Initiating instant messaging (IM) chat sessions from email messages
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- determining, with an instant messaging client and utilizing a processor that is executing the instant messaging client, an Internet presence of a contact identified in an email message in response to displaying the email message to a user, wherein the determining comprises comparing an email address of the contact identified to an address book database and retrieving an instant messaging address of the contact identified from the address book database, and then using the retrieved instant messaging address to determine that the contact is present at the time that the email message is displayed to the user; and
initiating, by utilizing the processor that is executing the instant messaging client, an instant messaging chat session with the contact in response to determining that the contact is present,wherein multiple instant messaging addresses of the contact are stored in order of priority in the address book database.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for integrating instant messaging (IM) services and email services are described. In one embodiment, among others, an email message is received and an IM chat session is automatically initiated from the email message. In some embodiments, the initiation of the IM chat session may be subject to certain programmable criteria.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining, with an instant messaging client and utilizing a processor that is executing the instant messaging client, an Internet presence of a contact identified in an email message in response to displaying the email message to a user, wherein the determining comprises comparing an email address of the contact identified to an address book database and retrieving an instant messaging address of the contact identified from the address book database, and then using the retrieved instant messaging address to determine that the contact is present at the time that the email message is displayed to the user; and initiating, by utilizing the processor that is executing the instant messaging client, an instant messaging chat session with the contact in response to determining that the contact is present, wherein multiple instant messaging addresses of the contact are stored in order of priority in the address book database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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means for determining, with an instant messaging client and utilizing a processor that is executing the instant messaging client, an Internet presence of a contact identified in an email message in response to displaying the email message to a user, wherein the means for determining compares an email address of the contact identified to an address book database and retrieves an instant messaging address of the contact identified from the address book database, and then uses the retrieved instant messaging address to determine that the contact is present at the time that the email message is displayed to the user; and means for initiating, with the instant messaging client and utilizing the processor that is executing the instant messaging client, an instant messaging chat session with the contact in response to determining that the contact is present, wherein multiple instant messaging addresses of the contact are stored in order of priority in the address book database. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A system comprising:
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presence logic of an instant messaging client and utilizing the processor that is executing the instant messaging client, configured to determine an Internet presence of a contact identified in an email message in response to displaying the email message to a user, wherein the presence logic compares an email address of the contact identified to an address book database and retrieves an instant messaging address of the contact identified from the address book database, and then uses the retrieved instant messaging address to determine that the contact is present at the time that the email message is displayed to the user; and chat-initiation logic of the instant messaging client and utilizing the processor that is executing the instant messaging client, configured to initiate an instant messaging chat session with the contact in response to determining that the contact is present, wherein multiple instant messaging addresses of the contact are stored in order of priority in the address book database. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium being embedded with computer instructions for causing a computing device to:
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instruct a programmable device to determine, at an instant messaging client, an Internet presence of a contact from an email message in response to displaying the email message to a user, wherein the determining comprises comparing an email address of the contact to an address book database and retrieving an instant messaging address of the contact from the address book database, and then using the retrieved instant messaging address to determine that the contact is present at the time that the email message is displayed to the user; and instruct a programmable device to initiate, at an instant messaging client, an instant messaging chat session with the contact in response to determining that the contact is present, wherein multiple instant messaging addresses of the contact are stored in order of priority in the address book database. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification