Systems and methods for creating and/or utilizing virtual automated agents

• US 20060259555A1
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NortonLifeLock Inc.
• Original Assignee: IMlogic, Inc. (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Harwood, Tom, Hassounah, Khaled
• Application Number:
  US11/129,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259555A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for utilizing a virtual automated agent, known as a bot, in an instant messaging network in a manner in which the bot can simulate its existence to one or more clients without having to exist on an instant messaging network. In one embodiment of the invention, a system can include a first proxy server having at least one registered automated agent, at least a first client communicating with the first proxy server, and a server maintaining presence data for the first client. The automated agent intercepts a contact list transmitted from the server to the first client, and the automated agent is added to the contact list, thereby enabling the automated agent to transmit a message to the client without transmitting the message through the server.

Claims

1. An instant messaging (IM) system, comprising:

a first proxy server having at least one registered automated agent;

at least a first client communicating with the first proxy server; and

a server maintaining presence data for the first client;

wherein the automated agent intercepts a contact list transmitted from the server to the first client, and the automated agent is added to the contact list, thereby enabling the automated agent to transmit a message to the first client without transmitting the message through the server.

2. The IM system according to claim 1, wherein the automated agent provides a first status to the first client.

3. The IM system according to claim 2, further comprising a second client communicating with the first proxy server.

4. The IM system according to claim 3, wherein the automated agent provides a second status to the second client.

5. The IM system according to claim 4, wherein the first status is a different status than the second status.

6. The IM system according to claim 1, further comprising a second proxy server, wherein the automated agent is registered with the second proxy server.

7. The IM system according to claim 6, wherein the first proxy server and the second proxy server share state information pertaining to the automated agent.

8. A method, comprising:

registering an automated agent with a first proxy server;

communicating, by a first client, with the first proxy server;

maintaining by a server presence data for the first client;

intercepting by the automated agent a contact list transmitted from the server to the first client;

adding the automated agent to the contact list; and

transmitting a message by the automated agent to the client without transmitting the message through the server.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising providing by the automated agent a first status to the first client.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising communicating, by a second client, with the proxy server.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing by the automated agent a second status to the second client.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first status is a different status than the second status.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising registering the automated agent with a second proxy server.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising sharing state information, pertaining to the automated agent, between the first proxy server and the second proxy server.