Automated distribution of an instant messaging request for an unavailable intended recipient to a backup recipient

• US 7,298,831 B1
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Keohane, Susann Marie, McBrearty, Gerald Francis, Shieh, Johnny Meng-Han, Mullen, Shawn Patrick, Murillo, Jessica
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/006,392
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.02, 379/211.01, 379/211.04, 379/213.01, 379/210.01, 379/88.18, 379/265.01, 379/88.23, 709/206, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/88.23
• 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 method, system, and program for automated distribution of an instant messaging request for an unavailable intended recipient to a backup recipient are provided. A chat support system detects a particular messaging request from a requester for initiating a communication with an intended recipient who is unavailable to respond to the messaging request and, in response, the chat support system selects a backup recipient designated to receive the particular messaging request. The chat support system then directs the opening of a communication channel for a messaging session between the requester and the backup recipient. Then, the chat support system detects a message log of at least one message entry for the messaging session between the requester and the backup recipient. The chat support system then updates the intended recipient with the message log, such that even though the intended recipient is unavailable to respond to the messaging request, the intended recipient is enabled to monitor the resulting messaging session between the requester and the backup recipient.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, comprising:

responsive to detecting, at an instant messaging communication service provider system for facilitating chat sessions via a network between a plurality of separate users enabled to log in to said instant messaging communication service provider at a plurality of separate client systems, a particular chat messaging request from a requester from among said plurality of users for initiating a communication with said intended recipient from among said plurality of users who is unavailable to respond to said chat messaging request, determining said backup recipient from among said plurality of users designated to receive said particular chat messaging request;

opening, by said instant messaging communication service provider, a communication channel for a chat messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient; and

recording, by said instant messaging communication service provider, a message log of at least one message entry for said chat messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient; and

updating, from said instant messaging communication service provider, said intended recipient with said message log, such that when said intended recipient is unavailable to respond to said chat messaging request said intended recipient is enabled to monitor said chat messaging session resulting from said chat messaging request.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, wherein determining a backup recipient designated to receive said particular chat messaging request further comprises:

searching at least one from among a directory entry for said intended recipient and a schedule for said intended recipient to identify a backup recipient from among a plurality of designated backup recipients from among said plurality of users, wherein at least one characteristic of said particular chat messaging request matches at least one from among a current time period, a requester identity, and an intended subject matter specified in association with said backup recipient.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, wherein opening a communication channel for a chat messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient, further comprises:

opening, by said instant messaging communication service provider, said communication channel for said chat messaging session to add said backup recipient to said chat messaging session already ongoing on said communication channel between said requester and said intended recipient, wherein said chat messaging session participants comprise said requester, said intended recipient and said backup recipient.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, further comprising:

responsive to opening said communication channel for said chat messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient, updating said requester by said instant messaging communication service provider with a backup message in a window opened for said chat messaging session indicating that said communication channel is opened between said requester and said backup recipient.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 4 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, wherein updating said requester with a backup message indicating that said communication channel is opened between said requester and said backup recipient further comprises:

updating said requester with a backup message indicating that said communication channel is opened between said requester and said backup recipient, wherein an identity of said backup recipient is blocked in said backup message.

6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, further comprising:

blocking, by said instant messaging communication service provider, said requester from sending a requester message entry in said chat messaging session until after said backup recipient initiates a first message entry in said chat messaging session.

7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, wherein updating said intended recipient with said message log, further comprises:

automatically updating a messaging agent application registered to receive communications for said intended recipient at a particular client system from among said plurality of separate client systems with said message log as each of said at least one message entry is added in said chat messaging session.

8. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, wherein updating said intended recipient with said message log, further comprises:

responsive to said instant messaging communication service provider detecting said intended recipient logging onto a messaging agent application at a particular client system from among said plurality of separate client systems enabled to receive communications for said intended recipient, passing said message log to said messaging agent application for output to said intended recipient.

9. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, further comprising:

detecting, at said instant messaging communication service provider, that said intended recipient is unavailable to respond to said chat messaging request by analyzing at least one from among a messaging application setting indicating whether said intended recipient is responding to communication requests, a calendar entry for a current time period comprising at least one indicator of a current location of said intended recipient, a time delay in availability caused by said intended recipient'"'"'s actual current activity, and a device availability status for a device associated with said intended recipient.

10. A system for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, said system comprising:

an instant messaging communication support system for facilitating chat sessions via a network between a plurality of separate users enabled to log in to said instant messaging communication service provider at a plurality of separate client systems and enabled to detect a particular chat messaging request from a requester from among said plurality of users to said intended recipient from among said plurality of users via a communication network;

said instant messaging communication support system further comprising;

means, responsive to detecting said chat particular messaging request from said requester for initiating a communication with said intended recipient who is unavailable to respond to said chat messaging request, for determining said backup recipient from among said plurality of users designated to receive said particular chat messaging request;

means for opening a communication channel for a chat messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient; and

means for recording a message log of at least one message entry for said chat messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient; and

means for updating said intended recipient with said message log, such that when said intended recipient is unavailable to respond to said chat messaging request said intended recipient is enabled to monitor said chat messaging session resulting from said chat messaging request.

