Method to Enable Selection of Segments in an Instant Messaging Application for Integration in Other Applications

Abstract

A Segment Interface Program (SIP) is disclosed that enables a user to choose locations in other applications to receive segments, and to mark segments for manual or automatic transmission to those applications. The SIP comprises an Application Interface Program (AIP), a Segment Creator Program (SCP), a Segment Queue Program (SQP), and a Segment Delivery Program (SDP). The SIP accesses a Rules database, a codes database, and a queue database. The AIP enables a user to select a location in an application and assign an application code and a location code to the location. The SCP enables a user to select a segment in a chat transcript, assign an application code and a location code to the segment, and send the segment to the SQP. The SQP receives the segment, assigns a queue number, and places the segment in a queue table. The SDP reads the user code, the application code and, when the application is active, sends the segment to the location in the application with the corresponding code. A single segment may be inserted into an application in multiple locations by creating additional codes for multiple instances of a location.

1 . A system for enabling a user to manually select locations in an application to receive chat segments, and to mark chat segments for transmission to those applications comprising: a computer having a storage and a display;
 an instant messaging program in the storage;   an application in the storage;   a chat transcript in the storage;   a segment interface program in the storage having a graphical user interface;   wherein, using the graphical user interface, and responsive to the user selecting the application, selecting a location, and applying the location, the segment interface program adapts the application to receive a chat segment at the location; and responsive to the user selecting a chat segment, designating the application, and designating the location, the segment interface program sends the chat transcript to the location in the application.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the segment interface program further comprises:
 responsive to the user highlighting a location in the application selected in the graphical user interface, instructions for assigning a user code, an application code, and a location code to the location.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the segment interface program further comprises:
 using the graphical interface and responsive to the user highlighting a segment in the chat transcript, instructions for assigning a user code, an application code, a location code and sending the segment to the segment queue program.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the segment interface program further comprises: instructions for receiving the chat segment, assigning a queue number, and placing the segment in a queue table. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the segment interface program further comprises:
 instructions for reading the user code and application code for a first chat segment in queue, and responsive to determining that the application is on, removing the first chat segment in queue from the queue table and sending the first chat segment in queue to the application and location corresponding to the application code and the location code.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a rules database. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a codes database. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a queue database adapted for containing a plurality of queue tables. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the graphical user interface comprises a user selection window, an application selection window, and a location selection window. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising a status control. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the graphical user interface comprises: a text window, a user selection window, an application selection window, and a location selection window. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a modify control. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a first graphical user interface comprising a user selection window, an application selection window, and a location selection window, and a second graphical user interface comprising a text window, a user selection window, an application selection window, and a location selection window. 
   
   
       14 . A method for enabling a user to manually select locations in an application on a computer to receive chat segments, and to mark chat segments for transmission to the applications comprising:
 using a first graphical user interface,   adapting the application to receive a chat segment at a location; and using a second graphical user interface,   selecting the application,   selecting the location;   sending the chat transcript to the location.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  14  further comprising: using the first graphical user interface, and responsive to the user highlighting a location in the application selected in the first graphical user interface, assigning a user code, an application code, and a location code to the location. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising: using the second graphical interface, and responsive to the user highlighting a segment in the chat transcript, assigning the user code, the application code, the location code and sending the segment to a segment queue table for transmission to the application. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising, responsive to receiving the segment in the segment queue table, assigning a queue number, and placing the segment in the queue table. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising: responsive to reading the user code, the application code, and the location code for the segment, removing the segment from the queue table and sending the segment to the application and location corresponding to the application code and the location code. 
   
   
       19 . A graphical user interface for enabling a user to manually select locations in an application on a computer to receive chat segments, and to mark chat segments for transmission to the application comprising:
 a first graphical user interface configuration having a user window, an application window, and a location window adapted for configuring the application to receive a chat segment at a location; and   a second graphical user interface configuration having a user window, an application window, and a location window adapted for configuring the segment for transmission to the application and the location.   
   
   
       20 . The graphical user interface of  claim 19  further comprising:
 using the first graphical user interface, means for assigning a user code, an application code, and a location code to the location.   
   
   
       21 - 30 . (canceled)