Microsoft is trying to patent automatic goodbye messages, including “Have a great afternoon!” and “Ciao, Harry!“
Last week, the Redmond software giant tossed an application at the US Patent Office that demands the exclusive rights to a tool that lets you “automatically send a goodbye message when ending a conversation” over IM and VoIP services.
When you close your IM client, for instance, the tool could instantly send mini-missives to all your buddies. And you’d have free reign to customize these messages.
“As an example, the facility may select a goodbye message based on the identity of the converser,” the patent reads, in standard patent-speak. “As another example, the facility may select a goodbye message randomly. As another example, the facility may select a goodbye message based on other aspects of the conversation, such as time of day, length of conversation, mood indicated by the user, and so forth.”
Patent, Microsoft, Message
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