Methods and systems for handling instant messages and notifications based on the state of a computing device

• US 8,495,660 B1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Hernacki, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kraft, Shih-Wei
• Application Number:
  US12/057,690
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 719/318
• 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 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for handling instant messages based on state may include identifying an instant message, detecting a first state of a computing device, and handling the instant message based on the first state of the computing device. The method may further include receiving a first instant-message-handling rule, receiving a first definition of the first state, and associating the first instant-message-handling rule with the first state. A computer-implemented method for preventing the output of instantaneous notifications may include identifying an instant notification, detecting a first state of a computing device, and preventing the instantaneous notification from being sent to an output device of the computing device. Corresponding computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for handling instant messages, at least a portion of the computer-implemented method being performed by a computing system comprising at least one processor, the computer-implemented method comprising:

identifying an instant message sent to a user;

detecting a first state of a computing device, the first state being that the computing device is in a conference room;

receiving a first instant-message-handling rule;

associating the first instant-message-handling rule with the first state;

handling the instant message by applying the first instant-message-handling rule to the instant message, wherein;

the first instant-message-handling rule is applied to the instant message when the computing device is in the first state and an additional condition is met;

handling the instant message according to the first instant-message-handling rule comprises;

checking whether the instant message contains a picture,

determining that the instant message contains a picture, and

selectively forwarding the instant message to an email address of the user based on the checking whether the instant message contains a picture;

wherein the forwarding is selective such that the instant message is forwarded to the email address if the instant message is determined to contain a picture and the instant message is not forwarded to the email address if the instant message is determined to not contain a picture.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,

wherein the first instant-message-handling rule and the first state are associated in a database.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to the computing device being in the first state and applying the first instant-message-handling rule to the instant message, automatically replying to a sender of the instant message with a predefined response that is associated with the first state.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

installing a first state-specific plug-in to an instant messaging client that displays the instant message, wherein the first state-specific plug-in to the instant messaging client detects the first state of the computing device;

installing a second state-specific plug-in to the instant messaging client, the second state-specific plug-in being programmed to detect a second state of the computing device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a first definition of the first state, wherein;

the first definition identifies a first computing device condition;

detecting the first state comprises detecting that the computing device satisfies the first condition.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface, wherein;

the graphical user interface receives the first definition of the first state;

the graphical user interface receives the first instant-message-handling rule.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the additional condition comprises at least one of:

a time of day;

a sender of the instant message;

content of the instant message.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first instant-message-handling rule specifies that, while the computing device is in the conference room, the volume will be muted for any instant message that contains sound.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying the instant message, detecting the first state of the computing device, and handling the instant message are performed by a software module installed on the computing device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a second state of the computing device.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a second state of the computing device by distinguishing between whether the computing device is a laptop or a desktop.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to:

identify an instant message sent to a user;

detect a first state of a computing device, the first state being that the computing device is in a conference room;

receive a first instant-message-handling rule;

associate the first instant-message-handling rule with the first state;

handle the instant message by applying the first instant-message-handling rule to the instant message, wherein;

the first instant-message-handling rule is applied to the instant message when the computing device is in the first state and an additional condition is met;

handling the instant message according to the first instant-message-handling rule comprises;

checking whether the instant message contains a picture,

determining that the instant message contains a picture, and

selectively forwarding the instant message to an email address of the user based on the checking whether the instant message contains a picture;

wherein the forwarding is selective such that the instant message is forwarded to the email address if the instant message is determined to contain a picture and the instant message is not forwarded to the email address if the instant message is determined to not contain a picture.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to:

receive a definition of the first state.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to identify scheduling information from a calendar program.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to:

in response to the computing device being in the first state and applying the first instant-message-handling rule to the instant message, automatically reply to a sender of the instant message with a predefined response that is associated with the first state.

16. A system for handling instant messages, the system comprising a message-handling module programmed to:

identify an instant message sent to a user;

detect a first state of a computing device, the first state being that the computing device is in a conference room;

receive a first instant-message-handling rule;

associate the first instant-message-handling rule with the first state;

handle the instant message by applying the first instant-message-handling rule to the instant message, wherein;

the first instant-message-handling rule is applied to the instant message when the computing device is in the first state and an additional condition is met;

handling the instant message according to the first instant-message-handling rule comprises;

checking whether the instant message contains a picture,

determining that the instant message contains a picture, and

selectively forwarding the instant message to an email address of the user based on the checking whether the instant message contains a picture;

wherein the forwarding is selective such that the instant message is forwarded to the email address if the instant message is determined to contain a picture and the instant message is not forwarded to the email address if the instant message is determined to not contain a picture.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the message-handling module is further programmed to:

install a first state-specific plug-in to an instant messaging client that displays the instant message, wherein the first state-specific plug-in to the instant messaging client detects the first state of the computing device;

install a second state-specific plug-in to the instant messaging client, the second state-specific plug-in being programmed to detect a second state of the computing device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the message-handling module is further programmed to, in response to the computing device being in the first state and applying the first instant-message-handling rule to the instant message, automatically reply to a sender of the instant message with a predefined response that is associated with the first state.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the message-handling module is further programmed to:

provide a graphical user interface, wherein;

the graphical user interface receives a first definition of the first state;

the graphical user interface receives the first instant-message-handling rule.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the additional condition comprises at least one of:

a time of day;

a sender of the instant message;

content of the instant message.