Patent ID: 8103958
Filing Date: 2012-01-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of communicating a user's Instant Messaging (IM) availability status, the method comprising: associating a user-defined shortcut command with a user-drafted status response; in response to a user receiving a first instant message from a first sender at an inopportune time and the user then inputting the user-defined shortcut command, automatically transmitting the user-drafted status response to the first sender of the first instant message that was received at the inopportune time; and in response to automatically transmitting the user-drafted status response to the first sender of the first instant message that was received at the inopportune time and in response to receiving a second instant message from a second sender at the inopportune time and some time after receiving the first instant message from the first sender, automatically transmitting the user-drafted status response to the second sender of the second instant message without receiving the user-defined shortcut command as input from the user.