Instant messaging priority filtering based on content and hierarchical schemes

• US 20050149622A1
• Filed: 01/07/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McCarty, Richard J., Kirkland, Dustin C., Rodriguez, Herman
• Granted Patent: US 7,480,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for filtering and prioritizing instant messaging threaded conversations in an instant messaging system based on thread content. The instant messaging client analyzes an incoming message to determine the thread subject. Based on the thread subject analysis, the client determines the priority level associated with the incoming message. The message is then delivered and displayed to the recipient according to the priority level. The present invention also allows a participant initiating a thread of conversation to override filter settings on a messaging client. The authority to override settings may be predicated on an external list, such as a corporate telephone directory. As a result, the participant, having some authority or rights to override the recipient'"'"'s instant messaging settings, may be allowed to conduct a messaging session with the recipient.

Claims

1. A method for filtering and prioritizing threaded conversations in an instant messaging client, comprising:

receiving a request for an instant messaging session;

analyzing a message in the request for an instant messaging session to determine a thread content of the message;

determining a priority level of the message based on the thread content of the message;

displaying the message at the instant messaging client based on priority level.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

routing the message to different windows in the instant messaging session based on the thread content and priority level of the message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the message at the instant messaging client according to priority level includes displaying messages with a high priority level in the forefront of an instant messaging window.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the message at the instant messaging client according to priority level includes displaying messages with a lower priority level in the background of an instant messaging window.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein filtering and prioritizing settings for an instant messaging client are updated on a periodic basis.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the thread content of the message is used to determine the manner of displaying the message to the recipient.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an artificial intelligent or semantic analysis is used to automatically determine the thread content of the message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step is performed prior to the final delivery and display of the message at the instant messaging client.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a user may conduct the instant messaging session with the instant messaging client regardless of the thread content if the user has appropriate access rights to override priority settings in the instant messaging client.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the access rights to override block settings in the instant messaging client may be obtained from an organizational directory.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the organizational directory includes one of a family hierarchy, friend hierarchy, or corporate hierarchy.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the access rights in the organizational directory are based on user selection.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the access rights in the organizational directory are based on an external source.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the external source is a corporate telephone directory.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the access rights in the organizational directory includes information regarding how an instant messaging user may be seen to other messaging participants and a manner in which the other participants may discover the instant messaging user.

16. A data processing system for filtering and prioritizing threaded conversations in an instant messaging client, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a request for an instant messaging session;

analyzing means for analyzing a message in the request for an instant messaging session to determine a thread content of the message;

determining means for determining a priority level of the message based on the thread content of the message;

displaying means for displaying the message at the instant messaging client based on priority level.

17. The data processing system of claim 16, further comprising:

routing means for routing the message to different windows in the instant messaging session based on the thread content and priority level of the message.

18. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein displaying the message at the instant messaging client according to priority level includes displaying messages with a high priority level in the forefront of an instant messaging window.

19. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein displaying the message at the instant messaging client according to priority level includes displaying messages with a lower priority level in the background of an instant messaging window.

20. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein filtering and prioritizing settings for an instant messaging client are updated on a periodic basis.

21. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein the thread content of the message is used to determine the manner of displaying the message to the recipient.

22. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein an artificial intelligent or semantic analysis is used to automatically determine the thread content of the message.

23. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein the analyzing step is performed prior to the final delivery and display of the message at the instant messaging client.

24. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein a user may conduct the instant messaging session with the instant messaging client regardless of the thread content if the user has appropriate access rights to override priority settings in the instant messaging client.

25. The data processing system of claim 24, wherein the access rights to override block settings in the instant messaging client may be obtained from an organizational directory.

26. The data processing system of claim 24, wherein the organizational directory includes one of a family hierarchy, friend hierarchy, or corporate hierarchy.

27. The data processing system of claim 24, wherein the access rights in the organizational directory are based on user selection.

28. The data processing system of claim 24, wherein the access rights in the organizational directory are based on an external source.

29. The data processing system of claim 28, wherein the external source is a corporate telephone directory.

30. The data processing system of claim 24, wherein the access rights in the organizational directory includes information regarding how an instant messaging user may be seen to other messaging participants and a manner in which the other participants may discover the instant messaging user.

31. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for filtering and prioritizing threaded conversations in an instant messaging client, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a request for an instant messaging session;

analyzing means for analyzing a message in the request for an instant messaging session to determine a thread content of the message;

determining means for determining a priority level of the message based on the thread content of the message;

displaying means for displaying the message at the instant messaging client based on priority level.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, further comprising:

routing means for routing the message to different windows in the instant messaging session based on the thread content and priority level of the message.

33. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein displaying the message at the instant messaging client according to priority level includes displaying messages with a high priority level in the forefront of an instant messaging window.

34. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein displaying the message at the instant messaging client according to priority level includes displaying messages with a lower priority level in the background of an instant messaging window.

35. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein filtering and prioritizing settings for an instant messaging client are updated on a periodic basis.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the thread content of the message is used to determine the manner of displaying the message to the recipient.

37. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein an artificial intelligent or semantic analysis is used to automatically determine the thread content of the message.

38. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the analyzing step is performed prior to the final delivery and display of the message at the instant messaging client.

39. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein a user may conduct the instant messaging session with the instant messaging client regardless of the thread content if the user has appropriate access rights to override priority settings in the instant messaging client.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the access rights to override block settings in the instant messaging client may be obtained from an organizational directory.

41. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the organizational directory includes one of a family hierarchy, friend hierarchy, or corporate hierarchy.

42. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the access rights in the organizational directory are based on user selection.

43. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the access rights in the organizational directory are based on an external source.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the external source is a corporate telephone directory.

45. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the access rights in the organizational directory includes information regarding how an instant messaging user may be seen to other messaging participants and a manner in which the other participants may discover the instant messaging user.