Technique for enabling messaging systems to use alternative message delivery mechanisms

• US 6,430,604 B1
• Filed: 08/03/1999
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pozefsky, Diane Phylis, Sundstrom, Robert Joseph, Ogle, David Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/365,915
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/206, 709/207, 709/212, 709/213, 709/214, 709/215, 709/216, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/227, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/207
• 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

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for enabling messaging systems to use alternative message delivery mechanisms. In existing instant messaging systems, messages cannot be delivered to an intended recipient unless the recipient is currently logged on to an instant messaging system. According to the present invention, users may register one or more alternative message delivery mechanisms (such as pagers, cell phones, etc.) through which they are available as an alternative to an instant messaging system. Constraints may optionally be added to these registered alternatives, such as specifying a limitation on days of the week and/or hours of the day when a particular alternative may be used. Providing that an alternative messaging mechanism is registered, and any constraints for this alternative are satisfied, in the first preferred embodiment the extended IMS will select a suitable alternative and deliver the message. In a second and third preferred embodiment, the sender of the “instant” message will be informed of the available alternative(s). The sender may then choose to have his message delivered even though the intended receiver is not currently logged on to an instant messaging system. Fourth and fifth embodiments enable a message to be delivered to a recipient using a registered mechanism (that may include an IMS), and provide for determining availability of a selected user. Using these techniques, the real-time awareness of potential message receivers in instant messaging systems is extended.

Claims

1. A computer program product embodied on a computer-readable medium in a computing environment for enabling an instant messaging system (IMS) to use alternative message delivery mechanisms, comprising:

a message sender;

one or more message recipients;

a registry comprising an entry for one or more of said message recipients, wherein each of said entries comprises;

(i) an alternative message delivery mechanism, and (ii) addressing information for said alternative;

computer-readable program code means for receiving, from said message sender, a message to be delivered to a selected one of said message recipients;

computer-readable program code means for determining, by said IMS, whether said selected one is currently logged on to said IMS or another IMS;

computer-readable program code means for delivering said message to said selected one when said computer-readable program code means for determining has a positive result; and

computer-readable program code means for forwarding said message on a particular alternative delivery mechanism associated with said recipient when said computer-readable program code means for determining has a negative result and when said particular mechanism is available.

2. The computer program product according to claim 1, wherein said computer-readable program code means for forwarding further comprises:

computer-readable program code means for retrieving an associated entry from said registry using an identifier of said selected one; and

computer-readable program code means for delivering said message to an address of said particular mechanism from said retrieved entry.

3. The computer program product according to claim 2, wherein said entry in said registry further comprises a constraint associated with said alternative message delivery mechanism, said constraint specifying a condition for use of said associated mechanism, and wherein said computer-readable program code means for forwarding further comprises:

computer-readable program code means for verifying whether said condition from said retrieved entry is met; and

computer-readable program code means for determining that said particular mechanism is available only when said condition is met.

4. The computer program product according to claim 3, further comprising computer-readable program code means for rejecting said message when said particular mechanism is not available.

5. The computer program product according to claim 1, wherein said computer-readable program code means for forwarding further comprises computer-readable program code means for notifying said sender of said particular alternative, and wherein said computer-readable program code means for forwarding further requires that said sender accept said particular alternative.

6. A computer program product embodied on a computer-readable medium in a computing environment for enabling an instant messaging system (IMS) to use alternative message delivery mechanisms, comprising:

a message sender;

one or more message recipients;

a registry comprising an entry for one or more of said message recipients, wherein each of said entries comprises;

(i) one or more alternative message delivery mechanisms, and (ii) addressing information for each of said alternatives;

computer-readable program code means for receiving, from said message sender, a message to be delivered to a selected one of said message recipients;

computer-readable program code means for determining, by said IMS, whether said selected one is currently logged on to said IMS or another IMS;

computer-readable program code means for delivering said message to said selected one when said computer-readable program code means for determining has a positive result; and

computer-readable program code means for forwarding said message on a particular alternative delivery mechanism associated with said recipient when said computer-readable program code means for determining has a negative result and when said particular mechanism is available.

7. The computer program product according to claim 6, wherein said computer-readable program code means for forwarding further comprises:

computer-readable program code means for retrieving an associated entry from said registry using an identifier of said selected one; and

computer-readable program code means for delivering said message to an address of said particular mechanism from said retrieved entry.

