1. A method for instant online discussion between multiple users comprising: a first user sending a mail to a second user with an embedded signature showing the connection status of the first user; second user checking the status of the first user from the mail, if a discussion session is desired; sending a chat request to the first user using a hyperlink in the mail; and first user accepting or denying the request to start a session.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hyperlink is the signature embedded in said mail for checking the status of the first user.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said signature has a script running at the server to check the status of the first user.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 and 3, wherein the users can chat instantly if said signature shows the sender online.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second user needs to enter the email address from which he desires the online session.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the users can attach and send files in the chat session.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the sender needs to be registered with the service provider having the instant invention implemented.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INSTANT ONLINE COMMUNICATION
Field of Invention
The present invention relates in general to communication through Internet and in particular to the field of chatting sessions.
Background of the Invention
One of the popular uses of networking is connecting people - both locally and internationally. This connection can be done using various means such as email and online chatting. One can chat with one person at a time or join a group. Chat groups are similar to Newsgroups except that the dialog takes place in real time. Instead of posting the message on a bulletin board, it is sent directly to the computer monitors of everyone \\ ho is currently logged into the chat group. In fact, the Internet is really a gigantic chat loom; with millions of people sharing suspended chatting through the form of email or more lively chatter on a community site's chat application. Chatting uses bulletin board for people to virtually meet online where they can post messages and respond to each other. These usually are set up to discuss a specific topic (i.e. children, computing, HTML). This form of chatting generally happens online and all one needs to have is a web browser. However the users have to first register themselves and then join the group of their liking.
Another form of more private chatting is through the use of instant messengers. In instant messaging the user has to download a Instant Messaging (IM) software and then invite his friends/colleagues (buddies) for chatting. Once the invitation is accepted, chatting begins. Some IMs also have advanced features such as conference, web camera, file exchange etc. However IMs have the limitation that the chatters have to download some software to chat and register themselves. Further limitation is by the requirement that a user registered with one particular service provider can only chat with users registered w ith the same service provider. Conventionally a yahoo user can chat with a yahoo user only, or in general, users registered with similar domains only can chat. Two users
registered with different domains will have to first register with a common domain to communicate. This can prove to be very time consuming.
Objects and Summary of the present Invention
It is an objective of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned drawback and pro\ ide a system to begin instant chat.
li is another object of the present invention to provide instant chat feature for users registered with separate service providers.
h is further an object of present invention to provide a chat session without the users logging on to a chat room.
To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an instant chat session. Under the present invention, a user sends an email to a second user on any other service. The second user, on opening the email, would find a signature that would show whether the first user is still online. If online, the second user can instantly send a chat request to the first user by clicking on the signature. The first user can accept or deny the request accordingly as desired or needed.
Brief description of accompanying drawings
Figure 1 relates to a flow diagram illustrating how the present invention works.
Detailed description of the drawings
On receiving a mail, a user may need to instantly discuss the issues sent to him through the mail. He may decide to chat with the sender. Conventionally, firstly both the users needed to be registered to the same domain; secondly they need to login afresh, exclusively for chatting.
According to the present invention, on receiving a mail, a user will find a signature of the sender e mbedded i n t he e mail. T he s ignature c ontains a s erver s ide s cript that checks
^vhether the sender is online. If the sender logged off after sending the mail, the signature would show him as logged off, else still logged on. Now if the sender is logged on, the user requests for chat to the sender by clicking on the signature. The user would have to enter his identification. A window would open up at the sender's system and he/she may accept or deny the request thus beginning the chat session instantly. To monitor the sender of the email a popup window is generated at the receiver end, which needs to be kept open. A user is required not to shut any window that pops up. Further, a page needs to be downloaded completely before any further operations.
in the present invention, at least the sender needs to be logged in with the service provider having the instant invention implemented, so that the receiver can view the embedded signature. On requiring a chat session, none of the users need to login explicitly to a messenger, neither is there a need to download any known messenger. The invention also provides for attaching and sending files in the session. Any number o f users can chat at a time.

We Claim:
1. A method for instant online discussion between multiple users comprising:
a first user sending a mail to a second user with an embedded signature
showing the connection status of the first user;
second user checking the status of the first user from the mail, if a
discussion session is desired;
sending a chat request to the first user using a hyperlink in the mail; and
first user accepting or denying the request to start a session.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hyperlink is the signature embedded in said mail for checking the status of the first user.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said signature has a script running at the server to check the status of the first user.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 and 3, wherein the users can chat instantly if said signature shows the sender online.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second user needs to enter the email address from which he desires the online session.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the users can attach and send files in the chat session.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the sender needs to be registered with the service provider having the instant invention implemented.