Method and system for presenting digital message content on a computer system

Abstract

A method and system for display of messages received at a computing device via a network. Messages received by the device are displayed. Messages can be displayed for a limited time period during which time the message as displayed fades or otherwise is altered to provide a visual indication of the display lifetime remaining for that message.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for displaying message content in messages received by a computing device connected to a data network and having a display, the method being implemented by the computing device and comprising the steps of:
 receiving a first message over the network, the first message comprising first message content and having a first display lifetime;   displaying the first message content on the display in accordance with a respective value of a visual display attribute; and   varying the value of the visual display attribute for the first message content as a function of time remaining in the first display lifetime;   wherein said varied visual display attribute of the first message content provides a corresponding varying visual indication of time remaining in the first display lifetime.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time remaining in the first display lifetime is measured relative to a time of receipt of the first message by the computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time remaining in the first display lifetime is measured relative to a time when the first message is initially displayed on the display. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of varying the value of the visual display attribute for the first message content is performed while the first message content is displayed on the display. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of displaying the first message content on the display comprises displaying the first message content in a scrollable window. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the visual display attribute comprises one of color, contrast, transparency, size, and typeface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the visual display attribute comprises transparency;
 the step of varying the value of the visual display attribute for the first message content comprising increasing the transparency of the first message content as the first display lifetime of the first message elapses.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first message is displayed only during the first display lifetime. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving a second message, the second message comprising second message content and having a second display lifetime which is different from the first display lifetime;   displaying the second message content on the display in accordance with a respective value of the visual display attribute; and   varying the value of the visual display attribute for the second message content as a function of time remaining in the second display lifetime;   wherein said varied visual display attribute of the second message content provides a corresponding varying visual indication of time remaining in the second display lifetime.   
     
     
         10 . A system for displaying message content comprising:
 a computing device comprising a computer processor, a memory, a network interface, and a display, the computing device being connectable to a data network;   the memory having omputer instructions stored therein which configure the processor to:
 receive messages including message content for display to a user of the computing device, each message having an associated message display lifetime; 
 display the message content of received messages on the display, each respective display of message content formatted in accordance with a respective value of a visual display attribute for the respective message; and 
 vary the respective value of the visual display attribute for message content of respective messages as a function of time remaining in the display lifetimes of the respective messages; 
   wherein variation of the respective value of the visual display attribute for displayed message content provides a visual indication of time remaining in the display lifetime of the respective message.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer instructions configure the processor to determine time remaining in the display lifetime for each respective message relative to a time of receipt of the respective message. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer instructions configure the processor to determine time remaining in the display lifetime for each respective message relative to a time when the respective message content is initially displayed on the display. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer instructions configure the processor to vary the respective value of the visual display attribute for respective message content while the respective message content is displayed on the display. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein displayed message content is displayed in a scrollable window. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the visual display attribute comprises one of color, contrast, transparency, size, and typeface. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , the visual display attribute comprising transparency, the software configuring the processor to vary the respective display attribute value to increase transparency of respective message content on the display as the display lifetime of the respective messages elapse. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer instructions configure the processor to display respective message display attribute only during the display lifetime of the respective message. 
     
     
         18 . A method for displaying text messages received by a computing device connected to a communications network, the computer configured to show data on a display with a visibility relative to a display background related to a visual display attribute value, the method being implemented by the computing device and comprising the steps of:
 receiving a text message over the network;   showing text message data from the text message on the display during a message display lifetime and in accordance with a specified visual display attribute value; and   adjusting the specified visual display attribute value from an initial value at a start of the display lifetime to a final value at the end of the display lifetime, the initial value providing a higher visibility of text message data shown on the display relative to the background than the final value;   wherein the text message data shown on the display fades during the display lifetime relative to the background, wherein the visibility of the text message data relative to the background provides an indication of time remaining in the display lifetime.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the display lifetime is divided into sections of duration d and the specified visual display attribute value is adjusted after the passing of each time interval d during the display lifetime. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the visual display attribute comprises one of transparency and contrast relative to background.