AUTOMATED ENABLING OF INSTANT MESSAGING COMMUNICATIONS IN A CLIENT SYSTEM

• US 20140164523A1
• Filed: 12/06/2012
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: BANK, JUDITH H., BRADLEY, LISA M.W., SUN, LIN
• Application Number:
  US13/706,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20140164523A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services

Abstract

Communicating using an instant messaging client includes detecting an auto-start event for an instant messaging client, wherein the instant messaging client is disabled and associated with a target user, and enabling, using a processor, the instant messaging client responsive to detecting the auto-start event. A list of users permitted to contact the target user through the instant messaging client is updated responsive to enabling the instant messaging client from the auto-start event.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting an auto-start event for an instant messaging client, wherein the instant messaging client is disabled and associated with a target user;

enabling, using a processor, the instant messaging client responsive to detecting the auto-start event; and

updating a list of users permitted to contact the target user through the instant messaging client responsive to enabling the instant messaging client from the auto-start event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the auto-start event comprises a user sending a message other than an instant message to the target user while the instant messaging client is disabled.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the message has a required status.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the message has the required status for at least a minimum amount of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the auto-start event comprises a user checking an availability status of the target user a minimum number of times within a predetermined time period while the instant messaging client is disabled.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the auto-start event comprises:

identifying an action indicating a user having an interest in communicating with the target user; and

determining at least one attribute of the user meets a condition required for detecting the auto-start event.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the instant messaging client comprises:

logging the user into an instant messaging application executing within the instant messaging client.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of users permitted to contact the target user through the instant message client is updated so that only a user precipitating the auto-start event is on the list.

9. A system comprising:

a processor programmed to initiate executable operations comprising;

detecting an auto-start event for an instant messaging client, wherein the instant messaging client is disabled and associated with a target user;

enabling the instant messaging client responsive to detecting the auto-start event; and

updating a list of users permitted to contact the target user through the instant messaging client responsive to enabling the instant messaging client from the auto-start event.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the auto-start event comprises a user sending a message other than an instant message to the target user while the instant messaging client is disabled.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the message has a required status.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the message has the required status for at least a minimum amount of time.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the auto-start event comprises a user checking an availability status of the target user a minimum number of times within a predetermined time period while the instant messaging client is disabled.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein detecting the auto-start event comprises:

identifying an action indicating a user having an interest in communicating with the target user; and

determining at least one attribute of the user meets a condition required for detecting the auto-start event.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code stored thereon, the program code executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:

detecting, using the processor, an auto-start event for an instant messaging client, wherein the instant messaging client is disabled and associated with a target user;

enabling, using the processor, the instant messaging client responsive to detecting the auto-start event; and

updating, using the processor, a list of users permitted to contact the target user through the instant messaging client responsive to enabling the instant messaging client from the auto-start event.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the auto-start event comprises a user sending a message other than an instant message to the target user while the instant messaging client is disabled.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the message has a required status.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the message has the required status for at least a minimum amount of time.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the auto-start event comprises a user checking an availability status of the target user a minimum number of times within a predetermined time period while the instant messaging client is disabled.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein detecting the auto-start event comprises:

identifying an action indicating a user having an interest in communicating with the target user; and

determining at least one attribute of the user meets a condition required for detecting the auto-start event.