ROUTING AND DISPLAYING MESSAGES FOR MULTIPLE CONCURRENT INSTANT MESSAGING SESSIONS INVOLVING A SINGLE ONLINE IDENTITY

• US 20120079040A1
• Filed: 04/01/2011
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: APPELMAN, Barry, ODELL, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,799,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging

Abstract

Routing and displaying instant messages includes receiving a first request to establish a first instant messaging session associated with an instant messaging online identity assigned to a user using a first instant messaging controller. The first instant messaging session is established in response to the first request, where the first instant messaging session includes a first state. A second request from the user is received to establish a second instant messaging session associated with the instant messaging online identity assigned to the user using a second instant messaging controller that differs from the first instant messaging controller. The second instant messaging session is established in response to the second request, where the second instant messaging session includes a second state. An instant message designated for the instant messaging online identity assigned to the user is received and a determination is made on where to route the instant message based on routing criteria. The routing criteria includes the first state of the first instant messaging session and the second state of the second instant messaging session. The instant message is routed based on the determination of where to route to the instant message.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A method for routing instant messages, the method comprising:

monitoring a status of an instant messaging online identity while the instant messaging online identity is logged on to an instant messaging system at least through a first client device and a second client device;

receiving, while the instant messaging online identity is concurrently logged onto the instant messaging system through the first client device and the second client device, a first instant message addressed to the instant messaging online identity;

determining, in response to receiving the first instant message, a first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity at the first client device and the second client device;

routing, based on the determined first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity, the first instant message to the first client device and the second client device;

receiving, while the instant messaging online identity is concurrently logged onto the instant messaging system through the first client device and the second client device, a second instant message addressed to the instant messaging online identity;

determining, in response to receiving the second instant message, a second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity at the first client device and the second client device, wherein the second state is different than the first state at the first client device and the second state is the same the first state at the second client device; and

routing, based on the determined second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity, the second instant message to the second client device but not to the first client device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include a user-defined state.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include an active state.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include an idle state.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include an away state.

40. The method of claim 35 further comprising displaying the second instant message.

41. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

storing, before routing, the second instant message; and

delaying the routing of the second instant message until a predetermined date is detected.

42. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

storing, before routing, the second instant message; and

delaying the routing of the second instant message until detection of a change in the status of the instant messaging online identity.

43. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform a method comprising:

monitoring a status of an instant messaging online identity while the instant messaging online identity is logged on to an instant messaging system at least through a first client device and a second client device;

receiving, while the instant messaging online identity is concurrently logged onto the instant messaging system through the first client device and the second client device, a first instant message addressed to the instant messaging online identity;

determining, in response to receiving the first instant message, a first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity at the first client device and the second client device;

routing, based on the determined first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity, the first instant message to the first client device and the second client device;

receiving, while the instant messaging online identity is concurrently logged onto the instant messaging system through the first client device and the second client device, a second instant message addressed to the instant messaging online identity;

determining, in response to receiving the second instant message, a second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity at the first client device and the second client device, wherein the second state is different than the first state at the first client device and the second state is the same the first state at the second client device; and

routing, based on the determined second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity, the second instant message to the second client device but not to the first client device.

44. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include a user-defined state.

45. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include an active state.

46. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include an idle state.

47. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include an away state.

48. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises:

storing, before routing, the second instant message; and

delaying the routing of the second instant message until a predetermined date is detected.

49. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises:

storing, before routing, the second instant message; and

delaying the routing of the second instant message until detection of a change in the status of the instant messaging online identity.

50. An apparatus comprising:

a memory device storing instructions;

at least one processor executing the instructions to;

monitor a status of an instant messaging online identity while the instant messaging online identity is logged on to an instant messaging system at least through a first client device and a second client device;

receive, while the instant messaging online identity is concurrently logged onto the instant messaging system through the first client device and the second client device, a first instant message addressed to the instant messaging online identity;

determine, in response to receiving the first instant message, a first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity at the first client device and the second client device;

route, based on the determined first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity, the first instant message to the first client device and the second client device;

receive, while the instant messaging online identity is concurrently logged onto the instant messaging system through the first client device and the second client device, a second instant message addressed to the instant messaging online identity;

determine, in response to receiving the second instant message, a second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity at the first client device and the second client device, wherein the second state is different than the first state at the first client device and the second state is the same the first state at the second client device; and

route, based on the determined second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity, the second instant message to the second client device but not to the first client device.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include a user-defined state.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity is at least one of an active state, an idle state, and an away state.

53. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the at least one processor:

stores, before routing, the second instant message; and

delays the routing of the second instant message until a predetermined date is detected.

54. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the at least one processor:

stores, before routing, the second instant message; and

delays the routing of the second instant message until detection of a change in the status of the instant messaging online identity.