Conveying potential communication methods for a user of a computing system network

1. A method comprising:

by program instructions on a computing device,

determining, for a particular one of a plurality of real-time communications applications (RTCAs) common to a first user, whether one or more RTCA user accounts are installed on a first inactive user device;

for a particular one of the one or more RTCA user accounts for the particular RTCA, if the particular RTCA user account is installed on the first inactive user device:

inferring a proximity between a location of the first inactive user device and a user location of the first user based on recent usage data of the first inactive user device retrieved from a repository and on a time of last usage;

determining a status for the particular RTCA user account based on the proximity between the location of the first inactive user device and the first user location, wherein the status indicates a potential availability of the first user to utilize the particular RTCA user account for communications, and wherein the status comprises an expected availability time calculated based on historical device usage data and on historical location data for the first user; and

sending, to a device of a second user, the status of the particular RTCA user account.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

for the particular one of the one or more RTCA user accounts for the particular RTCA, if the particular RTCA user account is not installed on the first inactive user device:

determining a status for the particular RTCA user account based on a comparison of hardware and software requirements for installing the RTCA and hardware and software of the first inactive user device, wherein the status indicates a potential availability of the first user to utilize the RTCA user account for communications; and

sending the status of the particular RTCA user account to another device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, for a particular one of the plurality of RTCAs common to the first user, that one or more RTCA user accounts are installed on a second inactive user device; and

calculating a proximity between a location of the second inactive user device and the first user location,

wherein determining the status for the respective RTCA user account comprises comparing the proximity between the location of the first inactive user device and the first user location and the proximity between the location of the second inactive user device and the first user location.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein inferring the proximity between the location of the first inactive user device and the first user location further comprises inferring the proximity based on a pattern of usage determined from historical usage data of the first inactive user device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user location is determined based on a location of an active user device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user location is determined based on a calendar of the first user.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the status for the particular RTCA user account comprises:

determining a rating for each user device, wherein the rating is assigned to an inactive user device based on the proximity between the location of the first inactive user device and the first user location and compatibility with the particular RTCA and particular RTCA user account; and

selecting, using a status policy, the user device and the status, wherein the status policy determines the status based on a comparison of two or more ratings.

8. An apparatus comprising a computing device, a computer processor, and a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

determining, for a particular one of a plurality of real-time communications applications (RTCAs) common to a first user, whether one or more RTCA user accounts are installed on a first inactive user device;

for a particular one of the one or more RTCA user accounts for the particular RTCA, if the particular RTCA user account is installed on the first inactive user device:

inferring a proximity between a location of the first inactive user device and a user location of the first user based on recent usage data of the first inactive user device retrieved from a repository and on a time of last usage;

determining a status for the particular RTCA user account based on the proximity between the location of the first inactive user device and the first user location, wherein the status indicates a potential availability of the first user to utilize the particular RTCA user account for communications, and wherein the status comprises an expected availability time calculated based on historical device usage data and on historical location data for the first user; and

sending, to a device of a second user, the status of the particular RTCA user account.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, further cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

for the particular one of the one or more RTCA user accounts for the particular RTCA, if the particular RTCA user account is not installed on the first inactive user device:

determining a status for the particular RTCA user account based on a comparison of hardware and software requirements for installing the RTCA and hardware and software of the first inactive user device, wherein the status indicates a potential availability of the first user to utilize the RTCA user account for communications; and

sending the status of the particular RTCA user account to another device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, further cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

determining, for a particular one of the plurality of RTCAs common to the first user, that one or more RTCA user accounts are installed on a second inactive user device; and

calculating a proximity between a location of the second inactive user device and the first user location,

wherein determining the status for each respective RTCA user account comprises comparing the proximity between the location of the first inactive user device and the first user location and the proximity between the location of the second inactive user device and the first user location.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein inferring the proximity between the location of the first inactive user device and the first user location further comprises inferring the proximity based on a pattern of usage determined from historical usage data of the first inactive user device.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first user location is determined based on a location of an active user device.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first user location is determined based on a calendar of the user.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein determining the status for the particular RTCA user account comprises:

determining a rating for each user device, wherein the rating is assigned to an inactive user device based on the proximity between the location of the first inactive user device and the first user location and compatibility with the particular RTCA and particular RTCA user account; and

selecting, using a status policy, the user device and the status, wherein the status policy determines the status based on a comparison of two or more ratings.

15. A computer program product including a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to carry out the steps of:

determining, for a particular one of a plurality of real-time communications applications (RTCAs) common to a first user, whether one or more RTCA user accounts are installed on a first inactive user device;

for a particular one of the one or more RTCA user accounts for the particular RTCA, if the particular RTCA user account is installed on the first inactive user device:

inferring a proximity between a location of the first inactive user device and a user location of the first user based on recent usage data of the first inactive user device retrieved from a repository and on a time of last usage;

determining a status for the particular RTCA user account based on the proximity between the location of the first inactive user device and the first user location, wherein the status indicates a potential availability of the first user to utilize the particular RTCA user account for communications, and wherein the status comprises an expected availability time calculated based on historical device usage data and on historical location data for the first user; and

sending, to a device of a second user, the status of the particular RTCA user account.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the computer program instructions that, when executed, further cause the computer to carry out the steps of:

for the particular one of the one or more RTCA user accounts for the particular RTCA, if the particular RTCA user account is not installed on the first inactive user device:

determining a status for the particular RTCA user account based on a comparison of hardware and software requirements for installing the RTCA and hardware and software of the first inactive user device, wherein the status indicates a potential availability of the first user to utilize the RTCA user account for communications; and

sending the status of the particular RTCA user account to another device.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the computer program instructions that, when executed, further cause the computer to carry out the steps of:

determining, for a particular one of the plurality of RTCAs common to the first user, that one or more RTCA user accounts are installed on a second inactive user device; and

calculating a proximity between a location of the second inactive user device and the first user location,

wherein determining the status for each respective RTCA user account comprises comparing the proximity between the location of the first inactive user device and the first user location and the proximity between the location of the second inactive user device and the first user location.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein inferring the proximity between the location of the first inactive user device and the first user location further comprises inferring the proximity based on a pattern of usage determined from historical usage data of the first inactive user device.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the first user location is determined based on a location of an active user device.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the first user location is determined based on a calendar of the user.