Method and apparatus for restricting instant messaging during a scheduled event
First Claim
1. A method of operating instant messaging (IM) in a network including a plurality of client devices, the method comprising:
- scheduling, by a calendar server application, an event in which selected IM users are scheduled to participate as event attendees via the client devices;
transmitting, by the calendar server application, IM restriction information to an IM server application; and
restricting, by the IM server application, the IM capability of event attendees'"'"' client devices during the event as specified by the IM restriction information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An instant messaging (IM) client-server network system includes a calendar server and an IM server in one embodiment. The calendar server stores calendars including events and lists of attendees for respective events. The calendar server also stores IM restriction information that specifies limitation of the IM capabilities of attendees of a particular event. In one embodiment, an event organizer inputs the IM restriction information. In another embodiment, an event attendee inputs IM restriction information that limits the IM capability of that particular attendee. When the time of a calendared event arrives, the calendar server sends the IM restriction information associated with that event to the IM server. The IM server enforces the IM restrictions associated with the IM restriction information during the particular event. When the event is over, the IM server restores full IM capability to the attendees of the event.
110 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating instant messaging (IM) in a network including a plurality of client devices, the method comprising:
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scheduling, by a calendar server application, an event in which selected IM users are scheduled to participate as event attendees via the client devices;
transmitting, by the calendar server application, IM restriction information to an IM server application; and
restricting, by the IM server application, the IM capability of event attendees'"'"' client devices during the event as specified by the IM restriction information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A network system including a server to which client devices are couplable, the server comprising:
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a server processor;
a server storage, coupled to the server processor, containing application code that when executed by the server processor enables the following actions;
hosting, by the server, an instant messaging session in which the client devices participate, the client devices being operable by respective client device users;
storing, by the server, calendars of events for the respective client device users, the calendars including a list of attendees for a particular event;
storing, by the server, IM restriction information that limits IM activity of attendees during the particular event;
monitoring, by the server, the calendars of events to determine if any of the client device users is scheduled as an attendee for the particular event at the present time; and
transmitting, by the server, the IM restriction information to the client devices of users scheduled as attendees of the particular event to limit the IM activity of the attendees during the event. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product stored on a computer operable medium for instant messaging (IM), the computer program product comprising:
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instructions for hosting, by a server, an instant messaging session in which client devices participate, the client devices being operable by respective client device users;
instructions for storing, by the server, calendars of events for the respective client device users, the calendars including a list of attendees for a particular event;
instructions for storing, by the server, IM restriction information that limits IM activity of attendees during the particular event;
instructions for monitoring, by the server, the calendars of events to determine if any of the client device users is scheduled as an attendee for the particular event at the present time; and
instructions for transmitting, by the server, the IM restriction information to the client devices of users scheduled as attendees of the particular event to limit the IM activity of the attendees during the event. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification