Title of Invention

SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING ASSOCIATED-USER AND METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for displaying associated-user, and the system includes: an icon creating unit, creating a floating icon for an associated-user when the associated-user is dragged out of a list of associated-users, wherein the floating icon is displayed on a desktop of operating system; and a message prompting unit, changing a displaying mode of the floating icon when an instant message from the associated-user is received. The present invention also provides a method and a computer-readable medium for displaying associated-user. In the system and method of the present invention, the associated-user is displayed via a floating icon, which allows to put the displaying for the associated-user at anywhere of the desktop of operating system, and facilitates operation at the IM client.

Full Text

System for Displaying Associated-User and Method thereof Field of the Invention The present invention relates to instant messaging in internet, and particularly to, a system for displaying associated-user, method and computer-readable medium thereof. Background of the Invention At present, Instant Messenger (IM) for communication, entertainment or obtaining information, has been accepted by more and more people. The IM becomes an indispensable part of people's life, which is not only used for entertainment, but also used for work and life of people. At an IM client, associated-user information (e.g., good friend information) as well as prompt information of an instant message is usually displayed via a window. In the window, each associated-user is usually listed by a list. When an instant message comes, a user is prompted by a rocking head-image, or a prompt of an arriving instant message is provided by an IM dialog window popping out directly. In addition, when the IM client is minimized, it is displayed as a small icon in a prompt bar of operating system. The prompt of the arriving instant message is provided by a rocking small icon, or the prompt of the arriving instant message is provided by an IM dialog window popping out directly. However, when information of the associated-user is displayed at the IM client, the IM client is displayed in a limited space and fixedly located in a desktop of computer. So the user cannot acquire the information of the associated-user timely and comprehensively. For example, only the associated-user's static image list can be displayed, the special associated-users can not be highlighted. When the instant message is received by the IM client, the prompt to the user is not enough in the IM client, and several inquiries should be performed to determine which associated-user sends the instant message. If the IM client is minimized, when instant messages from multiple associated-users come, since only one icon is rocking, it is difficult to tell how many instant messages come and which associated-user sends the instant message respectively. Some special associated-users can not be displayed in a highlighted way, when the user has to communicate with a certain associated-user, the user has to open a list of associated-user at the IM client, find the associated-user needing communication, and chck the icon of the associated-user. It is clear that the above mentioned way for communication is complicated and tedious. Furthermore, the display of the associated-user is constrained in the list of associated-users at the IM client, dynamic information such as the associated-user's virtual image cannot be displayed, and the dynamic information of the associated-user can not be displayed in or between interactions of the users. Summary of the Invention The embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for displaying associated-user, so that the system and method can solve the above mentioned problem of the associated-user being displayed at a fixed location and the amount of information for associated-user being small. And the embodiment of the present invention also provides a computer-readable medium for the above mentioned system and method. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a system for displaying associated-user is provided which includes the following units: an icon creating unit, creating a floating icon for an associated-user when the associated-user is dragged out of a list of associated-users, wherein the floating icon is displayed on a desktop of operating system; and a message prompting unit, changing a displaying mode of the floating icon when an instant message from the associated-user is received. In the system, the icon creating unit further includes: a moving subsystem, dragging the associated-user out of the list of associated-users; a creating subsystem, creating a floating icon, wherein the floating icon corresponds to the associated-user dragged out of the list of associated-users; and a locating subsystem, locating the floating icon at a designated place on the desktop of operating system. In the system, the system also includes: a window opening unit, opening an instant message window corresponding to the associated-user when the floating icon is triggered. In the system, the system also includes: an icon erasing unit, erasing the floating icon when the floating icon is dragged back to the list of associated-users. In the system, the associated-user can be the associated-user in an IM, and the list of associated users can be the list of associated-user at an IM client. In the system, the floating icon may be consistent with an associated-user image in the list of associated-user at the IM client, or the floating icon is provided independently. In the system, the floating icon may be a static picture, or a virtual image; or the floating icon is configured to show information related to personal data of the associated-user. In the system, the message prompting unit is further configured to make the floating icon begin to rock, change in color or displaying picture when the instant message from the associated-user is received. