Forwarding instant messaging (IM) messages

• US 20040078445A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Application Number:
  US10/685,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078445A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for forwarding instant messages from one communication device to another communication device. In some embodiments, when an instant messaging (IM) message is received at one communication device, that IM message is conveyed to another communication device.

Claims

1. A first communication device comprising:

means for receiving an instant messaging (IM) message; and

means for conveying the IM message to a second communication device.

2. A first communication device comprising:

receive logic configured to receive an instant messaging (IM) message; and

convey logic configured to convey the IM message to a second communication device.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the convey logic is further configured to automatically convey the IM message to the second communication device.

4. A communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving an instant messaging (IM) message at a first communication device, the IM message being intended for a recipient; and

conveying the IM message to a second communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

determining presence of the intended recipient at the second communication device prior to conveying the IM message to the second communication device.

6. A communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving an instant messaging (IM) message intended for a recipient, the recipient having IM addresses;

determining a presence of the recipient at each of the IM addresses; and

conveying the received IM message to the IM addresses at which the recipient is present.

7. A communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving an instant messaging (IM) message intended for a recipient, the recipient having IM addresses;

determining a last active time for each of the IM addresses; and

conveying the received IM message to the IM address having a most recent last active time.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

determining a presence of the recipient at each of the IM addresses prior to determining the last active time; and

wherein the step of determining the last active time comprises the step of determining the last active time for each of the IM addresses at which the recipient is present.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of conveying the received IM message comprises the step of:

conveying the IM message to a most recent IM address at which the recipient is present, the most recent IM address being the IM address having the most recent last active time.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

determining a presence of the recipient at each of the IM addresses; and

wherein the step of conveying the received IM message comprises the step of conveying the received IM message to the IM address at which the recipient is present.

11. A computer-readable medium comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to receive an instant messaging (IM) message at a first communication device, the IM message being intended for a recipient; and

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to convey the IM message to a second communication device.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to determine presence of the intended recipient at the second communication device prior to conveying the IM message to the second communication device.

13. A computer-readable medium comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to receive an instant messaging (IM) message intended for a recipient, the recipient having IM addresses;

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to determine a last active time for each of the IM addresses; and

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to convey the received IM message to the IM address having a most recent last active time.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to determine a presence of the recipient at each of the IM addresses prior to determining the last active time; and

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to determine the last active time for each of the IM addresses at which the recipient is present.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to convey the IM message to a most recent IM address at which the recipient is present, the most recent IM address being the IM address having the most recent last active time.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to determine a presence of the recipient at each of the IM addresses; and

computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to convey the received IM message to the IM address at which the recipient is present.