Limited-use instant messaging accounts

• US 20060168051A1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/111,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168051A1
• 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 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

In one aspect, a method related to a limited-use instant messaging account. In addition to the foregoing, other method and system and program product aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

Claims

1. A method related to instant messaging, the method comprising:

creating a limited-use instant messenger alias related to a limited-use instant message account user; and

mediating one or more message exchanges between the limited-use instant message account user and a specified messaging party.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating a limited-use instant messenger alias related to a limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

creating a limited-use instant messenger alias using a random character generator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating a limited-use instant messenger alias related to a limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

receiving a signal related to creating a limited-use instant messenger alias from a wireless personal device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mediating one or more message exchanges between the limited-use instant message account user and a specified messaging party further comprises:

mediating one or more message exchanges of one or more pre-specified messages.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mediating one or more message exchanges between the limited-use instant message account user and a specified messaging party further comprises:

mediating a pre-specified number of message exchanges.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

managing a message to or from a limited-use instant message account user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the managing a message to or from a limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

transmitting a query related to a future status of the limited-use instant message account to the limited-use instant message account user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting a query related to a future status of the limited-use instant message account to the limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

transmitting a message related to terminating the limited-use instant message account.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting a query related to a future status of the limited-use instant message account to the limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

transmitting a message related to extending the limited-use instant message account.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the managing a message to or from a limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

receiving a message related to a future status of the limited-use instant message account from the limited-use instant message account user limited-use instant message account.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving a message related to a future status of the limited-use instant message account from the limited-use instant message account user limited-use instant message account further comprises:

receiving a message related to terminating the limited-use instant message account.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving a message related to a future status of the limited-use instant message account from the limited-use instant message account user limited-use instant message account further comprises:

receiving a message related to extending the limited-use instant message account.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the managing a message to or from a limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

transmitting a message related to payment related to the limited-use instant message account.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the managing a message to or from a limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

receiving a message related to payment related to the limited-use instant message account.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

mediating transmission of a substitute instant messaging alias with respect to the specified messaging party.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the mediating transmission of a substitute instant messaging alias with respect to the specified messaging party further comprises:

receiving permission to provide the substitute instant messaging alias to the specified messaging party.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the mediating transmission of a substitute instant messaging alias with respect to the specified messaging party further comprises:

providing the substitute instant messaging alias to the specified messaging party.

18. A system related to instant messaging, comprising:

circuitry for creating a limited-use instant messenger alias related to a limited-use instant message account user; and

circuitry for mediating one or more message exchanges between the limited-use instant message account user and a specified messaging party.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

circuitry for managing a message to or from a limited-use instant message account user.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

circuitry for mediating transmission of a substitute instant messaging alias with respect to the specified messaging party.

21. A system comprising:

means for creating a limited-use instant messenger alias related to a limited-use instant message account user; and

means for mediating one or more message exchanges between the limited-use instant message account user and a specified messaging party.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for managing a message to or from a limited-use instant message account user.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for mediating transmission of a substitute instant messaging alias with respect to the specified messaging party.

24. A program product, comprising:

a signal bearing medium bearing one or more instructions for creating a limited-use instant messenger alias related to a limited-use instant message account user, and

one or more instructions for mediating one or more message exchanges between the limited-use instant message account user and a specified messaging party.

25. The program product of claim 24, wherein the signal bearing medium comprises:

a recordable medium.

26. The program product of claim 24, wherein the signal bearing medium comprises:

a transmission medium.

27. The program product of claim 24, wherein the one or more instructions for creating a limited-use instant messenger alias related to a limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

one or more instructions for creating a limited-use instant messenger alias using a random character generator.

28. The program product of claim 24, wherein the one or more instructions for creating a limited-use instant messenger alias related to a limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

one or more instructions for receiving a signal related to creating a limited-use instant messenger alias from a wireless personal device.

29. The program product of claim 24, wherein the one or more instructions for mediating one or more message exchanges between the limited-use instant message account user and a specified messaging party further comprises:

one or more instructions for mediating one or more message exchanges of one or more pre-specified messages.

30. The program product of claim 24, wherein the one or more instructions for mediating one or more message exchanges between the limited-use instant message account user and a specified messaging party further comprises:

one or more instructions for mediating a pre-specified number of message exchanges.

31. The program product of claim 24, further comprising:

one or more instructions for managing a message to or from a limited-use instant message account user.

32. The program product of claim 31, wherein the one or more instructions for managing a message to or from a limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

one or more instructions for transmitting a query related to a future status of the limited-use instant message account to the limited-use instant message account user.

33. The program product of claim 32, wherein the one or more instructions for transmitting a query related to a future status of the limited-use instant message account to the limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

one or more instructions for transmitting a message related to terminating the limited-use instant message account.

34. The program product of claim 32, wherein the one or more instructions for transmitting a query related to a future status of the limited-use instant message account to the limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

one or more instructions for transmitting a message related to extending the limited-use instant message account.

35. The program product of claim 32, wherein the one or more instructions for managing a message to or from a limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

one or more instructions for receiving a message related to a future status of the limited-use instant message account from the limited-use instant message account user limited-use instant message account.

36. The program product of claim 35, wherein the one or more instructions for receiving a message related to a future status of the limited-use instant message account from the limited-use instant message account user limited-use instant message account further comprises:

one or more instructions for receiving a message related to terminating the limited-use instant message account.

37. The program product of claim 35, wherein the one or more instructions for receiving a message related to a future status of the limited-use instant message account from the limited-use instant message account user limited-use instant message account further comprises:

one or more instructions for receiving a message related to extending the limited-use instant message account.

38. The program product of claim 31, wherein the one or more instructions for managing a message to or from a limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

one or more instructions for transmitting a message related to payment related to the limited-use instant message account.

39. The program product of claim 31, wherein the one or more instructions for managing a message to or from a limited-use instant message account user further comprises:

one or more instructions receiving a message related to payment related to the limited-use instant message account.

40. The program product of claim 24, further comprising:

one or more instructions for mediating transmission of a substitute instant messaging alias with respect to the specified messaging party.

41. The program product of claim 40, wherein the one or more instructions for mediating transmission of a substitute instant messaging alias with respect to the specified messaging party further comprises:

one or more instructions receiving permission to provide the substitute instant messaging alias to the specified messaging party.

42. The program product of claim 40, wherein the one or more instructions for mediating transmission of a substitute instant messaging alias with respect to the specified messaging party further comprises:

one or more instructions for providing the substitute instant messaging alias to the specified messaging party.