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for displaying associated-user is provided which includes the following processes of: creating a floating icon for an associated-user when the associated user is dragged out of a list of associated-users, wherein the floating icon is displayed on a desktop of operating system; and changing a displaying mode of the floating icon when an instant message from the associated-user is received. In the method, the process of creating the floating icon for the associated-user includes the following processes of: dragging the associated-user out of the list of associated-users; creating the floating icon corresponding to the associated-user dragged out of the hst of associated-users; and locating the floating icon at a designated place on the desktop of operating system. In the method, the method further includes the process of: opening an instant message window corresponding to the associated-user when the floating icon is triggered. In the method, the method further includes the process of: erasing the floating icon when the floating icon is dragged back to the list of associated-users. In the method, the associated-user can be the associated-user in an IM, and the list of associated users can be the list of associated-user at an IM client. In the method, the floating icon may be consistent with an associated-user image in the list of associated-user at the IM client, or the floating icon is provided independently. In the method, the floating icon may be a static picture, or a virtual image; or the floating icon is used for showing information related to personal data of the associated-user. In the method, the process of changing the displaying mode of the floating icon includes the process of: making the floating icon begin to rock, change in color or displaying picture. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable medium is disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention. And the computer-readable medium includes the computer program product for implementing a displaying of associated-user, which comprises computer program code portions configured to perform steps of the above mentioned method, and to realize one or more parts and/or functions of the above mentioned system, when said computer program code portions are run on a computing device. The computer-readable medium can be a read-only memory, a random-access memory or a flash memory. With the above mentioned system and method and computer-readable medium, the associated-user is displayed via a floating icon, which allows to put the displaying for the associated-user at anywhere of the desktop of operating system, and facilitates operation at the IM client. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating structure of a system for displaying associated-user in a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig.2 is a schematic illustrating in detail structure of an icon creating unit in Fig.l. Fig.3 is a block diagram illustrating structure of the system for displaying associated-user in a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig.4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying associated-user in a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating in detail the steps in Fig.4 for creating a floating icon. Detailed Description of the Invention Fig.l is a block diagram illustrating structure of a system for displaying associated-user in a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the system includes an icon creating unit 11 and a message prompting unit 12. An associated-user virtual image is displayed and a prompt for arrival of instant message is provided via combining the system with the IM client and using modules at the IM client (alternatively the system may be an independent software). The IM client refers to a program running on a computer or a mobile terminal (e.g. mobile telephone). When an associated-user is dragged out of a list of associated-users at the IM client, Icon creating unit 11 creates a floating icon for the associated-user being dragged out. The floating icon is displayed on all windows of operating system. In this embodiment, the list of associated-users refers to a list for displaying all associated-users at the IM client. And the associated-user may be a friend, a group or a contact of user logging in the IM client. The logging-in user and any one of its associated users can send instant messages to each other via a message dialog window for communication. The process of dragging refers to the dragging via a mouse. And icon crating unit 11 creates the floating icon for each associated-user dragged out of the list of associated-user. Thus, a plurality of floating icons may be provided simultaneously on a desktop of the operating system, and each floating icon corresponds to an associated-user. The floating icon may be consistent with associated-user image in the list of associated-user at the IM client, alternatively the floating icon can be provided independently. The floating icon, not limited to a static picture, may be a virtual image (e.g. avatar). In addition, the floating icon may show information such as personal data of associated-user. When an instant message from associated-user is received by the IM client, message prompting unit 12 changes a displaying mode of the floating icon. For example, message prompting unit 12 makes the floating icon begin to rock, change in color or displaying picture. Certainly, only when the instant message of the associated-user corresponding to floating icon is received by the IM client, the displaying mode of the floating icon is varied. However the instant message from any irrelevant user does not affect the displaying of the floating icon. As shown in Fig.2, icon creating unit 11 in Fig.l further includes a moving subsystem 111, a creating subsystem 112 and a locating subsystem 113. Moving subsystem 111 is employed to drag the associated-user out of the list of associated-user at the IM client. Moving subsystem 111 performs the process of dragging via a mouse action. At first, the mouse is moved to the location where icon of the corresponding associated-user in the list is, the left key of the mouse is pressed down, and then the mouse is moved. The user can drag any associated-user in the list via moving subsystem 111. Creating subsystem 112 is employed to create the floating icon. The floating icon corresponds to the associated-user dragged by moving subsystem 111 out of the list. And each floating icon corresponds to one associated-user in the list. Locating subsystem 113 is employed to locate the floating icon at a designated place in the desktop of operating system. In this embodiment, locating subsystem 113 implements the process of locating via a mouse which moves the floating icon. Fig.3 is a schematic illustrating structure of a system for displaying associated-user in the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the system includes a window opening unit 23, an icon creating unit 21 and a message prompting unit 22. Window opening unit 23 is employed to open the instant message window corresponding to the associated-user when the floating icon is triggered. The triggering condition includes, for example, a mouse double clicking. In addition, when the floating icon is dragged back to the list of associated-user, the system may also include an icon erasing unit 24 for erasing the floating icon, so that the original displaying mode is recovered. Fig.4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for associated-user displaying in the third embodiment of the present invention. The method includes the following steps. Step S41: when an associated-user is dragged out of a list of associated-users, a floating icon is created for the associated-user, and the floating icon is displayed on desktop of operating system. In this embodiment, the associated-user may be a friend, a group or a contact of a user at the IM client. The logging-in user and any one of its associated users can send instant messages to each other via a message dialog window for communication. The step S41 may be performed a plurality of times; a floating icon is created for each associated-user dragged out of the list of the associated-users. Thus, a plurality of floating icons may be provided simultaneously on the desktop of the operating system, and each floating icon corresponds to an associated-user respectively. The floating icon may be consistent with associated-user image in the list of associated-user at the IM client, alternatively the floating icon can be provided independently. The floating icon, not limited to a static picture, may be a virtual image (e.g. avatar). In addition, the floating icon may show information such as personal data of associated-user. Step S42: when an instant message from the associated user is received by the IM client, a displaying mode of the floating icon is changed. For example, the floating icon is changed to be rocking, the floating icon is changed in color, or the floating icon changes the displayed picture. Fig.5 is a schematic in detail illustrating the process in Fig.4 of creating the floating icon (step S41), the process of creating the floating icon further includes the following steps, Step S51: an associated-user is dragged out of a list of associated-users. In this embodiment, mouse action is used for the process of dragging. Step S52: a floating icon corresponding to the associated-user dragged out of the list is created. A plurality of floating icons may be created; each floating icon corresponds to one associated-user in the list. Step S53: the floating icon is located at a designated place in desktop of operating system. In this embodiment, mouse action is used for the process of locating so that the floating icon is moved. In another embodiment of the present invention, the above mentioned method also includes the step of: when the floating icon is triggered, opening an instant message window corresponding to the associated-user. In another embodiment of the present invention, the above mentioned method also includes the step of: erasing the floating icon when the floating icon is dragged back to the list of associated-users at the IM client. Further, the embodiment of the present invention also provides a computer-readable medium which stores the computer program product for implementing the displaying of associated-user. In this embodiment, the computer program product includes computer program code portions configured to perform one or more steps of the inventive method and to realize one or more parts and/or functions of the inventive units in the above embodiments, when the computer program code portions are run on a computing device. For example, computer program code parts, when run on the computing device, may realize one or more parts and functions of one or more of the icon creating unit, the messaging prompting unit and the window opening unit. Preferably, the computer-readable medium is a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM) or a flash memory. The foregoing