System and method for immediate and delayed real-time communication activities using availability data from communication through an external instant messaging system
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a computer based system configured to support real-time communication, a request for a real-time communication, wherein the request includes a list of users to participate in the real-time communication;
querying, by the computer based system, a presence database to obtain online presence data associated with the list of users;
determining, by the computer based system, that a user on the list of users is unavailable to participate in the real-time communication based on the online presence data associated with the unavailable user;
determining, by the computer based system, availability of an alternative user based on the online presence data associated with the alternative user in response to the unavailable user being unavailable to participate in the real-time communication;
substituting, by the computer based system, the alternative user to participate in the real-time communication for the unavailable user;
receiving, by the computer based system, a presence change message associated with the unavailable user;
processing, by the computer based system, a rule having a logical structure defining a relationship between the online presence data, the presence change message, and the real-time communication, the processing of the rule including determining whether the real-time communication should be performed based at least in part on the presence change message; and
performing, by the computer based system, the real-time communication.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for immediate and delayed real-time communication activities using availability data from and communications through an external instant messaging system, that operates to obtain aggregated user online presence information through its own client software, through interception of client-server communications between an external instant messaging client and server, and through other available interfaces to user account information on such external instant messaging systems. The system operates to gather user online presence information in part by intercepting communications between an instant messaging client and the Internet. The aggregate presence data, as well as other information describing the availability of a user, is used to intelligently route real-time communications, such as instant messages and phone calls. The disclosed system further implements a technique for waiting for changes in a user'"'"'s availability status, and for performing actions on a user'"'"'s behalf in response to such changes in availability status.
42 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving, by a computer based system configured to support real-time communication, a request for a real-time communication, wherein the request includes a list of users to participate in the real-time communication; querying, by the computer based system, a presence database to obtain online presence data associated with the list of users; determining, by the computer based system, that a user on the list of users is unavailable to participate in the real-time communication based on the online presence data associated with the unavailable user; determining, by the computer based system, availability of an alternative user based on the online presence data associated with the alternative user in response to the unavailable user being unavailable to participate in the real-time communication; substituting, by the computer based system, the alternative user to participate in the real-time communication for the unavailable user; receiving, by the computer based system, a presence change message associated with the unavailable user; processing, by the computer based system, a rule having a logical structure defining a relationship between the online presence data, the presence change message, and the real-time communication, the processing of the rule including determining whether the real-time communication should be performed based at least in part on the presence change message; and performing, by the computer based system, the real-time communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
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a computing device for supporting real-time communication between at least two users; and a computer program storage memory communicably coupled with the computing device, the computer program storage memory storing a computer program executable by the computing device, the computer program including program code configuring the computing device to; receive a request for the real-time communication, and in response, retrieve from the request a list of users to participate in the real-time communication; query a presence database to obtain online presence data associated with the list of users and to determine that a user on the list of users is unavailable to participate in the real-time communication based on the online presence data associated with the unavailable user; determine availability of an alternative user based on the online presence data associated with the alternative user in response to the unavailable user being unavailable to participate in the real-time communication; substitute the alternative user to participate in the real-time communication for the unavailable user; receive a presence change message associated with the alternative user and to responsively process a rule having a logical structure defining a relationship between the online presence data, the presence change message; and perform the real-time communication. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification