Alerts for Monitoring User Status

• US 20070250622A1
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Granito, Jennifer
• Granted Patent: US 9,154,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/15 Interconnection of switching modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A method of monitoring a user of a communication system includes enabling a first user to initiate monitoring of a second user, automatically monitoring status of activity by the second user on the communication system, and delivering to the first user, one or more of an indication that the second user has added or changed a profile or away message, received a new or updated profile or away message comment, visited an Internet location, engaged in communication device activity, or has generated audio or visual input.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a user of a communication system, the method comprising:

enabling a first user to initiate monitoring of a second user;

automatically monitoring status of activity by the second user on the communication system; and

delivering to the first user, one or more of an indication that the second user has added or changed a profile or away message, received a new or updated profile or away message comment, visited an Internet location, engaged in communication device activity, or has generated audio or visual input.

2. The method of 1, further comprising monitoring status of activity by the second user on multiple communications devices.

3. The method of 1, wherein monitoring status of activity by the second user comprises monitoring such status of activity by the second user on a wireless phone or personal digital assistant.

4. The method of 1, wherein delivering an indication to the first user includes delivering an instant message.

5. The method of 1, wherein delivering an indication to the first user includes delivering an email.

6. The method of 1, wherein delivering an indication to the first user includes delivering a short message service message.

7. The method of 1, wherein delivering an indication to the first user includes delivering user history statistics associated with the second user.

8. The method of 1, further comprising enabling the first user to specify a form in which the indication is delivered.

9. The method of 8 wherein specifying the form in which the indication is delivered includes specifying a form based on the monitored activity by the second user.

10. The method of 8, wherein specifying the form in which the indication is delivered includes specifying that multiple forms of indications are to be sent based on one monitored activity.

11. The method of 1, wherein delivering an indication to the first user that the second user has engaged in communication device activity includes delivering an indication that the second user has engaged in a telephone call.

12. The method of 1, wherein delivering an indication to the first user includes delivering an indication which includes at least a summary or partial content of a second user'"'"'s away message or profile.

13. The method of 1, wherein delivering an indication to the first user includes delivering an indication which includes a comment made about the second user'"'"'s away message or profile.

14. The method of 1, wherein delivering an indication to the first user includes delivering an internet protocol address or a media access control address.

15. The method of 1, wherein delivering an indication that the second user has generated audio or visual input includes delivering an indication that the second user has generated input using a microphone.

16. The method of 1, wherein delivering an indication that the second user has generated audio or visual input includes delivering an indication that the second user has generated input using a camera.

17. The method of 1, further including enabling the first user to respond to the monitoring indication by sending a reply to the second user.

18. The method of 17, wherein enabling the first user to respond to the monitoring indication includes enabling the first user to specify the form of the reply sent to the second user.