are only preferred embodiments of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention, however, is not limited to the above description. Any alteration or substitution that is within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention and can easily occur to those skilled in the art should be covered in the protection scope of the present invention. Hence the protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the statements in Claims. Claims 1. A system for displaying associated-user, comprising: an icon creating unit, creating a floating icon for an associated-user when the associated-user is dragged out of a list of associated-users, wherein the floating icon is displayed on a desktop of operating system; and a message prompting unit, changing a displaying mode of the floating icon when an instant message from the associated-user is received. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the icon creating unit further comprises: a moving subsystem, dragging the associated-user out of the list of associated-users; a creating subsystem, creating a floating icon, wherein the floating icon corresponds to the associated-user dragged out of the list of associated-users; and a locating subsystem, locating the floating icon at a designated place on the desktop of operating system. 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a window opening unit, opening an instant message window corresponding to the associated-user when the floating icon is triggered. 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: an icon erasing unit, erasing the floating icon when the floating icon is dragged back to the list of associated-users. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the associated-user comprises the associated-user in an Instant Messenger (IM), and the list of associated users comprises the list of associated-user at an IM client. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the floating icon is consistent with an associated-user image in the list of associated-user at the IM client, or the floating icon is provided independently. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the floating icon comprises a static picture, or a virtual image; or the floating icon is configured to show information related to personal data of the associated-user. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the message prompting unit is further configured to make the floating icon begin to rock, change in color or displaying picture when the instant message from the associated-user is received. 9. A method for displaying associated-user, comprising: creating a floating icon for an associated-user when the associated user is dragged out of a list of associated-users, wherein the floating icon is displayed on a desktop of operating system; and changing a displaying mode of the floating icon when an instant message from the associated-user is received. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the process of creating the floating icon for the associated-user comprises: dragging the associated-user out of the list of associated-users; creating the floating icon corresponding to the associated-user dragged out of the list of associated-users; and locating the floating icon at a designated place on the desktop of operating system. 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising: opening an instant message window corresponding to the associated-user when the floating icon is triggered. 12. The method of claim 9, further comprising: erasing the floating icon when the floating icon is dragged back to the list of associated-users. 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the associated-user comprises the associated-user in an Instant Messenger (IM), and the list of associated users comprises the list of associated-user at an IM client. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the floating icon is consistent with an associated-user image in the list of associated-user at the IM client, or the floating icon is provided independently. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the floating icon comprises a static picture, or a virtual image; or the floating icon is used for showing information related to personal data of the associated-user. 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the process of changing the displaying mode of the floating icon comprises: making the floating icon begin to rock, change in color or displaying picture. 17. A computer-readable medium, comprising: computer program product for implementing a displaying of associated-user, which comprises computer program code portions configured to perform steps of method according to any of claim 9-16, and to realize one or more parts and/or functions of system according to any of claim 1-8, when said computer program code portions are run on a computing device. 18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM) or a flash memory.

Documents:

736-CHE-2008 AMENDED CLAIMS 18-09-2013.pdf

736-CHE-2008 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 18-09-2013.pdf

736-CHE-2008 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 08-11-2012.pdf

736-CHE-2008 ENGLISH TRANSLATION 08-03-2013.pdf

736-CHE-2008 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 08-03-2013.pdf

736-CHE-2008 FORM-3 08-03-2013.pdf

736-CHE-2008 OTHER PATENT DOCUMENT 08-03-2013.pdf

736-CHE-2008 POWER OF ATTORNEY 08-03-2013.pdf

736-CHE-2008 AMENDED CLAIMS 08-03-2013.pdf

736-che-2008-abstract.pdf

736-che-2008-claims.pdf

736-che-2008-correspondnece-others.pdf

736-che-2008-description(complete).pdf

736-che-2008-drawings.pdf

736-che-2008-form 1.pdf

736-che-2008-form 18.pdf

736-che-2008-form 3.pdf

736-che-2008-form 5.pdf