Method of and interactive display for exchanging a message

Claim 2

A computer implemented method of exchanging messages, the method comprising: displaying a first graphical representation of a first person; displaying a second graphical representation of a second person, the second representation being displayed spaced apart, by a space, from the first representation on a display; presenting a first introduction message to the first person, the first introduction message introducing the second person to the first person; presenting a second introduction message to the second person, the second introduction message introducing the first person to the second person; and displaying a link that spans said space if at least one of a third party introduction is made between the two persons and at least one of the two persons accepts an introduction to the other of the two.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , wherein presenting the first introduction message and presenting the second introduction message is triggered by selecting the first graphical representation and the second graphical representation.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 , wherein the second introduction message comprises the first graphical representation of the first person end the first introduction message comprises the second graphical representation of the second person.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 , wherein the first person selects the second graphical representation to trigger displaying a first graphical indication between the first graphical representation and the second graphical representation.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 , wherein the second person selects the first graphical represeutation to trigger displaying a second graphical indication between the first graphical representation and the second graphical representation.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 , further comprising: sending first personal information of the first person to the second person by means of the second introduction message; and sending second personal information of the second person to the first person by means of the first introduction message.

Claim 8

A computer program product that includes a computer readable medium into which is embedded program instructions executable by a processor in performing the method according to claim 1 .

Claim 9

A personal digital assistant comprising a computer program product according to claim 7 .

Claim 10

The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising adding, as a result of acceptance of an introduction in response to a received one of the introduction messages, for a person being thereby introduced and for presentation on said interactive display, a graphical representation of said person being thereby introduced.

Claim 11

A computer-implemented interactive display for exchanging messages, the interactive display comprising: first display means for displaying a first graphical representation of a first person; second display means for displaying a second graphical representation of a second person, the second representation being displayed spaced apart, by a space, from the first representation on said interactive display; first presenting means for presenting a first introduction message to the first person, the first introduction message introducing the second person to the first person; second presenting means for presenting a second introduction message to the second person, the second introduction message introducing the first person to the second person; and link display means for displaying a link that spans said space if at least one of a third party introduction is made between the two persons and at least one of the two persons accepts an introduction to the other of the two.

Claim 12

A computer-implemented interactive display for exchanging messages, the interactive display comprising: first display means for displaying a first graphical representation of a first person; second display means for displaying a second graphical representation of a second person, the second representation being displayed spaced apart, by a space, from the first representation on said interactive display; first presenting means for presenting a first introduction message to the first person, the first introduction message introducing the second person to the first person; second presenting means for presenting a second introduction message to the second person, the second introduction message introducing the first person to the second person; and link display means for displaying a link that spans said space if at least one of a third party introduction is made between the two persons and at least one of the two persons accepts an introduction to the other of the two.

Claim 13

The interactive display according to claim 10 , further comprising: first personal information means for presenting first personal information of the first person to the second person; second personal information means for presenting second personal information of the second person to the first person.

Claim 14

The interactive display of claim 10 , wherein said link display means is configured for said displaying a link if at least one of the two persons accepts an introduction to the other of the two.

Claim 15

The interactive display of claim 10 , configured to display the link simultaneously with the two representations.

Claim 16

The interactive display of claim 10 , wherein said link display means is configured for said displaying a link if said third party introduction is made between the two persons.

Claim 17

The interactive display of claim 10 , wherein said representations vary in size according to at least one of recency and frequency of interaction with a user of said display.

Claim 18

The computer-implemented interactive display of claim 10 , wherein said representations respectively vary in size according to at least one of recency and frequency of interaction, by means of the computer-implemented display, between the respective person and a user of the computer-implemented interactive display.

Claim 19

The computer-implemented interactive display of claim 10 , wherein the first and second display means are configured such that acceptance of an introduction in response to a received one of the introduction messages adds, for a person being thereby introduced and for presentation on said interactive display, a graphical representation of said person being thereby introduced.

Claim 20

The computer-implemented interactive display of claim 10 , wherein said displaying by the first means is simultaneous with said displaying by the second means.

Claim 21

The computer-implemented interactive display of claim 10 , wherein said link display means is further configured for selectively displaying a link to traverse part of a space between the two representations based on a determination that a relationship exists between the two persons.

Claim 22

The computer-implemented interactive display of claim 10 , wherein the link is configured to selectively include at least one of a plurality of different visual elements depending upon a status of acceptance of a made introduction from among said third party introduction and said introduction to the other of the two, said at least one of a plurality of different visual elements correspondingly spanning said space in case of one element and collectively spanning said space in case of plural elements.

Claim 23

A computer implemented method of exchanging messages, the method comprising: displaying a first graphical representation of a first person; displaying a second graphical representation of a second person, the second representation being displayed spaced apart, by a space, from the first representation on a display; presenting a first introduction message to the first person, the first introduction message introducing the second person to the first person; presenting a second introduction message to the second person, the second introduction message introducing the first person to the second person; and displaying a link that spans said space if at least one of a third party introduction is made between the two persons and at least one of the two persons accepts an introduction to the other of the two, wherein the link is configured to selectively include at least one of a plurality of different visual elements depending upon a status of acceptance of a made introduction from among said third party introduction and said introduction to the other of the two, said at least one of a plurality of different visual elements correspondingly spanning said space in case of one element and collectively spanning said space in case of plural elements.

Claim 24

A computer implemented method of exchanging messages, the method comprising: displaying a first graphical representation of a first person; displaying a second graphical representation of a second person, the second representation being displayed spaced apart, by a space, from the first representation on a display; presenting a first introduction message to the first person, the first introduction message introducing the second person to the first person; presenting a second introduction message to the second person, the second introduction message introducing the first person to the second person; and displaying a link that spans said space if at least one of a third party introduction is made between the two persons and at least one of the two persons accepts an introduction to the other of the two, wherein the link is configured to selectively include at least one of a plurality of different visual elements depending upon a status of acceptance of a made introduction from among said third party introduction and said introduction to the other of the two, said at least one of a plurality of different visual elements correspondingly spanning said space in case of one element and collectively spanning said space in case of plural elements.