,  106 , and  108  could be viewing some other shared information such as a video game. Although shown separately, it will be appreciated that computer network  102  and television-compatible network  112  could be one and the same.  
         [0018]    In the illustrated implementation, multi-user computer  100  is sometimes referred to as a “home” personal computer and has a central processing unit (CPU)  114  that is connected to display  110  and includes a processor, memory, data storage drives, etc., as is known in the art. As one example, multi-user computer  100  could operate a media-capable (e.g., audio, video, television, etc.) operating system that accommodates both conventional personal computer functionality and media functionality, such as the Windows® XP Media Center edition operating system, available from Microsoft Corporation. It will be appreciated, however, that other operating systems are also capable of providing personal computer functionality and media functionality and that such systems may be employed by multiple users, whether located in a home or a work location.  
         [0019]    One of numerous personal computer type applications or features available on multi-user computer  100  is instant messaging. Instant messaging is a computer communication format in which two users communicate with each other privately in real time over a computer network. Successive messages in the sequence of communications between the users are displayed automatically when received at each user&#39;s computer. A user will commonly have a list of “friends” or “buddies” who are other users with whom the user exchanges instant messages. When a user logs in, an instant messaging system will typically notify the user of which “friends” or “buddies” are also logged in and available for instant messaging.  
         [0020]    Instant messaging is distinguished from email in that the former is received in a closed state and must be opened by the user to be read. Instant messaging is distinguished from computer chat, bulletin boards, and message broads in that instant messaging relates to private communications between just two users rather than communications between groups of three or more users on three or more computers.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a computer-implemented multi-user instant messaging method  200  for providing instant messaging to at least one of multiple users (e.g., users  104 ,  106 , and  108 ) of multi-user computer  100 .  
         [0022]    In step  202 , multiple users are viewing a common multi-user computer. As an example, users  104 ,  106 , and  108  are viewing a movie or some other media or information on multi-user computer  100 . For purposes of description, the multiple users are referred to as “sharing users” as an indication that they are sharing the multi-user computer  100 .  
         [0023]    In step  204 , each of the sharing users logs into an instant messaging system available on the common multi-user computer. The sharing users may log-in under pre-existing personal accounts, or sharing users without personal accounts may log-in under one or more “guest” accounts that are associated with the multi-user computer. The guest accounts do not correspond to a personal account of a specific user. It will be appreciated that a sharing user without a pre-existing personal account could alternatively create a personal account rather than log-in under a “guest” account.  
         [0024]    In step  206 , the sharing users are indicated as being logged-in together on a shared multi-user computer. For example, the indication is made at an instant messaging server. Sharing users with pre-existing personal accounts are registered as being logged in with at least one other user even if the other user or users are logged in only under one or more guest accounts.  
         [0025]    In step  208 , each sharing user with a pre-existing personal account is correlated with any other users for whom the sharing user is a friend or buddy. The correlation may be performed at an instant messaging server.  
         [0026]    In step  210 , any other users for whom a sharing user with a pre-existing personal account is a friend or buddy is provided with a shared use indication that the sharing user is logged-in on a multi-user computer. The shared use indication notifies the other users that the sharing user is logged into a computer that lacks the privacy characteristic of conventional instant messaging. This allows the sender to choose appropriate language and information content for the instant message, thereby preventing instant messages from being sent to a sharing user with inappropriate confidential or sensitive information.  
         [0027]    In step  212 , an instant message is sent to one of the sharing users. For example, the message may be sent from a user for whom a sharing user with a pre-existing personal account is a friend or buddy.  
         [0028]    In step  214 , the instant message is rendered on the multi-user computer with as a minimally disruptive display to avoid disruption to the users&#39; immersion in the media. In one implementation, the instant messages and friend presence indicators are slowly alpha-blended in over the running media (e.g., movie), slowly fading from clear to opaque, and then back to clear, all without a window bounding the messages. This contrasts with current messaging in which the message occludes the media and requires its own window. In one implementation, the messages are placed by default towards the edges and corners of the screen in which the media is playing, but users can optionally customize the positioning of their messages so that recipients can be quickly inferred from screen position.  
         [0029]    In step  216 , a reply instant message is sent from the multi-user computer. One implementation includes up to three reply message mechanisms for the multi-user computer  100 . A first reply mechanism includes a number of pre-authored replies, which may be provided by the instant message system and modified by the user. An example of such a pre-authored message is “User1 and User2 are watching X with a guest, try later,” in which User1, User2, and Guest are the names of users logged into the multi-user computer  100 , X is the channel or program they are viewing, and these variables are completed automatically upon selection of the reply. A sharing user can generate such a pre-authored reply by activation of a remote control device of the type provided for a personal computer with media capabilities (e.g., video or audio), a video game console (e.g., not wireless), a cable television set-top box, etc.  
