System and method for filtering instant messages by context

• US 20040154022A1
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boss, Gregory J., McConnell, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/356,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154022A1
• 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 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding

Abstract

A contextual filtering system and method allow users to define a context or set of contexts that describe the type of instant messages they are willing to receive. These contexts can be a work or interest profile in addition to a predetermined time profile. The time profile can be linked to the user'"'"'s calendar, automatically restricting messages based on recipient, context, or both. A person sending an instant message matches the outgoing message to one of the recipient'"'"'s contexts. The present system then delivers the message according to the recipient'"'"'s profile. Through the profile, the recipient can choose whether a message is delivered immediately, delayed, rejected, or transformed according to the context profile. Transforming the message allows the user to forward the message to a third party or reply to the sender with a generic message stating, for example, that the message does not meet the recipient'"'"'s active context criteria and the message will be delivered when the selected context becomes active.

Claims

1. A messaging method for filtering an instant message by context, comprising:

creating a context profile for a recipient of the instant message; and

filtering the instant message based on a selection of the context by a sender of the instant message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the recipient'"'"'s context profile to a sender of the instant message.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing the recipient'"'"'s context profile.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising selectively responding to the instant message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the context profile comprises the recipient personalizing the context profile.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein selectively responding comprises selecting allowable responses for each context.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein selectively responding further comprises activating the context.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the allowable responses comprises allowing the display of the instant message associated with the context when the context is active or inactive.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the allowable responses comprises displaying the instant message associated with the context only when the context is active.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the allowable responses comprises never displaying the instant message associated with the context.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the allowable responses comprises defining an automatic response when any of the following states is satisfied:

the context is inactive;

or

the context becomes active.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising linking the context to a calendar organizer.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising linking the context to an organizer.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein filtering the instant message comprises filtering with respect to a name reference in the calendar, for linking to the context.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein filtering the instant message comprises filtering with respect to a category reference in the calendar for linking to the context.

16. The method of claim 3, further comprising comparing the context of the instant message with a recipient'"'"'s context profile that has been stored.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the instant message to the recipient if the context is currently active.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising if the message context is not currently active, responding with an automatic response.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a pre-defined reply to the sender.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising releasing the instant message to the recipient when any one of the following conditions is satisfied:

the context becomes active;

or

the message is requested by the recipient.

21. A computer program product having instruction codes for filtering an instant message by context, comprising:

a first set of instruction codes for creating a context profile for a recipient of the instant message; and

a second set of instruction codes for filtering the instant message based on a selection of the context by a sender of the instant message.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, further comprising a third set of instruction codes for displaying the recipient'"'"'s context profile to a sender of the instant message.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising a storage that stores the recipient'"'"'s context profile.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising a fourth set of instruction codes for selectively responding to the instant message.

25. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the first set of instruction codes personalizes the context profile.

26. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the fourth set of instruction codes selects allowable responses for each context.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the fourth set of instruction codes activates the context.

28. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein one of the allowable responses comprises allowing the display of the instant message associated with the context when the context is active or inactive.

29. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein one of the allowable responses comprises displaying the instant message associated with the context only when the context is active.

30. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein one of the allowable responses comprises never displaying the instant message associated with the context.

31. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein one of the allowable responses comprises defining an automatic response when any of the following states is satisfied:

the context is inactive;

or

the context becomes active.

32. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising a fifth set of instruction codes for linking the context to a calendar organizer.

33. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising a fifth set of instruction codes for linking the context to an organizer.

34. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the second set of instruction codes filters with respect to a name reference in the calendar, for linking to the context.

35. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the second set of instruction codes filters with respect to a category reference in the calendar for linking to the context.

36. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising a sixth set of instruction codes for comparing the context of the instant message with a recipient'"'"'s context profile that has been stored.

37. The computer program product of claim 21, further comprising a seventh set of instruction codes for sending the instant message to the recipient if the context is currently active.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the seventh set of instruction codes responds with an automatic response if the message context is not currently active.

39. The computer program product of claim 21, further comprising a seventh responding with an automatic response for sending a pre-defined reply to the sender.

40. The computer program product of claim 21, further comprising a seventh responding with an automatic response for releasing the instant message to the recipient when any one of the following conditions is satisfied:

the context becomes active;

or

the message is requested by the recipient.

41. A messaging system for filtering an instant message by context, comprising:

means for creating a context profile for a recipient of the instant message; and

means for filtering the instant message based on a selection of the context by a sender of the instant message.

42. The system of claim 41, further comprising means for displaying the recipient'"'"'s context profile to a sender of the instant message.

43. The system of claim 42, further comprising a storage that stores the recipient'"'"'s context profile.

44. The system of claim 42, further comprising means for selectively responding to the instant message.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the means for creating the context profile personalizes the context profile.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the means for selectively responding to the instant message selects allowable responses for each context.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the means for selectively responding to the instant message activates the context.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein one of the allowable responses comprises allowing the display of the instant message associated with the context when the context is active or inactive.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein one of the allowable responses comprises displaying the instant message associated with the context only when the context is active.

50. The system of claim 46, wherein one of the allowable responses comprises defining an automatic response when any of the following states is satisfied:

the context is inactive;

or

the context becomes active.