Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for privately annotating a thread of a conversation between a participant and at least one other participant in a computer-based chat function. The disclosure also provides a method for hiding one or more messages in an existing thread of a chat conversation.

Abstract: A computer-based phone system comprising a computer device comprising: a computer readable memory comprising a set of computer-readable instructions; and a processor operable responsive to the set of computer-readable instructions to: register a caller ID of a caller phone responsive to a phone call received by the computer-based phone system from the caller phone; and transmit via a text communication platform, responsive to registering the caller ID, an invitation to the caller phone to engage in a text communication session.

Abstract: A method for a user to interact with a computer-based functionality as one of a plurality of virtual personas (“VPs”), the method comprising: registering a user's selection of one VP out of a plurality of VPs associated with the user, each VP comprising characterizing information characterizing one of a plurality of aspects of the user, the selected VP being operable to be controlled by the user to configure an instruction to the functionality; receive the instruction and forward the instruction to the functionality; receive a response responsive to the instruction from the functionality; and forward the response to the user.