U.S. patent application number 16/452531 was filed with the patent office on 2019-10-17 for forwarding un-responded to instant messages to electronic mail.
The applicant listed for this patent is INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Titus Kao, Eric S. Portner, Robert C. Weir.
Application Number | 20190319902 16/452531 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40643133 |
Filed Date | 2019-10-17 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190319902 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kao; Titus ; et al. |
October 17, 2019 |
FORWARDING UN-RESPONDED TO INSTANT MESSAGES TO ELECTRONIC MAIL
Abstract
A method of forwarding an instant message to electronic mail can
begin with determining availability of an instant messaging client
for a recipient. The method can continue with sending the instant
message to the instant messaging client for the recipient. The
method can include not receiving a reply to the instant message
within a pre-defined period of time. The method can further include
sending an electronic mail message including the instant message to
the recipient upon reaching the pre-defined period of time.
Inventors: |
Kao; Titus; (Somerville,
MA) ; Portner; Eric S.; (Northborough, MA) ;
Weir; Robert C.; (Dover, NH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION |
Armonk |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
40643133 |
Appl. No.: |
16/452531 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14634016 |
Feb 27, 2015 |
10356019 |
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16452531 |
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11941474 |
Nov 16, 2007 |
8972504 |
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14634016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 51/04 20130101;
H04L 51/14 20130101; H04L 51/046 20130101; G06Q 10/107
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/58 20060101
H04L012/58; G06Q 10/10 20060101 G06Q010/10 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A computer-implemented method, comprising: sending an instant
message to an instant messaging client of a intended recipient of
the instant message; starting a timer that reflects an amount of
time after the instant message was sent; first determining that the
timer has reached a pre-defined period of time; second determining
that a reply, from the instant messaging client, to the instant
message has not been received; and sending to the intended
recipient, based upon the first determining and the second
determining, an electronic mail message that includes the instant
message.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the sending of the electronic
mail message is conditional upon the instant message satisfying a
criterion for forwarding the instant message within the electronic
mail message.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the criterion is that the
instant message is not a salutation message.
24. The method of claim 22, wherein the criterion is that the
instant message is not a closing message.
25. The method of claim 21, further comprising querying a user for
an approval to send the electronic mail message; and receiving the
approval from the user.
26. The method of claim 21, wherein the pre-defined period of time
is user-selectable by a sender of the instant message.
27. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronic mail message
includes: a time the instant message was sent to the intended
recipient and a notice that an instant message client of a sender
did not receive a reply within the pre-defined period of time.
28. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronic mail message
includes an instant message transcript.
29. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining that the
intended recipient is not on a do-not-forward list.
30. The method of claim 21, wherein the sending of the electronic
mail message is initiated by a sending instant messaging client
that sent the instant message.
31. The method of claim 21, wherein the sending of the electronic
mail message is initiated by an instant messaging server that sent
the instant message.
32. A computer hardware system, comprising: a hardware processor
configured to initiate the following executable operations: sending
an instant message to an instant messaging client of a intended
recipient of the instant message; starting a timer that reflects an
amount of time after the instant message was sent; first
determining that the timer has reached a pre-defined period of
time; second determining that a reply, from the instant messaging
client, to the instant message has not been received; and sending
to the intended recipient, based upon the first determining and the
second determining, an electronic mail message that includes the
instant message.
33. The system of claim 32, wherein the sending of the electronic
mail message is conditional upon the instant message satisfying a
criterion for forwarding the instant message within the electronic
mail message.
34. The system of claim 33, wherein the criterion is that the
instant message is not a salutation message.
35. The system of claim 33, wherein the pre-defined period of time
is user-selectable by a sender of the instant message.
36. A computer program product, comprising: a hardware storage
device having stored therein computer readable program code for
forwarding an instant message in an electronic mail message, the
computer readable program code, which when executed by a computer
hardware system, causes the computer hardware system to perform:
sending an instant message to an instant messaging client of a
intended recipient of the instant message; starting a timer that
reflects an amount of time after the instant message was sent;
first determining that the timer has reached a pre-defined period
of time; second determining that a reply, from the instant
messaging client, to the instant message has not been received; and
sending to the intended recipient, based upon the first determining
and the second determining, an electronic mail message that
includes the instant message.
