Automatically infering and updating an availability status of a user

• US 20060015609A1
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rozich, Ryan, Hagale, Anthony Richard, Kelley, Jason Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 7,418,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• 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

Abstract

A system, system, and program for automatically inferring and updating an availability status of a user are provided. At least one current activity of a user is detected, where the current activity includes at least one system level event within a computer environment accessible to the user. A current availability status for a particular communication request is inferred from the current activity of the user in view of multiple availability rules, where the multiple availability rules map current activity to multiple possible availability statuses. In addition, inference of the current availability status is determined based on the identity of the requester of communication with the user, where the multiple availability rules map the requester identity in combination with the current activity to multiple availability rules. Output of the current availability status is controlled, such that the requester of the particular communication request is notified of an availability of the user to respond to the particular communication request.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, comprising:

detecting at least one current activity of said user, wherein said at least one current activity comprises at least one system level event within a computer environment accessible to said user; and

inferring a current availability status of said user from said at least one current activity of said user in view of a plurality of availability rules that map said at least one system level event to a plurality of possible availability statuses, such that said current availability status indicates an availability of said user to receive communications.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, wherein detecting at least one current activity of said user, wherein said at least one current activity comprises at least one system level event within a computer environment accessible to said user, further comprises:

detecting said at least one system level event indicating a display mode in which a software application is currently executing within said computer environment accessible to said user.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, wherein detecting at least one current activity of said user, wherein said at least one current activity comprises at least one system level event within a computer environment accessible to said user, further comprises:

detecting said at least one system level event indicating a user interaction with a particular software application available within said computer environment accessible to said user.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, wherein detecting at least one current activity of said user, wherein said at least one current activity comprises at least one system level event within a computer environment accessible to said user, further comprises:

detecting said at least one system level event indicating a user interfacing with a network in a communication enabled by said computer environment accessible to said user.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for inferring an availability status of a user, wherein detecting at least one current activity of said user further comprises:

detecting said at least one current activity from at least one from among an electronically scheduled event for said user, a physical location of said user detected from an electronic location detection device, and an event detected from a second computer environment communicatively connected to said computer environment accessible to said user, wherein said event detected from said second computer environment indicates an interaction by said user with said second computer environment.

6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for inferring an availability status of a user, wherein inferring a current availability status of said user from said at least one current activity of said user in view of a plurality of availability rules that map said at least one system level event to a plurality of possible availability statuses, further comprises:

responsive to receiving a communication request to communicate with said user, detecting an identifier of a requester of communication with said user; and

inferring said current availability status of said user from said at least one current activity of said user and said identifier of said requester in view of said plurality of availability rules that map said at least one current activity when combined with said identifier of said requester to a plurality of possible availability statuses.

7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for inferring an availability status of a user, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a communication request to communicate with said user, controlling a broadcast of said current availability status inferred for said user to a network accessible system from which said communication request is received.

8. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for inferring an availability status of a user, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a communication request to communicate with said user, detecting an identifier of a requester of communication with said user;

inferring an interrupt status of said user for said communication request based on said at least one current activity detected for said user and an identity of a requester of said current communication request in view of said plurality of availability rules, wherein said plurality of availability rules map said at least one current activity and said identity of said requester with a plurality of possible interrupt statuses; and

only enabling an interruption to notify said user of said current communication request if allowed by said interrupt status inferred for said user.

9. A system for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, comprising:

a data processing system communicatively connected to a network;

said data processing system further comprising;

means for detecting at least one current activity of said user, wherein said at least one current activity comprises at least one system level event occurring within a computer environment accessible to said user; and

means for inferring a current availability status of said user from said at least one current activity of said user in view of a plurality of availability rules that map said at least one system level event to a plurality of possible availability statuses, wherein said current availability status indicates an availability of said user to receive communications.

10. The system according to claim 9 for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, wherein said data processing system is a server system external to said computer environment accessible to said user, wherein said server system enables communications between said computer environment accessible to said user and a client requesting to communicate with said user within said computer environment accessible to said user.

11. The system according to claim 9 for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, wherein said data processing system is located within said computer environment accessible to said user.

12. The system according to claim 9 for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, wherein said means for detecting at least one current activity of said user, wherein said at least one current activity comprises at least one system level event within a computer environment accessible to said user, further comprises:

means for detecting said at least one system level event indicating a display mode in which a software application is currently executing within said computer environment accessible to said user.

13. The system according to claim 9 for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, wherein said means for detecting at least one current activity of said user, wherein said at least one current activity comprises at least one system level event within a computer environment accessible to said user, further comprises:

means for detecting said at least one system level event indicating a user interaction with a particular software application available within said computer environment accessible to said user.

14. The system according to claim 9 for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, wherein said means for detecting at least one current activity of said user, wherein said at least one current activity comprises at least one system level event within a computer environment accessible to said user, further comprises:

means for detecting said at least one system level event indicating a user interfacing with a network in a communication enabled through said computer environment accessible to said user.

