Automatically limiting requests for additional chat sessions received by a particula user

• US 20060242232A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Shieh, Johnny Meng-Han, Murillo, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US11/095,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20060242232A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1881 with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management
• 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 method, system, and program for automatically limiting requests for additional chat sessions received by a particular user are provided. The number of multiple chat sessions concurrently open between a particular user and a separate user from among a first selection of multiple users are detected, wherein the first selection of the multiple users and a remaining selection of the multiple users monitor a presence of the particular user through a presence indicator that indicates whether the particular user is available to participate in an additional chat session. Responsive to the number of concurrently open chat sessions exceeding a threshold for the particular user, updating the presence indicator of the particular user transmitted to the remaining selection of the multiple users to indicate a lack of availability for the additional chat session, but enabling the first selection of the multiple users to continue participating in the already open chat sessions with the particular user.

Claims

1. A method for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user from among a plurality of users already participating in a plurality of chat sessions, in at least one computer system in communication with a network, wherein said at least one computer system comprises at least one from among a chat server that facilitates said plurality of chat sessions between a plurality of client systems logged onto by said plurality of users and a particular client system from among a plurality of client systems communicatively connected to said chat server logged onto by said particular user from among said plurality of users, comprising:

detecting, at said computer system, a number of said plurality of chat sessions each concurrently open between said particular user and at least one user from among a first selection of said plurality of users, wherein said first selection of said plurality of users and a remaining selection of said plurality of users monitor a presence of said particular user by receiving a presence indicator of said particular user that indicates whether said particular user is available to participate in an additional chat session; and

responsive to said number of said plurality of chat sessions exceeding a communication threshold for said particular user, updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a lack of availability for said additional chat session, wherein said first selection of said plurality of users are enabled to continue in said plurality of chat sessions with said particular user.

2. The method according to claim 1 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, wherein updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a lack of availability for said additional chat session further comprises:

receiving, at said chat server, a first presence indicator from said particular client system for said particular user, wherein said first presence indicator is specified for output to only said remaining selection of said plurality of users; and

controlling transmission from said chat server of said first presence indicator to a first selection of said plurality of client systems, wherein said remaining selection of said plurality of users are each currently logged in via one of said first selection of said plurality of client systems.

3. The method according to claim 2 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, further comprising:

receiving, at said chat server, a second presence indicator from said particular client system for said particular user, wherein said second presence indicator is specified for output to only said first selection of said plurality of users to indicate continued availability; and

controlling output from said chat server of said second presence indicator to a second selection of said plurality of client systems via said network, wherein said first selection of said plurality of users are currently logged in at said second selection of said plurality of client systems.

4. The method according to claim 1 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, wherein updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a lack of availability for said additional chat session further comprises:

receiving, at said chat server, at least one activity indicator transmitted from said particular client system for said particular user, wherein said at least one activity indicator specifies a total number of chat sessions participated in by said particular user across a plurality of chat services that facilitate chat sessions; and

selecting at least one particular communication threshold applicable to said particular user from among a plurality of communication threshold settings accessible to said chat server;

comparing said at least one activity indicator with said at least one particular communication threshold; and

responsive to said at least one activity indicator exceeding said particular communication threshold, controlling transmission of said presence indicator of lack of availability to a selection of said plurality of client systems, wherein said remaining selection of said plurality of users are each currently logged on at one of said selection of said plurality of client systems.

5. The method according to claim 1 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, wherein updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a lack of availability for said additional chat session, wherein said first selection of said plurality of users are enabled to continue in said plurality of chat sessions with said particular user, further comprises:

detecting at least one excluded user from among said remaining selection of said plurality of users, wherein said at least one excluded user is specifically excluded by said particular user from receiving said presence indicator indicating said lack of availability; and

excluding said at least one excluded user from said remaining selection of said plurality of users when updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate said lack of availability for said additional chat session.

6. The method according to claim 1 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, further comprising:

detecting at least one activity indicator for said particular user, wherein said activity indicator is a measure of interaction by said particular user with said particular client system through which said particular user participates in said plurality of chat sessions via said network; and

responsive to said at least one activity indicator and said number of said plurality of chat sessions exceeding said communication threshold, updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate said lack of availability for said additional chat session.

7. The method according to claim 1 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, further comprising:

responsive to detecting a particular chat session from among said plurality chat sessions close and said number of said plurality of chat sessions not exceeding said communication threshold, updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a current availability for said additional chat session.

8. A system for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user already participating in a plurality of chat sessions, comprising:

at least one computer system in communication with a network, wherein said at least one computer system comprises at least one from among a chat server that facilitates a plurality of chat sessions between a plurality of client systems logged onto by a plurality of users and a particular client system from among a plurality of client systems communicatively connected to said chat server logged onto by a particular user from among said plurality of users;

said at least one computer system further comprising;

means for detecting a number of said plurality of chat sessions each concurrently open between said particular user and at least one user from among a first selection of said plurality of users, wherein said first selection of said plurality of users and a remaining selection of said plurality of users monitor a presence of said particular user by receiving a presence indicator of said particular user that indicates whether said particular user is available to participate in an additional chat session; and

means, responsive to said number of said plurality of chat sessions exceeding a communication threshold for said particular user, for updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a lack of availability for said additional chat session, wherein said first selection of said plurality of users are enabled to continue in said plurality of chat sessions with said particular user.

9. The system according to claim 8 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, wherein said means for updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a lack of availability for said additional chat session further comprises:

means for receiving, at said chat server, a first presence indicator from said particular client system for said particular user, wherein said first presence indicator is specified for transmission to only said remaining selection of said plurality of users; and

means for controlling transmission from said chat server of said first presence indicator to a first selection of said plurality of client systems, wherein said remaining selection of said plurality of users are each currently logged in via one of said first selection of said plurality of client systems.

10. The system according to claim 9 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, further comprising:

means for receiving, at said chat server, a second presence indicator from said particular client system for said particular user, wherein said second presence indicator is specified for transmission to only said first selection of said plurality of users to indicate continued availability; and

means for controlling transmission from said chat server of said second presence indicator to a second selection of said plurality of client systems via said network, wherein said first selection of said plurality of users are currently logged in at said second selection of said plurality of client systems.

11. The system according to claim 8 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, wherein said means for updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a lack of availability for said additional chat session further comprises:

means for receiving, at said chat server, at least one activity indicator from said particular client system for said particular user, wherein said at least one activity indicator specifies a total number of chat sessions participated in by said particular user across a plurality of chat services that facilitate chat sessions; and

means for selecting at least one particular communication threshold applicable to said particular user from among a plurality of communication threshold settings accessible to said chat server;

means for comparing said at least one activity indicator with said at least one particular communication threshold; and

means, responsive to said at least one activity indicator exceeding said particular communication threshold, for controlling transmission of said presence indicator indicating said lack of availability to a selection of said plurality of client systems, wherein said remaining selection of said plurality of users are each currently logged on at one of said selection of said plurality of client systems.

12. The system according to claim 8 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, wherein said means for updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a lack of availability for said additional chat session, wherein said first selection of said plurality of users are enabled to continue in said plurality of chat sessions with said particular user, further comprises:

means for detecting at least one excluded user from among said remaining selection of said plurality of users, wherein said at least one excluded user is specifically excluded by said particular user from receiving said presence indicator indicating said lack of availability; and

means for excluding said at least one excluded user from said remaining selection of said plurality of users when updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate said lack of availability for said additional chat session.

13. The system according to claim 8 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, further comprising:

means for detecting at least one activity indicator for said particular user, wherein said activity indicator is a measure of interaction by said particular user with said particular client system through which said particular user participates in said plurality of chat sessions via said network; and

means, responsive to said at least one activity indicator and said number of said plurality of chat sessions exceeding said communication threshold, for updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate said lack of availability for said additional chat session.

14. The system according to claim 8 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, further comprising:

means, responsive to detecting a particular chat session from among said plurality chat sessions close and said number of said plurality of chat sessions not exceeding said communication threshold, for updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a current availability for said additional chat session.

15. A program for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user already participating in a plurality of chat sessions, said program embodied in a computer-readable medium, said program comprising computer-executable instructions which cause a computer to perform the steps of:

detecting a number of a plurality of chat sessions each concurrently open between a particular user and at least one user from among a first selection of a plurality of users via a network, wherein said first selection of said plurality of users and a remaining selection of said plurality of users monitor a presence of said particular user by receiving a presence indicator of said particular user that indicates whether said particular user is available to participate in an additional chat session; and

responsive to said number of said plurality of chat sessions exceeding a communication threshold for said particular user, updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a lack of availability for said additional chat session, wherein said first selection of said plurality of users are enabled to continue in said plurality of chat sessions with said particular user.

16. The program according to claim 15 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, wherein updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a lack of availability for said additional chat session further comprises:

receiving a first presence indicator from a particular client system logged onto by said particular user, wherein said particular client system is communicatively connected to said network, wherein said first presence indicator is specified for transmission to only said remaining selection of said plurality of users; and

controlling transmission of said first presence indicator to a first selection of a plurality of client systems communicatively connected to said network, wherein said remaining selection of said plurality of users are each currently logged in via one of said first selection of said plurality of client systems.

17. The program according to claim 15 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, wherein updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a lack of availability for said additional chat session further comprises:

receiving at least one activity indicator from a particular client system logged onto by said particular user, wherein said particular client is communicatively connected to said network, wherein said at least one activity indicator specifies a total number of chat sessions participated in by said particular user across a plurality of chat services that facilitate chat sessions; and

selecting at least one particular communication threshold applicable to said particular user from among a plurality of communication threshold settings;

comparing said at least one activity indicator with said at least one particular communication threshold; and

responsive to said at least one activity indicator exceeding said particular communication threshold, controlling output of said presence indicator indicating said lack of availability to a selection of a plurality of client systems communicatively connected to said network, wherein said remaining selection of said plurality of users are each currently logged on at one of said selection of said plurality of client systems.

18. The program according to claim 15 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, wherein updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a lack of availability for said additional chat session, wherein said first selection of said plurality of users are enabled to continue in said plurality of chat sessions with said particular user, further comprises:

detecting at least one excluded user from among said remaining selection of said plurality of users, wherein said at least one excluded user is specifically excluded by said particular user from receiving said presence indicator indicating lack of availability; and

excluding said at least one excluded user from said remaining selection of said plurality of users when updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted by said computer system to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate said lack of availability for said additional chat session.

19. The program according to claim 15 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, further comprising the steps of:

detecting at least one activity indicator for said particular user, wherein said activity indicator is a measure of interaction by said particular user with a particular client system through which said particular user participates in said plurality of chat sessions via said network; and

responsive to said at least one activity indicator and said number of said plurality of chat sessions exceeding said communication threshold, updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate said lack of availability for said additional chat session.

20. The program according to claim 15 for limiting chat session requests received by a particular user, further comprising the step of:

responsive to detecting a particular chat session from among said plurality chat sessions close and said number of said plurality of chat sessions not exceeding said communication threshold, updating said presence indicator of said particular user transmitted to said remaining selection of said plurality of users to indicate a current availability for said additional chat session.