Method and apparatus for inferring read status of instant messages

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for inferring the read status of instant messages. One embodiment of the inventive method involves displaying the instant message on the receiver's computing device and sending a message to the sender indicating a probability with which the receiver has viewed the instant message. In one embodiment, this probability is based at least in part on an amount of the instant message that is in view on the receiver's computing device and on user input that is received by the receiver's computing device, e.g., from the receiver.

1 . A method for conveying a view status of an instant message received from a sender, the method comprising: 
 displaying said instant message; and    sending a message to said sender indicating a probability with which a receiver of said instant message has viewed said instant message.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said probability comprises a yes or no indicator.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said probability comprises a ranking indicative of a likelihood that said instant message has been viewed by said receiver.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said probability is based at least in part on criteria associated with a computing device on which said instant message is displayed.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said criteria include at least one of: input from an operating system of said computing device, input from a windows manager associated with said operating system and input from said receiver.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said probability is calculated in accordance with an amount of text in said instant message that is in view on a computing device on which said instant message is displayed.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said probability is based at least in part on whether said instant message has input focus on a computing device on which said instant message is displayed.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said probability is based at least in part on user input received by a computing device on which said instant message is displayed after said instant message has been received by said computing device.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said user input comprises input received via at least one of: a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen, a key pad, a speech interface, a heat-sensing interface and a motion-sensing interface.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said probability is based on both an amount of text in said instant message that is in view on a computing device on which said instant message is displayed and user input received by said computing device after said instant message has been received by said computing device.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sending comprises: 
 indicating that said receiver has likely not viewed said instant message if a predefined amount of time expires without an indication that said receiver has viewed said message.    
   
   
       12 . A computer readable medium containing an executable program for conveying a view status of an instant message received from a sender, where the program performs the steps of: 
 displaying said instant message; and    sending a message to said sender indicating a probability with which a receiver of said instant message has viewed said instant message.    
   
   
       13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein said probability comprises a yes or no indicator.  
   
   
       14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein said probability comprises a ranking indicative of a likelihood that said instant message has been viewed by said receiver.  
   
   
       15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein said probability is based at least in part on criteria associated with a computing device on which said instant message is displayed.  
   
   
       16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein said criteria include at least one of: input from an operating system of said computing device, input from a windows manager associated with said operating system and input from said receiver.  
   
   
       17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein said probability is calculated in accordance with an amount of text in said instant message that is in view on a computing device on which said instant message is displayed.  
   
   
       18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein said probability is based at least in part on whether said instant message has input focus on a computing device on which said instant message is displayed.  
   
   
       19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein said probability is based at least in part on user input received by a computing device on which said instant message is displayed after said instant message has been received by said computing device.  
   
   
       20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein said user input comprises input received via at least one of: a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen, a key pad, a speech interface, a heat-sensing interface and a motion-sensing interface.  
   
   
       21 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein said probability is based on both an amount of text in said instant message that is in view on a computing device on which said instant message is displayed and user input received by said computing device after said instant message has been received by said computing device.  
   
   
       22 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein said sending comprises: 
 indicating that said receiver has likely not viewed said instant message if a predefined amount of time expires without an indication that said receiver has viewed said message.    
   
   
       23 . Apparatus for conveying a view status of an instant message received from a sender, the apparatus comprising: 
 means for displaying said instant message; and    means for sending a message to said sender indicating a probability with which a receiver of said instant message has viewed said instant message.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 means for assessing said probability with which said receiver has viewed said instant message.