Transferring instant messaging (IM) messages

• US 7,716,289 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Thu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hussain; Tauqir
• Application Number:
  US10/685,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,401 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207, 709/228, 455/403, 455/466
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for transferring instant messages from one recipient to another recipient. In some embodiments, when an instant messaging (IM) message is received by one recipient, that IM message is conveyed to another recipient.

Claims

1. A communication method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, an instant messaging (IM) message from a first user to a second user;

waiting a predefined time interval prior to prompting the first user for permission;

prompting the first user for permission to convey the IM message to a third user;

receiving an input from the first user, the input being indicative of the permission to convey the IM message to the third user; and

conveying the IM message to the third user in response to receiving the input;

determining whether the second user is currently engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user;

indicating to the first user, in response to determining that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user, that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with the fourth user;

prompting the first user to join the IM chat session;

in response to receiving an indication that the first user wants to join the IM chat session, prompting the second user and the fourth user to allow the first user to join the IM chat session; and

in response to receiving an indication that the second user and the fourth user want to allow the first user to joint the IM chat session, facilitating joining of the first user to the IM chat session.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating to the first user that the IM message is being conveyed to the third user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating to the third user that the IM message originated from the first user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating to the first user, in the absence of a response from the second user during the predefined time interval, that the second user is unavailable.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting permission from the first user is responsive to an absence of an input from the second user during the predefined time interval.

6. A communication method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, an instant messaging (IM) message from a first user to a second user;

waiting a predefined time interval prior to prompting the first user for permission;

prompting the first user for permission to convey the IM message to a third user;

conveying the IM message to the third user;

determining whether the second user is currently engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user;

indicating to the first user, in response to determining that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user, that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with the fourth user;

prompting the first user to join the IM chat session;

in response to receiving an indication that the first user wants to join the IM chat session, prompting the second user and the fourth user to allow the first user to join the IM chat session; and

in response to receiving an indication that the second user and the fourth user want to allow the first user to joint the IM chat session, facilitating joining of the first user to the IM chat session.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

indicating to the first user that the IM message is being conveyed to the third user.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

indicating to the third user that the IM message originated from the first user.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

further indicating to the first user, in response to determining that the first recipient is engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user, that an IM chat session is being established between the first user and the third user.

10. A communication system comprising:

a memory component that stores at least the following;

receiving logic configured to receive an instant messaging (IM) message from a first user to a second user;

waiting logic configured to wait a predefined time interval prior to prompting the first user for permission;

first prompting logic configured to prompt the first user for permission to convey the IM message to a third user;

in response to receiving permission, conveving the IM message to the third user;

determining logic configured to determine whether the second user is currently engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user;

indicating logic configured to indicate to the first user, in response to determining that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user, that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with the fourth user;

second prompting logic configured to prompt the first user to join the IM chat session;

third prompting logic configured to, in response to receiving an indication that the first user wants to join the IM chat session, prompting the second user and the fourth user to allow the first user to join the IM chat session; and

joining logic configured to, in response to receiving an indication that the second user and the fourth user want to allow the first user to joint the IM chat session, facilitating joining of the first user to the IM chat session.

11. A communication system comprising:

means for receiving an instant messaging (IM) message from a first user to a second user;

means for waiting a predefined time interval prior to prompting the first user for permission;

means for prompting the first user for permission to convey the IM message to a third user;

means for, in response to receiving permission, conveying the IM message to the third user;

means for determining whether the second user is currently engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user;

means for indicating to the first user, in response to determining that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user, that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with the fourth user;

means for prompting the first user to join the IM chat session;

means for, in response to receiving an indication that the first user wants to join the IM chat session, prompting the second user and the fourth user to allow the first user to join the IM chat session; and

means for, in response to receiving an indication that the second user and the fourth user want to allow the first user to joint the IM chat session, facilitating joining of the first user to the IM chat session.

12. A non-transitory medium that stores a program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform at least the following:

receive an instant messaging (IM) message from a first user to a second user;

wait a predefined time interval prior to prompting the first user for permission;

prompt the first user for permission to convey the IM message to a third user;

in response to receiving permission, convey the IM message to the third user;

determine whether the second user is currently engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user;

indicate to the first user, in response to determining that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user, that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with the fourth user;

prompt the first user to join the IM chat session;

in response to receiving an indication that the first user wants to join the IM chat session, prompt the second user and the fourth user to allow the first user to join the IM chat session; and

in response to receiving an indication that the second user and the fourth user want to allow the first user to joint the IM chat session, facilitate joining of the first user to the IM chat session.

13. The non-transitory medium of claim 12, the program causing the computer to additionally perform at least the following:

receive an input from the first user, the input being indicative of the permission to convey the IM message to the fourth user.

14. The non-transitory medium of claim 13, the program causing the computer to additionally perform at least the following:

indicate to the first user that the IM message is being conveyed to the third user.

15. The non-transitory medium of claim 13, the program causing the computer to additionally perform at least the following:

indicate to the third user that the IM message originated from the first user.

16. The non-transitory medium of claim 12, the program causing the computer to additionally perform at least the following:

indicate to the first user, in the absence of a response from the second user during the predefined time interval, that the second user is unavailable.

17. A communication system comprising:

a memory component that stores at least the following;

receiving logic configured to receive an instant messaging (IM) message from a first user to a second user;

waiting logic configured to wait a predefined time interval prior to prompting the first user for permission;

prompting logic configured to prompt the first user for permission to convey the IM message to a third user;

conveying logic configured to convey the IM message to the third user;

determining logic configured to determine whether the second user is currently engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user;

indicating logic configured to indicate to the first user, in response to determining that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user, that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with the fourth user;

first prompting logic configured to prompt the first user to join the IM chat session;

second prompting logic configured to, in response to receiving an indication that the first user wants to join the IM chat session, prompt the second user and the fourth user to allow the first user to join the IM chat session; and

joining logic configured to, in response to receiving an indication that the second user and the fourth user want to allow the first user to joint the IM chat session, facilitate joining of the first user to the IM chat session.

18. A communication system comprising:

means for receiving an instant messaging (IM) message from a first user to a second user;

means for waiting a predefined time interval prior to prompting the first user for permission;

means for prompting the first user for permission to convey the IM message to a third user;

means for conveying the IM message to the third user;

means for determining whether the second user is currently engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user;

means for indicating to the first user, in response to determining that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user, that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with the fourth user;

means for prompting the first user to join the IM chat session;

means for, in response to receiving an indication that the first user wants to join the IM chat session, prompting the second user and the fourth user to allow the first user to join the IM chat session; and

means for, in response to receiving an indication that the second user and the fourth user want to allow the first user to joint the IM chat session, facilitating joining of the first user to the IM chat session.

19. A computer-readable medium that includes a computer program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform at least the following:

receive an instant messaging (IM) message from a first user to a second user;

wait a predefined time interval prior to prompting the first user for permission;

prompt the first user for permission to convey the IM message to a third user;

convey the IM message to the third user;

determine whether the second user is currently engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user; and

indicate to the first user, in response to determining that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user, that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with the fourth user;

prompt the first user to join the IM chat session;

in response to receiving an indication that the first user wants to join the IM chat session, prompt the second user to allow the first user to join the IM chat session; and

in response to receiving an indication that the second user wants to allow the first user to joint the IM chat session, facilitate joining of the first user to the IM chat session.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, the program causing the computer to additionally perform at least the following:

indicate to the first user that the IM message is being conveyed to the third user.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, the program

causing the computer to additionally perform at least the following:

indicate to the third user that the IM message originated from the first user.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, the program causing the computer to additionally perform at least the following:

further indicate to the first user, in response to determining that the second user is engaged in an IM chat session with a fourth user that an IM chat session is being established between the first sender and the third user.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising prompting the fourth user to allow the first user to join the IM chat session.