IP Library Granted Patent US 8,285,796
Granted Patent B2
US 8,285,796 · App. 12/346,201 · Granted Oct 9, 2012

System and method for circumventing instant messaging do-not-disturb

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,285,796
App. No.
12/346,201
Granted
Oct 9, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for circumventing a do-not-disturb status of an instant messaging user including defining requesting, from one or more do not disturb circumvention mediators, do-not-disturb status circumvention of an instant messaging user. Circumvention permission for the do-not-disturb status of the instant messaging user is received. The do-not-disturb status of the instant messaging user is circumvented based upon, at least in part, the circumvention permission.

Claims (38)

1. A method comprising:

accessing a look-up table of do-not disturb circumvention mediators having authority to grant do-not disturb circumvention permission to one or more specified instant messaging users;

determining an appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for a second instant messaging user based upon, at least in part, the second instant messaging user and the look-up table of do-not disturb circumvention mediators;

transmitting, by an instant messaging client associated with a first instant messaging user, to the appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for the second instant messaging user, a request to circumvent a do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user;

receiving, by the instant messaging client, circumvention permission for the do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user from the appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for the second instant messaging user; and

circumventing the do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user based upon, at least in part, the circumvention permission received from the appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for the second instant messaging user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more do-not-disturb circumvention mediators for the second instant messaging user includes a designated mediator.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining one or more do-not-disturb circumvention mediators includes determining one or more do-not-disturb circumvention mediators for the second instant messaging user based upon, at least in part, an organizational structure.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving circumvention permission for the do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user includes receiving a circumvention certificate.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein receiving the circumvention certificate includes receiving the circumvention certificate from at least one of:

one or more of the one or more do-not-disturb circumvention mediators; and

an authentication source.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the circumvention permission for the do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user includes one or more associated circumvention restrictions.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more circumvention restrictions associated with the circumvention permission include a time-wise duration of the circumvention permission.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instant message includes an option that, if selected, is configured to grant permission to circumvent the do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user.

9. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

accessing a look-up table of do-not disturb circumvention mediators having authority to grant do-not disturb circumvention permission to one or more specified instant messaging users;

determining an appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for a second instant messaging user based upon, at least in part, the second instant messaging user and the look-up table of do-not disturb circumvention mediators;

transmitting, by an instant messaging client associated with a first instant messaging user, to the appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for the second instant messaging user, a request to circumvent a do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user;

receiving, by the instant messaging client, circumvention permission for the do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user from the appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for the second instant messaging user; and

circumventing the do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user based upon, at least in part, the circumvention permission received from the appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for the second instant messaging user.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the one or more do-not-disturb circumvention mediators for the second instant messaging user includes a designated mediator.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the instructions for determining one or more do-not-disturb circumvention mediators include instructions for determining one or more do-not-disturb circumvention mediators for the second instant messaging user based upon, at least in part, an organizational structure.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the instructions for receiving circumvention permission for the do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user include instructions for receiving a circumvention certificate.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the instructions for receiving the circumvention certificate include instructions for receiving the circumvention certificate from at least one of:

one or more of the one or more do-not-disturb circumvention mediators; and

an authentication source.

14. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the circumvention permission for the do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user includes one or more associated circumvention restrictions.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the one or more circumvention restrictions associated with the circumvention permission include a time-wise duration of the circumvention permission.

16. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the instant message includes an option that, if selected, is configured to grant permission to circumvent the do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user.

17. A method comprising:

accessing a look-up table of do-not disturb circumvention mediators having authority to grant do-not disturb circumvention permission to one or more specified instant messaging users;

determining an appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for a second instant messaging user based upon, at least in part, the second instant messaging user and the look-up table of do-not disturb circumvention mediators;

transmitting, by an instant messaging server, to the appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for the second instant messaging user, a request to circumvent a do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user;

receiving, by the instant messaging server, circumvention permission for the do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user from the appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for the second instant messaging user; and

circumventing the do-not-disturb status of the second instant messaging user based upon, at least in part, the circumvention permission received from the appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for the second instant messaging user.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein determining an appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for a second instant messaging user further comprises accessing an instant messaging user profile for the second instant messaging user.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein determining an appropriate do-not disturb circumvention mediator for a second instant messaging user further comprises accessing a relational database of instant messaging users and do-not disturb circumvention mediators.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PCT NUMBER PCT/IB2016/058014 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 047690 FRAME 0640. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Jan 17, 2019
From: SNAPCHAT, INC.
To: SNAP INC.
Reel/Frame 048089/0452 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 6, 2018
From: SNAPCHAT, INC.
To: SNAP INC.
Reel/Frame 047690/0640 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2016
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: SNAPCHAT, INC.
Reel/Frame 037573/0170 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2009
From: DENNER, GARY; BARBER-MINGO, CYNTHIA E.; LYLE, RUTHIE D.; O'SULLIVAN, PATRICK JOSEPH; ZURKO, MARY ELLEN
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022370/0443 →