Automatically replying to instant messaging (IM) messages

• US 20050080868A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for automatically replying to instant messaging (IM) messages. In some embodiments, an IM message is received by a recipient and displayed to the recipient. If, during a predefined time interval, the recipient does not provide any response to the IM message, then the IM message is automatically replied to.

Claims

1. A communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving an instant messaging (IM) message from a sender to a recipient;

waiting a predefined time interval for an input from the recipient, the input being responsive to the IM message; and

automatically replying to the IM message in the absence of an input from the recipient during the predefined time interval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of replying to the IM message comprises the step of:

providing a message indicating the recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an IM chat session.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of replying to the IM message comprises the step of:

providing a message requesting the sender to wait for a predetermined time period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of replying to the IM message comprises the step of:

periodically providing messages, the messages being periodically provided at predefined time intervals, each message indicating the recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an IM chat session during the corresponding predefined time interval.

5. A communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving an instant messaging (IM) message from a first sender to a recipient;

determining whether the recipient is engaged in an IM chat session with second sender; and

automatically replying to the IM message in response to determining that the recipient is engaged in the IM chat session with the second sender.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

waiting a predefined time interval prior to replying to the IM message.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

indicating to the first sender that the recipient is engaged in an IM chat session with the second sender.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

periodically providing messages to the first sender, the messages being periodically provided at predefined time intervals, each message indicating the recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an IM chat session during the corresponding predefined time interval.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

indicating to the first sender that the recipient is unavailable to engage in an IM chat session with the first sender.

10. A computer-readable medium comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to receive an instant messaging (IM) message from a sender to a recipient;

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to wait a predefined time interval for an input from the recipient, the input being responsive to the IM message; and

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to reply to the IM message in the absence of an input from the recipient during the predefined time interval.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to provide a message indicating the recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an IM chat session.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to provide a message requesting the sender to wait for a predetermined time period.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to periodically provide messages, the messages being periodically provided at predefined time intervals, each message indicating the recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an IM chat session during the corresponding predefined time interval.

14. A computer-readable medium comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to receive an instant messaging (IM) message from a first sender to a recipient;

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to determine whether the recipient is engaged in an IM chat session with second sender; and

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to reply to the IM message in response to determining that the recipient is engaged in the IM chat session with the second sender.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to wait a predefined time interval prior to replying to the IM message.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to indicate that the recipient is engaged in an IM chat session with the second sender.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to periodically provide messages to the first sender, the messages being periodically provided at predefined time intervals, each message indicating the recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an IM chat session during the corresponding predefined time interval.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to indicate that the recipient is unavailable to engage in an IM chat session with the first sender.

19. A communication system comprising:

means for receiving an instant messaging (IM) message from a sender to a recipient;

means for receiving an input from the recipient in response to the IM message;

means for determining whether the recipient has provided an input during a predefined time interval; and

means for replying to the IM message in response to determining that the recipient has not provided an input during the predefined time interval.

20. A communication system comprising:

instant-messaging (IM) receive logic configured to receive an IM message from a sender to a recipient;

input-receive logic configured to receive an input from the recipient in response to the IM message;

determining logic configured to determine whether the recipient has provided an input during a predefined time interval; and

reply logic configured to reply to the IM message in response to determining that the recipient has not provided an input during the predefined time interval.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the determining logic comprises:

a timer configured to track elapsed time from a receiving of an IM message.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the reply logic comprises:

message-generation logic configured to generate a message, the message being indicative of the recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an IM chat session.