Systems, methods, and media for updating an instant messaging system

• US 20060048061A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Forlenza, Randolph Michael, Kaemmerer, John Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• 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]

Abstract

Systems, methods and media for updating an instant messaging system on a network are disclosed. More particularly, hardware and/or software for updating status indicators such as ‘away’ messages of an instant messaging system are disclosed. Embodiments include determining that a change in status of the user has occurred and automatically transmitting an indication of the change in status to instant messenger system manager via a network. Embodiments include determining that a change in status of the user has occurred based on receiving an indication that the user'"'"'s status has changed, such as from user input on a keyboard, mouse, etc. Other embodiments include determining that a change in status has occurred based on determining that the user'"'"'s status has changed based on an electronic calendar, expiration of a time period, etc.

Claims

1. A method for updating an instant messaging system on a network, the method comprising:

receiving a request to configure a status indicator of the instant messaging system to an away status for a user of the instant messaging system, wherein the request to configure the status indicator includes an indication of an ‘

away’

message;

setting the ‘

away’

message;

transmitting an indication of the ‘

away’

message to an instant messaging system manager via a network;

determining that a change in status has occurred; and

automatically transmitting an indication of the change in status to the instant messaging system manager via the network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising before transmitting the indication of a change in status, determining if the user desires to change the status indicator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the status indicator has at least an away status and an active status.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the user is active; and

wherein the indication of a change in status is an indication of an active status.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of a change in status includes a new away message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes determining that a specified time period has expired, wherein the time period is specified in the request to configure the status indicator.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes determining that a specified time has occurred, wherein the time is specified in the request to configure the status indicator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes receiving an indication that the user is active.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes receiving an indication of a mouse movement.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes receiving an indication of a keystroke.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes receiving an indication of a use of a pointer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes receiving an indication of a use of a pen.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes receiving an indication of a voice command.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes receiving an indication of a user input device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes receiving an indication of the user opening a chat window.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes receiving an indication of the user interacting with a chat window.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes determining that an electronic calendar event has ended.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes determining that a new electronic calendar event has started.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that an ‘

away’

message has the current time slot of a plurality of ‘

away’

messages; and

wherein the indication of a change in status is an indication of the ‘

away’

message with the current time slot.

20. A machine-accessible medium containing instructions effective, when executing in a data processing system, to cause said data processing system to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request to configure a status indicator of the instant messaging system to an away status for a user of the instant messaging system, wherein the request to configure the status indicator includes an indication of an ‘

away’

message;

setting the ‘

away’

message;

transmitting an indication of the ‘

away’

message to an instant messaging system manager via a network;

determining that a change in status has occurred; and

automatically transmitting an indication of the change in status to the instant messaging system manager via the network.

21. The machine-accessible medium of claim 20, further comprising before transmitting the indication of a change in status, determining if the user desires to change the status indicator.

22. The machine-accessible medium of claim 20, further comprising:

determining that the user is active; and

wherein the indication of a change in status is an indication of an active status.

23. The machine-accessible medium of claim 20, wherein the indication of a change in status includes a new ‘

away’

message.

24. The machine-accessible medium of claim 20, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes receiving an indication that the user is active.

25. The machine-accessible medium of claim 20, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes determining that an electronic calendar event has ended.

26. The machine-accessible medium of claim 20, wherein determining that a change in status has occurred includes determining that a new electronic calendar event has started.

27. The machine-accessible medium of claim 20, further comprising:

determining that an ‘

away’

message has the current time slot of a plurality of ‘

away’

messages; and

wherein the indication of a change in status is an indication of the ‘

away’

message with the current time slot.

28. An instant messaging system on a network, the system comprising:

an instant messaging system manager in communication with the network, the instant messaging system manager being adapted to facilitate instant messaging between users;

a plurality of computer systems in communication with the network, at least one computer system having an instant messaging client adapted to receive requests to configure a status indicator to an away status for a user, wherein the away status includes an ‘

away’

message;

wherein the instant messaging client is adapted to determine if a change in the user'"'"'s status has occurred, and wherein further the instant messaging client is adapted to automatically transmit an updated status indicator to the instant messaging system manager in response to the change in status.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the change in status is from an away status to an active status.

30. The system of claim 28, further comprising an electronic calendar in communication with the instant messaging client, wherein the instant messaging client determines whether a change in status has occurred based on information received from the electronic calendar.