Automatically replying to instant messaging (IM) messages

• US 8,180,840 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• 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): Winder, Patrice
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hussain, Tauqir
• Application Number:
  US10/686,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20050080868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,136 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207, 709/238, 709/225, 709/229, 709/38, 455403-466, 726/17
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for automatically replying to instant messaging (IM) messages. In some embodiments, an IM message is received by a recipient and displayed to the recipient. If, during a predefined time interval, the recipient does not provide any response to the IM message, then the IM message is automatically replied to.

Claims

1. A communication method comprising:

receiving, by a messaging client of a first recipient, an instant messaging message from a first sender to the first recipient;

performing, by the messaging client of the first recipient, a forwarding operation comprising;

waiting, by the messaging client of the first recipient, a predefined time interval for an input from the first recipient, the input being responsive to the instant messaging message;

determining, by the messaging client of the first recipient, whether input from the first recipient is received during the predetermined time interval; and

in response to determining, by the messaging client of the first recipient, that no input from the first recipient is received during the predetermined time interval, querying the first sender to grant permission to forward, by the messaging client of the first recipient, the instant messaging message from the first recipient to a second recipient and indicate, by the messaging client of the first recipient, that the instant messaging message originated from the first sender; and

performing, by the messaging client of the first recipient, a joining operation comprising;

in response to receipt, by the messaging client of the first recipient, of the instant messaging message from the first sender to the first recipient and a determination, by the messaging client of the first recipient, that the first recipient is engaged in an instant messaging session with a second sender, querying the first sender to join the instant messaging session, wherein in response to receiving, by the messaging client of the first recipient, confirmation that the first sender desires to join the instant messaging session, querying the second sender to grant permission allowing the first sender to join the instant messaging session; and

joining the first sender in the instant messaging session with the first recipient and the second sender after receiving permission from the second sender.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising replying to the instant messaging message, wherein replying to the instant messaging message comprises:

providing a message indicating the first recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an instant messaging chat session.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising replying to the instant messaging message, wherein replying to the instant messaging message comprises:

providing a message requesting the first sender to wait for a predetermined time period.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising replying to the instant messaging message, wherein replying to the instant messaging message comprises:

periodically providing messages, the messages being periodically provided at predefined time intervals, each message indicating the first recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an instant messaging chat session during the corresponding predefined time interval.

5. A communication method comprising:

receiving, by a messaging client of a first recipient, an instant messaging message from a first sender to the first recipient;

determining, by the messaging client of the first recipient, whether the first recipient is engaged in an instant messaging chat session with a second sender; and

in response to determining that the first recipient is engaged in the instant messaging chat session with the second sender, requesting, by the messaging client of the first recipient, for authorization from the first sender to forward the instant messaging message from the first recipient to a second recipient and indicating, by the messaging client of the first recipient, that the instant messaging message originated from the first sender, wherein the instant messaging message is forwarded from the messaging client of the first recipient to the second recipient after receiving authorization from the first sender.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

indicating to the first sender that the first recipient is engaged in the instant messaging chat session with the second sender.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

periodically providing messages to the first sender, the messages being periodically provided at predefined time intervals, each message indicating the first recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an instant messaging chat session during the corresponding predefined time interval.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

indicating to the first sender that the first recipient is unavailable to engage in an instant messaging chat session with the first sender.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program such that when executed by a computer performs at least the following:

receive, at a messaging client of a first recipient, an instant messaging message from a sender to the first recipient;

wait, at the messaging client of the first recipient, a predefined time interval for an input from the first recipient, the input being responsive to the instant messaging message;

determine, by the messaging client of the first recipient, whether input from the first recipient is received during the predetermined time interval; and

in response to determining that no input from the first recipient is received during the predetermined time interval, requesting, by the messaging client of the first recipient, for authorization from the sender to forward the instant messaging message from the first recipient to a second recipient and indicating, by the messaging client of the first recipient, that the instant messaging message originated from the sender, wherein the instant messaging message is forwarded from the messaging client of the first recipient to the second recipient after receiving authorization from the sender.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further configured to perform at least the following:

provide a message indicating the first recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an instant messaging chat session.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further configured to perform at least the following:

provide a message requesting the sender to wait for a predetermined time period.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further configured to perform at least the following:

periodically provide messages, the messages being periodically provided at predefined time intervals, each message indicating the first recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an instant messaging chat session during the corresponding predefined time interval.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program such that when executed by a computer performs at least the following:

receive, at a messaging client of a first recipient, an instant messaging message from a first sender to the first recipient;

determine, by the messaging client of the first recipient, whether the first recipient is engaged in an instant messaging chat session with second sender; and

in response to determining that the first recipient is engaged in the instant messaging chat session with the second sender, request, by the messaging client of the first recipient, for authorization from the first sender to forward the instant messaging message from the first recipient to a second recipient and indicating, by the messaging client of the first recipient, that the instant messaging message originated from the first sender, wherein the instant messaging message is forwarded from the messaging client of the first recipient to the second recipient after receiving authorization from the first sender.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, further configured to perform at least the following:

indicate that the first recipient is engaged in the instant messaging chat session with the second sender.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, further configured to perform at least the following:

periodically provide messages to the first sender, the messages being periodically provided at predefined time intervals, each message indicating the first recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an instant messaging chat session during the corresponding predefined time interval.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, further configured to perform at least the following:

indicate that the first recipient is unavailable to engage in an instant messaging chat session with the first sender.

17. A communication system comprising:

means for receiving, at a messaging client of a first recipient, an instant messaging message from a sender to the first recipient;

means for determining, at the messaging client of the first recipient, whether the first recipient is engaged in an instant messaging chat session with another sender;

means for, in response to determining that the first recipient is engaged in an instant messaging chat session with another sender, replying, at the messaging client of the first recipient, to the instant messaging message; and

means for, in response to determining that the first recipient is not engaged in an instant messaging chat session with another user, requesting, at the messaging client of the first recipient, for authorization from the sender to forward the instant messaging message from the first recipient to a second recipient and indicate, by the first recipient, that the instant messaging message originated from the sender, wherein the instant messaging message is forwarded from the messaging client of the first recipient to the second recipient after receiving authorization from the sender,

wherein all the means are embodied as hardware controlled by software.

18. A communication system comprising:

a memory component that stores;

instant-messaging receive logic configured to receive, at a messaging client of a first recipient, an instant messaging message from a sender to the first recipient;

determining logic configured to determine, by the messaging client of the first recipient, whether the first recipient has provided an input during a predefined time interval;

the determining logic configured to, in response to determining that the first recipient has not provided an input during the predetermined time interval, determine, by the messaging client of the first recipient, whether the first recipient is engaged in an instant messaging chat session with another sender, wherein the determining logic comprises a timer configured to track elapsed time from a receiving of the instant messaging message;

reply logic configured to, in response to determining that the first recipient is engaged in an instant messaging chat session with another sender, reply, by the messaging client of the first recipient, with a reply message to the instant messaging message, the reply message indicating the first recipient'"'"'s unavailability to engage in an instant messaging chat session; and

querying logic configured to, in response to determining that the first recipient is not engaged in an instant messaging chat session with another sender, query, by the messaging client of the first recipient, the sender for authorization to forward the instant messaging message from the first recipient to a second recipient and indicating, by the first recipient, that the instant messaging message originated from the sender, wherein the instant messaging message is forwarded from the messaging client of the first recipient to the second recipient after receiving authorization from the sender.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a processor configured to execute logic stored in the memory component.