VIRTUAL IM BUDDY IN AN INSTANT MESSAGING SYSTEM TO PROVIDE AUTHENTIC INFORMATION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- providing a instant message (IM) application for installing on a client data communication device, said IM application comprising;
an interface for sending and receiving IM communications; and
a contact for communicating IM messages with a virtual IM buddy; and
wherein said IM application is adapted to authenticate IM messages originating from said virtual IM buddy.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An instant message (IM) virtual buddy is provided for communicating authentic messages to a client IM application of a client data communication device. The client IM application, using an encryption key associated with the virtual buddy, authenticates messages originating from the virtual buddy. The virtual buddy may be provisioned as a part of the IM application. The encryption key is preferably a public key of a public/private key pair in accordance with asymmetric encryption techniques. Users of client devices may receive authentic messages from the virtual buddy such as an enterprise, service or software provider and trust the source and content of the message.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
providing a instant message (IM) application for installing on a client data communication device, said IM application comprising; an interface for sending and receiving IM communications; and a contact for communicating IM messages with a virtual IM buddy; and wherein said IM application is adapted to authenticate IM messages originating from said virtual IM buddy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A client data communication device comprising:
a client instant message (IM) application providing an interface for sending and receiving IM communications, said IM application comprising a contact for a virtual IM buddy for receiving IM messages and said IM application adapted to authenticate IM messages originating from said virtual IM buddy. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
15. A computer program product providing an instant message (IM) application for a client data communications device, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium embodying data and instructions executable by a computer to:
-
(i) provide an interface with which to send and receive IM messages, said interface comprising a contact for a virtual IM buddy for communicating IM messages with said virtual IM buddy; and (ii) authenticate IM messages originating from said virtual IM buddy. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. A data communication device comprising:
-
an IM application for conducting IM communications; and a store of at least one encryption key with which to sign authentic IM messages for originating from a virtual IM buddy; and wherein said IM application comprises an interface with which to sign authentic IM messages for sending to a plurality of client data communication devices adapted to receive and authenticate said authentic IM messages.
-
Specification