Re: Another IM patent for AOL #6539421

Geez. This is pretty ridiculous. Are they going to try to patent dialog
boxes for setting options next? I feel a bit overwhelmed by these patent
applications. How many are being approved? Can we trust the USPTO to throw
out stupid patents or do we have to actively fight all of them?

-iain

On 4/5/03 10:50, "Bob Wyman" <[email protected]> wrote:

> http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=6539421
> 
> Abstract
> A messaging application user interface has an input element for
> receiving electronic messages and an output element for displaying
> electronic messages. The messaging application user interface can be
> implemented so as to maintain a subset of the plurality of potential
> message recipients, the subset being determined using a predetermined
> criterion. The messaging application user interface also can be
> implemented so as to auto-complete a partially entered address based on
> the subset of potential message recipients. A set of user-selectable
> signals that modify auto-completion behavior also can be used with the
> messaging application user interface. The messaging application user
> interface can be used in an instant messaging system to allow a user to
> send instant messages to and exchange comments with a plurality of other
> users without having to switch among several instant message windows.