         [0030]    When the pre-authored reply is received at a personal computer, a web-site for the channel can be viewed by the recipient of the reply. When the reply is received at another media-capable computer, the channel can be viewed by the one or more users at the computer. In the latter case, groups of friends can be gathered around common content on multiple multi-user computers.  
         [0031]    As a second reply message mechanism, the incoming message may warrant a spontaneous reply in which case one or more users can share the multi-user computer keyboard (or other peripheral providing text input functionality) to type an instant message in the usual way.  
         [0032]    As a third message reply mechanism, a participant may respond directly to the instant message on the participant&#39;s personal digital assistant (PDA) or cell phone. In this case the discussion is moved from the public screen of the multi-user computer to the private PDA or cell phone device.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 3 is an illustration of an instant messaging friend list graphical user interface  300  including a shared use indication  302  that a user friend is logged into a multi-user computer. Friends list user interface  300  would typically be rendered on a computer display of a user logged into an instant messaging system and includes a conventional logged-on indication  304  for each individual friend whose is logged into the system. A conventional unavailable indication  306  indicates each friend who is not available on the instant messaging system. Friends may be unavailable because they are not logged into the instant messaging system or because they are logged in but not receiving messages.  
         [0034]    In accordance with the present invention, friends list user interface  300  includes shared use indication  302 , which notifies the user viewing the user interface  300  that a friend  312  is logged-in on a multi-user computer with one or more other users. In the illustrated implementation, shared use indication  302  further includes indications of which users  314  and  316  are logged into the shared multi-user computer with the friend  312 . For example, a sharing user  314  with a personal account is indicated by his or her personal account name, and a sharing user  316  without a personal account is indicated by the name “guest.” 
         [0035]    Shared use indication  302  resolves at the message-sending location privacy concerns about instant messaging with multiple users being located together. In this implementation, the multiple users who are located together, such as during a media session, are clearly as such by user interface  300 . Even the presence of anonymous users or guests (i.e. participants who do not have instant messaging accounts or who have not logged on) is also indicated. This allows the sender to choose the language and information content of the instant message appropriately. In some implementations, the shared use indication might not specify the users with whom a selected user is sharing a multi-user computer.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 4A-4C are illustrations of a minimally disruptive instant message display  400  for rendering an instant message  402  on media  404  (e.g., a video or movie) being rendered on a display screen  406 . FIGS. 4A-4C represent respective first, second, and third successive times during the display of instant message  402 . Minimally disruptive display  400  minimizes disruption to the users&#39; immersion in or concentration on the media  404  being played on display screen  400 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 4A illustrates an initial fade-in of message  402  over a portion of media  404  without a separate window bounding the message text. The fade-in of message  402  is indicated in FIG. 4A schematically by showing the text of message  402  in broken lines. The fade-in of message  402  is implemented as an alpha-blending of message  402  over the media  404  (e.g., movie), slowly fading from clear text toward opaque text. Message  402  may also be rendered over a background or with drop shadows to visually distinguish message  402  from media  404 . In one implementation, the messages are placed by default towards the edges and corners of the screen  406  in which media  404  is playing, but users can optionally customize the positioning of their messages so that recipients can be quickly inferred from screen position.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 4B illustrates an opaque message  402  rendered over a portion of media  404  without a separate window bounding the message text. FIG. 4C illustrates a subsequent fade-out of message  402  from its opaque state in FIG. 4B to clear.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an instant message system  500  with accommodation for multi-user computers. An instant messaging server  502  registers instant message users at one or more multi-user computers  504  (only one shown) and at one or more single-user computers  506  (only one shown) as the users log into system  500 .  
         [0040]    Instant messaging server  502  establishes instant message communication connections with computers  504  and  506  and provides to each of them a friend or buddy status indication. The friend or buddy indication provided to each computer  504  and  506  indicates the availability of the friends or buddies of the user or users logged into that computer.  
         [0041]    With reference to FIG. 4, alpha-fading of messages  402  over video media  404 , for example, is provided by rendering messages  402  with any of a variety of rendering tools applied to text messages generated according to a conventional instant message protocol. The rendering tools include Direct X, available from Microsoft Corporation, and Macromedia Flash MX available from Macromedia Corporation. It will be appreciated that other rendering tools could also be used, including Java.  
         [0042]    Having described and illustrated the principles of our invention with reference to an illustrated embodiment, it will be recognized that the illustrated embodiment can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. It should be understood that the programs, processes, or methods described herein are not related or limited to any particular type of computer apparatus, unless indicated otherwise. Various types of general purpose or specialized computer apparatus may be used with or perform operations in accordance with the teachings described herein. Elements of the illustrated embodiment shown in software may be implemented in hardware and vice versa.  
         [0043]    In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of our invention may be applied, it should be recognized that the detailed embodiments are illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of our invention. Rather, we claim as our invention all such embodiments as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.