Blocking unsolicited instant messages

• US 20060168009A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Muller, Michael, Schirmer, Andrew L., Lyle, Ruthie D.
• Application Number:
  US10/993,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168009A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for blocking unsolicited instant messages. A system for selectively blocking unsolicited instant messages can include an instant messaging client, at least one human sensory test and, a spim sentry. Notably, the spim sentry can be configured to selectively block an incoming instant message based upon an application of the human sensory test to a source of the incoming instant message. For example, the human sensory test can be a visual test where identifiable text is obscured in a picture. Also, the human sensory test can be an audible test where identifiable audio is obscured in an audio message.

Claims

1. A system for selectively blocking unsolicited instant messages comprising:

an instant messaging client;

at least one human sensory test; and

,

a spim sentry configured to selectively block an incoming instant message based upon an application of said at least one human sensory test to a source of said incoming instant message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one human sensory test comprises a visual test where identifiable text is obscured in a picture.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one human sensory test comprises an audible test where identifiable audio is obscured in an audio message.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one human sensory test comprises at least two user selectable human sensory tests, wherein said user is one of said source and a message recipient.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a buddy list coupled to both said instant messaging client and to said spim sentry.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data source of pre-specified message sources coupled to both said instant messaging client and to said spim sentry.

7. A method for selectively blocking unsolicited instant messages comprising the steps of:

identifying a source of a received instant message;

selecting and providing at least one human sensory test to said source; and

,

if said source passes said at least one human sensory test, allowing said instant message and otherwise blocking said instant message.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said identifying step comprises the step of identifying a screen name of a sender of said received instant message.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said selecting step comprises the step of selecting a human sensory test selected from the group consisting of a visual test and an audible test.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of automatically allowing said instant message without performing said selecting and providing steps if said source is located in a buddy list.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of automatically allowing said instant message without performing said selecting and providing steps if said source is located in a data store of pre-specified message sources.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said selecting and providing steps comprises the steps of selecting and providing multiple human sensory tests and performing said allowing step only if said source passes all of said human sensory tests.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein said selecting and providing steps comprises the steps of selecting and providing multiple human sensory tests and performing said allowing step only if said source passes a threshold number of said human sensory tests.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of adding said source to said data store of pre-specified message sources if said source passes said at least one human sensory test.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said automatically allowing step comprises the step of automatically allowing said instant message without performing said selecting and providing steps if said source is located in a data store of pre-specified message sources and if said source had recently had an instant message allowed within a threshold period of time.

16. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for selectively blocking unsolicited instant messages, the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions which when executed by a machine causes the machine to perform the steps of:

identifying a source of a received instant message;

selecting and providing at least one human sensory test to said source; and

,

if said source passes said at least one human sensory test, allowing said instant message and otherwise blocking said instant message.

17. The machine readable storage of claim 16, wherein said identifying step comprises the step of identifying a screen name of a sender of said received instant message.

18. The machine readable storage of claim 16, wherein said selecting step comprises the step of selecting a human sensory test selected from the group consisting of a visual test and an audible test.

19. The machine readable storage of claim 16, further comprising an additional set of instructions which when executed by the machine causes the machine to further perform the step of automatically allowing said instant message without performing said selecting and providing steps if said source is located in a buddy list.

20. The machine readable storage of claim 16, further comprising an additional set of instructions which when executed by the machine causes the machine to further perform the step of automatically allowing said instant message without performing said selecting and providing steps if said source is located in a data store of pre-specified message sources.

21. The machine readable storage of claim 16, wherein said selecting and providing steps comprises the steps of selecting and providing multiple human sensory tests and performing said allowing step only if said source passes all of said human sensory tests.

22. The machine readable storage of claim 16, wherein said selecting and providing steps comprises the steps of selecting and providing multiple human sensory tests and performing said allowing step only if said source passes a threshold number of said human sensory tests.

23. The machine readable storage of claim 20, further comprising an additional set of instructions which when executed by the machine causes the machine to further perform the step of adding said source to said data store of pre-specified message sources if said source passes said at least one human sensory test.

24. The machine readable storage of claim 20, wherein said automatically allowing step comprises the step of automatically allowing said instant message without performing said selecting and providing steps if said source is located in a data store of pre-specified message sources and if said source had recently had an instant message allowed within a threshold period of time.