Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20090063677A1/en
Timestamp: 2019-07-16 04:29:29
Document Index: 276447192

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 120', 'art 400', 'art 400', 'art 400', 'art 400', 'art 500', 'art 500', 'art 500', 'art 500', 'art 700']

US20090063677A1 - Systems and Media For Updating An Instant Messaging System - Google Patents
US20090063677A1
US20090063677A1 US12/127,970 US12797008A US2009063677A1 US 20090063677 A1 US20090063677 A1 US 20090063677A1 US 12797008 A US12797008 A US 12797008A US 2009063677 A1 US2009063677 A1 US 2009063677A1
US8099670B2 (en
2008-05-28 Application filed by Randolph Michael Forlenza, John Paul Kaemmerer filed Critical Randolph Michael Forlenza
Systems and media for updating an instant messaging system on a network are disclosed. More particularly, hardware and/or software for updating status indicators such as ‘away’ messages of an instant messaging system are disclosed. Embodiments include determining that a change in status of the user has occurred and automatically transmitting an indication of the change in status to instant messenger system manager via a network. Embodiments include determining that a change in status of the user has occurred based oh receiving an indication that the user's status has changed, such as from user input on a keyboard, mouse, etc. Other embodiments, include determining that a change in status has occurred based on determining that the user's status has changed based on an electronic calendar, expiration of a time period, etc.
Pursuant to 35 USC § 120, this continuation application claims priority to and benefit, of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/926,590, entitled “SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND MEDIA FOR UPDATING AN INSTANT MESSAGING SYSTEM”, attorney docket number AUS920040304US2(4056), filed on Aug. 26, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety for all purposes.
The present invention is in the field of data processing systems and, in particular, to systems and media for updating the status of a user on ah instant messaging system oh a network by automatically updating a status indicator when a change in the user's status has occurred.
The popularity of IM systems is partially based oh the immediacy of IM systems, particularly when compared to e-mail. This immediacy requires both parties in an IM exchange to be on-line at the same time, unlike e-mail. It allows, however, for interactive, back-and-forth exchanges of information without having to perform multiple steps to read, reply, and send a reply e-mail.
IM systems: typically provide a choice of different status configurations indicating the user's current status. These status indications will be seen by other users from their own IM programs. If a user is active and available for instant messaging, their status will indicate ‘active’. If a user is active on the system and desires not to receive instant messages, they may also select a ‘do not disturb’ status which will tell other users not to transmit instant messages even though the user is on-line. If a user is logged in to the system but will be unable to respond to instant messages, such as when they are in a meeting, they may select an ‘away’ status. A user may designate a customized ‘away’ message that provides whatever details a user would like, such as how long the user will be away. If a user is off of the system (logged out, etc.), the instant messaging system will indicate that the user is off-line with no status indicator.
There is, therefore, a need for an easy and effective system to facilitate updating of status messages on an instant messaging system. There is ah even greater need for such a system when customized ‘away’ messages are used.
Another embodiment provides a machine accessible medium containing instructions effective, when executing in a data processing system, to cause the system to perform a series of operations for synchronizing a database on a network. The series of operations generally includes receiving a request to configure a status indicator of the instant messaging system to an away status for a user, wherein the request to configure the status indicator includes an indication of an ‘away’ message. The series of operations also generally includes setting the ‘away’ message and transmitting an indication of the ‘away’ message to an instant messaging system manager. The series of operations further includes determining that/a change in status has occurred and automatically transmitting an indication of the change in status to the instant messaging system manager.
Generally speaking, systems, methods and media for updating an instant messaging system on a network are disclosed. More particularly, hardware and/or software components for updating status indicators such as ‘away’ messages of an instant messaging system are disclosed. Embodiments include determining that a change in status of the user has occurred and automatically transmitting ah indication of the change in status to instant messenger system manager via a network. Embodiments include determining that a change in status of the user has occurred based on receiving an indication that the user's status has changed, such as from user input on a keyboard, mouse, etc. Other embodiments include determining that a change-in status has occurred based oh determining that the user's status has changed based on an electronic calendar, expiration of a time period, etc.
The disclosed embodiments help prevent outdated ‘away’ messages for a user that may confuse or mislead other users. By determining that a change in status may have occurred and automatically transmitting ah indication of me change in status to an instant messenger system manager in some embodiments, obsolete, incorrect or misleading ‘away’ messages can be minimized. In some embodiments, little or no action by the user is necessary.
Network 110 may be any type of data communications channel, such as the Internet, an intranet, a LAN, a WAN, an Ethernet network, a wireless network, a proprietary network, a broadband cable network, etc. Many instant messaging systems, such as ICQ, utilize the Internet and are open to all. Other IM systems, such as Time Warner Lie's AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), use proprietary networks. Semi-private networks are used in some instant messaging systems, such as Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Messenger. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the invention described herein may be, implemented utilizing any type of data communications channel.
IM system manager 104 may be executing on one or more personal computers, workstations, servers, mainframe computers, notebook or laptop computers, desktop computers, PDAs, set-top boxes, mobile phones, wireless device, or the like. In one embodiment, an IM system manager 104 may be a server in communication with a plurality of computer systems 102 via network 110. IM system manager 104 facilitates instant messaging between IM clients 108 oh different computer systems 102 by transmitting and receiving information, such as the identification, status, and/or network address of IM clients 108 and/or computer systems 102. Many different IM system manager 104 applications exist, such as ICQ, AIM, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, etc. Optional database 106 may provide storage for any type of information for the IM system manager 104, such as information about IM clients 108, network addresses, etc. Database 106 may be located anywhere within system 100, including as a standalone database, as part of the IM system manager 104, etc., and may be stored on any type of storage device, such as hard drives, volatile memory, etc.
In this embodiment, a user using the IM client 108 may see a list of all of their contacts or buddies and the status of each. The status of each contact may be ‘active’, ‘away’, ‘do not disturb’, or off-line, as described previously. Some, of the ‘away’ statuses may include ‘away’ messages, which are user-configurable or automatically generated messages that provide additional information as to the status of the user beyond simply that they are away or unavailable. ‘Away’ message is used as a general term to indicate a message that provides any indication that a user is not available for instant messaging. In one example, an ‘away’ message may indicate that the user is in a meeting for two hours and will not be active on the instant messaging system during that time. In another example, an ‘away’ message may indicate that a user will be away from their computer for the rest of the afternoon. In both of these examples, a user may very easily forget that their ‘away’ message is configured in this way when they return to their computer, possibly misleading other users. Even after they log back in to the IM system manager 104 (becoming ‘active’ again) and later log back out; their ‘away’ message will remain the same unless they actively change it, resulting in additional confusion.
Disclosed embodiments address this issue and provide an automatic way of updating the status indicator of a user, particularly the ‘away’ message. In one embodiment, a user sets a particular ‘away’ message (of it is automatically generated) and logs off the IM system manager 104. If the user becomes active again on their computer system 102, the IM client 108 may reset the ‘away’ message and transmit the new status, including the reset ‘away’ message, to the IM system manager 104 so that other users, do not receive outdated information. The user may be considered active again on the computer system if they use the keyboard, mouse, pointer, pen, voice command device, or other user input devices, or if they initiate an instant message or chat. In another embodiment, the IM client 108 may interface, with a calendar program to receive more accurate status information for the user and may reset the ‘away’ message based on the user's calendar program. These and other embodiments provide a more accurate ‘away’ message for a user on ah instant messaging system.
FIG. 2 depicts ah exploded perspective view of certain elements of a personal computer 212 according to one embodiment, including a chassis 230, a cover 214, and a planar board 232. Cover 214 is a decorative outer member that cooperates with a chassis 230 in defining an enclosed, shielded interior volume for receiving electrically powered data processing arid storage components to process and store digital data. At least certain of these components may be mounted on a multi-layer planar 232 or motherboard which may be mounted on the chassis 230 and may provide a means for electrically interconnecting the components of the personal computer 212, including those identified above and such other associated elements as floppy disk drives, various forms of direct access storage devices, accessory adapter cards or boards, arid the like.
In the illustrated form, a pair of upper bays 242, 244 arid a lower bay 246 are provided. One of the upper bays 242 may be adapted to receive peripheral drives of a first size (such as those known as 3.5 inch drives) while the other 244 may be adapted to receive drives of a different size (such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive) while the lower bay may be adapted to receive another drive. One floppy disk drive indicated at 248 maybe a removable medium direct access storage device (DASD) capable of receiving a diskette inserted there into and using the diskette to receive, store arid deliver data as is generally known. One CD-ROM drive indicated at 250 is a removable medium DASD capable of receiving a compact disc inserted there into and using the disc to deliver data as is generally known. One hard disk drive is indicated at 252 and is a fixed medium DASD capable of storing arid delivering data as is generally known.
Input/Output Controller Hub (ICH) 314 may be designed to coordinate communications with various I/O devices. In the depicted embodiment, ICH 314 couples with local area network (LAN) adapter 324, universal serial bus (USB) ports 328, redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller 330, integrated drive electronics (IDE) bus 332, PCI Express (PCI-E) bus 334, PCI bus 350, arid low pin count (LPC)bus 370. LAN adapter 324 may be coupled to either the PCI bus 350 or directly to ICH 314 to facilitate communication (i.e., transmit/receive data) with a remote computer or server over a LAN via a connection or link 326. LAN adapter 324 may be a card to be plugged in personal computer 212 or a LAN connection embedded on the planar 232. LAN adapter 324 may also be known as a network interface card (NIC).
Attached to the LPC 370 may be a flash memory (FM) module or chip 372, power management logic 374, and a real-time clock (RTC) 376, and a multi-function or super I/O controller 380. Flash memory module 372 contains microcode that personal computer 212 may execute on power on and may be a non-volatile memory module or chip. Power management logic 374 allows for changing between various power states (e.g., off, suspend arid normal operating states). The real-time clock (RTC) 376 may be used for time of day calculations. Super I/O controller 380 may include functionality such as, for example, a National Semiconductor PC87307. The super I/O controller 380 may contain a variety of I/O adapters arid other components such as the diskette adapter 382, serial adapter 384, a parallel adapter 386 and keyboard controller 388. The diskette adapter 382 provides the interface to the diskette drive 348. The serial adapter 384 has an external port connector, serial port 390, for attachment of external devices such as modems (not shown). The parallel adapter 386 has an external port connector, parallel port 392, for attachment of external devices such as printers (not shown). The keyboard controller 388 is the interface for the connectors, keyboard 336 and mouse 338.
FIG. 4 depicts ah example of a flow chart 400 for updating the status of a user on an instant messaging system according to one embodiment. The method of flow chart 400 may be performed, in one embodiment, by an IM client 108 executing on a computer system 102. Flow chart 400 begins with element 402, receiving a request to configure a status indicator to an away status. In one embodiment of this element, an IM client 108 receives a request from a user to configure the status indicator to an away status. A user may make such a request by selecting an away status from a pull down menu or any other input method. The user may optionally select an away status that may be, automatically updated (such as described in this FIG. 4) from a list of statuses that includes any methodologies for updating away status or not updating away status at all. Flow chart 400 continues to element 404, where the away status and ‘away’ message are set based on the input received in element 402.
FIG. 5 depicts an example of a flow chart 500 for updating the status of a user on an instant messaging system according to an alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, users may configure any number of ‘away’ messages to be displayed based on an associated time slot for each. The function of flow chart 500 may be performed oh ah IM client 108, computer system 102, or other system. In element 502, one or more ‘away’ messages are received, each with an associated time slot during which it should be used, where each time slot may have a start time and an end time. A queue of ‘away’ messages may thus be created, providing for a series of ‘away’ messages. One example of this queue would be an ‘away’ message that was listed as a first time slot that said “I'm unavailable arid in a meeting” that had start and stop times of 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively, and another ‘away’ message in a second time slot from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. that said “Out of office running errands”. Users may select a time slot, such as from a pull-down menu, for each ‘away’ message. The user entry mechanism may prevent overlap of ‘away’ messages or, in an alternative embodiment, it may allow overlapping ‘away’ messages and utilize any type of methodology to resolve conflicts, such as based on priority, which message started earliest, alphabetical order, etc.
Flow chart 500 continues to element 504, determining the appropriate ‘away’ message. In element 504, the method analyzes the ‘away’ messages received in element 502 and determines which of them should be used based on the current time (and time conflict resolution methodology, if relevant). The operation of element 504 is described in more detail in relation to FIG. 6. In element 506, the method transmits the ‘away’ message determined in element 504 to the IM system manager 104. The IM system manager 104 may store the new status information, update its records, transmit the new status information to other users (such as those on the initial user's contact list), etc. In one embodiment, the newly determined ‘away’ message is ultimately transmitted to other users from the contact list so that each user has the most current status information. The method continues to decision block 508, determining if the ‘away’ message is no longer active and, if not, whether another ‘away’ message is available. If the current ‘away’ message is ho longer active (i.e., the timeframe has expired) and another ‘away’ message is available, the flow chart returns to element 504, where a new ‘away’ message is determined. If no new ‘away’ messages are available, flow chart 500 terminates, leaving the last ‘away’ message as the current status indicator.
FIG. 7 depicts a flow chart example for updating the status of a user on an instant messaging system according to another alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, the ‘away’ messages may be configured based on an electronic calendar. The function of flow chart 700 may be performed by ah IM client 108 on a computer system 102, in one example, that may be in communication with an electronic calendar, which may be on the computer system 102 or accessible using network 110. In element 702, the method receives a request to configure ‘away’ messages based on an electronic calendar. Any electronic calendar may be used, such as Microsoft Corporation's Outlook, Yahoo! Inc.'s Calendar, etc. The request is typically received from a user, and may be selected by the user from a pull-down menu or other data entry method. The IM client 508 and electronic calendar may also be integrated into one program.
In general, the routines executed to implement the embodiments of the invention, may be part of an operating system or a specific application, component, program, module, object, or sequence of instructions. The computer program of the present invention typically is comprised of a multitude of instructions that will be translated by the native computer into a machine-readable format and hence executable instructions. Also, programs are comprised of variables and data structures that either reside locally to the program or are found in memory or on storage devices. In addition, various programs described hereinafter may be identified based upon the application for which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular program nomenclature that follows is used merely for convenience, arid thus the invention should not be limited to use solely in any specific application identified and/or implied by such nomenclature.
receiving a request to configure a status indicator of the instant messaging system to an away status for a user of the instant messaging system, wherein the request to configure the status indicator includes an indication of ah ‘away’ message, wherein the user belongs to a particular organization;
setting the ‘away’ message, wherein the ‘away’ message comprises a first message for other users who belong to the particular organization and a second, different message for other users who do not belong to the particular organization;
waiting until activation of a screen saver before attempting to defect activity of the user before attempting to determine whether a change in status has occurred;
after activation of the screen saver, determining that the change in status has occurred by receiving a user input via a user input device indicating that the user is active while the status indicator is in an ‘away’ status;
2. The machine-accessible medium of claim 1, further comprising:
3. The machine-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein the indication of a change in status includes a new ‘away’ message.
wherein the indication of a change in status is ah indication of the ‘away’ message with the current time slot.
an instant messaging system manager in communication with the network, the instant messaging system manager being adapted to facilitate instant messaging between users belonging to a particular organization;
a plurality of computer systems in communication with the network, at least one computer system haying an instant messaging client to receive requests to configure a status indicator to an away status for a user, wherein the away status includes an ‘away’ message that itself comprises a first message for other users who belong to the particular organization and a second, different message for other users who do not belong to the particular organization;
wherein the instant messaging client, after waiting until activation of a screen saver, determines if a change in the user's status has occurred by receiving a user input via a user input device indicating that the user is active while the status indicator is in an ‘away’ status, and wherein further the instant messaging client automatically transmits an updated status indicator to the instant messaging system manager in response to the change in status after querying the user to determine if the user desires to change the status indicator to active and receiving an affirmative response.
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