Abstract: Chat messages in a chat session may be displayed in a timeline view. Messages are displayed in a first display region. Timestamps of the chat messages are displayed in a second region. The messages are aligned with their respective timestamps, akin to a timeline. Timestamps for all messages need not be displayed; a timestamp may be omitted if the corresponding message occurs in the “same” time as another message. Breaks of no messaging activity that are longer than a predefined amount of time are shown with graphical objects such as a line. The objects also indicate the length of the break.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for authoring a message includes enabling a user to compose an electronic message that includes a sequence of musical note emoticons, embedding the musical note emoticons in the electronic message, and sending the electronic message. The sequence of musical note emoticons represent an audible musical sequence. A computer implemented method for receiving a message includes receiving an electronic message, including at least one musical note emoticon embedded in the electronic message, displaying the electronic message, including the musical note emoticon; and audibly playing the embedded musical note emoticon.