Timing of off-line messaging
First Claim
1. A method for enabling user control of user'"'"'s off-line status messages available for display to other participants in a messaging application when said user is logged-off from said messaging application, said method comprising:
- enabling user timing input to establish times during which said user'"'"'s off-line status messages are available for display to said other participants; and
saving said timing input for subsequent access in association with a communication of said user off-line status messages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and implementing instant messaging processing system are provided which include means by which a user is enabled to input certain selective details concerning the user'"'"'s off-line status. Such user selections are stored by an IM server and subsequently made available to other IM users when such other IM users log-on to the IM application. User selections include a listing of common reasons why a user is not available and means are provided for the user to select specific applicable details concerning the user'"'"'s off-line status. A user is also enabled to input custom text messages to selectively provide even more specific detail to other users of the IM application concerning the user'"'"'s off-line status. Means are further provided to enable a user to input more than one custom off-line message and also to indicate the timing of each message and when each message shall be made available to other IM users. A user is also enabled to selectively designate certain individuals to whom access to predetermined messages is made available during the off-line status of the IM user such that access to one off-line message is made available to selected IM participants but not to all IM participants.
25 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for enabling user control of user'"'"'s off-line status messages available for display to other participants in a messaging application when said user is logged-off from said messaging application, said method comprising:
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enabling user timing input to establish times during which said user'"'"'s off-line status messages are available for display to said other participants; and
saving said timing input for subsequent access in association with a communication of said user off-line status messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A storage medium including machine readable coded indicia, said storage medium being selectively coupled to a reading device, said reading device being selectively coupled to processing circuitry within a computer system, said reading device being selectively operable to read said machine readable coded indicia and provide program signals representative thereof, said program signals being effective for enabling user control of user'"'"'s off-line status messages available for display to other participants in a messaging application when said user is logged-off from said messaging application, said program signals being further effective for;
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enabling user timing input to establish times during which said user'"'"'s off-line status messages are available for display to said other participants; and
saving said timing input for subsequent access in association with a communication of said user off-line status messages. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for enabling user control of user'"'"'s off-line status messages available for display to other participants in a messaging application when said user is logged-off from said messaging application, said system comprising:
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a messaging server;
a plurality of terminals, said terminals and said messaging server being coupled together through an interconnection network, each of said terminals including a display device and a user input device, each of said terminals being selectively operable for enabling user timing input to establish times during which said user'"'"'s off-line status messages are available for display to said other participants, said system being further selectively operable for saving said timing input for subsequent access in association with a communication of said user off-line status messages. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification