System and method for automatically responding to a received communication

• US 20070011367A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mousseau, Gary, Scott, Sherryl
• GRANTED PATENT: US 7,673,055 B2
• Time in patent office: 0 Days
• US Class Current: 710/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation, e.g. computer aided management of electronic mail or groupware electronic mail protocols H04L29/06 ; arrangements for user-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, e.g. e-mail or instant messages, H04L41/00; Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting organizing, planning, scheduling or allocating time G06Q10/06

Abstract

A device and a method of responding to a received interrupt event received by a communication device is provided. The method comprises accessing data associated with a calendar application and/or a location application to determine a current state of availability of a user of the device using data; determining whether a response action is to be sent in response to the event when the device is note available; and sending the response action. The device incorporates modules to perform the method.

Claims

1. A method of responding to a received interrupt event for a user of a communication device, comprising:

accessing data associated from at least one of a plurality of applications operating on said device to determine a current state of availability of said user;

determining whether a response action is to be sent in response to said interrupt event when said device is in said current state of availability; and

if said response action is to be sent,

building said response action utilizing context data associated with at least one application operating on said device, said context data providing context to said response action; and

sending said response action to a sender associated with said interrupt event.

2. The method of responding to a received interrupt event in a communication device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said response action includes a projected available time for said user extracted from said data.

3. The method of responding to a received interrupt event in a communication device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said response action is sent using a same communication method used by said interrupt event.

4. The method of responding to a received interrupt event in a communication device as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

a second response action is sent to said sender in using a communication method different than said same communication method.

5. The method of responding to a received interrupt event in a communication device as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

said response action and said second response action collectively utilize email and SMS communications.

6. The method of responding to a received interrupt event in a communication device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

upon a change of said current state of availability, another response action is sent to said sender advising of said change.

7. The method of responding to a received interrupt event in a communication device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

when a change of said current state of availability occurs, a notice is provided on said device indicating previous response actions sent during a previous state of unavailability.

8. The method of responding to a received interrupt event in a communication device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said notice includes a link to initiate a response communication with said sender.

9. The method of responding to a received interrupt event in a communication device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

a response template is provided to allow entry of said response and any other responses in view of said received interrupt event.

10. The method of responding to a received interrupt event in a communication device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said data relates to a current location identified by a location application operating on said device;

said location application relates to a GPS function;

said response action indicates that said user is in said current location.

11. The method of responding to a received interrupt event in a communication device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said context data is extracted from at least two applications operating on said device, and provides at least data associated with said sender and data associated with said current state of availability of said user.

12. The method of responding to a received interrupt event in a communication device as claimed in claim 11 wherein:

said current state of availability of said user is selected from a do not disturb state, an available state and a not available state.

13. A communication device for receiving and responding to a received interrupt event, comprising:

a calendar application to track and provide a current state of availability of a user of said device utilizing availability data provided by said user;

a communication module to receive and send communications utilizing at least one communication technology;

an application

to track said received interrupt event received from said communication module;

to identify whether a response action is to be sent to a sender of said received interrupt event in response to said availability data;

and if said response action is to be sent,

to build said response action utilizing context data associated with at least one application operating on said device, said context data providing context to said response action; and

sending said response action to said sender.

14. The communication device as claimed in claim 13 wherein

for said response action, said application provides details relating to said current state of availability.

15. The communication device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said response action is sent using a communication technology associated with said received interrupt event.

16. The communication device as claimed in claim 15 wherein

said at least one communication technology comprises at least data and telephonic communications;

and

said application sends said response action using a different communication technology from a communication technology associated with said received interrupt event.

17. The communication device as claimed in claim 13 wherein:

said application sends another response action to said sender upon a change of said current state of availability of said user.

18. The communication device as claimed in claim 13 wherein:

said application generates a notice indicating responses sent prior to a change of said current state of availability.

19. The communication device as claimed in claim 13 wherein:

said context data is extracted from at least two applications operating on said device, and provides at least data associated with said sender and data associated with said current state of availability of said user.

20. The communication device as claimed in claim 19 wherein:

said current state of availability of said user is selected from a do not disturb state, an available state and a not available state.