Caller initiated distinctive presence alerting and auto-response messaging

• US 20030218631A1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atlassian US, Inc. (Atlassian Corporation)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,353,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/739
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

Abstract

One preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a system and methods for relaying presence information of a first user to a second user. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others includes, can be implemented as follows. A first communications client of a first user detects a change in the presence status of a first user and sends an alert message to a second communications client of a second user. Methods and other systems are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for relaying presence information about a first user to a second user, comprising

a communications network;

and

a first communications client communicating with the communications network, the first communications client associated with the first user, the first communications client configured to send an alert message to a second communications client upon the first communications client detecting a change in the presence status of the first user, wherein the second communications client is associated with the second user;

.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communications client is further configured to check contact parameters to determine that the second user is designated as an intended recipient of an alert message for the detected change in the presence status.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communications client is configured to designate in the contact parameters an intended recipient of an alert message for a particular change in the presence status of the first user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communications client is configured to designate in the contact parameters a location of an audio file that is to be included in the alert message.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communications client is configured to designate in the contact parameters a particular change in presence status that initiates the sending of the alert message.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first communications client designates in the contact parameters a location of a particular audio file that is included in the alert message for the particular change in presence status.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a communications server communicating with the first communications client, wherein the first communications client informs the presence server of a change in the presence status of the first user.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the communications server forwards the alert message sent from the first communications client to the second communications client.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second communications client is configured to receive the alert message.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second communications client is configured to:

recognize the alert message; and

play an audio file contained in the alert message.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second communications client is configured to automatically provide the second user the capability of responding to the alert message after the audio file is played.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the second communications client is configured to play the audio file contained in the alert message without initiating a chat session.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein an operating system employing the second communications client is configured to display an icon when another application is in current operation and the alert message is received.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein an operating system employing the second communications client is configured to play a subtle sound when another application is in current operation and the alert message is received.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the first communications client is configured to generate a request for the first user be to be added to a contact list of the second user, the first communications client further configured to send an audio file to the second communications client, wherein the second communications client plays the audio file upon receiving the alert message.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communications client is a general purpose computer.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first communications client is configured to create the audio file that is included in the alert message.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a microphone coupled to a computing device of the first communications client.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the second communications client is a general purpose computer.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communications client is a mobile device.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the second communications client is a mobile device.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communications client is configured to mark the alert message.

23. A method for notifying a change in presence information, comprising the steps of:

detecting a change in the presence status of a first user; and

sending an alert message to a second user.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

designating the second user as an intended recipient of the alert message for a particular change in presence status of the first user.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

designating a location of an audio file that is to be included in the alert message for the second user; and

including the audio file contained in the alert message when the alert message is sent to the second user.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of:

creating the audio file.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

designating the particular change in the presence status of first user that will initiate the sending of the alert message to the second user.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

marking the alert message before it is sent.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

receiving the alert message.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

recognizing the alert message; and

playing the audio file contained in the alert message.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of:

automatically providing the second user the capability of responding to the alert message after the audio file is played.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the playing step is performed without the initiation of a chat session.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

displaying an icon when the alert message is received and the second communications client is not in current use.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

playing a subtle sound when the alert message is received and the second communications client is not in current use.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

generating a request for the first user be to be added to a contact list of the second user;

sending an audio file to the second communications client; and

playing the audio file upon receiving the alert message.

36. A computer readable medium having a computer program for relaying presence information about a first user to a second user, the program performing the steps of:

detecting a change in the presence status of a first user; and

sending an alert message to a second user.

37. The medium of claim 36, the program further performing the step of:

designating the second user as an intended recipient of the alert message for a particular change in presence status of the first user.

38. The medium of claim 37, the program further performing the steps of:

designating a location of an audio file that is to be included in the alert message for the second user; and

including the audio file contained in the alert message when the alert message is sent to the second user.

39. The medium of claim 37, the program further performing the step of:

designating the particular change in the presence status of first user that will initiate the sending of the alert message to the second user.

40. The medium of claim 39, the program further performing the step of:

creating the audio file.

41. The medium of claim 37, the program further performing the step of:

marking the alert message before it is sent.

42. The medium of claim 37, the program further performing the step of:

receiving the alert message.

43. The medium of claim 42, the program further performing the steps of:

recognizing the alert message; and

playing the audio file contained in the alert message.

44. The medium of claim 42, the program further performing the step of:

automatically providing the second user the capability of responding to the alert message after the audio file is played.

45. The medium of claim 43, wherein the playing step is performed without the initiation of a chat session.

46. The medium of claim 42, the program further performing the step of:

displaying an icon when the alert message is received and the second communications client is not in current use.

47. The medium of claim 42, the program further performing the step of:

playing a subtle sound when the alert message is received and the second communications client is not in current use.

48. The medium of claim 42, the program further performing the steps of:

generating a request for the first user be to be added to a contact list of the second user;

sending an audio file to the second communications client; and

playing the audio file upon receiving the alert message.