Systems and methods for handling presence messages

• US 20060168037A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Audu, Alex, Mohammed, Aziz, Wu, Fuming
• Application Number:
  US11/019,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168037A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Described are systems and methods for handling presence messages intended for an offline user. When an online user wants to send an instant message to an offline user, a presence-sensing server detects and notifies the online user of the status of the offline user. The presence-sensing server then can either store the instant message in the server or send the instant message to the offline user via his preset preferred means of contact. The offline user can then filter and decide whether to participate in an online instant messaging session with the online user or to respond while remaining offline using the non-instant message method.

Claims

1. A method of handing instant messages, the method comprising:

receiving an instant message sent by a first user and intended to be received by a second user;

detecting an offline status of the second user in response to the receiving of the instant message;

converting the received instant message to a non-instant message format; and

delivering the converted message to the offline second user via a non-instant message method that is predetermined by the second user.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising storing the received instant message.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising sending a periodic reminder to the second user if there is a stored instant message.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising sending a periodic reminder to the second user until the second user disposes of the stored instant message.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising notifying the first user of the detected status of the second user.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising delivering the converted message to the offline second user via a non-instant message method selected from the group consisting of email, mobile phone, fax, pager, and short message services.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a reply from the second user generated in response to receiving the converted message.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising receiving an instant message reply from the second user in response to receiving the converted message.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting comprises detecting an offline status of the second user using presence-sensing technology.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising receiving an instant message sent by a first user at a presence-sensing communications server, the presence-sensing server further configured to provide the detecting.

16. A system according to claim 1 wherein the non-instant message method is selected from the group consisting of email, mobile phone, fax, pager, and short message services.

11. An instant message handling system, comprising:

an incoming instant message sent by a first user and intended to be received by a second user; and

a communications server configured to receive the incoming instant message, the communications server operable to detect an offline status of the second user in response to the receiving of the instant message, to convert the received instant message to a non-instant message format, and to deliver the converted message to the offline second user via a non-instant message method that is predetermined by the second user.

12. A system according to claim 11, further comprising a message store connected to the server for storing the received instant message.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the message store comprises means for sending a periodic reminder to the second user if there is a stored instant message.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the means for sending a periodic reminder is further configured to keep sending the periodic reminder to the second user until the second user disposes of the stored instant message.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein the server is further operable to notify the first user of the detected status of the second user.

17. A system according to claim 11, further comprising a reply message from the second user generated in response to receiving the converted message and received by the communications server.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the reply comprises an instant message reply from the second user.

19. A system according to claim 11, wherein the communications server is a presence-sensing server connectable to the first and second users via a communications network.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the server is operable to detect using presence-sensing technology in the server.