Automatically enabling the forwarding of instant messages

• US 20060116139A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Appelman, Barry
• Granted Patent: US 9,002,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• 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 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Techniques are described for forwarding an instant message addressed to an intended instant messaging recipient to the recipient'"'"'s mobile telephone when the recipient'"'"'s mobile telephone number is known to the instant message sender. In one example, an instant message is forwarded to the intended recipient'"'"'s mobile telephone number when the instant message sender'"'"'s contact information for the intended recipient includes an instant message address (e.g., a screen name or other type of instant message identifier) and a mobile telephone number, without dependence upon the intended recipient'"'"'s presence on the instant message (IM) system or through actual login or registration with an IM forwarding service. In a more particular example, an address book of the instant message sender includes an entry for the intended recipient where the entry includes an instant message address and a mobile telephone number of the intended recipient.

Claims

1. A method for communicating using electronic devices, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic message and an indication of a sender-specified destination for the electronic message;

determining whether the destination is available to receive an electronic message using a first mode of communication;

determining whether a mobile telephone number is known by the sender to be associated with the destination; and

determining whether to transmit a communication that is based on the electronic message using the mobile telephone number wherein the determination to transmit is based on a determination that the destination is not available and that the mobile telephone number is known by the sender to be associated with the destination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic message comprises an instant message, and

the destination comprises an instant message identity.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the instant message identity comprises an identity that is not signed on to an instant message service, and

determining whether the destination is available to receive an electronic message using a first mode of communication comprises determining whether the instant message identity is signed on to an instant message service,

the method further comprising making a determination that the destination is not available if the instant message identity is not signed on to the instant message service.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the instant message identity comprises an identity that is signed on to an instant message service and is associated with an idle state, and

determining whether the destination is available to receive an electronic message using a first mode of communication comprises;

determining whether the instant message identity is signed on to an instant message service, and

determining whether the instant message identity is associated with an idle state if the instant message identity is determined to be signed on to the instant message service,

the method further comprising making a determination that the destination is not available if the instant message identity is signed on to the instant message service and the instant message identity is associated with an idle state.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein:

determining whether the mobile telephone number is known by the sender to be associated with the destination comprises searching electronic storage for an association of the mobile telephone number and an instant message identity, and

determining whether a mobile telephone number is known by the sender to be associated with the destination comprises identifying, in a collection of contact information associated with the sender, a stored association of the mobile telephone number and the instant message identity.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the collection of contact information comprises one of an address book associated with the sender or a buddy list associated with the sender.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein

determining whether the mobile telephone number is known by the sender comprises searching the collection of contact information associated with the sender for a mobile telephone number associated with an instant message identity.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the instant message identity is associated with a screen name, and

searching the collection of contact information associated with the sender for a mobile telephone number associated with an instant message identity comprises searching the collection of contact information associated with the sender for a mobile telephone number associated with the screen name associated the instant message identity.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

identifying a user name associated with the instant message identity in a buddy list associated with the sender, wherein;

searching the collection of contact information associated with the sender for a mobile telephone number associated with an instant message identity comprises searching the collection of contact information associated with the sender for the user name, and

determining that the mobile telephone number is known by the sender to be associated with the instant message identity comprises identifying, in the collection of contact information associated with the sender, a stored association of the mobile telephone number and the user name.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein a host system performs the receiving, the determining of whether the instant message identity is available, the determining of whether the mobile telephone number is known by the sender to be associated with the instant message identity, and the determining of whether to transmit the communication.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein a client system performs the receiving, the determining of whether the destination is available, the determining of whether the mobile telephone number is known by the sender to be associated with the destination, and the determining of whether to transmit the communication.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling a text message to be sent to the mobile telephone number such that the text message is based on text of the electronic message.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising forwarding a text message to be sent to the mobile telephone number such that the text message is based on text of the electronic message.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving confirmation from the sender to enable transmission to the mobile telephone number, wherein

determining whether to transmit a communication that is based on the electronic message to the mobile telephone number based on a determination that the mobile telephone number is known by the sender to be associated with the destination comprises only determining to transmit after receiving confirmation from the sender that the electronic message is to be transmitted to the mobile telephone number.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the destination prohibits transmission of communications to the mobile telephone number based on electronic messages, wherein

determining whether to transmit a communication that is based on the electronic message to the mobile telephone number based on a determination that the mobile telephone number is known by the sender to be associated with the destination comprises only determining to transmit after a determination is made that the destination does not prohibit transmission of communications to the mobile telephone number based on electronic messages.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving an indication of whether the destination prohibits transmissions of communications based on electronic messages to the mobile telephone number, wherein:

determining whether the destination prohibits transmission of a communication based on the electronic message to the mobile telephone number comprises accessing the indication of whether the instant message identity prohibits transmissions, and

determining whether to transmit comprises only determining to transmit after a determination is made, based on the accessed indication, that the destination does not prohibit transmissions of communications based on electronic messages to the mobile telephone number.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein:

