Obviousness

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 9246857 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that would render the claims of US Patent 9246857 obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA). The core inventive concept of US 9246857, as defined by independent claims 1 and 15, is the modification of a visual element of the message entry location to match a visual cue associated with an active conversation.

Independent Claim 1: Method for Correlating Conversations

Claim 1 broadly describes a computer-based method comprising:

1. Providing a discussion interface displaying messages.
2. Providing a message entry location.
3. Receiving an indication that a message is part of an active conversation.
4. Changing a visual element of the message entry location to match a first visual cue shared by messages associated with the active conversation.
5. Receiving a new message.
6. Displaying the new message incorporating the first visual cue.

Combination of Prior Art:
A combination of US Patent 7,475,110 B2 to International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) ("Method and interface for multi-threaded conversations in instant messaging") [cite: US7475110B2] in view of general user interface (UI) design principles or US Patent 7,185,057 B2 to IBM ("Individually specifying message output attributes in a messaging system") [cite: US7185057B2] would render Claim 1 obvious.

Reasoning for Obviousness:

1. US 7,475,110 B2 (IBM), hereafter "IBM '110," describes a method and interface for managing multi-threaded conversations in an instant messaging (IM) environment. IBM '110 teaches:

   • Providing a discussion interface that displays multiple messages, where these messages can belong to different conversation threads (corresponding to "first message and a second message"). [cite: US7475110B2]
   • The capability for a user to select a message to reply to, thereby effectively indicating that the selected message is part of an "active conversation" for the purpose of the subsequent reply. [cite: US7475110B2]
   • Displaying new messages with a visual cue (e.g., indentation, different colors/fonts, graphical elements like lines) that is shared by other messages belonging to the same conversation thread (active conversation). [cite: US7475110B2]
   • The presence of a message entry location is inherent and well-known in any instant messaging system interface.

2. Missing Element: While IBM '110 teaches visually distinguishing conversation threads and associating replies with them via visual cues, it does not explicitly disclose "changing a visual element of the message entry location upon receipt of the first indication to match a first visual cue shared by messages associated with the active conversation."

3. Motivation to Combine with General UI Design Principles / US 7,185,057 B2 (IBM):
   A person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) in 2013 (the priority date of US 9246857) would be familiar with common UI design practices aimed at enhancing user experience and clarity in software applications. In a multi-threaded messaging environment, where visual cues are already employed to distinguish different conversations (as taught by IBM '110), it would be an obvious design choice to extend this visual context to the message entry location itself.

   The motivation for such a modification would be to:

   • Reduce User Confusion: Explicitly showing the active conversation's visual cue in the input area provides immediate and continuous feedback to the user, preventing them from accidentally sending a message to the wrong thread, especially in fast-paced or complex conversations.
   • Improve Consistency: Extending the visual theme from the displayed messages to the input area creates a more coherent and intuitive user interface.
   • Enhance Usability: By reinforcing the context of the user's current action, the interface becomes easier and more efficient to use.

   Changing a visual element of an input field, such as its background color (as specifically claimed in US9246857, e.g., claim 9 and 13), to reflect the currently active context is a well-known UI technique. For instance, input fields often change color when selected, or form sections might highlight based on user interaction. US 7,185,057 B2 (IBM) further supports this by teaching the ability to "individually specify message output attributes" like color, font, and size in a messaging system, demonstrating that dynamic visual customization of UI elements in communication applications was known. Applying a visual attribute (like color) consistently across related UI elements (messages and their corresponding input box) would be a straightforward application of existing design principles and known techniques.

   Therefore, a PHOSITA would be motivated to combine the multi-threaded conversation management and visual cues of IBM '110 with general UI principles of contextual visual feedback or the teachings of US 7,185,057 B2 regarding customizable visual attributes, to arrive at the method of Claim 1.

Independent Claim 15: System for Correlating Conversations

Claim 15 describes a system comprising an interface device with a processor, memory, transmission unit, and display, where a software application is configured to perform functions largely mirroring Claim 1, including:

1. Providing a discussion interface and message entry location.
2. Recording an indication of an active conversation.
3. Modifying a visual element of the message entry location based on the active conversation.
4. Receiving and transmitting new messages with active conversation indication.
5. Displaying new messages with shared visual cues.

Combination of Prior Art:
The same combination of US Patent 7,475,110 B2 to IBM [cite: US7475110B2] in view of general UI design principles or US Patent 7,185,057 B2 to IBM [cite: US7185057B2] would render Claim 15 obvious.

Reasoning for Obviousness:

1. IBM '110 describes a "system" for multi-threaded instant messaging, inherently teaching an interface device with the necessary hardware components (processor, memory, transmission unit, display) and software instructions to implement the methods described therein. [cite: US7475110B2] This includes:

   • Software for providing a discussion interface and a message entry location.
   • Software for recording a user's selection of an active conversation thread.
   • Software for receiving new messages and transmitting them.
   • Software for displaying new messages with visual cues associated with their conversation thread.

2. Missing Element: IBM '110 does not explicitly teach software instructions for "modifying a visual element of the message entry location based on which of the conversations is the active conversation."

3. Motivation to Combine with General UI Design Principles / US 7,185,057 B2 (IBM):
   Given that the method of visually distinguishing the message entry location to match the active conversation is obvious, as argued for Claim 1, it would be equally obvious for a PHOSITA to implement the corresponding system functionality. Creating software instructions to modify a visual element (e.g., changing the background color of a text entry box, as specified in Claim 17 of US9246857) based on the user's active conversation selection is a routine programming task for a developer working on a messaging application. The application of consistent visual cues across an interface to enhance user understanding and prevent errors is a fundamental principle of UI development. IBM '057 further reinforces the prior art's understanding of specifying and applying visual attributes to messaging elements. Moreover, the inclusion of "user preferences" for defining visual cues (Claim 18 of US9246857) is a common feature in many software applications, allowing users to customize their interface, and would be an obvious addition to such a system.

   Therefore, the system described in Claim 15 would be obvious by combining the known system architecture and functionality of IBM '110 with standard UI implementation techniques and principles, possibly informed by patents like IBM '057, to provide clearer contextual feedback to the user in a multi-threaded messaging environment.