<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Re: [JDEV] OT: AOL Patents IM    (Patent creates IM wrinkle )</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> From DEC VMS, VAXPHONE giving split screen chat and even multiuser chat (3 way was very usable) – could also ‘ring’ others across networks. I used this from 1984. brgds Tim On 17/12/2002 10:33 pm, "Gallo, Felix S." <FGallo@westernasset.com> wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE>from the PLATO system, early 1970s: -user-, for seeing all the users on the system and being able to start TERM-talk with them (I think with just one press of the DATA key, but my memory's rusty..) > -----Original Message----- > From: Dougal Campbell [mailto:dougal@gunters.org] > Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 2:00 PM > To: jdev@jabber.org > Subject: Re: [JDEV] OT: AOL Patents IM (Patent creates IM wrinkle ) > > > On Tue, 17 Dec 2002, Trent Melcher wrote: > > > I thought this would be interesting reading. > > > > > > > http://msnbc-cnet.com.com/2100-1023-978234.html?type=pt=m <http://msnbc-cnet.com.com/2100-1023-978234.html?type=pt&part=m> snbc&tag=alert&form=feed&subj=cnetnews Without seeing the actual patent application, I'll toss out the prior art of using "finger" for presence notification, and the "talk" program for instant messages. </BLOCKQUOTE> </BODY> </HTML>