Accepting an invitation sent to multiple computer systems
First Claim
1. A method in a computing system for choosing one of multiple endpoints of a user to accept an invitation for the user to join a conversation, each endpoint being a computing device, the method comprising:
- performing at each of multiple endpoints that are registered with an instant messaging service,receiving at the endpoint of the user an invitation to join the conversation, the invitation being received by the instant messaging service and sent to each registered endpoint of the user by the instant messaging service;
notifying the user of the received invitation by displaying an information window to the user;
determining at the endpoint whether the endpoint meets an invitation acceptance criterion based on user interaction with the information window, the acceptance criterion being met when the user interacts with the information window within a certain time by either manually accepting the invitation of the information window or manually dismissing the information window;
when the endpoint determines that it meets the acceptance criterion,sending by the endpoint an acceptance to join the conversation;
creating a conversation window for the conversation;
when the user interacted with the information window by manually accepting the invitation, displaying the created conversation window so that the user can participate in the conversation; and
when the user interacted with the information window by manually dismissing the information window, automatically minimizing the created conversation window without displaying the created conversation window wherein the user cannot participate in the conversation while the created conversation window is minimized; and
when the endpoint determines that it does not meet the acceptance criterion because the user did not interact with the information window within a certain time,applying an acceptance algorithm to determine whether the endpoint should accept the invitation, wherein the endpoint subscribes to receive changes in the acceptance algorithm and applies the acceptance algorithm based on received changes to the acceptance algorithm; and
when the applying indicates that the endpoint should accept the invitation, sending by the endpoint an acceptance to join the conversation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for accepting invitations sent to multiple endpoints for an instant messaging participant is provided. The acceptance system allows multiple endpoints of a participant to be registered at the same time with an instant messaging service. The endpoint of the inviting participant sends an invitation to the instant messaging service indicating that the receiving participant is to be invited to establish a conversation with the inviting participant. When the instant messaging service receives the invitation, it detects that the receiving participant has multiple endpoints registered and forwards the invitation to each registered endpoint. When an endpoint receives the invitation request, it displays an information window asking whether the receiving participant wants to accept the invitation. Upon acceptance, the endpoint sends an acceptance to the endpoint of the inviting participant to establish the conversation between that endpoint and the endpoint of the inviting participant.
59 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method in a computing system for choosing one of multiple endpoints of a user to accept an invitation for the user to join a conversation, each endpoint being a computing device, the method comprising:
performing at each of multiple endpoints that are registered with an instant messaging service, receiving at the endpoint of the user an invitation to join the conversation, the invitation being received by the instant messaging service and sent to each registered endpoint of the user by the instant messaging service; notifying the user of the received invitation by displaying an information window to the user; determining at the endpoint whether the endpoint meets an invitation acceptance criterion based on user interaction with the information window, the acceptance criterion being met when the user interacts with the information window within a certain time by either manually accepting the invitation of the information window or manually dismissing the information window; when the endpoint determines that it meets the acceptance criterion, sending by the endpoint an acceptance to join the conversation; creating a conversation window for the conversation; when the user interacted with the information window by manually accepting the invitation, displaying the created conversation window so that the user can participate in the conversation; and when the user interacted with the information window by manually dismissing the information window, automatically minimizing the created conversation window without displaying the created conversation window wherein the user cannot participate in the conversation while the created conversation window is minimized; and when the endpoint determines that it does not meet the acceptance criterion because the user did not interact with the information window within a certain time, applying an acceptance algorithm to determine whether the endpoint should accept the invitation, wherein the endpoint subscribes to receive changes in the acceptance algorithm and applies the acceptance algorithm based on received changes to the acceptance algorithm; and when the applying indicates that the endpoint should accept the invitation, sending by the endpoint an acceptance to join the conversation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
9. A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for controlling each endpoint of multiple endpoints of a user to accept an invitation for the user to join a conversation, each endpoint being a computing device and being registered with an instant messaging service, by a method comprising:
-
receiving at the endpoint of the user an invitation to join the conversation, invitation being sent to each registered endpoint of the user by the instant messaging service; notifying the user of the received invitation by displaying at the endpoint an information window to the user so that each endpoint displays an information window; determining at the endpoint whether the user interacts with the information window within a certain time; when the endpoint determines that the user interacted with the information window within a certain time, sending by the endpoint to the instant messaging service an acceptance to join the conversation; creating a conversation window for the conversation; when the user interacted with the information window by manually accepting the invitation, displaying the created conversation window so that the user can participate in the conversation; and when the user interacted with the information window by manually dismissing the information window, minimizing the created conversation window; and when the endpoint determines that the user did not interact with the information window in a certain time, applying an acceptance algorithm to determine whether the endpoint should accept the invitation, wherein the endpoint subscribes to receive changes in the acceptance algorithm and applies the acceptance algorithm based on received changes to the acceptance algorithm; and when the application of the acceptance algorithm indicates that the endpoint should accept the invitation, sends to the instant messaging service an acceptance to join the conversation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An endpoint for accepting an invitation for a user to join a conversation, the user having multiple endpoints being computing devices and being registered with an instant messaging service, comprising:
-
a component that notifies the user of the received invitation by displaying at the endpoint an information window to the user so that each endpoint displays an information window; a component that receives an invitation to join the conversation, invitation being sent to each registered endpoint of the user by the instant messaging service; a component that determines whether the user interacts with the information window within a certain time; a component that when the endpoint determines that the user interacted with the information window within a certain time, sends to the instant messaging service an acceptance to join the conversation; creates a conversation window for the conversation; when the user interacted with the information window by manually accepting the invitation, displays the created conversation window so that the user can participate in the conversation; and when the user interacted with the information window by manually dismissing the information window, minimizes the created conversation window; and a component that when the endpoint determines that the user did not interact with the information window in a certain time, applies an acceptance algorithm to determine whether the endpoint should accept the invitation, wherein the endpoint subscribes to receive changes in the acceptance algorithm and applies the acceptance algorithm based on received changes to the acceptance algorithm; and when the application of the acceptance algorithm indicates that the endpoint should accept the invitation, sends to the instant messaging service an acceptance to join the conversation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
Specification