15. The system according to claim 9 for inferring an availability status of a user, wherein said means for detecting at least one current activity of said user further comprises:

means for detecting said at least one current activity from at least one from among an electronically scheduled event for said user, a physical location of said user detected from an electronic location detection device, and an event detected from a second computer environment communicatively connected to said computer environment accessible to said user, wherein said event detected from said second computer environment indicates an interaction by said user with said second computer environment.

16. The system according to claim 9 for inferring an availability status of a user, wherein said means for inferring a current availability status of said user from said at least one current activity of said user in view of a plurality of availability rules that map said at least one system level event to a plurality of possible availability statuses, further comprises:

means, responsive to receiving a communication request to communicate with said user, for detecting an identifier of a requester of communication with said user; and

means for inferring said current availability status of said user from said at least one current activity of said user and said identifier of said requester in view of said plurality of availability rules that map said at least one current activity when combined with said identifier of said requester to a plurality of possible availability statuses.

17. The system according to claim 9 for inferring an availability status of a user, further comprising:

means, responsive to receiving a communication request to communicate with said user, for controlling a broadcast of said current availability status inferred for said user to a network accessible system from which said communication request is received.

18. The system according to claim 9 for inferring an availability status of a user, further comprising:

means, responsive to receiving a communication request to communicate with said user, for detecting an identifier of a requester of communication with said user;

means for inferring an interrupt status of said user for said communication request based on said at least one current activity detected for said user and an identity of a requester of said current communication request in view of said plurality of availability rules, wherein said plurality of availability rules map said at least one current activity and said identity of said requester with a plurality of possible interrupt statuses; and

means for only enabling an interruption to notify said user of said current communication request if allowed by said interrupt status inferred for said user.

19. A computer program product, residing on a computer readable medium, for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, said computer program product comprising:

means for enabling detection of at least one current activity of said user, wherein said at least one current activity comprises at least one system level event within a computer environment accessible to said user; and

means for controlling an inference of a current availability status of said user from said at least one current activity of said user in view of a plurality of availability rules that map said at least one system level event to a plurality of possible availability statuses, wherein said current availability status indicates an availability of said user to receive communications.

20. The computer program product according to claim 19 for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, wherein said means for enabling detection of at least one current activity of said user, wherein said at least one current activity comprises at least one system level event within a computer environment accessible to said user, further comprises:

means for enabling detection of said at least one system level event indicating a display mode in which a software application is currently executing within said computer environment accessible to said user.

21. The computer program product according to claim 19 for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, wherein means for enabling detection of at least one current activity of said user, wherein said at least one current activity comprises at least one system level event within a computer environment accessible to said user, further comprises:

means for enabling detection of said at least one system level event indicating a user interaction with a particular software application available within said computer environment accessible to said user.

22. The computer program product according to claim 19 for inferring an availability status of a user to receive communications, wherein means for enabling detection of at least one current activity of said user, wherein said at least one current activity comprises at least one system level event within a computer environment accessible to said user, further comprises:

means for enabling detection of said at least one system level event indicating a user interfacing with a network in a communication enabled by said computer environment accessible to said user.

23. The computer program product according to claim 19 for inferring an availability status of a user, wherein means for enabling detection of at least one current activity of said user further comprises:

means for enabling detection of said at least one current activity comprising at least one from among an electronically scheduled event for said user, a physical location of said user detected from an electronic location detection device, and an event detected from a second computer environment communicatively connected to said computer environment accessible to said user, wherein said event detected from said second computer environment indicates an interaction by said user with said second computer environment.

24. The computer program product according to claim 19 for inferring an availability status of a user, wherein said means for controlling an inference of a current availability status of said user from said at least one current activity of said user in view of a plurality of availability rules that map said at least one system level event to a plurality of possible availability statuses, further comprises:

means, responsive to receiving a communication request to communicate with said user, for enabling detection of an identifier of a requester of communication with said user; and

means for controlling an inference of said current availability status of said user from said at least one current activity of said user and said identifier of said requester in view of said plurality of availability rules that map said at least one current activity when combined with said identifier of said requester to a plurality of possible availability statuses.

25. The computer program product according to claim 19 for inferring an availability status of a user, further comprising:

means, responsive to receiving a communication request to communicate with said user, for controlling a broadcast of said current availability status inferred for said user to a network accessible system from which said communication request is received.

26. The computer program product according to claim 19 for inferring an availability status of a user, further comprising:

means, responsive to receiving a communication request to communicate with said user, for enabling detection of an identifier of a requester of communication with said user;

means for controlling an inference of an interrupt status of said user for said communication request based on said at least one current activity detected for said user and an identity of a requester of said current communication request in view of said plurality of availability rules, wherein said plurality of availability rules map said at least one current activity and said identity of said requester with a plurality of possible interrupt statuses; and

means for only enabling an interruption to notify said user of said current communication request if allowed by said interrupt status inferred for said user.