METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING A CONTACT SERVICE

• US 20090063635A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Faus, Norman Lee, Pierce, Darryl L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,626,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• 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 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] H04L51/04; selective video distribution H04N21/00

Abstract

An embodiment relates generally to a method of providing a service. The method includes receiving a request to determine a status of a user and determining an on-line status of the user. The method also includes providing a geographic proximity of the user in response to the on-line status of the user being on-line.

Claims

1. A method of providing a service, the method comprising:

receiving a request to determine a status of a user;

determining an on-line status of the user; and

providing a geographic proximity of the user in response to the on-line status of the user being on-line.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a connection list configured to provide for at least one mechanism to contact the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one mechanism is one of electronic mail, instant message and chat service.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a not available message in response to the on-line status of the user being off-line.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a link on a data object to initiate the request.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

searching a registry; and

returning a list of multiple users, wherein the list of multiple users is ordered by geographic proximity.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising activating an associated link on the respective entry of the user on the list of multiple user to activate the request.

8. An apparatus for providing a contact service, the apparatus comprising:

an identification module configured to manage a plurality of users as each user of the plurality of users respectively logs-in and logs-out; and

a contact manager module coupled with the identification module, wherein the contact manager module is configured to receive a request to determine a status of a selected user;

to query the identification module for an on-line status of the selected user; and

to provide a geographic proximity of the user in response to the on-line status of the user being on-line.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the contact manager module is further configured to provide a connection list configured to provide for at least one mechanism to contact the user.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one mechanism is one of electronic mail, instant message and chat service.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the contact manager module is further configured to provide a not available message in response to the on-line status of the selected user being off-line.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the contact manager module is configured to provide the geographic proximity of the selected user and the connection list in response to activating a link on a data object.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a registry coupled to the contact manager module, wherein the registry is configured to store a subset of users of the plurality of users, the subset of users having an associated technical field of expertise;

a search engine coupled to the registry, wherein the contact manager module is configured to reorder a search result from a user query inputted into the search engine to search the registry for a candidate user based on geographic proximity as a geographic ordered list.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the contact manager module is configured to provide the geographic ordered list, each entry on the geographic ordered list being an active link configured to initiate the request.

15. A system for providing a contact service, the system comprising:

a network;

a service portal coupled to the network and configured to provide products and services and accessible to a plurality of users over a network, the service portal further comprising;

an identification module configured to manage the plurality of users as each user of the plurality of users respectively logs-in and logs-out; and

a contact manager module coupled with the identification module, wherein the contact manager module is configured to receive a request to determine a status of a selected user;

to query the identification module for an on-line status of the selected user; and

to provide a geographic proximity of the user in response to the on-line status of the user being on-line.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the contact manager module is further configured to provide a connection list configured to provide for at least one mechanism to contact the user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one mechanism is one of electronic mail, instant message and chat service.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the contact manager module is further configured to provide a not available message in response to the on-line status of the selected user being off-line.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the contact manager module is configured to provide the geographic proximity of the selected user and the connection list in response to activating a link on a data object.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the contact manager module further comprises:

a registry coupled to the contact manager module, wherein the registry is configured to store a subset of users of the plurality of users, the subset of users having an associated technical field of expertise;

a search engine coupled to the registry, wherein the contact manager module is configured to reorder a search result from a user query inputted into the search engine to search the registry for a candidate user based on geographic proximity as a geographic ordered list.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the contact manager module is configured to provide the geographic ordered list, each entry on the geographic ordered list being an active link configured to initiate the request.