Method and apparatus for managing instant messaging
First Claim
1. An instant messaging computer program product operating in a first computer system attached to a network of computer systems, said computer program product including a plurality of processor executable instructions recorded on signal-bearing media, wherein said instructions comprise:
- an incoming message function, said incoming message function receiving incoming instant messages from users of other computer systems attached to said network, said other computer systems attached to said network executing respective instant messaging applications, said incoming message function further informing a first user of said first computer system of receipt of said incoming instant messages;
an outgoing message function, said outgoing message function sending instant messages to said respective instant messaging applications executing in said other computer systems attached to said network; and
an availability reporting function, said availability reporting function reporting availability status of said first user to one or more said respective instant messaging applications executing in said other computer systems attached to said network, wherein said availability reporting function automatically infers whether said first user is available by accessing calendar data concerning said first user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An instant messaging application intelligently infers a user'"'"'s unavailability from one or more indicia which include the user'"'"'s electronic calendar. Preferably, the instant messaging application may report not only that a user is unavailable, but also give a reason for inferring unavailability, in order to provide other users with additional potentially useful information. Preferably, the user may specify which indicia and which parameters may be used to infer his unavailability in an editable profile. When another user requests status, this value is returned by the server. An intelligent instant messaging application as described herein provides other users with more accurate and complete availability information.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An instant messaging computer program product operating in a first computer system attached to a network of computer systems, said computer program product including a plurality of processor executable instructions recorded on signal-bearing media, wherein said instructions comprise:
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an incoming message function, said incoming message function receiving incoming instant messages from users of other computer systems attached to said network, said other computer systems attached to said network executing respective instant messaging applications, said incoming message function further informing a first user of said first computer system of receipt of said incoming instant messages;
an outgoing message function, said outgoing message function sending instant messages to said respective instant messaging applications executing in said other computer systems attached to said network; and
an availability reporting function, said availability reporting function reporting availability status of said first user to one or more said respective instant messaging applications executing in said other computer systems attached to said network, wherein said availability reporting function automatically infers whether said first user is available by accessing calendar data concerning said first user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for performing instant messaging in a first computer system attached to a network of computer systems, comprising the steps of:
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receiving incoming instant messages for a first user in said first computer system from users of other computer systems attached to said network, said other computer systems attached to said network executing respective instant messaging applications;
sending instant messages to said respective instant messaging applications executing in said other computer systems attached to said network;
receiving a request for availability status of said first user from an instant messaging application executing in a second computer system attached to slid network; and
responsive to receiving said request for availability status, reporting availability status of said first user to said instant messaging application executing in said second computer system attached to said network, wherein said step of reporting availability status comprises automatically inferring whether said first user is available by accessing calendar data concerning said first user. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer system providing an instant messaging function, comprising:
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a programmable processor;
a network interface connecting said computer system to a network of computer systems;
a display for displaying information to a user of said computer system;
an incoming message function executable on said programmable processor, said incoming message function receiving incoming instant messages from users of other computer systems attached to said network, said other computer systems attached to said network executing respective instant messaging applications, said incoming message function further displaying said incoming messages on said display;
an outgoing message function executable on said programmable processor, said outgoing message function sending instant messages to said respective instant messaging applications executing in said other computer systems attached to said network; and
an availability reporting function executable on said programmable processor, said availability reporting function reporting availability status of said first user to a second user of an instant messaging application executing in a second computer system attached to said network, wherein said availability reporting function automatically infers whether said first user is available by accessing calendar data concerning said first user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification