Patent ID: 8204942
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of handling electronic messages sent to an away or offline user, the method comprising: monitoring online habits of the away or offline user, the monitoring comprising monitoring use by the away or offline user of more than one electronic messaging medium relative to one another; based on the monitoring, deriving a pattern of away or offline status of the away or offline user; storing, in electronic storage, information that describes the pattern of away or offline status of the away or offline user; receiving one or more electronic messages sent from a first user to the away or offline user; in response to receiving the one or more electronic messages, accessing, from electronic storage, the information that describes the derived pattern of away or offline status of the away or offline user; determining, by at least one computer, an action to be taken in response to the one or more electronic messages based on the pattern of away or offline status of the away or offline user described by the accessed information; and performing the action to be taken, wherein monitoring use by the away or offline user of more than one electronic messaging medium relative to one another comprises monitoring use by the away or offline user of an electronic mail system relative to when the away or offline user is logged in to an instant messaging network; wherein deriving the pattern of away or offline status of the away or offline user comprises deriving a pattern of when the away or offline user is expected to check electronic mail using the electronic mail system after the user logs out of the instant messaging network; wherein determining the action to be taken in response to the one or more electronic messages based on the pattern of away or offline status of the away or offline user described by the accessed information comprises determining a response to the one or more electronic messages that indicates when the away or offline user is expected to check electronic mail using the electronic mail system based on the derived pattern of when the away or offline user is expected to check electronic mail using the electronic mail system after the user logs out of the instant messaging network; and wherein performing the action to be taken includes transmitting the response to the first user as an electronic message.