Virtual video message answering machine platform
View Patent ↗Enabling a user of a video chat application to a virtual video message answering machine to contextually provide a video message to at least one other user of the video chat application for play back if the user is unavailable. The video message can be arranged to be played when another user attempts to initiate a video communication session with the unavailable user or during an existing video chat session after the user becomes unavailable. Also, the user can choose one or more contexts for playing back a video message to one or more other users that are likely to be participants in a future video communication session. The other user is provided with a user interface that enables the other user to record a video message reply for subsequent playback by the unavailable user.
1. A method for managing messages in an existing communication session, the communication session comprising a plurality of users communicating with one another over a network, the method comprising:
determining, by a computing device, an unavailability condition has occurred with respect to a first user of the plurality of users in the existing communication session,
determining a second user context associated with a second user of the plurality of users; and
providing, over the network, to the second user of the plurality of users, a first video of a plurality of videos associated with the first user, wherein a respective context associated with the first video of the plurality of videos corresponds to the second user context.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, over the network, from the second user of the plurality of users a video reply message for subsequent playback by the first user of the plurality of users.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
enabling the second user of the plurality of users to select a prerecorded video message as the video reply message.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unavailability condition comprises at least one of: a selection of at least one hot key by the first user of the plurality of users, a motion detection minimum level associated with the first user of the plurality of users, a movement sensitivity minimum level associated with the first user of the plurality of users, a time period for pointing device inactivity associated with the first user of the plurality of users, a time period for keyboard device inactivity associated with the first user of the plurality of users, and a predefined schedule associated with the first user of the plurality of users.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first video of the plurality of videos includes digital rights management information used to prevent unauthorized copying and editing of the first video of the plurality of videos.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the context associated with the first video of the plurality of videos is at least one of: generic, work, personal, events, holidays, seasons, weather, family, and individual relationship.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein predetermining the second user context comprises a determination that the second user of the plurality of users is known to the first user of the plurality of users, and wherein the second user and the first user are associated with at least one of the same contact list, buddy list, friends list, social network, historical log, profile, cookie, video chat list, IP address, domain, network, or sub-network.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, over the network, from the second user of the plurality of users a reply message to the first video of the plurality of videos comprising a text message.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, over the network, from the second user of the plurality of users, a rank for the first video of the plurality of videos, wherein the rank comprises at least one of: creativity, appropriateness, quality of production, and relevance, such that the rank is provided to the first user of the plurality of users using at least one of: email, text message, alerts, website posting, blog, and chat room.
10. A system for managing messages in an existing communication session, the communication session comprising a plurality of users communicating with one another over a network, the system comprising:
at least one processor; and
memory storing instructions configured to instruct the at least one processor to:
determine an unavailability condition has occurred with respect to a first user of the plurality of users in an existing communication session,
determine a second user context associated with a second user of the plurality of users; and
provide, over the network, to the second user of the plurality of users, a first video of a plurality of videos associated with the first user of the plurality of users, wherein a respective context associated with the first video of the plurality of videos corresponds to the second user.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the memory further stores instructions configured to instruct the at least one processor to:
receive, over the network, from the second user of the plurality of users a video reply message for subsequent playback by the first user of the plurality of users.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
enable the client application to select a prerecorded video message as the video reply message.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the memory further stores instructions configured to instruct the at least one processor to:
enable a client application on a device associated with the first user of the plurality of users to indicate the unavailability condition has occurred, wherein the unavailability condition comprises at least one of: a selection of at least one hot key by the first user of the plurality of users, a motion detection minimum level associated with the first user of the plurality of users, a movement sensitivity minimum level associated with the first user of the plurality of users, a time period for pointing device inactivity associated with the first user of the plurality of users, a time period for keyboard device inactivity associated with the first user of the plurality of users, and a predefined schedule associated with the first user of the plurality of users.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first video of the plurality of videos includes digital rights management information used to prevent unauthorized copying and editing of the first video of the plurality of videos.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the context associated with the first video of the plurality of videos is at least one of: generic, work, personal, events, holidays, seasons, weather, family, and individual relationship.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the memory further stores instructions configured to instruct the at least one processor to:
predetermine the second user context, wherein the second context comprises a determination that the second user of the plurality of users is known to the first user of the plurality of users, wherein the second user and the first user are associated with at least one of the same contact list, buddy list, friends list, social network, historical log, profile, cookie, video chat list, IP address, domain, network, or sub-network.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the memory further stores instructions configured to instruct the at least one processor to:
receive, over the network, from the second user of the plurality of users a reply message to the first video of the plurality of videos comprising a text message.
