Apparatus and method for limiting access to instant messaging content on a display screen

• US 20060161629A1
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cohen, Gabriel Aaron, Mitchell, Gerald Laverte Jr., Craig, Ronald Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 8,856,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for substantially reducing the possibility that a message received at a computer terminal during an instant messaging conversation will become accessible to unintended viewers. A useful embodiment is directed to an arrangement wherein a computer terminal at a first client work station is disposed to receive chat messages from a second client work station during an instant messaging conversation. Apparatus associated with the computer terminal for limiting access to the received chat messages includes a device for attaching a security identifier to each received chat message. A display device at the computer terminal generates a window that selectively provides a specified one of the chat messages in viewable form. A concealment device coupled to the display device is-operable to make the specified chat message unviewable on the display device. A component connected to the concealment device activates the concealment device when a prespecified event occurs.

Claims

1. In an arrangement wherein a computer terminal at a first client work station is disposed to receive chat messages from a second client work station during an instant messaging conversation, apparatus associated with said computer terminal for limiting access to said received chat messages, said apparatus comprising;

a device for attaching a selected identifier to each of said chat messages received by said computer terminal;

a display device at said computer terminal for generating a window that selectively provides a specified one of said chat messages in viewable form;

a concealment device responsive to said identifiers, and operable to cause said specified chat message provided by said window to become unviewable; and

a component for selectively activating said concealment device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said concealment device is adapted to distort said window sufficiently to render said specified chat message unviewable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said activation component activates said concealment device to render said specified chat message unviewable when said window has been displayed as the foreground window by said display device for a specified time period, and no activity affecting said window has taken place during said time period.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said activation component activates said concealment device to render said specified chat message unviewable when said display device stops displaying said window as the foreground window of said display device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said second client work station is one of a plurality of client work stations disposed to exchange chat messages with one another and with said first work station during said instant messaging conversation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

each of said received chat messages is converted to a watermarked image format.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

a viewable image of said specified chat message provided by said window includes a prespecified watermark image.

8. In an arrangement wherein a computer terminal at a first client work station is disposed to receive chat messages from a second client work station during an instant messaging conversation, a method for limiting access to said received chat messages at said computer terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying each of said chat messages received by said computer terminal as being associated with said instant messaging conversation;

operating a display device to generate a window that selectively provides a specified one of said chat messages in viewable form;

monitoring the operation of said display device to detect an event associated with said generated window; and

causing said specified chat message provided by said window to become unviewable when said event occurs.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

said specified chat message is made unviewable by distorting said window.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

said event occurs when said window has been displayed as the foreground window by said display device for a specified time period, and no activity affecting said window has taken place during said time period.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein:

said event occurs when said display device stops displaying said window as the foreground window of said display device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein:

said second client work station is one of a plurality of client work stations disposed to exchange chat messages with one another and with said first work station during said instant messaging conversation.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein:

each of said received chat messages is converted to a watermarked image format.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

a viewable image of said specified chat message provided by said window includes a prespecified watermark image.

15. In an arrangement wherein a computer terminal at a first client work station is disposed to receive chat messages from a second client work station during an instant messaging conversation, a computer program product in a computer readable medium associated with said computer terminal for limiting access to said received chat messages, said computer program product comprising;

first instructions for identifying each of said chat messages received by said computer terminal as being associated with said instant messaging conversation;

second instructions for operating a display device to generate a window that selectively provides a specified one of said chat messages in viewable form;

third instructions for monitoring the operation of said display device to detect an event associated with said generated window; and

fourth instructions for causing said specified chat message provided by said window to become unviewable when said event occurs.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein:

said specified chat message is made unviewable by distorting said window.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein:

said event occurs when said window has been displayed as the foreground window by said display device for a specified time period, and no activity affecting said window has taken place during said time period.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein:

said event occurs when said display device stops displaying said window as the foreground window of said display device.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein:

said second client work station is one of a plurality of client work stations disposed to exchange chat messages with one another and with said first work station during said instant messaging conversation.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein:

each of said received chat messages is converted to a watermarked image format.