Method to Update Status on Multiple Voice and Text Systems from a Single Device

Abstract

A method for updating a message on a plurality of devices from a single device comprising a Configuration Program (CP), an Audio Device Update Program (ADUP), and a Text Device Update Program (TDUP). Using the CP, the user may enable and disable the present invention, add or delete devices, create and save messages, select existing messages to play to callers or display to senders, enable automated status updates, enable multiple message levels, or enable availability updates. The automated status update automatically creates messages from the user's calendar. The multiple message levels are a hierarchy of messages in which the message sent to a caller or sender based on their identity. The availability update communicates the user's next available time to the caller or sender. The ADUP and TDUP select the appropriate message to play or send based on whether automated status updates, multiple message levels, and availability updates are enabled.

1 . A method for updating a message on a plurality of devices wherein a message is created on one of the devices and the message is automatically updated on the other devices. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the message can be stored in a message repository for later retrieval. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the message indicates the real-time status of the user. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the message is created by the user. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the message is created by a multiple device status updater. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the multiple device status updater interfaces with a calendaring program to automatically create the message. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the message is created using a multiple message level. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the message is specific to an individual caller or sender. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the message is specific to a class of callers or senders. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the message is based upon the current event in the calendaring program. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the message is created using an automated status update. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the message communicates the user's next available time. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the message is created using an availability update. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a redial or reconnect event is automatically scheduled for the user's device based on the next available time. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a redial or reconnect event is automatically scheduled for the caller's or sender's device based on the next available time. 
   
   
       16 . A program product operable on a computer, the program product comprising:
 a computer readable medium;   a set of instructions stored on the computer readable medium, the instructions directing a processor to perform steps comprising:
 detecting an incoming call from a caller or a data from an sender; 
 determining whether automated status updates are enabled; 
 responsive to the determination that automated status updates are not enabled, obtaining a message, and playing the message for the caller or sending the message to the sender; and 
 wherein the message is identical on all of the user's devices. 
   
   
   
       17 . The program product of  claim 16  further comprising:
 responsive to the determination that automated status updates are enabled, performing second steps comprising:
 obtaining a current event from a calendaring program; 
 determining whether a message exists for the current event; 
 responsive to the determination that a message exists for the current event, obtaining the message; and 
 responsive to the determination that a message does not exist for the current event, creating a new message. 
   
   
   
       18 . The program product of  claim 17  wherein the second steps further comprise:
 determining whether multiple message levels are enabled;   responsive to the determination that multiple message levels are enabled, obtaining a message associated with the caller or sender; and   playing the message for the caller or sender.   
   
   
       19 . The program product of  claim 16  further comprising:
 determining whether availability updates are enabled; and   responsive to the determination that availability updates are enabled, determining the next available time from the calendaring software, and instructing the caller to call or sender to contact the user at the next available time.   
   
   
       20 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein the message is created on one of the devices and the message is automatically updated on the other devices. 
   
   
       21 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein the message can be stored in a message repository for later retrieval. 
   
   
       22 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein the message indicates the real-time status of the user. 
   
   
       23 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein the message is created by the user. 
   
   
       24 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein the message is created by a multiple device status updater. 
   
   
       25 . The program product of  claim 24  wherein the multiple device status updater interfaces with a calendaring program to automatically create the message. 
   
   
       26 . The program product of  claim 24  wherein the message is specific to an individual caller or sender. 
   
   
       27 . The program product of  claim 24  wherein the message is specific to a class of callers or senders. 
   
   
       28 . The program product of  claim 24  wherein the message is based upon the current event in the calendaring program. 
   
   
       29 . The program product of  claim 24  wherein the message communicates the user's next available time. 
   
   
       30 . The program product of  claim 29  wherein a redial or reconnect event is automatically scheduled for the user's device based on the next available time. 
   
   
       31 . The program product of  claim 29  wherein a redial or reconnect event is automatically scheduled for the caller's or sender's device based on the next available time. 
   
   
       32 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for detecting an incoming call from a caller or a data from an sender;   means for determining whether automated status updates are enabled;   responsive to the determination that automated status updates are not enabled, means for obtaining a message, and means for playing the message for the caller or sending the message to the sender;   responsive to the determination that automated status updates are enabled, performing second steps comprising:
 means for obtaining a current event from a calendaring program; 
 means for determining whether a message exists for the current event; 
 responsive to the determination that a message exists for the current event, means for obtaining the message; 
 responsive to the determination that a message does not exist for the current event, means for creating a new message; 
 means for determining whether multiple message levels are enabled; 
 responsive to the determination that multiple message levels are enabled, means for obtaining a message associated with the caller or sender; 
 means for playing the message for the caller or sender; 
   means for determining whether availability updates are enabled; and   responsive to the determination that availability updates are enabled, means for determining the next available time from the calendaring software, and means for instructing the caller to call or sender to contact the user at the next available time.