SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONVEYING INFORMATION TO AN INSTANT MESSAGING CLIENT

• US 20080155031A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Inventors: MURRAY, Sean MacLean, FORTIER, Stephane Maxime Francois
• Application Number:
  US11/614,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20080155031A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method for execution by a first client of an instant messaging service, comprising: obtaining data from a data source; and causing client-controlled information regarding the first client to include said data, thereby to cause the client-controlled information regarding the first client and including said data to be persistently conveyed by the instant messaging service to a second client of the instant messaging service. This allows a user associated with the first client to become aware of the data in a non-intrusive manner.

Claims

1. A method for execution by a first client of an instant messaging service, comprising:

obtaining data from a data source;

causing client-controlled information regarding the first client to include said data, thereby to cause the client-controlled information regarding the first client and including said data to be persistently conveyed by the instant messaging service to a second client of the instant messaging service.

2. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising:

creating a generic address associated with the first client.

3. The method defined in claim 2, further comprising:

using the generic address to identify the first client to the instant messaging service.

4. The method defined in claim 2, further comprising:

informing the second client of the generic address associated with the first client.

5. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said obtaining is performed occasionally.

6. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said obtaining is performed continuously.

7. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said obtaining is performed synchronously.

8. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said obtaining is performed asynchronously.

9. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said obtaining is triggered by instantiation of the first client.

10. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said obtaining comprises pulling said data from the data source.

11. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said obtaining comprises receiving said data that is pushed from the data source.

12. The method defined in claim 11, further comprising communicating with the data source to cause said data to be pushed from the data source.

13. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising, prior to said obtaining:

receiving and storing a client-specific address associated with at least one authorized client.

14. The method defined in claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a client-specific address associated with the second client;

determining whether the client-specific address associated with the second client matches the client-specific address of at least one of the at least one authorized client.

15. The method defined in claim 14, wherein said causing is performed only if the client-specific address associated with the second client matches the client-specific address of at least one of the at least one authorized client.

16. The method defined in claim 15, further comprising:

sending a confirmation message to indicate successful authorization of the second client if the client-specific address associated with the second client matches the client-specific address of at least one of the at least one authorized client.

17. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a desire of the second client to obtain said data; and

determining whether the second client is authorized to obtain said data;

wherein said causing is performed only if the second client is authorized to obtain said data.

18. The method defined in claim 17, wherein said determining comprises:

interacting with the second client to obtain authorization data therefrom;

determining whether the authorization data matches pre-stored authorization data.

19. The method defined in claim 18, wherein said interacting comprises an exchange of instant messages.

20. The method defined in claim 18, further comprising:

initiating said interacting.

21. The method defined in claim 20, wherein said initiating is performed by sending an instant message to the second client.

22. The method defined in claim 21, further comprising:

sending a confirmation message to indicate successful authorization of the second client if the authorization data matches the pre-stored authorization data.

23. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising:

creating a specific address associated with the first client, the specific address being unique to the second client.

24. The method defined in claim 23, further comprising:

using the specific address to identify the first client to the instant messaging service.

25. The method defined in claim 23, further comprising:

informing the second client of the specific address associated with the first client.

26. The method defined in claim 23, further comprising:

receiving customized alert parameters from the second client.

27. The method defined in claim 26, wherein said creating a specific address is performed in response to said receiving customized alert parameters.

28. The method defined in claim 27, wherein the customized alert parameters specify the data to be obtained from the data source by said step of obtaining.

29. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data is subject to an access restriction defined by a prior relationship between the second client and the data source, the method further comprising:

communicating with the data source to lift the access restriction.

30. The method defined in claim 29, further comprising:

receiving authentication credentials from the second client for lifting the access restriction.

31. The method defined in claim 29, wherein said communicating with the data source comprises reaching the data source at a default location known to the first client.

32. The method defined in claim 29, wherein said communicating with the data source comprises reaching the data source at a location specified by the second client.

33. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining seed data from the first client;

wherein obtaining the data from the data source comprises receiving a response from the data source to a query based on the seed data.

34. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining changed data from a data source;

causing the client-controlled information regarding the first client to include said changed data, thereby to cause the client-controlled information regarding the first client and including said changed data to be persistently conveyed by the instant messaging service to the second client.

35. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second clients are linked to one another.

36. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second clients are linked to one another via respective contact lists.

37. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a share price reporting service.

38. The method defined in claim 37, wherein the data related to the data service comprises the share price of a given company.

39. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a weather reporting service.

40. The method defined in claim 39, wherein the data related to the data service comprises a weather report for a given city.

41. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a sports reporting service.

42. The method defined in claim 41, wherein the data related to the data service comprises the current score in a sporting event.

43. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a web monitoring service.

44. The method defined in claim 43, wherein the data related to the data service comprises an indication of a recent addition to a blog or website.

45. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a general traffic reporting service.

46. The method defined in claim 45, wherein the data related to the data service comprises an indication of the traffic conditions on certain roads or bridges.

47. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a news reporting service on specific topics.

48. The method defined in claim 47, wherein the data related to the data service comprises news regarding the specific topics.

49. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a movie listing service.

50. The method defined in claim 49, wherein the data related to the data service comprises a schedule or price grid for movies being shown at a certain movie theater.

51. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a horoscope service.

52. The method defined in claim 51, wherein the data related to the data service comprises commentary about each zodiac sign.

53. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a lottery results service.

54. The method defined in claim 53, wherein the data related to the data service comprises the result of recent prize draws.

55. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a transportation schedule service.

56. The method defined in claim 55, wherein the data related to the data service comprises current information regarding at least one of trains, flights and public transit.

57. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a product pricing service.

58. The method defined in claim 57, wherein the data related to the data service comprises information regarding the movement in the price of a certain product available from one or more suppliers.

59. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises an advertisement service.

60. The method defined in claim 59, wherein the data related to the data service comprises an advertisement for a product or service.

61. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a stock portfolio reporting service customized for a user of the second client.

62. The method defined in claim 61, wherein the data related to the data service comprises the share price of companies in a user-selected portfolio.

63. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a news reporting service customized for a user of the second client.

64. The method defined in claim 63, wherein the data related to the data service comprises the headline news from news sources in a user-selected set of news sources or regarding user-specific topics.

65. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a traffic reporting service customized for a user of the second client.

66. The method defined in claim 65, wherein the data related to the data service comprises the current traffic synopsis for a user-selected travel route.

67. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a web search service customized for a user of the second client.

68. The method defined in claim 67, wherein the data related to the data service comprises a feature of an online search.

69. The method defined in claim 68, wherein the feature includes at least one of current status, number of results and result relevancy score.

70. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a real estate service customized for a user of the second client.

71. The method defined in claim 70, wherein the data related to the data service comprises an availability of a property meeting user-defined criteria.

72. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a dating service customized for a user of the second client.

73. The method defined in claim 72, wherein the data related to the data service comprises an availability of a person of interest matching a user-defined profile.

74. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a job search service customized for a user of the second client.

75. The method defined in claim 74, wherein the data related to the data service comprises an availability of a position matching user-defined criteria.

76. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a shopping service customized for a user of the second client.

77. The method defined in claim 76, wherein the data related to the data service comprises an availability of an item or service meeting user-defined criteria.

78. The method defined in claim 77, wherein the user-defined criteria comprises a price.

79. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a web monitoring customized for a user of the second client.

80. The method defined in claim 79, wherein the data related to the data service comprises an indication of the most recent addition to a user-selected set of blogs or websites.

81. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a link to a voice mail system subscribed to by a user of the second client.

82. The method defined in claim 81, wherein the data related to the data service comprises a feature of voice mail messages in a voice mail box of the user.

83. The method defined in claim 82, wherein the feature includes at least one of message urgency, number of messages, number of new messages and content of messages.

84. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a link to a financial institution subscribed to by a user of the second client.

85. The method defined in claim 84, wherein the data related to the data service comprises a feature regarding the user'"'"'s account.

86. The method defined in claim 85, wherein the feature includes at least one of a current balance and a transaction listing.

87. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a link to a home security system subscribed to by a user of the second client.

88. The method defined in claim 87, wherein the data related to the data service comprises the current status of at least one sensor in the user'"'"'s home.

89. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a link to an email system subscribed to by a user of the second client.

90. The method defined in claim 89, wherein the data related to the data service comprises a feature of email messages in an electronic mailbox of the user.

91. The method defined in claim 90, wherein the feature includes at least one of message urgency, number of messages, number of unread messages, content of messages.

92. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a link to a vehicle management system subscribed to by a user of the second client.

93. The method defined in claim 92, wherein the data related to the data service comprises a feature of at least one vehicle in a fleet.

94. The method defined in claim 93, wherein the feature includes at least one of vehicle location and vehicle diagnostics.

95. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a link to a mapping system subscribed to by a user of the second client.

96. The method defined in claim 95, wherein the data related to the data service comprises the location of at least one items associated with an account of the user.

97. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a link to a telephony presence feature subscribed to by a user of the second client.

99. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a link to a text messaging system subscribed to by a user of the second client.

100. The method defined in claim 99, wherein the data related to the data service comprises a feature of text messages in a text message mailbox of the user.

101. The method defined in claim 100, wherein the feature includes at least one of message urgency, number of text messages, number of unread text messages, content of text messages.

113. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the client-controlled information conveys an online state or an offline state in dependence upon said data.

114. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the client-controlled information is indicative of whether the data has or has not been previously observed by a user of the first client.

115. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising interacting with the second client to receive a request for further information regarding the data related to the at least one data service.

116. The method defined in claim 115, wherein said interacting with the second client causes the transmission of at least one instant message.

117. The method defined in claim 116, wherein said interacting with the second client causes the transmission of at least one instant message for conveyance of said further information regarding the data related to the data service.

98. The method defined in claim 98, wherein the data related to the data service comprises an indication of whether a given potential called party is engaged in a telephone conversation.

102. A method for execution by each of a plurality of first clients of an instant messaging service, each of the first clients associated with a respective one of a plurality of second clients, comprising:

obtaining respective data from a data source;

causing client-controlled information regarding the respective first client to include said respective data, thereby to cause the client-controlled information regarding the respective first client and including said respective data to be persistently conveyed by the instant messaging service to the respective second client.

103. The method defined in claim 102, further comprising:

creating a plurality of specific addresses respectively associated with the plurality of first clients.

104. The method defined in claim 103, further comprising:

using the plurality of specific addresses to respectively identify the plurality of first clients to the instant messaging service.

105. The method defined in claim 104, further comprising:

informing each of the second clients of the respective one of the plurality of first clients.

106. The method defined in claim 105, further comprising:

creating a generic address collectively associated with the plurality of first clients.

107. The method defined in claim 107, further comprising:

using the generic address to collectively identify the plurality of first clients to the instant messaging service.

108. The method defined in claim 108, further comprising:

informing each of the second clients of the generic address.

109. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable program code which, when executed by a computing apparatus, causes the computing apparatus to execute a method, said computer-readable program code comprising:

first computer-readable program code for obtaining data from a data source;

second computer-readable program code for causing client-controlled information regarding the first client to include said data, thereby to cause the client-controlled information regarding the first client and including said data to be persistently conveyed by the instant messaging service to a second client.

110. A computer-readable memory medium, comprising:

a first memory area associated with a first client of an instant messaging service;

a second memory area associated with a second client of an instant messaging service;

the first memory area comprising a region for persistent conveyance to the first client, the region identifying the second client;

the second memory area storing client-controlled information regarding the second client;

the region in the first memory area comprising data associated with the first client, said data being related to the contents of the second memory area.

111. A method, comprising persistently conveying to a first instant messaging client information associated with and controlled by a second instant messaging client, said information comprising data obtained from a data source by the second instant messaging client.

112. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable program code which, when executed by a computing apparatus, causes the computing apparatus to persistently convey to a first instant messaging client information associated with and controlled by a second instant messaging client, said information comprising data obtained from a data source by the second instant messaging client.