Rule-based instant message retention

• US 20060227943A1
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yan, Shunguo
• Application Number:
  US11/103,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20060227943A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/67.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

A method in a data processing system for rule-based instant message retention. The method records a start time and creates storage to hold a set of messages when an IM session starts. Then the method determines if the set of messages needs to be retained by applying a set of user-defined rules to the set of messages when the IM session is terminated. If the set of messages needs to be retained, the method indexes the set of messages using a set of metadata. Next, the method compresses, encrypts, and password protects the set of messages. After that, the method protects the set of messages from overwriting and retains the set of messages in storage. Later, the method establishes which sets of retained messages no longer need to be retained. If a set of retained messages no longer needs to be retained, the method discards the set of retained messages.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for retaining instant messages, the method comprising:

recording a start time and creating a storage to hold a set of messages when an instant messaging session starts;

determining if the set of messages needs to be retained by applying a set of rules to the set of messages when the instant messaging session is terminated;

responsive to determining that the set of messages needs to be retained, indexing the set of messages using a set of metadata; and

retaining the set of messages in a other storage.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to indexing the set of messages using the set of metadata, compressing the set of messages;

encrypting the set of messages;

password protecting the set of messages; and

protecting the set of messages from overwriting.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to retaining the set of messages in the other storage, establishing which sets of retained messages no longer need to be retained; and

responsive to establishing that a set of retained messages no longer needs to be retained, discarding the set of retained messages.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of rules includes rules for a set of individual participants.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of rules includes rules for a set of keywords.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of rules includes rules for a set of security policies.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of rules includes rules for distinguishing between a private message and a business message.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of messages includes a content, a set of participant identities, and a timestamp.

9. A data processing system for retaining instant messages, the data processing system comprising:

recording means for recording a start time and creating a storage to hold a set of messages when an instant messaging session starts;

determining means for determining if the set of messages needs to be retained by applying a set of rules to the set of messages when the instant messaging session is terminated;

responsive to determining that the set of messages needs to be retained, indexing means for indexing the set of messages using a set of metadata; and

retaining means for retaining the set of messages in a other storage;

10. The data processing system of claim 9 further comprising:

responsive to indexing the set of messages using the set of metadata, compressing means for compressing the set of messages;

encrypting means for encrypting the set of messages;

password protecting means for password protecting the set of messages; and

protecting means for protecting the set of messages from overwriting.

11. The data processing system of claim 9 further comprising:

responsive to retaining the set of messages in the other storage, establishing means for establishing which sets of retained messages no longer need to be retained; and

responsive to establishing that a set of retained messages no longer needs to be retained, discarding means for discarding the set of retained messages.

12. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the set of rules includes rules for a set of individual participants.

13. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the set of rules includes rules for a set of keywords.

14. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the set of rules includes rules for a set of security policies.

15. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the set of rules includes rules for distinguishing between a private message and a business message.

16. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the set of messages includes a content, a set of participant identities, and a timestamp.

17. A computer program product on a computer-readable medium for retaining instant messages, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for recording a start time and creating a storage to hold a set of messages when an instant messaging session starts;

second instructions for determining if the set of messages needs to be retained by applying a set of rules to the set of messages when the instant messaging session is terminated;

responsive to determining that the set of messages needs to be retained, third instructions for indexing the set of messages using a set of metadata; and

fourth instructions for retaining the set of messages in a other storage.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the set of rules includes rules for a set of individual participants.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the set of rules includes rules for a set of keywords.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the set of rules includes rules for a set of security policies.