Instant messaging (IM) internet chat capability from displayed email messages

• US 20060190546A1
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Daniell, W. Todd
• Granted Patent: US 8,037,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history

Abstract

Systems and methods for integrating instant messaging (IM) services and email services are described. In one embodiment an email window is configured to display an email message, the email message including a plurality of intended recipients, wherein the email window is also configured to display information about the plurality of intended recipients. At least one embodiment also includes an instant messaging (IM) option configured to begin an instant messaging session with at least two intended recipients having information displayed in the email window.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an email window configured to display an email message, the email message including a plurality of intended recipients, wherein the email window is also configured to display information about the plurality of intended recipients; and

an instant messaging (IM) option configured to begin an instant messaging session with at least two of the plurality of intended recipients that have information displayed in the email window.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the email window includes a compose email window for sending an email.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to determine presence information related to at least one of the plurality of intended recipients.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an instant messaging participant window configured to determine at least one participant of the instant messaging session.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of intended recipients includes at least one intended recipient of a blind courtesy copy of the email and wherein the intended recipient of the blind courtesy copy is provided read-only instant messaging functionality.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a web conferencing option configured to begin a web conference with at least two of the plurality of intended recipients that have information displayed in the email window.

7. A method comprising:

displaying a message in a first communications protocol in a message window, the message including a plurality of intended recipients, the message window being configured to display information about the at least one of the plurality of intended recipients; and

providing a second communication protocol option configured to begin a communications session with at least two intended recipients from the message window in a second protocol.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first communications protocol includes an email protocol.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the second communications protocol includes at least one of the following:

an instant messaging protocol and a web conferencing protocol.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the second communication protocol option is provided to a message sender.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining presence information related to at least one of the plurality of intended recipients.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining at least one participant of the instant messaging session.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining at least one participant of the communications session includes setting a current participant configuration as a default configuration.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of intended recipients includes at least one intended recipient of a blind courtesy copy of the message and wherein the at least one intended recipient of the blind courtesy copy is provided read-only functionality in the communications session.

15. A computer readable medium comprising:

logic configured to display an email message, the email message including a plurality of intended recipients;

logic configured to display information related to the plurality of intended recipients; and

logic configured to provide a communications session option configured to begin a communications session with at least two of the plurality of intended recipients with information displayed in the email window.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the email window includes a compose email window for sending an email.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein communications session includes at least one of the following:

an instant messaging session and a web conference.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising logic configured to determine presence information related to at least one of the plurality of intended recipients.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising logic configured to determine at least one participant of the communications session.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of intended recipients includes at least one intended recipient of a blind courtesy copy of the email and wherein the at least one intended recipient of the blind courtesy copy is provided read-only instant messaging functionality.