18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the memory further stores instructions configured to instruct the at least one processor to:
receive, over the network, from the second user of the plurality of users, a rank for the first video of the plurality of videos, wherein the rank comprises at least one of: creativity, appropriateness, quality of production, and relevance, such that the rank is provided to the first user of the plurality of users using at least one of: email, text message, alerts, website posting, blog, and chat room.
19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions for managing messages in an existing communication session, the communication session comprising a plurality of users communicating with one another over a network, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a system to:
determine an unavailability condition has occurred with respect to a first user of the plurality of users in an existing communication session,
determine a second user context associated with a second user of the plurality of users; and
provide, over the network, to the second user of the plurality of users, a first video of a plurality of videos associated with the first user of the plurality of users, wherein a respective context associated with the first video of the plurality of videos corresponds to the second user context.
20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a third user context associated with a third user of the plurality of users; and
providing, over the network, to the third user of the plurality of users, a second video of the plurality of videos associated with the first user of the plurality of users, wherein a respective context associated with the second video of the plurality of videos corresponds to the third user context.
21. A method for managing messages in an existing communication session, the communication session comprising a plurality of users communicating with one another over a network, the method comprising:
determining, by a computing device, an unavailability condition has occurred with respect to a first user of a plurality of users in an existing communication session, the communication session comprising the plurality of users communicating with one another over a network;
determining a second user context associated with a second user of the plurality of users; and
providing, over the network, to the second user of the plurality of users, a first message of a plurality of messages associated with the first user of the plurality of users, wherein a respective context associated with the first message of the plurality of messages corresponds to the second user context.
22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
determining a third user context associated with a third user of the plurality of users; and
providing, over the network, to the third user of the plurality of users, a second message of the plurality of messages associated with the first user of the plurality of users, wherein a respective context associated with the second message of the plurality of messages corresponds to the third user context.
23. A system for managing messages in an existing communication session, the communication session comprising a plurality of users communicating with one another over a network, the system comprising:
at least one processor; and
memory storing instructions configured to instruct the at least one processor to:
determine an unavailability condition has occurred with respect to a first user of the plurality of users;
determine a second user context associated with a second user of the plurality of users; and
provide, over the network, to the second user of the plurality of users, a first message of a plurality of messages associated with the first user of the plurality of users, wherein a respective context associated with the first message of the plurality of messages corresponds to the second user context.
24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
determine a third user context associated with a third user of the plurality of users; and
provide, over the network, to the third user of the plurality of users, a second message of the plurality of messages associated with the first user of the plurality of users, wherein a respective context associated with the second message of the plurality of messages corresponds to the third user context.
25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions for managing messages in an existing communication session, the communication session comprising a plurality of users communicating with one another over a network, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a system to:
determine an unavailability condition has occurred with respect to a first user of a the plurality of users;
determine a second user context associated with a second user of the plurality of users; and
provide, over the network, to the second user of the plurality of users, a first message of a plurality of messages associated with the first user of the plurality of users, wherein a respective context associated with the first message of the plurality of messages corresponds to the second user context.
26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25 , further comprising:
determining a third user context associated with a third user of the plurality of users; and
providing, over the network, to the third user of the plurality of users, a second message of the plurality of messages associated with the first user of the plurality of users, wherein a respective context associated with the second message of the plurality of messages corresponds to the third user context.