METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HANDLING POTENTIALLY CONTENTIOUS SITUATIONS UPON RECEIPT OF AN AUTOMATICALLY CONNECTING SMS MESSAGE

• US 20080167005A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Morgan, Fabian F., Gilzean, Candice B., Rhodes, Michael Eric, Gregory, Gahlya
• Granted Patent: US 7,778,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls

Abstract

The invention enhances mobile device software such that upon receipt of a specially formatted SMS message, the software can automatically dial a telephone number that was specified in the message after a configurable timed interval. A further enhancement comprises improvements to the integration between collaboration software (such as Lotus Notes) and mobile device software to enable employees to utilize this invention for connecting to conference calls. During the method of the present invention, a potentially contentious situation is detected. After this detection, this method, disrupts the capability of the system to automatically connect the user to a previously scheduled telephone conference, and notifies the user and querying the user and giving the user options to determine how the user desires to handle the one or more incoming calls. The user options can depend on the particular situation detected.

Claims

1. A method for handling potentially contentious situations upon receipt of an SMS message when automatically connecting users to conference calls comprising the steps of:

receiving user meeting notification parameters at a storage location;

establishing a connection capability between a user mobile electronic device and an SMS center;

monitoring user meeting notification parameters;

when a user meeting parameter occurs, determining whether there is a potential connection conflict at the user mobile electronic device; and

when a potential connection conflict is determined, notifying the user of the conflict.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said monitoring step further comprises:

detecting the time for a meeting notification message based on meeting notification parameters;

sending a notification message from a message center to the mobile electronic device; and

detecting a notification message at the user electronic mobile device.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said potential connection conflict determination at user mobile device further comprises the step of detecting whether the user is currently connected to a call at the time of the received notification message.

4. The method as described in claim 3 further comprising when a conflict is detected, the step of temporarily terminating an automatic call connecting routine.

5. The method as described in claim 3 further comprising when the user is not currently connected, connecting user, via the mobile electronic device, to incoming call related to a received notification message at the appropriate time for the call.

6. The method as described in claim 4 further comprising when the user is currently connected, the step of notifying user of an incoming call;

and querying the user to determine whether user wants to connect to an incoming call or remain connected to a currently connected call.

7. The method as described in claim 6 further comprising the step of connecting user, via the mobile electronic device, to incoming call related to a received notification message at the appropriate time for the call, when there is a determination that the user desires to connect to the incoming call.

8. The method as described in claim 6 further comprising the step of connecting user, via the mobile electronic device, to incoming call related to a received notification message at the completion of the currently connected call, when there is a determination that the user desires to connect to the incoming call.

9. The method as described in claim 2 further comprising the step of notifying the user of a received call message and storing the received call message in a queue until time for the call related to the stored message.

10. The method as described in claim 9 further comprising after said notifying step, the steps of determining whether there are any call messages in the queue and connecting call at the appropriate time for the meeting related to the message.

11. The method as described in claim 9 further comprising after said notifying step, the steps of:

determining whether there are any call messages in the queue and connecting call at the appropriate time for the meeting related to the message;

when there are calls in the queue, notifying the user of multiple calls in the queue; and

prompting the user to prioritize calls in an order of connection.

12. The method as described in claim 2 further comprising the step of notifying the user of a received call message and determining whether user is currently connected to a call.

13. The method as described in claim 12 further comprising the step of determining whether user desires to connect at the appropriate time, when there is a determination that the user is currently connected to a call.

14. The method as described in claim 12 further comprising the step of determining whether user wants to connect to the call at a later time, when there is a determination that the user does not want to connect to the incoming call at a scheduled meeting time.

15. The method as described in claim 12 further comprising the step of notifying the user of a received call message and storing the received call message in a queue until time for the call related to the stored message.

16. A computer program product in a computer readable storage medium for handling potentially contentious situations upon receipt of an SMS message when automatically connecting users to conference calls comprising:

instructions for receiving user meeting notification parameters at a storage location;

instructions for establishing a connection capability between a user mobile electronic device and an SMS center;

instructions for monitoring user meeting notification parameters;

when a user meeting parameter occurs, instructions for determining whether there is a potential connection conflict at the user mobile electronic device; and

when a potential connection conflict is determined, instructions for notifying the user of the conflict.

17. The computer program product as described in claim 16 wherein said monitoring instructions further comprise:

instructions for detecting the time for a meeting notification message based on meeting notification parameters;

instructions for sending a notification message from a message center to the mobile electronic device; and

instructions for detecting a notification message at the user electronic mobile device.

18. The computer program product as described in claim 17 further comprising instructions for notifying the user of a received call message and storing the received call message in a queue until time for the call related to the stored message.

19. The computer program product as described in claim 18 further comprising after said notifying instructions:

instructions for determining whether there are any call messages in the queue and connecting call at the appropriate time for the meeting related to the message;

when there are calls in the queue, instructions for notifying the user of multiple calls in the queue; and

instructions for prompting the user to prioritize calls in an order of connection.

20. The computer program product as described in claim 17 further comprising:

instructions for notifying the user of a received call message instructions for determining whether user is currently connected to a call; and

instructions for determining whether user desires to connect at the appropriate time, when there is a determination that the user is currently connected to a call.