37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the sending
of the electronic mail message is conditional upon the instant
message satisfying a criterion for forwarding the instant message
within the electronic mail message.
38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the criterion
is that the instant message is not a salutation message.
39. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the
pre-defined period of time is user-selectable by a sender of the
instant message.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Instant messaging enables real-time, two-way, electronic
communication over a network, such as the Internet, between two or
more users. Typically, users of instant messaging clients log on to
a messaging server, thereby establishing presence with the
messaging server. A first user of an instant messaging client may
choose to contact a second user of another instant messaging client
by choosing the second user from a contact list. Usually, the
contact list will indicate availability of the second user. The
first user may type and send an initial message to the second user.
Such an initial message may be a salutation such as "Hi." Upon
receiving the initial message, the second user can type and send a
response, which may also be a salutation such as "Hi."
[0002] The first and second user may proceed to have an electronic
conversation or chat in what may be referred to as a messaging
session. Typically, the messaging session ends with one of the
users sending a closing such as "bye" to the other.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to forwarding an
instant message to electronic mail. One embodiment of the present
invention can include a computer-implemented method of forwarding
an instant message to electronic mail. The method can include
determining availability of an instant messaging client for a
recipient and sending the instant message to the instant messaging
client for the recipient. The method can include not receiving a
reply to the instant message within a pre-defined period of time.
The method can further include sending an electronic mail message
including the instant message to the recipient upon reaching the
pre-defined period of time.
[0004] Another embodiment of the present invention can include a
computer-implemented method of forwarding an instant message to
electronic mail. The method can include determining availability of
an instant messaging client for a recipient and sending the instant
message to the instant messaging client for the recipient. The
method can include not receiving a reply to the instant message
within a pre-defined period of time. A determination can be made
that the instant message satisfies a criterion for forwarding the
instant message by electronic mail. An electronic mail message
including the instant message can be sent to the recipient upon
reaching the pre-defined period of time.
[0005] Yet another embodiment of the present invention can include
a computer program product including a computer-usable medium
having computer-usable program code that, when executed, causes a
machine to perform the various steps and/or functions described
herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for
forwarding instant messages to electronic mail in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method of forwarding
instant messages to electronic mail in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 is another flow chart illustrating a method of
forwarding instant messages to electronic mail in accordance with
another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the
present invention may be embodied as a method, system, or computer
program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the
form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software
embodiment, including firmware, resident software, micro-code,
etc., or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that
may all generally be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module,"
or "system."
[0010] Furthermore, the invention may take the form of a computer
program product accessible from a computer-usable or
computer-readable medium providing program code for use by, or in
connection with, a computer or any instruction execution system.
For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or
computer-readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain,
store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by,
or in connection with, the instruction execution system, apparatus,
or device.
[0011] Any suitable computer-usable or computer-readable medium may
be utilized. For example, the medium can include, but is not
limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,
infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device), or a
propagation medium. A non-exhaustive list of exemplary
computer-readable media can include an electrical connection having
one or more wires, an optical fiber, magnetic storage devices such
as magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a portable
computer diskette, a hard disk, a rigid magnetic disk, a
magneto-optical disk, an optical storage medium, such as an optical
disk including a compact disk--read only memory (CD-ROM), a compact
disk--read/write (CD-R/W), or a DVD, or a semiconductor or solid
state memory including, but not limited to, a random access memory
(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), or an erasable programmable
read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory).
[0012] A computer-usable or computer-readable medium further can
include a transmission media such as those supporting the Internet
or an intranet. Further, the computer-usable medium may include a
propagated data signal with the computer-usable program code
embodied therewith, either in baseband or as part of a carrier
wave. The computer-usable program code may be transmitted using any
appropriate medium, including but not limited to the Internet,
wireline, optical fiber, cable, RF, etc.
[0013] In another aspect, the computer-usable or computer-readable
medium can be paper or another suitable medium upon which the
program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured,
via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium,
then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable
manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.
[0014] Computer program code for carrying out operations of the
present invention may be written in an object oriented programming
language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the
computer program code for carrying out operations of the present
invention may also be written in conventional procedural
programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or
similar programming languages. The program code may execute
entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as
a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and
partly on a remote computer, or entirely on the remote computer or
server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be
connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN)
or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an
external computer (for example, through the Internet using an
Internet Service Provider).
[0015] A data processing system suitable for storing and/or
executing program code will include at least one processor coupled
directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The
memory elements can include local memory employed during actual
execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories
which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in
order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from
bulk storage during execution.
[0016] Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to
keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the
system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers.
Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the
data processing system to become coupled to other data processing
systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening
private or public networks. Modems, cable modems, and Ethernet
cards are just a few of the currently available types of network
adapters.
[0017] The present invention is described below with reference to
flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus
(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments
of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the
flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of
blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be
implemented by computer program instructions. These computer
program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general
purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable
data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the
instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or
other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for
implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or
block diagram block or blocks.
[0018] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a
computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other
programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular
manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable
memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction
means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart
and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0019] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a
computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a
series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or
other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented
process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or
other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the
functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram
block or blocks.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an instant messaging
(IM) system 100 that forwards an instant message to electronic mail
according to one embodiment of the present invention. The messaging
system 100 can include instant messaging clients 105 and 110, and a
messaging server 115, e.g., an instant messaging server. The
instant messaging clients 105 and 110 can be, for example,
computers, mobile communication devices, such as mobile telephones
or personal data assistants (PDAs), network appliances, gaming
consoles, or any other device which can participate in an instant
messaging session.
[0021] The various components of the messaging system 100 can be
communicatively linked by a communication network 120. The
communication network 120 can include, for example, a WAN, a LAN,
the public switched telephone network, the Web, the Internet,
and/or one or more intranets. The communication network 120 also
can include one or more wireless networks, whether short or long
range.
[0022] Each of the messaging clients 105 and 110 can include a
respective user interface 125 and 130. Users of the messaging
clients 105 and 110 can log on to the messaging server 115 via the
user interfaces 125 and 130. Upon logging on to the messaging
server 115, availability or presence of the messaging clients 105
and 110 may be indicated to other messaging clients. For example,
if both of the messaging clients 105 and 110 are logged on to the
messaging server 115, each messaging client 105 and 110 can
determine the availability of the other via the messaging server
115.
[0023] The availability can be indicated to users of the messaging
clients 105 and 110 via the respective user interfaces 125 and 130.
While the availability of a messaging client 105 or 110 may be
indicated to other messaging clients, the availability does not
necessarily mean that the user of the messaging client 105 or 110
is available. For example, the user may be busy working on a
project that cannot be interrupted, may be involved in a meeting
despite being at a computer, or may be away from his or her
computer.
[0024] In operation, the user of the messaging client 105 can
initiate an instant messaging session with the user of the
messaging client 110 by selecting the user of the instant messaging
client 110 from a contact list in the user interface 125, typing an
instant message in an appropriate window of the user interface 125,
and sending the message to the messaging client 110. Such an
initial message may be a salutation such as, "Hi," a recipient
user's name, or an opening question such as "Are you there?" For
the initial message, the user of the messaging client 105 may be
referred to as a sender and the user of the messaging client 110
may be referred to as a recipient. By employing a salutation as an
initial message, the sender may give the recipient an opportunity
to ignore the initial message if the recipient does not want to
engage in a messaging session at that time.
[0025] In one embodiment, the messaging clients 105 and 110 can act
as peers sending messages to the other. For example, the messaging
client 105 can send the initial message to the messaging client 110
without involving the messaging server 115. In another embodiment,
the messaging server 115 can receive messages from a sending
messaging client 105 or 110 and forward the messages to a recipient
messaging client 110 or 105. For example, the messaging client 105
can send the initial message to the messaging server 115. The
messaging server 115 can forward the initial message to the
messaging client 110.
[0026] The user of the messaging client 110 may choose to engage in
a messaging session with the user of the messaging client 105 by
replying to the initial message sent by the messaging client 105.
