Computer-based communication systems and arrangements associated therewith for indicating user status

Abstract

A communication system for multiple users whereby an automatic indication of away status is prompted immediately upon a user's departure from the vicinity of a computer or other medium. In a preferred embodiment, this is accomplished, in an instant messaging environment, via a video camera arrangement whereby, upon there being a detection of a user's absence from the immediate vicinity, an automatic prompt is made to indicate away status for the user.

1 . A method of indicating away status in a computer-based communication medium, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a camera at a computer, the camera being adapted to detect motion of a user;    determining, with the camera, whether a user is undergoing motion; and    indicating away status of the user responsive to a determination that the user is not undergoing motion and subsequent to a predetermined time interval.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the computer-based communication medium is an instant messaging system.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said step of providing a camera comprises providing a video camera.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the step of indicating available status of the user responsive to a determination that the user is undergoing motion and subsequent to a predetermined time interval.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the predetermined time interval associated with away status is Nmax*T, where T is a predetermined wait time and Nmax is a predetermined number of increments of said determining step.    
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined time interval associated with available status is T.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined time interval associated with away status is preset by the user.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the video camera is integral with respect to a computer.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the step of preselecting whether a video feed is to be sent from the video camera to a network.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for indicating away status in a computer-based communication medium, said apparatus comprising: 
 a camera adapted to detect motion of a user at a computer;    an arrangement for determining, with the camera, whether a user is undergoing motion; and    an arrangement for indicating away status of the user responsive to a determination that the user is not undergoing motion and subsequent to a predetermined time interval.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the computer-based communication medium is an instant messaging system.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said camera comprises a video camera.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising an arrangement for indicating available status of a user responsive to a determination that a user is undergoing motion and subsequent to a predetermined time interval.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined time interval associated with away status is Nmax*T, where T is a predetermined wait time and Nmax is a predetermined number of increments of said determining step.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined time interval associated with available status is T.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined time interval associated with away status is preset by the user.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said video camera is integral with respect to a computer.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising an arrangement for preselecting whether a video feed is to be sent from said video camera to a network.  
   
   
       19 . A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for indicating away status in a computer-based communication medium, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a camera at a computer, the camera being adapted to detect motion of a user;    determining, with the camera, whether a user is undergoing motion; and    indicating away status of the user responsive to a determination that the user is not undergoing motion and subsequent to a predetermined time interval.