function getNumberOfUnreadMessages() {
	new Ajax.Request("/AloeView/ajax/getNumberOfUnreadMessages?x=" + new Date().getTime(), {
		method: 'get',
		onSuccess: function( transport ) {
	        var insertHere = document.getElementById("numberOfNewAloeMessages");
	        if ( insertHere != null ) {
	          insertHere.innerHTML = transport.responseText;
	        }
		},
		onFailure: function( transport ) {
			// do nothing
		}
	});
}         
		      
function updateMessageNumber( givenParam ) {
    if ( givenParam.indexOf( "AloeAnonymousSession_" ) != 0 ) {
        //alert( "updateMessageNumber: called with parameter: '" + givenParam + "'" );
        // user is logged in
        getNumberOfUnreadMessages();
        //window.setInterval ( "getNumberOfUnreadMessages()", 10*1000 );
        window.setInterval ( "getNumberOfUnreadMessages()", 60*1000 );
    }
}