Monitoring users of a computer network
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of communicating with a user, the method comprising:
- detecting that a previously unavailable user is available to receive messages; and
automatically sending a predetermined message to the user upon detecting that the user has become available.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Communicating with and/or monitoring of a targeted used in computer-network environment (e.g., an instant messaging system) involves detecting that the targeted user has signed on to the network, and upon detecting the signon, automatically communicating with the targeted user, for example, by sending an instant message previously specified by a targeting user. Alternatively, or in addition, the targeting user can receive notification that the targeted user has signed on and/or that the instant message has been sent. Instead of, or in addition to, automatically sending an instant message and/or notifying the targeting user, a predefined operation specified by the targeting user (e.g., operating system command, script or executable file) can be performed. These various operations can be performed on one or more client systems, on one or more server systems, or any combination thereof.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of communicating with a user, the method comprising:
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detecting that a previously unavailable user is available to receive messages; and
automatically sending a predetermined message to the user upon detecting that the user has become available. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-implemented instant messaging method comprising:
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detecting that a targeted user has signed on to an instant messaging service; and
upon detecting the signon, automatically sending to the targeted user an instant message previously specified by a targeting user. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A computer-implemented method of monitoring users of a computer network, the method comprising:
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receiving from a monitoring user a request to monitor availability of a monitored user;
detecting that the monitored user is available; and
automatically performing a predefined operation specified by the monitoring user upon detecting that the monitored user is available. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A computer-implemented method of communicating with a user on a computer network comprising a plurality of clients and at least one server, the method comprising at the server:
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receiving a request to detect when a currently unavailable user becomes available to receive messages;
detecting that the user has become available; and
automatically sending a predetermined message to the user upon detecting that the user has become available.
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43. A computer-implemented method of communicating with a user on a computer network comprising a plurality of clients and at least one server, the method comprising at a client:
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generating a request to detect when a currently unavailable user becomes available to receive messages;
receiving notice that the user has become available; and
automatically sending a predetermined message to the user.
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44. An instant messaging system comprising:
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a server system comprising software instructions for (i) monitoring a targeted user'"'"'s availability to receive instant messages, and (ii) sending a notification that a targeted user has become available to receive instant messages; and
one or more client systems in communication with the server system, each client system being associated with a targeting user and comprising software instructions for (i) queuing a request to send an instant message to a currently unavailable targeted user, and (ii) sending the instant message to the targeted user upon receiving notification from the server system that the targeted user has become available to receive instant messages.
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45. Computer software, tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium or in a propagated carrier signal, for communicating with a user of an instant messaging system, the software comprising instructions to cause a computer system to perform the following operations:
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(a) detect that a previously unavailable user has become available to receive instant messages; and
(b) automatically send a predetermined instant message to the user upon detecting that the user has become available. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
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Specification