Graphical representation of the availability of an instant messaging user for communication
First Claim
1. A method for indicating a communication availability of a first instant messaging user to a second instant messaging user, the method comprising:
- displaying one of a plurality of icons on a user interface of the second instant messaging user, each of the icons indicating at least one of a user state and a user location of an instant messaging user, the displayed icon being determined in response to at least one of the user state and the user location of the first instant messaging user; and
setting a graphical parameter of the displayed icon in one of a plurality of states in response to the communication availability of the first instant messaging user, the communication availability being determined according to a communication policy dependent on the user state and the user location of the first instant messaging user.
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Abstract
Described is a method for indicating a communication availability of a first instant messaging user to a second instant messaging user. An icon is displayed on a user interface of the second instant messaging user to indicate at least one of a user state and a user location of the first instant messaging user. A graphical parameter of the displayed icon is set to one of a plurality of states in response to the communication availability of the first instant messaging user. The communication availability is determined according to a communication policy dependent on the user state and the user location of the first instant messaging user.
113 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for indicating a communication availability of a first instant messaging user to a second instant messaging user, the method comprising:
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displaying one of a plurality of icons on a user interface of the second instant messaging user, each of the icons indicating at least one of a user state and a user location of an instant messaging user, the displayed icon being determined in response to at least one of the user state and the user location of the first instant messaging user; and
setting a graphical parameter of the displayed icon in one of a plurality of states in response to the communication availability of the first instant messaging user, the communication availability being determined according to a communication policy dependent on the user state and the user location of the first instant messaging user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer program product for indicating the communication availability of a first instant messaging user to a second instant messaging user, the computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having embodied therein program code comprising:
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program code for displaying one of a plurality of icons on a user interface of the second instant messaging user, each of the icons indicating at least one of a user state and a user location of an instant messaging user, the displayed icon being determined in response to at least one of the user state and the user location of the first instant messaging user; and
program code for setting a graphical parameter of the displayed icon in one of a plurality of states in response to the communication availability of the first instant messaging user, the communication availability being determined according to a communication policy dependent on the user state and the user location of the first instant messaging user. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave for indicating the communication availability of a first instant messaging user to a second instant messaging user, the computer data signal comprising:
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program code for displaying one of a plurality of icons on a user interface of the second instant messaging user, each of the icons indicating at least one of a user state and a user location of an instant messaging user, the displayed icon being determined in response to at least one of the user state and the user location of the first instant messaging user; and
program code for setting a graphical parameter of the displayed icon in one of a plurality of states in response to the communication availability of the first instant messaging user, the communication availability being determined according to a communication policy dependent on the user state and the user location of the first instant messaging user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for indicating a communication availability of a first instant messaging user to a second instant messaging user, the apparatus comprising:
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means for displaying one of a plurality of icons on a user interface of the second instant messaging user, each of the icons indicating at least one of a user state and a user location of an instant messaging user, the displayed icon being determined in response to at least one of the user state and the user location of the first instant messaging user; and
means for setting a graphical parameter of the displayed icon in one of a plurality of states in response to the communication availability of the first instant messaging user, the communication availability being determined according to a communication policy dependent on the user state and the user location of the first instant messaging user. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification