Method for determining availability of participation in instant messaging
US7552177B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 29, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jun 23, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 25, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L67/54
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for sending a user's availability information to an instant messaging (IM) partner. A user predefines areas of the user's display and associates these predefined areas, or “hotspots”, with user defined messages. If the user is not available to immediately respond to an incoming message, the user may move the IM dialog window to a “hotspot” in the display. Depending upon the user-defined message associated with the “hotspot”, the IM application generates an automated response indicating the user's availability to respond to the message, and sends the message to the IM partner. The user also may predefine and associate the user's IM status with a “hotspot”. Moving an IM dialog window into a “hotspot” automatically changes the user's status based on the associated “hotspot”. This change is communicated to only the particular IM dialog window partner while other IM partners are unaffected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.