11. The system according to claim 10 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, wherein said means for opening a communication channel for a chat messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient, further comprises:

means for opening, by said instant messaging communication service provider, said communication channel for said chat messaging session to add said backup recipient to said chat messaging session already ongoing on said communication channel between said requester and said intended recipient, wherein said chat messaging session participants comprise said requester, said intended recipient and said backup recipient.

12. The system according to claim 10 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, said instant messaging communication support system further comprising:

means, responsive to opening said communication channel for said chat messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient, for updating said requester with a backup message in a window opened for said chat messaging session indicating that said communication channel is opened between said requester and said backup recipient.

13. The system according to claim 12 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, wherein said means for updating said requester with a backup message indicating that said communication channel is opened between said requester and said backup recipient further comprises:

means for updating said requester with a backup message indicating that said communication channel is opened between said requester and said backup recipient, wherein an identity of said backup recipient is blocked in said backup message.

14. The system according to claim 10 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, said instant messaging communication support system further comprising:

means for blocking said requester from sending a requester message entry in said chat messaging session until after said backup recipient initiates a first message entry in said chat messaging session.

15. The system according to claim 10 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, wherein said means for updating said intended recipient with said message log, further comprises:

means for automatically updating a messaging agent application registered to receive communications for said intended recipient at a particular client system from among said plurality of separate client systems with said message log as each of said at least one message entry is added in said chat messaging session.

16. The system according to claim 10 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, wherein said means for updating said intended recipient with said message log, further comprises:

means, responsive to detecting said intended recipient logging onto a messaging agent application at a particular client system from among said plurality of separate client systems enabled to receive communications for said intended recipient, for passing said message log to said messaging agent application for output to said intended recipient.

17. The system according to claim 10 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, said instant messaging communication support system further comprising:

means for detecting, at said instant messaging communication service provider, that said intended recipient is unavailable to respond to said chat messaging request by analyzing at least one from among a messaging application setting indicating whether said intended recipient is responding to communication requests, a calendar entry for a current time period comprising at least one indicator of a current location of said intended recipient, a time delay in availability caused by said intended recipient'"'"'s actual current activity, and a device availability status for a device associated with said intended recipient.

18. A program for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, said program embodied in a non-volatile or volatile computer-readable medium, said program comprising computer-executable instructions which cause a computer to perform the steps of:

responsive to detecting, at an instant messaging communication service provider that facilitates chat sessions via a network between a plurality of separate users enabled to log in to said instant messaging communication service provider at a plurality of separate client systems, a particular chat messaging request from a requester from among said plurality of users for initiating a communication with said intended recipient from among said plurality of users who is unavailable to respond to said chat messaging request, determining said backup recipient from among said plurality of users designated to receive said particular chat messaging request;

opening a communication channel for a chat messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient; and

recording a message log of at least one message entry for said chat messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient; and

updating said intended recipient with said message log, such that when said intended recipient is unavailable to respond to said chat messaging request said intended recipient is enabled to monitor said chat messaging session resulting from said chat messaging request.

19. The program according to claim 18 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, wherein said step of opening a communication channel for a chat messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient, further comprises the step of:

opening said communication channel for said chat messaging session to add said backup recipient to said chat messaging session already ongoing on said communication channel between said requester and said intended recipient, wherein said chat messaging session participants comprise said requester, said intended recipient and said backup recipient.

20. The program according to claim 18 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, said program further comprising the step of:

responsive to opening a communication channel for said messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient, updating said requester with a backup message in a window opened for said chat messaging session indicating that said communication is opened between said requester and said backup recipient.

21. The program according to claim 20 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, wherein said step of updating said requester with a backup message indicating that said communication channel is opened between said requester and said backup recipient further comprises the step of:

updating said requester with a backup message indicating that said communication channel is opened between said requester and said backup recipient, wherein with an identity of said backup recipient is blocked in said backup message.

22. The program according to claim 18 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, said program further comprising the step of:

blocking said requester from sending a requester message entry in said chat messaging session until after said backup recipient initiates a first message entry in said chat messaging session.

23. The program according to claim 18 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, wherein said step of updating said intended recipient with said message log, further comprises the step of:

automatically updating a messaging agent application registered to receive communications for said intended recipient at a particular client system from among said plurality of separate client systems with said message log as each of said at least one message entry is added in said chat messaging session.

24. The program according to claim 18 for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, wherein said step of updating said intended recipient with said message log, further comprises the step of:

responsive to said instant messaging communication service provider detecting said intended recipient logging onto a messaging agent application at a particular client system from among said plurality of separate client systems enabled to receive communications for said intended recipient, passing said message log to said messaging agent application for output to said intended recipient.