Accepting an invitation sent to multiple computer systems

US7856470B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Amritansh Raghav · Seattle, US
• Ankur Chavda · Seattle, US
• Eran Shtiegman · Redmond, US
• Nikhil Bobde · Redmond, US
• Parag Samdadiya · Bellevue, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 27, 2005
• Grant date: Dec 21, 2010
• Expiry date: Jul 25, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/107
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system for accepting invitations sent to multiple endpoints for an instant messaging participant is provided. The acceptance system allows multiple endpoints of a participant to be registered at the same time with an instant messaging service. The endpoint of the inviting participant sends an invitation to the instant messaging service indicating that the receiving participant is to be invited to establish a conversation with the inviting participant. When the instant messaging service receives the invitation, it detects that the receiving participant has multiple endpoints registered and forwards the invitation to each registered endpoint. When an endpoint receives the invitation request, it displays an information window asking whether the receiving participant wants to accept the invitation. Upon acceptance, the endpoint sends an acceptance to the endpoint of the inviting participant to establish the conversation between that endpoint and the endpoint of the inviting participant.