8. The computer program product according to claim 7, wherein said entry in said registry further comprises a constraint associated with each of said alternative message delivery mechanisms, each of said constraints specifying a condition for use of said associated mechanism, and wherein said computer-readable program code means for forwarding further comprises:

computer-readable program code means for iteratively evaluating each of said conditions from said retrieved entry until locating a match; and

computer-readable program code means for using said mechanism associated with said matched condition as said particular mechanism.

9. The computer program product according to claim 8, further comprising computer-readable program code means for rejecting said message when none of said conditions are met.

10. The computer program product according to claim 6, further comprising:

computer-readable program code means for presenting available ones of said alternative delivery mechanisms to said sender when said computer-readable program code means for determining has said negative result;

computer-readable program code means for enabling said sender to select from said presented ones; and

wherein said computer-readable program code means for forwarding uses said selected one as said particular mechanism.

11. The computer program product according to claim 6, wherein said computer-readable program code means for forwarding further comprises:

computer-readable program code means for selecting an available one of said registered alternative delivery mechanisms associated with said recipient; and

computer-readable program code means for notifying said sender of said available one; and

wherein said computer-readable program code means for forwarding further requires that said sender accept said available one.

12. A system in a computing environment for enabling an instant messaging system (IMS) to use alternative message delivery mechanisms, comprising:

a message sender;

one or more message recipients;

a registry comprising an entry for one or more of said message recipients, wherein each of said entries comprises;

(i) an alternative message delivery mechanism, and (ii) addressing information for said alternative;

means for receiving, from said message sender, a message to be delivered to a selected one of said message recipients;

means for determining, by said IMS, whether said selected one is currently logged on to said IMS or another IMS;

means for delivering said message to said selected one when said means for determining has a positive result; and

means for forwarding said message on a particular alternative delivery mechanism associated with said recipient when said means for determining has a negative result and when said particular mechanism is available.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said means for forwarding further comprises:

means for retrieving an associated entry from said registry using an identifier of said selected one; and

means for delivering said message to an address of said particular mechanism from said retrieved entry.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said entry in said registry further comprises a constraint associated with said alternative message delivery mechanism, said constraint specifying a condition for use of said associated mechanism, and wherein said means for forwarding further comprises:

means for verifying whether said condition from said retrieved entry is met; and

means for determining that said particular mechanism is available only when said condition is met.

15. The system according to claim 13, further comprising means for rejecting said message when said particular mechanism is not available.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein said means for forwarding further comprises means for notifying said sender of said particular alternative, and wherein said means for forwarding further requires that said sender accept said particular alternative.

17. A system in a computing environment for enabling an instant messaging system (IMS) to use alternative message delivery mechanisms, comprising:

a message sender;

one or more message recipients;

a registry comprising an entry for one or more of said message recipients, wherein each of said entries comprises;

(i) one or more alternative message delivery mechanisms, and (ii) addressing information for each of said alternatives;

means for receiving, from said message sender, a message to be delivered to a selected one of said message recipients;

means for determining, by said IMS, whether said selected one is currently logged on to said IMS or another IMS;

means for delivering said message to said selected one when said means for determining has a positive result; and

means for forwarding said message on a particular alternative delivery mechanism associated with said recipient when said means for determining has a negative result and when said particular mechanism is available.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said means for forwarding further comprises:

means for retrieving an associated entry from said registry using an identifier of said selected one; and

means for delivering said message to an address of said particular mechanism from said retrieved entry.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said entry in said registry further comprises a constraint associated with each of said alternative message delivery mechanisms, each of said constraints specifying a condition for use of said associated mechanism, and wherein said means for forwarding further comprises:

means for iteratively evaluating each of said conditions from said retrieved entry until locating a match; and

means for using said mechanism associated with said matched condition as said particular mechanism.

20. The system according to claim 19, further comprising means for rejecting said message when none of said conditions are met.

21. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:

means for presenting available ones of said alternative delivery mechanisms to said sender when said means for determining has said negative result;

means for enabling said sender to select from said presented ones; and

wherein said means for forwarding uses said selected one as said particular mechanism.

22. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:

means for receiving a multiple-recipient message from said sender, wherein said multiple-recipient message is to be delivered to more than one of said message recipients; and

wherein;

said means for determining whether said selected one is currently logged on determines whether each of said message recipients is currently logged on to said IMS;

said means for delivering said message when said means for determining has said positive result delivers said message to each of said message recipients who is currently logged on; and

when said means for determining has said negative result, said means for forwarding said message on said particular alternative delivery mechanism forwards said message to each of said message recipients who is not currently logged using an available mechanism associated with each of said not-logged-on message recipients.

23. The system according to claim 17, wherein said means for forwarding further comprises:

means for selecting an available one of said registered alternative delivery mechanisms associated with said recipient; and

means for notifying said sender of said available one; and

wherein said means for forwarding further requires that said sender accept said available one.

24. A method for enabling an instant messaging system (IMS) to use alternative message delivery mechanisms in a computing environment, comprising the steps of:

providing a registry comprising an entry for at least one of one or more message recipients, wherein each of said entries comprises;

(i) an alternative message delivery mechanism, and (ii) addressing information for said alternative;

receiving, from a message sender, a message to be delivered to a selected one of said message recipients;

determining, by said IMS, whether said selected one is currently logged on to said IMS or another IMS;

delivering said message to said selected one when said determining step has a positive result; and

forwarding said message on a particular alternative delivery mechanism associated with said recipient when said determining step has a negative result and when said particular mechanism is available.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said forwarding step further comprises the steps of:

retrieving an associated entry from said registry using an identifier of said selected one; and

delivering said message to an address of said particular mechanism from said retrieved entry.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said entry in said registry further comprises a constraint associated with said alternative message delivery mechanism, said constraint specifying a condition for use of said associated mechanism, and wherein said forwarding step further comprises the steps of:

verifying whether said condition from said retrieved entry is met; and

determining that said particular mechanism is available only when said condition is met.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of rejecting said message when said particular mechanism is not available.

28. The method according to claim 24, wherein said forwarding step further comprises the step of notifying said sender of said particular alternative, and wherein said forwarding step further requires that said sender accept said particular alternative.

29. A method for enabling an instant messaging system (IMS) to use alternative message delivery mechanisms in a computing environment, comprising the steps of:

providing a registry comprising an entry for at least one of one or more message recipients, wherein each of said entries comprises;

(i) one or more alternative message delivery mechanisms, and (ii) addressing information for each of said alternatives;

receiving, from a message sender, a message to be delivered to a selected one of said message recipients;

determining, by said IMS, whether said selected one is currently logged on to said IMS or another IMS;

delivering said message to said selected one when said determining step has a positive result; and

forwarding said message on a particular alternative delivery mechanism associated with said recipient when said determining step has a negative result and when said particular mechanism is available.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said forwarding step further comprises the steps of:

retrieving an associated entry from said registry using an identifier of said selected one; and

delivering said message to an address of said particular mechanism from said retrieved entry.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein said entry in said registry further comprises a constraint associated with each of said alternative message delivery mechanisms, each of said constraints specifying a condition for use of said associated mechanism, and wherein said forwarding step further comprises the steps of:

iteratively evaluating each of said conditions from said retrieved entry until locating a match; and

using said mechanism associated with said matched condition as said particular mechanism.

32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of rejecting said message when none of said conditions are met.

33. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

presenting available ones of said alternative delivery mechanisms to said sender when said determining step has said negative result;

enabling said sender to select from said presented ones; and

wherein said forwarding step uses said selected one as said particular mechanism.

34. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of:

receiving a multiple-recipient message from said sender, wherein said multiple-recipient message is to be delivered to more than one of said message recipients; and

wherein;

said determining whether said selected one is currently logged on step determines whether each of said message recipients is currently logged on to said IMS;

said delivering said message when said determining step has said positive result step delivers said message to each of said message recipients who is currently logged on; and

when said determining step has said negative result, said forwarding said message on said particular alternative delivery mechanism step forwards said message to each of said message recipients who is not currently logged using an available mechanism associated with each of said not-logged-on message recipients.

35. The method according to claim 29, wherein said forwarding step further comprises the steps of:

selecting an available one of said registered alternative delivery mechanisms associated with said recipient; and

notifying said sender of said available one; and

wherein said forwarding step further requires that said sender accept said available one.