# US 2019/0319902 A1 · Forwarding un-responded to instant messages to electronic mail

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- Number: US 2019/0319902 A1
- Document ID: US20190319902A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/452,531
- Filed: 2019-06-26
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2007-11-16
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Titus Kao; Eric S. Portner; Robert C. Weir
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190319902A1

## CPC

- H04L 51/046: Interoperability with other network applications or services
- G06Q 10/107: Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
- H04L 51/04: Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
- H04L 51/214: using selective forwarding
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-20. (canceled)

### Claim 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.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

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.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein
the criterion is that the instant message is not a salutation message.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein
the criterion is that the instant message is not a closing message.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

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.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein
the pre-defined period of time is user-selectable by a sender of the instant message.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

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.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein
the electronic mail message includes an instant message transcript.

### Claim 29 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, further comprising
determining that the intended recipient is not on a do-not-forward list.

### Claim 30 (depends on 21)

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.

### Claim 31 (depends on 21)

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.

### Claim 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.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

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.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The system of claim 33, wherein
the criterion is that the instant message is not a salutation message.

### Claim 35 (depends on 33)

The system of claim 33, wherein
the pre-defined period of time is user-selectable by a sender of the instant message.

### Claim 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.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

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.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The computer program product of claim 37, wherein
the criterion is that the instant message is not a salutation message.

### Claim 39 (depends on 37)

The computer program product of claim 37, wherein
the pre-defined period of time is user-selectable by a sender of the instant message.