Forwarding un-responded to instant messages to electronic mail

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.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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.   
     
     
         22 . 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.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein
 the criterion is that the instant message is not a salutation message.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein
 the criterion is that the instant message is not a closing message.   
     
     
         25 . 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.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein
 the pre-defined period of time is user-selectable by a sender of the instant message.   
     
     
         27 . 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. 
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein
 the electronic mail message includes an instant message transcript.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising
 determining that the intended recipient is not on a do-not-forward list.   
     
     
         30 . 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.   
     
     
         31 . 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.   
     
     
         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. 
   
     
     
         33 . 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.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein
 the criterion is that the instant message is not a salutation message.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein
 the pre-defined period of time is user-selectable by a sender of the instant message.   
     
     
         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. 
   
     
     
         37 . 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.   
     
     
         38 . The computer program product of  claim 37 , wherein
 the criterion is that the instant message is not a salutation message.   
     
     
         39 . The computer program product of  claim 37 , wherein
 the pre-defined period of time is user-selectable by a sender of the instant message.