Method for Establishing Interpersonal Communication and System

• US 20120246239A1
• Filed: 03/23/2011
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Rehmann, Mark L., Seibert, Philip M., Welker, Mark W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,224,133 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]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00

Abstract

A method includes determining a set of individuals available to participate in a chat event, and determining a pairing of individuals from the first set including a first individual and a second individual, the pairing based on matching criterion. The method also includes providing an invitation to the first individual and to the second individual, establishing communication between the first individual and the second individual in response to an acceptance of the first invitation by the first individual or in response to an acceptance of the first invitation by the second individual.

Claims

1. A method implemented using a computer, comprising:

determining a set of individuals available at a first time to participate in an interpersonal communication event;

determining a first pairing of individuals from the first set including a first individual and a second individual, the first pairing based on a first matching criterion;

providing at substantially the first time a first invitation to the first individual and to the second individual, the first invitation to participate in a first interpersonal communication event; and

establishing communication between the first individual and the second individual in response to an acceptance of the first invitation by the first individual or in response to an acceptance of the first invitation by the second individual.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the set of individuals comprises:

receiving a first request from the first individual, the request to participate in the interpersonal communication event; and

determining availability of the first individual at the first time.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising revoking the first invitation in response to determining the first individual or the second individual is no longer available.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

updating the set of individuals available to participate at a second time;

determining a second pairing of individuals from the updated set including the first individual and a third individual;

providing at substantially the second time a second invitation to the first individual and to the third individual, the invitation to participate in a second interpersonal communication event; and

establishing communication between the first individual and the third individual in response to an acceptance of the second invitation by the first individual or in response to an acceptance of the second invitation by the third individual.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first interpersonal communication event comprises exchanging messages using a text based user interface rendered at a video display unit at an information handling system associated with the first individual and a similar user interface rendered at a video display unit at an information handling system associated with the second individual.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first interpersonal communication event is implemented using an electronic voice communication system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the invitation includes displaying an icon identifying the first individual at a video display unit associated with the second individual and displaying an icon identifying the second individual at a video display unit associated with the first individual.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the icon identifying the first individual is a photograph of the first individual.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the set of individuals available at the first time comprises determining the presence of the first individual at an predetermined location.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the set of individuals available at the first time comprises accessing an appointment system.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first matching criterion is configurable.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first matching criterion is a working relationship between the first individual and the second individual.

13. A method implemented using a computer, comprising:

providing a request to participate in an interpersonal communication event to an interpersonal communication event server, the request initiated by a first individual;

providing at a first time an indication to the interpersonal communication event server as to the availability of the first individual to participate in the interpersonal communication event;

receiving a first invitation to participate in a first interpersonal communication event with a second individual at substantially the first time, the second individual selected based on a first matching criterion and based on determining availability of the second individual at the first time; and

implementing the first interpersonal communication event in response to an acceptance of the first invitation by the first individual or in response to an acceptance of the first invitation by the second individual.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving at a second time a revocation of the first invitation in response to determining at the interpersonal communication server that the second individual is no longer available.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein providing the indication comprises;

determining, at a client server process executing at an information handling system associated with the first individual, the presence and availability of the first individual at the first time; and

transmitting the indication to the interpersonal communication event server.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing an indication to the interpersonal communication event server as to the availability of the first individual to participate in the interpersonal communication event at a second time.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the first matching criterion is a working relationship between the first individual and the second individual.

18. An information handling system comprising:

a processor; and

a storage medium, the storage medium comprising instructions executable by the processor to;

determine a set of individuals available at a first time to participate in an interpersonal communication event;

determine a first pairing of individuals from the first set including a first individual and a second individual, the first pairing based on a first matching criterion;

provide at substantially the first time a first invitation to the first individual and to the second individual, the first invitation to participate in a first interpersonal communication event; and

establish communication between the first individual and the second individual in response to an acceptance of the first invitation by the first individual or in response to an acceptance of the first invitation by the second individual.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein determining the set of individuals comprises:

receiving a first request from the first individual, the request to participate in the interpersonal communication event; and

determining availability of the first individual at the first time.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the instructions executable by the processor are further to revoke the first invitation in response to determining the first individual or the second individual is no longer available.