SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PRIORITIZE CHAT ALERTS BASED ON AN ORGANIZATIONAL HIERARCHICAL CHAIN

• US 20090037538A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chakra, Al, Purcell, Sonya, Callanan, Sean, Smyth, Hugh
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

In a chat alert method and system, a chat user creates alert profiles that include the requestor'"'"'s level in an organizational hierarchy as a parameter and the alert type for the level. When a chat client receives a chat request from a requester for a receiver, the chat client determines if there is a chat alert profile that matches the requestor'"'"'s level. If so, then an alert is issued to the receiver according to the matching chat alert profile. Optionally, the chat alert profile sets an alternate alert system, where if the receiver does not respond to the request within a specified time, an alert is sent using the alternate alert system. Chat requests from requesters higher up in the reporting chain can be highlighted for the receiver. The receiver can then prioritize the chat requests that he/she receives and respond to them in a timely fashion.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A system, comprising:

an organizational hierarchy; and

a chat client comprising at least one chat alert profile, wherein the chat client receives a chat request from a requester for a receiver, obtains a requestor'"'"'s level in the organizational hierarchy, determines if any chat alert profile matches the requestor'"'"'s level, and issuing an alert to the receiver according to the matching chat alert profile if a chat alert profile matches the requestor'"'"'s level.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a directory server, wherein the chat client obtains the requestor'"'"'s level from the directory server.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the requestor'"'"'s level is obtained from the directory server using a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the matching chat alert profile comprises a plurality of parameters, wherein the plurality of parameters comprises:

the requestor'"'"'s level relative to a receiver'"'"'s level in a reporting chain; and

an alert type.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the alert type comprises a sound or a chat window color.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises an alternate alert system and a specified time, wherein the chat client sends a second alert to the receiver using the alternate alert system according to the matching chat alert profile if the receiver has not responded to the chat request within the specified time.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the alternate alert system comprises at least one of:

text messaging;

email;

pager;

network message; and

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the chat client further comprises a plugin for adding the alternate alert system to functionalities of the chat client.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the chat client further receives an alert according to an alternate alert system selected by the requester.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

receive by a chat client a chat request from a requester for a receiver;

obtain by the chat client a requestor'"'"'s level in an organizational hierarchy;

determine by the chat client if any chat alert profile matches the requestor'"'"'s level; and

issue by the chat client an alert to the receiver according to the matching chat alert profile, if a chat alert profile matches the requestor'"'"'s level.

21. (canceled)