Patent ID: 7739340
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method implemented on a computer and/or communication device comprising: a processor generating an electronic notice of a meeting within an electronic calendaring application; transmitting the electronic notice to one or more electronic accounts via corresponding electronic addresses from an electronic mail application to which the electronic calendaring application is linked, wherein the transmitting of the electronic notice occurs via electronic mail; storing meeting particulars including an electronic account identifier (ID) of each of the one or more electronic accounts to which the electronic notice was transmitted; linking a corresponding instant messaging (IM) ID with each electronic account ID, wherein the IM ID is retrieved from an IM service accessible on the computer and/or communication device or is received in a reply message to the electronic notice; generating a meeting invitee status display (MISD) that indicates (a) a listing of the one or more electronic account IDs; (b) a reply status of the one or more electronic account IDs to the electronic notice of the meeting; and (c) a current online status of each IM ID linked to the one or more electronic account IDs; when a reply message is received to the electronic notice, updating the MISD by linking the corresponding IM ID within an IM ID status field of the MISD that tracks an online status of the IM ID within the IM service, such that the online status is reflected within the calendaring application; providing within the MISD a selection mechanism to initiate a specific type of IM communication via the IM service; enabling initiation of an IM session from an interface of the electronic calendaring application using the electronic account ID, which is presented within the interface and is linked to the corresponding IM ID to enable the IM session over the IM service to be initiated via (a) a selection of the electronic account ID and (b) a request provided within the MISD on the calendaring application to trigger initiation of the IM session via the IM service; and enabling completion of one or more of several functions with one or more of the electronic account IDs, from among: printing a list of electronic account IDs notified of the meeting along with the reply status; activating an IM chat session; activating a video conference with electronic account IDs having corresponding IM IDs that are currently logged in; forwarding an automatic IM reminder of the meeting via the IM service; and completing a pre-programmed user function.