Server and method for routing messages to achieve unified communications

• US 6,606,647 B2
• Filed: 01/11/1999
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Infospace Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: InfoSpace, Inc. (Blucora Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shah, Niraj A., Hugg, Ethan B., Chestnut, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell; Robert B.
• Application Number:
  US09/228,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20030105821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,674 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200,204,205,206,207,227,238
• 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

Abstract

A server routes one'"'"'s incoming messages to his/her communication devices according to his/her routing preferences, and modifies the messages as needed. For example, the server can route an incoming page to one'"'"'s email account and, if necessary, modify the page so that it is compatible with the email client. Thus, the server enables a number of diverse features such as: selection of routing topology (direct or indirect), translation of network restrictions, conditioning a synchronous communication for reception by an asynchronous device, message encryption, and callback or “buddy list” services.

Claims

1. A system for providing unified communications between a message sending device that sends a message to a user and a plurality of message devices associated with the user, each message device having an associated device identifier, the system comprising:

a messaging client computer having at least one associated message device;

a messaging client program operable on the client computer that dynamically detects a state of at least one of the associated message devices;

a messaging server computer in communication the messaging client computer;

a profile database having message routing preferences associated with the user, the profile database accessible to the messaging server computer for electronic communication; and

a server program operable on the messaging server that determines zero or more message devices to which the message to the user should be sent based upon the message routing preferences retrieved via the profile database and the state of at least one message device associated with the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the state of a message device indicates that the message device is in active use by the user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the messaging server program determines the message device to which the message to the user should be sent by at least in part determining that the state of the message device indicates that the message device is in active use by the user.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system monitors the usage patterns of the user and automatically updates the message routing preferences to reflect the usage patterns of the user.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein determining the usage patterns of the user comprise detecting an order in which the user acts on each message received.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein determining the usage patterns of the user comprise further comprise correlating the order in which the user acts on each message to the user received with characteristics of the message to the user.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the system prompts the user for the authority to automatically update the message routing preferences that are based on suggestions automatically generated from the monitored usage patterns of the user.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein determining the usage patterns of the user comprise correlating characteristics of the message to the user with the user'"'"'s actions pertaining to the message when received at the message device to which the message to the user was directed.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the messaging client program detects that the message device is in active use by the user by at least in part detecting a log-on of the message device within a pre-defined interval preceding the detection.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the messaging server program determines the message device to which the message to the user should be sent by at least in part determining that the state of the message device indicates that the message device is in active use by the user.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the messaging client program detects that the message device is in active use by the user by at least in part detecting input/output activity involving the message device within a pre-defined interval preceding the detection.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the messaging server program determines the message device to which the message to the user should be sent by at least in part determining that the state of the message device indicates that the message device is in active use by the user.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the messaging client program detects that the message device is in active use by the user by at least in part detecting changes in video input from a video camera in proximity to the message device within a pre-defined interval preceding the detection.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the messaging server program determines the message device to which the message to the user should be sent by at least in part determining that the state of the message device indicates that the message device is in active use by the user.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein the messaging client program detects that the message device is in active use by the user by at least in part detecting changes in audio input from a microphone in proximity to the message device within a pre-defined interval preceding the detection.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the messaging server program determines the message device to which the message to the user should be sent by at least in part determining that the state of the message device indicates that the message device is in active use by the user.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the state of a message device indicates the availability of the message device for electronic communication.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the messaging server computer maintains a list in active memory of each message device available for electronic communication.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the messaging server program determining the prioritization of the routing preferences of the user comprises determining the most recent log-on of one of the message devices associated with the user.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the messaging server computer holds the message to the user for delivery until it determines that the message device to which the message to the user is directed is available by monitoring the list in active memory of each message device available for electronic communication.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the system monitors the usage patterns of the user and automatically updates the message routing preferences to reflect the usage patterns of the user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein determining the usage patterns of the user comprise detecting the order in which the user acts on each message received.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein determining the usage patterns of the user further comprise correlating the order in which the user acts on each message to the user received with characteristics of the message to the user.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the system prompts the user for the authority to automatically update the message routing preferences that are based on suggestions automatically generated from the monitored usage patterns of the user.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein determining the usage patterns of the user comprise correlating characteristics of the message to the user with the user'"'"'s actions pertaining to the message when received at the message device to which the message to the user was directed.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of messaging client computers each having at least one associated message device, the plurality of messaging client computers being accessible to the messaging server computer for electronic communication.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein several of the messaging client computers are associated with message devices associated with the user and the routing preferences of the user that are applied by the server program are prioritized by the state of at least one message device associated with the user.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the messaging server program determining the prioritization of the routing preferences of the user is based at least in part on the state of the message device indicating that the message device is in active use by the user.