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

• US 7,412,657 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Forlenza, Randolph Michael, Kaemmerer, John Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton; Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): LONG, ANDREA NATAE
• Application Number:
  US10/926,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20060048061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 715/751, 715/758
• 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, wherein the user belongs to a particular organization;

setting the ‘

away’

message, wherein the ‘

away’

message comprises a first message for other users who belong to the particular organization and a second, different message for other users who do not belong to the particular organization;

transmitting an indication of the ‘

away’

message to an instant messaging system manager via a network;

waiting until activation of a screen saver before attempting to detect activity of the user to determine whether a change in status has occurred;

after activation of the screen saver determining that the change in status has occurred by receiving a user input via a user input device indicating that the user is active while the status indicator is in an ‘

away’

status;

after determining that the change in status has occurred, querying the user to determine if the user desires to change the status indicator to active; and

in response to an affirmative response from the user, automatically transmitting an indication of the change in status to the instant messaging system manager via the network.

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

3. 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.

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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the received user input via the user input device indicating that the user is active includes an indication of a mouse movement.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the received user input via the user input device indicating that the user is active includes an indication of a keystroke.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the received user input via the user input device indicating that the user is active includes an indication of a use of a pointer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the received user input via the user input device indicating that the user is active includes an indication of a use of a pen.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the received user input via the user input device indicating that the user is active includes an indication of a voice command.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the received user input via the user input device indicating that the user is active includes an indication of the user opening a chat window.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the received user input via the user input device indicating that the user is active includes an indication of the user interacting with a chat window.

14. 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.