Patent ID: 8082302
Filing Date: 2011-12-20
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium for managing user chat status values in an instant messaging application on a data processing system, wherein a user chat status value indicates the availability of a user to participate in an instant messaging session, the computer program product comprising: instructions for allowing a user to select one or more priority telephone numbers that are screened for activity; instructions for automatically detecting user activity and/or user inactivity external to an instant messaging application, wherein the instructions for automatically detecting user activity and/or user inactivity external to an instant messaging application comprises instructions for automatically determining user activity and/or user inactivity based on telephone line activity; instructions for automatically screening caller ID information associated with an incoming telephone call with respect to the one or more priority telephone numbers; and instructions for automatically setting a user chat status value within the instant messaging application based on the detected user activity and/or the detected user inactivity, wherein the instructions for automatically setting a user chat status value within the instant messaging application based on the detected user activity and/or the detected user inactivity, comprises instructions for automatically setting a chat status based on telephone line activity only if the caller ID information associated with the incoming telephone call matches a priority telephone number.