Tracking interactive text-message communications

摘要

Internet or networked communication message items are selectively synchronized and tracked. An interactive communication application presents a message entry interface enabling a user to select a discrete question for tracking, creating tracking thread. The message is presented by visually distinguishing the tracked question from a remainder of message items, and the thread is updated in response to a reply message comprising a linked answer. A secondary tracking display interface presents thread pluralities and enables a user to select and resend an unanswered question or an unacknowledged answer. An answer may be automatically or explicitly linked to a question. Selecting or linking a question or answer may be effected through a cursor routine or special text string inputs, and the special text string inputs may be user defined.

主权项

1. A computer implemented method for selectively synchronizing and tracking networked or internet real-time interactive communication message items, the method comprising executing on a processing unit the steps of:
presenting a real-time interactive communication system message entry interface to a first user that displays in real-time a plurality of chat or instant message text messages of a conversation with a second user comprising outgoing messages from the first user and incoming messages from a second user in reply to the outgoing text messages by displaying each new message immediately after a most recent previous outgoing or incoming message in one chat or instant message window, wherein each of the messages comprise a plurality of discrete message text items; in response to detecting an entry of a character combination text string comprising a unique text item term by the first user via a text entry routine into a portion of one of the outgoing messages from the first user, creating a question tracking thread for the outgoing message portion, the question tracking thread comprising the character combination text string, a query message timestamp, question text, second user identification data, an answered status initialized to unanswered, and a reply message answer field, and sending the outgoing message portion comprising the character combination text string to the second user through a communication medium; and updating the created question tracking thread by entering answer text into the reply message answer field and setting the answered status to answered in response to receiving a reply text message comprising a text dialog box entry of the answer text that is sent back to the first user by the second user and that is linked by to the outgoing message portion comprising the character combination text string sent to the second user.