determining whether the destination is available to receive an electronic message addressed to the destination comprises determining whether the destination is signed on to an instant message service used to send the electronic message, and

the determination that the destination is not available comprises a determination that the destination is not signed on to the instant message service.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein:

determining whether the destination is available to receive an electronic message addressed to the destination comprises determining whether the destination is signed on to an instant message service used to send the electronic message and determining whether the destination is away from a client system used to access the instant message service, and

the determination that the destination is not available comprises a determination that the destination is signed on to the instant message service and a determination that the destination is away from the client system.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein:

the determining whether the destination is away from a client system used to access the instant message service comprises determining whether a user-configurable away indication is associated with the destination, and

the determination that the destination is away from the client system comprises a determination that a user-configurable away indication is associated with the destination.

20. A method for communicating using electronic devices, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic message and an indication of a sender-specified destination for the electronic message;

determining whether the destination is available to receive an electronic message using a first mode of communication;

determining whether a second destination using a second mode of communication is known by the sender to be associated with the destination; and

in response to a determination that the destination is not available and that a second destination using a second mode of communication is known by the sender to be associated with the destination, enabling transmission of a communication that is based on the electronic message to the second destination and using the second mode of communication.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising selecting, based on a user preference, the second destination from multiple destinations.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein:

the electronic message comprises an instant message,

the destination comprises an instant message identity, and

the first mode of communication comprises instant messaging.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein:

the second destination comprises a mobile telephone number, and

the second mode of communication comprises sending a text message.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein:

the second destination comprises an electronic mail address, and

the second mode of communication comprises sending an electronic mail message.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein:

the second destination comprises a telephone number, and

the second mode of communication comprises sending a voice telephone message.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein:

the second destination comprises an instant message identity available through a instant messaging service that is different from the instant messaging service that is associated with the destination.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein:

the instant message identity comprises an identity that is not signed on to an instant message service, and

determining whether the destination is available to receive an electronic message using a first mode of communication comprises determining whether the instant message identity is signed on to an instant message service,

the method further comprising making a determination that the destination is not available if the instant message identity is not signed on to the instant message service.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein:

the instant message identity comprises an identity that is signed on to an instant message service and is associated with an idle state, and

determining whether the destination is available to receive an electronic message using a first mode of communication comprises;

determining whether the instant message identity is signed on to an instant message service, and

determining whether the instant message identity is associated with an idle state if the instant message identity is determined to be signed on to the instant message service,

the method further comprising making a determination that the destination is not available if the instant message identity is signed on to the instant message service and the instant message identity is associated with an idle state.

29. A computer program product that, when executed, generates a graphical user interface on a display device for using a computer service to communicate, the graphical user interface comprising:

a list of potential message recipients selected by a user as significant to the user;

a user identifier associated with each potential message recipient and configured as a conduit for message delivery to the associated potential message recipient using the computer service; and

one or more forwarding indications that indicate whether a message addressed to a potential message recipient is to be forwarded to a mobile telephone number associated with the potential message recipient based on a determination that the mobile telephone number is known by the user to be associated with the potential message recipient.

30. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein the one or more forwarding indications are displayed adjacent to the user identifier for the corresponding potential message recipient.

31. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein the one or more forwarding indications comprise icons.

32. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein:

the one or more forwarding indications comprise a first type of forwarding indication having a first presentation style that indicates that message forwarding to a mobile telephone number associated with a first potential message recipient associated with the first type of forwarding indication is enabled based on a determination that the mobile telephone number is known by the user to be associated with the potential message recipient, and

the graphical user interface further comprises one or more forwarding indications of a second type wherein the one or more forwarding indications of the second type have a second presentation style that indicates that message forwarding to a mobile telephone number associated with a second potential message recipient associated with the second type of forwarding indication is enabled such that message forwarding is enabled by the second potential message recipient.

33. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a control for sending a message to at least one of the potential message recipients.

34. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein the list of potential message recipients comprises one of an electronic address book or a contact list for the computer service.

35. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein:

the computer service comprises an instant messaging service, and

the list of potential message recipients comprises a buddy list.

36. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein the user identifier comprises an address for communication inspired through interaction with the graphical user interface.

37. The computer program product of claim 29 further comprising a mobile blocking indicator that indicates that message forwarding to a mobile telephone is prohibited by a potential message recipient.

38. The computer program product of claim 29 further comprising a mobile forwarding indication that indicates that a mobile telephone associated with a potential message recipient is capable of receiving a text message.

39. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein the list of potential message recipients includes categories of potential message recipients such that a category is associated with one or more potential message recipients.

40. The computer program product of claim 39 wherein:

a first category is associated with one or more potential message recipients that are each associated with a forwarding indication, and

a second category is associated with one or more potential message recipients that are not associated with the first category.