Methods and apparatus for processing an instant message

• US 20030229722A1
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Beyda, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,461,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for processing of an instant message. According to embodiments of the present invention, a sender or originator of an instant message may be sent a notification regarding one or more actions involving the instant message after the instant message is received by or at a device. One or more of the actions may take place after the instant message remains unread or unopened on the device for a given period of time. In addition, in some embodiments, the instant message may be saved, forwarded, returned to the sender, etc. after receipt of the instant message by or at the device according to one or more rules established by the sender and/or the receiver of the instant message.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating processing of an instant message, comprising:

determining at least one rule governing processing of an instant message; and

processing an instant message in accordance with said at least one rule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining at least one rule governing processing of an instant message includes receiving a communication indicative of said at least one rule.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining at least one rule governing processing of an instant message includes receiving said at least one rule as part of said instant message.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an instant message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said wherein said receiving an instant message occurs prior to said determining at least one rule governing processing of an instant message.

6. The method of claim 1, said processing an instant message in accordance with said at least one rule includes at least one of the following:

deleting said instant message;

forwarding said instant message to an address associated with said at least one rule;

sending said instant message to an entity identified by said at least one rule;

storing said instant message in accordance with said at least one rule; and

storing said instant message at a location designated by said at least one rule.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing an instant message in accordance with said at least one rule includes sending a message to a sender of said instant message regarding an action taken with regard to said instant message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one rule includes an associated time period indicative of when a notification regarding said instant message should be sent to a sender of said instant message if said instant message is not read within said time period after said receiving said instant message

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one rule includes at least one of the following:

an associated time period indicative of when said instant message should be deleted if said instant message is not read within said time period after said receiving said instant message;

an associated time period indicative of when said instant message should be stored if said instant message is not read within said time period after said receiving said instant message;

an associated time period indicative of when said instant message should be forwarded if said instant message is not read within said time period after said receiving said instant message;

an associated time period indicative of when said instant message should be sent to a designated entity if said instant message is not read within said time period after said receiving said instant message; and

an associated time period indicative of when said instant message should be sent to a designated address if said instant message is not read within said time period after said receiving said instant message.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if said at least one rule is applicable to a received instant message.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a sender of an instant message; and

determining if said at least one rule applies to said instant message received from said sender.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a communication to a sender of said instant message that said instant message has not been read.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a communication to a sender of said instant message that said instant message has been forwarded.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a communication indicative of said at least one rule to a sender of said instant message.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one rule is associated with a specific sender and said processing an instant message in accordance with said at least one rule occurs only if said instant message is from said specific sender.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one rule has an associated expiration date and said processing an instant message in accordance with said at least one rule occurs only if said at least one rule has not expired.

17. A method for facilitating processing of an instant message, comprising:

determining a time period and a rule governing processing of an instant message; and

processing an instant message in accordance with said at least one rule after said time period has expired after receiving of said instant message.

18. A method for facilitating processing of an instant message, comprising:

determining at least one rule governing processing of an instant message;

sending an instant message; and

receiving a notification indicative of a processing of said instant message in accordance with said at least one rule.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said receiving a notification indicative of a processing of said instant message in accordance with said at least one rule includes receiving a notification that said instant message has been forwarded in accordance with said at least one rule.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said receiving a notification indicative of a processing of said instant message in accordance with said at least one rule includes receiving an notification indicative of whether said instant message has not been read.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing a notification indicative of said at least one rule.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said instant message includes data indicative of said at least one rule.

23. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for facilitating processing of an instant message, comprising:

first instructions for identifying at least one rule for processing of an instant message;

second instructions for processing an instant message in accordance with said at least one rule.

24. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for facilitating processing of an instant message, comprising:

first instructions for identifying at least one rule for processing of an instant message

second instructions for obtaining a notification indicative of a processing of said instant message in accordance with said at least one rule.

25. An apparatus for facilitating processing of an instant message, comprising:

a processor; and

a communication port in communication with said processor;

wherein said processor and said communication port are operative to facilitate;

determining of at least one rule for processing of an instant message;

receiving of an instant message; and

processing of said instant message in accordance with said at least one rule.

26. An apparatus for facilitating processing of an instant message, comprising:

a processor; and

a communication port in communication with said processor;

wherein said processor and said communication port are operative to facilitate;

determining of at least one rule for processing of an instant message;

providing of a notification indicative of said at least one rule; and

receiving of a notification indicative of a processing of an instant message in accordance with said at least one rule.