System and method for supporting instant messaging in disconnected modes
First Claim
1. A method for enabling messaging between disconnected parties in an instant messaging (IM) system, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving at a computing device at least one message sent by a first party, said at least one message destined for a second party, said computing device maintaining, for a second party, preference criteria specifying an amount of messages sent by said first party that are to be buffered for said second party;
determining connection status of said second party with said IM system and, if determination is that said second party is disconnected from said IM system, a step ofdetermining, at said computer device, whether said at least one message sent by a first party exceeds said specified amount of messages received from said first party that may be buffered for said second party according to said preference criteria; and
if said message does not exceed said specified amount of messages, storing said at least one message received by said first party;
determining, at said computing device, when said second party becomes connected to said IM system; and
, notifying said second party of availability of said stored at least one message; and
saving a prior IM message chat conversation thread between said first and said second parties; and
,appending the received message from the first party to said saved prior message chat conversation thread for presentation to said second party via a chat interface, wherein some context of a prior IM message chat between said first and second parties is preserved; and
,providing a chat interface on second party'"'"'s computing device, said chat interface being specific to said first party and said chat interface including said saved prior message chat conversation thread and said appended message received from said first party.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, and computer program for a) buffering instant messages to an intended recipient while the recipient is currently not logged on to an instant messaging system, and b) delivering buffered messages to the intended recipient after the recipient connects the instant messaging system. Thus, users are enabled to initiate instant messaging sessions with other users who are not currently online. An instant messaging device buffers messages and delivers them to the recipient when the recipient comes online. To the recipient, the method of delivery appears identical to the case where the recipient was continuously connected to the system. The main difference is the time delay, i.e. the elapsed time between the time the sender sent it and the time the recipient connected. The recipient is further able to configure the instant messaging device to be selective about which senders are allowed to buffer messages to the recipient while the recipient is disconnected. Sender specific pop-up windows, including the sender'"'"'s buffered messages, will appear on the recipient'"'"'s screen after the recipient connects to the system. The recipient can then respond to the instant message and resume the conversation in a real-time (though delayed) manner if the sender is presently online.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for enabling messaging between disconnected parties in an instant messaging (IM) system, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving at a computing device at least one message sent by a first party, said at least one message destined for a second party, said computing device maintaining, for a second party, preference criteria specifying an amount of messages sent by said first party that are to be buffered for said second party; determining connection status of said second party with said IM system and, if determination is that said second party is disconnected from said IM system, a step of determining, at said computer device, whether said at least one message sent by a first party exceeds said specified amount of messages received from said first party that may be buffered for said second party according to said preference criteria; and
if said message does not exceed said specified amount of messages, storing said at least one message received by said first party;determining, at said computing device, when said second party becomes connected to said IM system; and
, notifying said second party of availability of said stored at least one message; andsaving a prior IM message chat conversation thread between said first and said second parties; and
,appending the received message from the first party to said saved prior message chat conversation thread for presentation to said second party via a chat interface, wherein some context of a prior IM message chat between said first and second parties is preserved; and
,providing a chat interface on second party'"'"'s computing device, said chat interface being specific to said first party and said chat interface including said saved prior message chat conversation thread and said appended message received from said first party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for providing instant messaging (IM) functionality in disconnected mode comprising:
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a communications device for receiving and forwarding IM messages between an IM sender application and an IM recipient application; means associated with said communications device for storing received sender messages destined for said recipient application when a recipient is disconnected from said IM system; means implemented at said communications device for maintaining preference criteria specifying an amount of messages sent by said IM sender that are to be buffered for said IM recipient; and
,a processing means, associated with said communications device, for determining whether an amount of messages received from said IM sender that may be stored for later access by said IM recipient has exceeded said specified amount of messages received from said IM sender that may be buffered for said IM recipient according to said preference criteria; and
if a received message from said IM sender does not exceed said specified amount of messages, storing said at least one message received by said IM sender; and
,said processing means initiating saving of a prior IM chat conversation thread between said IM sender and said IM recipient in said storage device, and, appends the received message from the IM sender to said saved IM chat conversation thread for presentation to said IM recipient via a chat interface, wherein context of an IM chat between said IM sender and said IM recipient is preserved; and
,means for providing a chat interface on a IM recipient'"'"'s computing device, said chat interface being specific to said IM sender and said chat interface including said saved prior message chat conversation thread and said appended message received from said IM sender. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An article of manufacture comprising:
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at least one computer usable medium having a computer readable program code logic to execute a machine instruction in a processing unit for providing instant messaging (IM) capability between disconnected parties in an IM system, said computer readable program code logic, when executing, performing the following steps; receiving at a computing device at least one message sent by a first party, said at least one message destined for a second party, said computing device maintaining, for a second party, preference criteria specifying an amount of messages sent by said first party that are to be buffered for said second party; determining connection status of said second party with said IM system and, if determination is that said second party is disconnected from said IM system, a step of determining, at said computer device, whether said at least one message sent by a first party exceeds said specified amount of messages received from said first party that may be buffered for said second party according to said preference criteria; and
if said message does not exceed said specified amount of messages, storing said at least one message received by said first party;determining, at said computing device, when said second party becomes connected to said IM system; and
, notifying said second party of availability of said stored at least one message; andsaving a prior IM message chat conversation thread between said first and said second parties; and
,appending the received message from the first party to said saved prior message chat conversation thread for presentation to said second party via said chat interface, wherein some context of a prior IM message chat between said first and second parties is preserved; and
,providing a chat interface on second party'"'"'s computing device, said chat interface being specific to said first party and said chat interface including said saved prior message chat conversation thread and said appended message received from said first party. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification