METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MESSAGES BASED ON USER ACTIVITY STATUS

• US 20150341290A1
• Filed: 05/23/2014
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: CHERIFI, Tanya D., MARIMUTHU, Ramesh
• Granted Patent: US 10,785,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

An approach is provided for delivering messages to a user based on their activity status. An activity detection platform receives a request to deliver a message from a sending device to a receiving device. The activity detection platform also detects an activity status of a receiving user associated with the receiving device based on the request. The activity detection platform also presents at least one delivery option for the message at the sending device to a sending user based on the detection. The message is then processed based on the at least one delivery option selected by the sending user prior to a presentation of the message to the receiving user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request to deliver a message from a sending device to a receiving device;

detecting an activity status of a receiving user associated with the receiving device based on the request;

presenting at least one delivery option for the message at the sending device to a sending user based on the detection; and

processing the message based on the at least one delivery option selected by the sending user prior to a presentation of the message to the receiving user.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the activity status includes a driving status, a busy status, a do not disturb status, a user defined status, or a combination thereof.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

intercepting a presentation of the message to the receiving user;

detecting a change in the activity status of the receiving user; and

initiating a presentation of the message to the receiving user based on the change and the at least one delivery option.

4. A method of claim 3, further comprising:

configuring the detecting of the activity status, the presenting of the at least one delivery option, the processing of the message, the presentation of the message, or a combination thereof based on a contextual parameter.

5. A method of claim 4,

wherein the contextual parameter includes a temporal parameter, a location parameter, an activity parameter, a user identifier, a device identifier, or a combination thereof.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting an auto-reply message to the sending device,

wherein the auto-reply message indicates the activity status of the receiving user.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one delivery includes at least one of:

delivering the message unchanged;

converting the message to another medium for delivery;

initiating another form of communication; and

cancelling the message.

8. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting another receiving device associated with another receiving user within proximity of the receiving device, the receiving user, or a combination thereof; and

presenting an option to relay the message to the another receiving device as the at least one delivery option based on the detection.

9. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the activity status in a contact list at the sending device,

wherein the activity status is presented visually, textually, audibly, virtually, or a combination thereof.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the

activity status of the receiving user is detected based on sensor data, contextual data, historical data, user input, or a combination thereof.

11. An apparatus comprising a processor configured to:

receive a request to deliver a message from a sending device to a receiving device;

detect an activity status of a receiving user associated with the receiving device based on the request;

present at least one delivery option for the message at the sending device to a sending user based on the detection; and

process the message based on the at least one delivery option selected by the sending user prior to a presentation of the message to the receiving user.

12. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the activity status includes a driving status, a busy status, a do not disturb status, a user defined status, or a combination thereof.

13. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

intercept a presentation of the message to the receiving user;

detect a change in the activity status of the receiving user; and

initiate a presentation of the message to the receiving user based on the change and the at least one delivery option.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

configure the detecting of the activity status, the presenting of the at least one delivery option, the processing of the message, the presentation of the message, or a combination thereof based on a contextual parameter.

15. An apparatus of claim 14, wherein the contextual parameter includes a temporal parameter, a location parameter, an activity parameter, a user identifier, a device identifier, or a combination thereof.

16. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

transmit an auto-reply message to the sending device,

wherein the auto-reply message indicates the activity status of the receiving user.

17. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one delivery includes at least one of:

delivering the message unchanged;

converting the message to another medium for delivery;

initiating another form of communication; and

cancelling the message.

18. A system comprising:

an activity detection platform configured to receive a request to deliver a message from a sending device to a receiving device;

detect an activity status of a receiving user associated with the receiving device based on the request;

present at least one delivery option for the message at the sending device to a sending user based on the detection; and

process the message based on the at least one delivery option selected by the sending user prior to a presentation of the message to the receiving user.

19. A system of claim 18, wherein the activity status includes a driving status, a busy status, a do not disturb status, a user defined status, or a combination thereof.

20. A system of claim 18, wherein the activity detection platform is further configured to:

intercept a presentation of the message to the receiving user;

detect a change in the activity status of the receiving user; and

initiate a presentation of the message to the receiving user based on the change and the at least one delivery option.