The user of the messaging client 110 may do so by sending a reply
that is also a salutation such as "Hi." Here, the user of the
messaging client 110 becomes the sender and the user of the
messaging client 105 becomes the recipient. Upon receiving the
reply from the user of the messaging client 110, the user of the
messaging client 105 may then type and send a substantive
communication to the user of the messaging client 110. For example,
such a substantive communication may be a work related inquiry, a
social invitation, or some other substantive communication. The
users of the messaging clients 105 and 110 may proceed through a
series of messages where each message is a reply to a previous
message. As a messaging session proceeds, the messaging clients 105
and 110 each can maintain an instant message transcript that can
include a series of messages and replies that begin with the
initial message.
[0027] According to one embodiment, the messaging client 105 can
start a timer 140 upon sending an instant message 145 to the
messaging client 110. If the timer 140 reaches a pre-defined period
of time and the messaging client 105 has not received a reply to
the instant message 145, the messaging client 105 can forward the
instant message 145 to the messaging client 110 in an electronic
mail message 150. According to this embodiment, the messaging
client 105 can send instant messages to the messaging client 110
directly or can send the instant messages to the messaging server
115, which can then forward the instant messages to the messaging
client 110.
[0028] For example, as a messaging session proceeds between the
users of the messaging clients 105 and 110, the user of the
messaging client 110 might not reply to the instant message 145
sent by the messaging client 105 before the timer 140 reaches the
pre-defined period of time. It may be that the user of the
messaging client 110 has become engaged in some other activity such
as an impromptu meeting with a colleague or has left his or her
desk, possibly going home for the day. Despite the non-reply from
the user of the messaging client 110, the messaging client 105 may
continue to indicate availability of the messaging client 110. Upon
the timer 140 reaching the pre-defined period of time, the
messaging client 105 can forward the instant message 145 within the
electronic mail message 150 to the user of the messaging client
110.
[0029] According to another embodiment where the messaging server
115 forwards instant messages between the messaging clients 105 and
110, the messaging server 115 can start a timer 155 upon sending an
instant message 160 to the messaging client 110 on behalf of the
messaging client 105. If the timer 155 reaches the pre-defined
period of time and the messaging server 115 has not received a
reply to the instant message 160, the messaging server 115 can
forward the instant message 160 to the user of the messaging client
110 within an electronic mail message 165. The entire instant
message, the content of the instant message, or any portion of the
instant message may be included within an electronic mail and
forwarded to the recipient.
[0030] In one embodiment, each messaging client 105 and 110 can
include both instant messaging and electronic mail functionality.
In another embodiment, the messaging clients may not support
electronic mail, but may communicate cooperatively with an
electronic mail system, e.g., electronic mail clients and/or
servers (not shown). Accordingly, the messaging clients 105 and
110, as well as the messaging server 115, can cause, or initiate,
the sending of the electronic mail including the instant message
via the electronic mail system to an electronic mail client of the
recipient.
[0031] The pre-defined period of time can be selected by a user or
can be a default value. For example, the messaging client 105 or
the messaging server 115 can include a default value for the
pre-defined period of time of 15 minutes. If the messaging client
105 or the messaging server 115 allows the user to select the
pre-defined period of time, the user may choose to replace the
default value with a user-selected value. For example, a user may
replace a default value with a user selected value of 5
minutes.
[0032] The messaging client 105 or the messaging server 115 may
obtain an electronic mail address for the user of the messaging
client 110 from an electronic mail directory. For example, such an
electronic mail directory may be internal to the messaging client
105, internal to the messaging server 115, or located elsewhere
such as within a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
server or as part of an electronic mail client or server for the
user of the messaging client 105.
[0033] The electronic mail message 150 or 165 can include the
instant message transcript for the messaging session. For example,
the electronic mail message 150 or 165 can present the instant
message for which a reply was not received as a most recent message
in the instant message transcript. The electronic mail message 150
or 165 also can include the day and the time that the instant
message was sent and a notice that a sender of the instant message
did not receive a reply within the pre-defined period of time. For
example, the electronic mail message 150 or 165 may identify that
the electronic mail message 150 or 165 is automatically forwarding
an instant message transcript for a messaging session where a reply
to a most recent message sent on a particular day and at a
particular time (e.g. Thursday at 2:30 p.m. EDT) was not received
within a period of time (e.g. a period of 5 minutes).
[0034] According to one embodiment, the messaging client 105 or the
messaging server 115 can forward the instant message 145 or 160
upon the timer 140 or 155 reaching the pre-defined period of time
regardless of the content of the instant message 145 or 160.
According to another embodiment, the messaging client 105 or the
messaging server 115 can determine that the content of the instant
message 145 or 160 satisfies a criterion for forwarding the instant
message by electronic mail before sending the electronic mail
message 150 or 165. Such a determination may be made prior to the
pre-defined period of time expiring.
[0035] In another embodiment, the criterion for forwarding the
instant message by electronic mail may be that the instant message
is found to not be a salutation message. A salutation message may
be a message that presents a salutation only. In contrast, a
message that includes a salutation preceding a substantive
communication may be more aptly characterized as a substantive
communication rather than a salutation message.
[0036] For example, a textual analysis may be performed on the
instant message to determine whether the instant message matches or
substantially matches a salutation message found on a list of
salutation messages. The list may include standard salutation
messages such as, "Hi," "Are you there?" or "<a recipient's
name>," as well as salutation messages added by a user such as
"ru there?" If the instant message matches or substantially matches
a salutation message found on the list of salutation messages, the
instant message need not be forwarded in an electronic mail
message.
[0037] In another embodiment, the criterion for forwarding the
instant message by electronic mail may be that the instant message
is found to not be a closing message. A closing message may be a
message that presents a closing only. In contrast, a message that
ends with a closing expression that follows a substantive
communication may be more aptly characterized as a substantive
communication rather than a closing message.
[0038] For example, a textual analysis may be performed on the
instant message to determine whether it matches or substantially
matches a closing message found on a list of closing messages. The
list may include standard closing messages such as, "Bye," "See you
later," or "See you there," as well as user-defined closing
messages such as "18r." If the instant message matches or
substantially matches a closing message found on the list of
closing messages, the instant message need not be forwarded in an
electronic mail message.
[0039] It should be appreciated that the content of the instant
message may be evaluated using any of a variety of known
techniques. Such techniques can include, but are not limited to,
natural language understanding, the use of grammars, keyword
searching, or the like. These content analysis techniques can be
applied to determine information including, for example,
salutations and/or closings within instant messages.
[0040] According to one embodiment, the messaging client 105 or the
messaging server 115 can forward the instant message 145 or 160 by
electronic mail upon the timer 140 or 155 reaching the pre-defined
period of time. As used herein, "upon the timer reaching the
pre-defined period of time" may mean "when the timer reaches the
pre-defined period of time" or "after the timer reaches the
pre-defined period of time."
[0041] According to another embodiment, the messaging client 105 or
the messaging server 115 can query a user of the messaging client
105 for approval to forward the instant message 145 or 160 by
electronic mail upon the timer 140 or 155 reaching the pre-defined
period of time. The messaging client 105 or the messaging server
115 can then forward the instant message 145 or 160 by electronic
mail upon receiving approval.
[0042] The messaging client 105 or the messaging server 115 may
maintain a do-not-forward list that identifies messaging clients
for which un-responded messages need not be forwarded by electronic
mail. Such a list may be defined by a sender or a receiver. If a
sender adds a messaging client for a particular user to a
sender-defined do-not-forward list, un-responded to messages sent
by the sender to the particular user need not be forwarded by
electronic mail. If a receiver adds his or her messaging client to
a receiver-defined do-not-forward list, un-responded to messages
from any messaging client to the receiver need not be forwarded by
electronic mail.
[0043] The messaging client 105 or the messaging server 115 may
maintain an always forward list. If a messaging client for a
particular user is found on the always forward list and the
particular user does not respond to a most recent message before
the pre-defined period of time expires, the messaging client 105 or
the messaging server 115 can forward the instant message transcript
to the messaging client for the recipient without querying the user
of the messaging client 105 to determine if the instant message 145
or 160 should be forwarded by the electronic mail message 150 or
165.
[0044] As a messaging session proceeds between the users of the
messaging clients 105 and 110, the messaging client 110 may become
unavailable. According to one embodiment, the user of the messaging
client 105 may be precluded from sending an instant message to the
messaging client 110 while the messaging client 110 indicates an
unavailable status. According to this embodiment, if the user of
the messaging client 105 attempts to send an instant message to the
messaging client 110 while the messaging client 110 remains
unavailable, the messaging client 105 or the messaging server 115
can send the instant message as an electronic mail message.
[0045] According to another embodiment, the user of the messaging
client 105 may be allowed to attempt to send an instant message to
the messaging client 110 while the messaging client 110 remains
unavailable. According to this embodiment, the message may be
queued at the messaging client 105 or the messaging server 115 for
delivery to the messaging client 110 upon the messaging client 110
indicating an available status. Here, the messaging client 105 or
the messaging server 115 can also forward the message by electronic
mail. The messaging client 105 or the messaging server 115 can send
the electronic mail message upon queuing of the message for
delivery or can wait for the pre-defined period of time to expire
before sending the electronic mail message.
[0046] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method 200 of
forwarding an instant message to electronic mail according to
another embodiment of the present invention. The method 200 can
begin in a state where the sender and recipient have established
presence with the messaging server via each user's respective
messaging client. The method 200 can begin with determining
availability of an instant messaging client for a recipient in step
205. In step 210, an instant message can be sent to the recipient
thereby establishing a messaging session.
[0047] In step 215, a determination can be made as to whether a
reply to the instant message has been received within a pre-defined
period of time. If a reply has been received, the method can return
to step 205. If a reply has not been received, an electronic mail
message that includes the instant message can be sent to the
recipient in step 220. In another embodiment, the electronic mail
message further can include an instant message transcript for the
messaging session where the instant message forms a most recent
message of a series of messages exchanged between the sender of the
instant message and the recipient.
[0048] The method 200 may provide assurance to a sender of the
instant message in that, if the recipient does not reply within the
pre-defined period of time, the instant message may be forwarded by
electronic mail. The method 200 may also help to reduce information
overload for the recipient in that only instant messages for which
a reply has not been received may be forwarded by electronic mail.
The recipient may appreciate receiving such instant messages by
electronic mail knowing that the messages are those that the
recipient was not able to respond to within the pre-defined period
of time.
[0049] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method 300 of
forwarding an instant message to electronic mail according to
another embodiment of the present invention. The method 300 can
begin with determining availability of an instant messaging client
for a recipient in step 305. In another embodiment, determining
availability of the instant messaging client may be performed by a
messaging server recognizing that the instant messaging client for
the recipient is logged on to the messaging server. In another
embodiment, determining availability of the instant messaging
client may be performed by an instant messaging client for a sender
receiving a notice of the availability from the instant messaging
server or receiving a notice of availability from the instant
messaging client for the recipient.
[0050] In step 310, an instant message can be sent to the
recipient. As noted, the instant messaging client for the sender
can send the message to the instant messaging client for the
recipient or can send the instant message to the instant messaging
server, which can then forward the instant message to the instant
messaging client for the recipient. The instant message may be an
initial message sent to the recipient or the instant message may be
a most recent instant message of an instant messaging session that
includes a series of messages and replies exchanged between the
sender and the recipient.
[0051] In step 315, a determination can be made as to whether a
reply to the instant message has been received within a pre-defined
period of time. In one embodiment, the pre-defined period of time
may be a default period of time. For example, the messaging client
for the sender may include a default period of time of 15 minutes.
In another embodiment, the pre-defined period of time may be a user
selected period of time. For example, a user may adjust a default
period of time for a messaging client to a period of time of 5
minutes.
[0052] In one embodiment, the messaging client that sent the
instant message can measure a time from sending the instant message
to determine whether a reply to the instant message has been
received within the pre-defined period of time. In another
embodiment, for example, where the messaging server forwards
messages between the messaging clients, the messaging server can
measure the time from sending the instant message to determine
whether a reply to the instant message has been received within the
pre-defined period of time. If a reply is received within the
pre-defined period of time, the method can return to step 305. If a
reply is not been received within the pre-defined period of time,
the method can continue to step 320.
[0053] In step 320, a determination can be made as to whether the
instant message is a salutation message. The instant message may be
a salutation message if the instant message matches or
substantially matches a salutation message found on a list of
salutation messages. The list may include standard salutation
messages such as, "Hi," "Are you there?" or "<a recipient's
name>," as well as salutation messages added by a user such as
"ru there?" If the instant message is determined to be a salutation
message, the method can return to step 305. By not forwarding
instant messages that are found to be salutation messages,
information overload for the recipient may be further reduced by
not cluttering the recipient's electronic mail inbox with the
salutation messages. Also, the sender may be assured that, if he or
she sends a salutation message, it may not contribute to
information overload for the recipient. If the message is not
determined to be a salutation message, the method can continue to
step 325.
[0054] In step 325, a determination can be made as to whether the
instant message is a closing message. The instant message may be a
closing message if the instant message matches or substantially
matches a closing message found on a list of closing messages. The
list may include standard closing messages such as, "Bye," "See you
later," or "See you there," as well as user-defined closing
messages such as "18r." If the instant message is determined to be
a closing message, the method can return to step 305. By not
forwarding instant messages that are found to be closing messages,
information overload for the recipient may be further reduced by
not cluttering the recipient's electronic mail inbox with the
closing messages. Also, the sender may be assured that, if he or
she sends a closing message, it may not contribute to information
overload for the recipient. If the instant message is determined
not to be a closing message, the method can continue to step
330.
[0055] In step 330, the user that sent the instant message to which
no response was found may be optionally queried by the messaging
client or the messaging server as to whether to forward the instant
message by electronic mail. In another embodiment, step 330 may
include querying the user that sent the instant message whether to
forward an instant message transcript of the messaging session by
electronic mail. The instant message transcript can include the
instant message as a most recent instant message in a series of
messages and replies that form a messaging session between the
sender and the recipient of the instant message.
[0056] In step 335, a determination can be made as to whether the
user chose to forward the instant message or the instant message
transcript by electronic mail. If the user chose not to forward the
instant message or the instant message transcript by electronic
mail, the method can return to step 305. If the user chose to
forward the instant message or the instant transcript by electronic
mail, the method can continue to step 340. In step 340, the instant
message or the instant message transcript can be forwarded to the
recipient in an electronic mail message. The electronic mail
message can include a time and date of sending the instant message
to the recipient and a notice that the messaging client for the
sender did not receive a reply within the pre-defined period of
time.
[0057] At some point in a messaging session, a user may no longer
have presence on the messaging server. For example, the recipient
may shut down his or her messaging client. Thus, it may be that a
messaging client for a sender or a messaging server may sense
unavailability of the messaging client for the recipient. In such a
situation the sender may attempt to send an instant message to the
recipient. If the instant messaging client does not allow messages
to be sent to instant messaging clients that are not available, the
instant message may be immediately and automatically forwarded to
the recipient in an electronic mail message.
[0058] In some situations, a messaging client may be allowed to
attempt to send an instant message to a messaging client for a
recipient that is not available. For example, the instant message
may be queued at the messaging client for the sender or may be
queued at a messaging server in anticipation of the messaging
client for the recipient becoming available. If the instant
messaging client allows messages to be sent to an instant messaging
client that is unavailable, e.g., has no presence, the instant
message may be sent in anticipation of the instant messaging client
for the recipient becoming available. In such a situation, the
instant messaging client or the instant messaging server may
forward the instant message in an electronic mail message if a
reply to the instant message is not received within the pre-defined
period of time.
[0059] The flowchart(s) and block diagram(s) in the figures
illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of
possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program
products according to various embodiments of the present invention.
In this regard, each block in the flowchart(s) or block diagram(s)
may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which
comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the
specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in
some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks
may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two
blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially
concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the
reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will
also be noted that each block of the block diagram(s) and/or
flowchart illustration(s), and combinations of blocks in the block
diagram(s) and/or flowchart illustration(s), can be implemented by
special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified
functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and
computer instructions.
[0060] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0061] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and
equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the
claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or
act for performing the function in combination with other claimed
elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the
invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations
will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The
embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the invention and the practical application, and to
enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the
invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated.
[0062] Having thus described the invention of the present
application in detail and by reference to the embodiments thereof,
it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible
without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the
appended claims.
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