System and method for immediate and delayed real-time communication activities using availability data from and communications through an external instant messaging system

• US 20040162881A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt. L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Zingdom Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Herot, Christopher F., Digate, Charles J., Ketudat, Tonytip, Kopikis, Alexis M., Teven, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,263,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method for immediate and delayed real-time communication activities using availability data from and communications through an external instant messaging system, that operates to obtain aggregated user online presence information through its own client software, through interception of client-server communications between an external instant messaging client and server, and through other available interfaces to user account information on such external instant messaging systems. The system operates to gather user online presence information in part by intercepting communications between an instant messaging client and the Internet. The aggregate presence data, as well as other information describing the availability of a user, is used to intelligently route real-time communications, such as instant messages and phone calls. The disclosed system further implements a technique for waiting for changes in a user'"'"'s availability status, and for performing actions on a user'"'"'s behalf in response to such changes in availability status.

Claims

1. A method for supporting real-time communication activities, comprising:

obtaining on-line presence information from an external instant messaging system regarding at least one user, wherein said obtaining includes intercepting input and output data of a software process associated with said external instant messaging system and identifying on-line presence information regarding said at least one user within said input and output data associated with said software process, wherein said software process associated with said external instant messaging system comprises a client software process associated with said external instant messaging system, and wherein said input and output data associated with said software process comprise data communicated between said client software process associated with said external instant messaging system and a server associated with said external instant messaging system;

determining an availability status of said at least one user responsive to said on-line presence information obtained from said external instant messaging system; and

establishing a real-time communication activity including said at least one user responsive to said availability status of said at least one user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining on-line presence information regarding said at least one user from said external instant messaging system further comprises:

determining that said software process has begun execution; and

determining that said software process is associated with said external instant messaging system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said obtaining on-line presence information from said external instant messaging system further comprises obtaining on-line presence information from a predetermined interface to said external instant messaging system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said predetermined interface to said external instant messaging system comprises an interface to said server associated with said external instant messaging system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing said real-time communication activity including said at least one user responsive to said availability status of said at least one user comprises sending an instant message through said external instant messaging system in the event that said availability status of said at least one user indicates that said at least one user is currently on-line.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said sending said instant message through said external instant messaging system comprises sending an invitation message, said invitation message including a selectable link to said real-time communication activity.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said real-time communication activity is an on-line conference, and wherein said link is operable, when selected through a graphical user interface, to connect said at least one user to said on-line conference.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said real-time communication activity is a teleconference, and wherein said link is operable, when selected through a graphical user interface, to connect said at least one user to said teleconference.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one real-time communication activity is a telephone call.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one real-time communication activity is a chat session.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one real-time communication activity is a shared whiteboard.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one real-time communication activity is a remote presentation.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one real-time communication activity is a video conference.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiation of said at least one real-time communication activity includes sending an instant message.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said sending of said instant message is through said external instant messaging system, wherein said sending of said instant message through said external instant messaging system is accomplished by introducing said instant message between said client software program associated with said external instant messaging system and said server associated with said external instant messaging system.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining that at least one necessary participant for said real-time communication activity is not available; and

generating a script to be executed in response to receipt of an event notification indicating that said at least one participant becomes available.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said intercepting said data communicated between said client software program associated with said external instant messaging system and said server associated with said external instant messaging system further comprises:

intercepting input and output data on at least one network socket; and

parsing said input and output data on said at least one network socket for messages describing the online presence state of said at least one user.

18. A system for supporting real-time communication activities, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a computer program storage memory communicably coupled with said at least one processor, said computer storage memory including at least one computer program executable on said at least one processor, said computer program including;

program code for obtaining on-line presence information from an external instant messaging system regarding at least one user, wherein said obtaining includes intercepting input and output data of a software process associated with said external instant messaging system and identifying on-line presence information regarding said at least one user within said input and output data associated with said software process, wherein said software process associated with said external instant messaging system comprises a client software process associated with said external instant messaging system, and wherein said input and output data associated with said software process comprise data communicated between said client software process associated with said external instant messaging system and a server associated with said external instant messaging system,

program code for determining an availability status of said at least one user responsive to said on-line presence information obtained from said external instant messaging system, and

program code for establishing a real-time communication activity including said at least one user responsive to said availability status of said at least one user.

19. A method for supporting real-time communication activities, comprising:

intercepting, within a client system, data from a communication between instant messaging client software executing on said client system and a remote instant messaging server;

extracting on-line presence information from said data;

performing, external to said instant messaging client and said instant messaging server, a predetermined function responsive to said extracted on-line presence information.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said predetermined function comprises determining an availability status of at least one user responsive to said extracted on-line presence information.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said predetermined function further comprises establishing a real-time communication activity including said at least one user responsive to said availability status of said at least one user.