System and method for a messaging assistant
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for utilizing a messaging assistant, the method comprising:
- said messaging assistant updating a contact list by periodically polling a plurality of servers, including a plurality of servers associated with different online services, retrieving one or more contact lists from each of the servers, and integrating the contact lists from each of the servers into the updated contact list;
said messaging assistant receiving preferences for one or more modes of communicating with contacts on said updated contact list, said one or more modes including at least voice, text message, electronic mail, and video, said preferences including, for at least one of the one or more modes, a backup communication method to use if messages sent by the at least one mode are undeliverable and criteria specifying, for the at least one mode, when messages should be considered undeliverable;
said messaging assistant receiving a message made by a user that includes substantive information other than said contact list and said preferences, said message to be sent to a group listed in said updated contact list including one or more contacts, at a predetermined time specified by said user and provided by said user to said messaging assistant; and
sending said user-determined message, including the substantive information to the group at said predetermined time specified by said user based on the preferences.
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Abstract
A system and method for utilizing a message assistant. A contact list is updated by retrieving one or more contact lists. Preferences are received for communicating with contacts on the contact list. A message is received to be sent to a group listed in the contact list including one or more contacts at a time specified by a user. The message is sent to the group at the time specified by the user based on the preferences.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for utilizing a messaging assistant, the method comprising:
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said messaging assistant updating a contact list by periodically polling a plurality of servers, including a plurality of servers associated with different online services, retrieving one or more contact lists from each of the servers, and integrating the contact lists from each of the servers into the updated contact list; said messaging assistant receiving preferences for one or more modes of communicating with contacts on said updated contact list, said one or more modes including at least voice, text message, electronic mail, and video, said preferences including, for at least one of the one or more modes, a backup communication method to use if messages sent by the at least one mode are undeliverable and criteria specifying, for the at least one mode, when messages should be considered undeliverable; said messaging assistant receiving a message made by a user that includes substantive information other than said contact list and said preferences, said message to be sent to a group listed in said updated contact list including one or more contacts, at a predetermined time specified by said user and provided by said user to said messaging assistant; and sending said user-determined message, including the substantive information to the group at said predetermined time specified by said user based on the preferences. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21, 22)
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12. A messaging assistant system, said system comprising:
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a scheduler configured to receive preferences for communicating with one or more contacts and a time for sending a message, the preferences including preferences for one or more modes of communicating with contacts on a updated contact list, said one or more modes including at least voice, text message, electronic mail, and video, said preferences including, for at least one of the one or more modes, a backup communication method to use if messages sent by the at least one mode are undeliverable and criteria specifying, for the at least one mode, when messages should be considered undeliverable; a message coordinator configured to receive said message as sent by a user via a graphical user interface to be sent to said one or more contacts; and said contact list configured to store and update said updated contact list by periodically polling a plurality of servers, including a plurality of servers associated with different online services, retrieving on or more contact lists from each of the servers, and integrating the contact lists from each of the servers into the updated contact list, wherein the updated contact list contains the one or more contacts. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A messaging assistant comprising:
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a processor for executing a set of instructions; and a memory for storing said set of instructions, wherein said set of instructions are configured to update a contact list from one or more contact lists; wherein one of said processor and said memory is adapted to; update a contact list by periodically polling a plurality of servers, including a plurality of servers associated with different online services, retrieving one or more contact lists from each of the servers, and integrating the contact lists from each of the servers into the updated contact list receive preferences for communicating with individuals on said contact list, said preferences including preferences for one or more modes of communicating with contacts on said updated contact list, said one or more modes including at least voice, text message, electronic mail, and video, said preferences including, for at least one of the one or more modes, a backup communication method to use if messages sent by the at least one mode are undeliverable and criteria specifying, for the at least one mode, when messages should be considered undeliverable; receive a user-created message from a user to be sent to a group in said contact list including one or more users at a time specified by said user; and send said user-created message to said group at the time based on said preferences. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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23. A method, comprising:
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providing a messaging assistant to a user, said messaging assistant including an application or device accessible through a network connection; said messaging assistant updating a contact list by periodically polling a plurality of servers, including a plurality of servers associated with different online services, retrieving one or more contact lists from each of the servers, and integrating the contact lists from each of the servers into the updated contact list; using said messaging assistant to send a message to one or more contacts; wherein said using includes accessing a list of said contacts, each entry in said list including a contact'"'"'s identity, information concerning at least one way of contacting that contact, and that contact'"'"'s preference of one or more modes the messaging assistant should used to send said message to that contact, said one or more modes including at least voice, text message, electronic mail, and video, said preferences including, for at least one of the one or more modes, a backup communication method to use if messages sent by the at least one mode are undeliverable and criteria specifying, for the at least one mode, when messages should be considered undeliverable; wherein said using includes the user providing said message to the messaging assistant; and wherein said using includes sending said message by said messaging assistant to each contact in said list of contacts according to the contacts'"'"' preferences. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification