Method to update status on multiple voice and text systems from a single device

• US 7,631,042 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Walker, Keith Raymond, Handy-Bosma, John Hans, Chen, Yen-Fu
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky; Moustafa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): VOSTAL, ONDREJ C
• Application Number:
  US10/880,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,987 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings

Abstract

A method for updating a message on a plurality of devices from a single device comprising a Configuration Program (CP), an Audio Device Update Program (ADUP), and a Text Device Update Program (TDUP). Using the CP, the user may enable and disable the present invention, add or delete devices, create and save messages, select existing messages to play to callers or display to senders, enable automated status updates, enable multiple message levels, or enable availability updates. The automated status update automatically creates messages from the user'"'"'s calendar. The multiple message levels are a hierarchy of messages in which the message sent to a caller or sender based on their identity. The availability update communicates the user'"'"'s next available time to the caller or sender. The ADUP and TDUP select the appropriate message to play or send based on whether automated status updates, multiple message levels, and availability updates are enabled.

Claims

1. a computer implemented method comprising:

a. detecting an incoming call from a caller or a data from a sender intended to be received by a user;

b. determining whether the user has enabled automated status updates;

c. responsive to the determination that the automated status updates are not enabled, obtaining a current message, and playing the current message for the caller or sending the current message to the sender; and

d. responsive to the determination that the automated status updates are enabled, performing second steps comprising;

da. obtaining a current event from a calendaring program of the user;

db. determining whether a user created message exists for the current event;

dc. responsive to the determination that the user created message exists for the current event, obtaining the user created message;

dd. responsive to the determination that the user created message does not exist for the current event, creating a new message wherein the new message is created by the calendaring program of the user and wherein the new message is associated with the current event;

de. determining whether multiple message levels are enabled;

df. responsive to the determination that the multiple message levels are enabled, obtaining a recipient intended message associated with the caller or sender; and

dg. playing for the caller or sending to the sender at least one of the user created message, the new message, or the recipient intended message, wherein the caller or the sender is updated on a status of the user;

dh. wherein the recipient intended message is one of a plurality of recipient intended messages stored in a message repository in a format adapted for use with a plurality of devices;

di. wherein each recipient intended message has an identification, an associated voice message, an associated data message, one or more intended recipients, and an event;

dj. wherein the one or more intended recipients is a limiting field that defines callers and senders permitted to hear or receive the message;

dk. wherein the associated voice message is an audio file that is played on a voicemail on an audio device;

dl. wherein the associated data message is a data file that contains a written message corresponding to the associated voice message; and

dm. wherein the event is a limiting field that defines one or more events in the calendaring program.

2. A computer program product stored on a computer readable storage medium, the computer program product comprising a set of instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium, the set of instructions directing a processor to perform steps comprising:

a. detecting an incoming call from a caller of a data from a sender intended to be received by a user;

b. determining whether the user has enabled automated status updates;

c. responsive to the determination that the automated status updates are not enabled, obtaining a current message, and playing the current message for the caller or sending the current message to the sender; and

d. responsive to the determination that the automated status updates are enabled, performing steps comprising;

da. obtaining a current event from a calendaring program of the user;

db. determining whether a user created message exists for the current event;

dc. responsive to the determination that the user created message exists for the current event, obtaining the user created message;

dd. responsive to the determination that the user created message does not exist for the current event, creating a new message wherein the new message is created by the calendaring program of the user and wherein the new message is associated with the current event;

de. determining whether multiple message levels are enabled;

df. responsive to the determination that the multiple message levels are enabled, obtaining a recipient intended message associated with the caller or sender; and

dg. playing for the caller or sending to the sender at least one of the user created message, the new message, or the recipient intended message, wherein the caller or the sender is updated on a status of the user;

dh. wherein the recipient intended message is one of a plurality of recipient intended messages stored in a message reository in a format adapted for use with a plurality of devices;

di. wherein each recipient intended message has an identification, an associated voice message, an associated data message, one or more intended recipients, and an event;

dj. wherein the one or more intended recipients is a limiting field that defines callers and senders permitted to hear or receive the message;

dk. wherein the associated voice message is an audio file that is played on a voicemail on an audio device;

dl. wherein the associated data message is a data file that contains a written message corresponding to the associated voice message; and

dm. wherein the event is a limiting field that defines one or more events in the calendaring program.

3. An apparatus (a processor) comprising a set of instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium, the set of instructions comprising:

a. means for detecting an incoming call from a caller of a data from a sender intended to be received by a user;

b. means for determining whether the user has enabled automated status updates;

c. means for obtaining a current message responsive to the determination that the automated status updates are not enabled, and means for playing the current message for the caller or sending the current message to the sender; and

d. means for performing steps responsive to the determination that the automated status updates are enabled, the steps comprising;

da. means for obtaining a current event from a calendaring program of the user;

db. means for determining whether a user created message exists for the current event;

dc. means for obtaining the user created message responsive to the determination that the user created message exists for the current event;

dd. means for creating a new message responsive to the determination that the user created message does not exist for the current event, wherein the new message is created by the calendaring program of the user and wherein the new message is associated with the current event;

de. means for determining whether multiple message levels are enabled;

df. means for obtaining a recipient intended message associated with the caller or sender responsive to the determination that the multiple message levels are enabled; and

dg. means for playing for the caller or sending to the sender at least one of the user created message, the new message, or the recipient intended message, wherein the caller or the sender is updated on a status of the user;

dh. wherein the recipient intended message is one of a plurality of recipient intended messages stored in a message repository in a format adapted for use with a plurality of devices;

di. wherein each recipient intended message has an identification, an associated voice message, an associated data message, one or more intended recipients, and an event;

dj. wherein the one or more intended recipients is a limiting field that defines callers and senders permitted to hear or receive the message;

dk. wherein the associated voice message is an audio file that is played on a voicemail on an audio device;

dl. wherein the associated data message is a data file that contains a written message corresponding to the associated voice message; and

dm. wherein the event is a limiting field that defines one or more events in the calendaring program.