Destroyable Instant Message (IM)

• US 20090248751A1
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bigstring Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bigstring Corporation
• Inventors: Myman, Darin M., Watkins, Charles C.
• Application Number:
  US12/060,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248751A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing instant messages by destroying them are disclosed. Setting a time for destroying a destroyable instant message is provided. Destruction of a message can be accompanied by visual effects. A destroyable instant message can be made not printable and not retrievable savable. Methods and systems for instant messaging using destroyable messages are also disclosed. Clients for instant messaging with destroyable instant messages are provided. A client for instant messaging with destroyable instant messages can be created with pre-installed applications, web page based applications and by using a plug-in to an existing instant messaging application.

Claims

1. A method for automatic destruction of an instant message in a computing device, comprising:

providing a capability in the computing device to destroy an instant message based on an instruction;

receiving and detecting the instruction to destroy the instant message at the computing device; and

the computing device destroying the instant messaging based on detection of the instruction.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising including in the instruction a time after which the instance message will be destructed, wherein the computing device destroys the instant message in accordance with the time.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the instruction is part of the instant message.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the instruction is sent to the computing device after the instant message was sent.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of:

a computer, a mobile computing device, a mobile phone, and a GPS device.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising connecting the computing device to an Internet, wherein the instant message and the instruction are received via the Internet.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising loading a plug-in to an existing instant messaging client for instant messaging on the computing device, the plug-in being capable of destroying instant messages upon receipt of the instruction.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the instant message cannot be printed

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the instant message cannot be retrievably saved on the computing device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

destroying a copy of the instant message on a sending computing device that transmitted the instant message by an instruction originating from the sending computing device.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising displaying a visual effect when destroying the instant message.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a sender of the instant message selecting the visual effect to be used when destroying the instant message.

13. A computing device for instant messaging, comprising:

a processor;

a memory for storing data;

a software client loaded on the computing device which causes the processor to;

receive and display an instant message;

detect and execute an instruction; and

destroy the instant message in accordance with the instruction.

14. The computing device for instant messaging as claimed in claim 13, wherein the instant message is destroyed after a pre-set time specified in the instruction.

15. The computing device for instant messaging as claimed in claim 13, wherein the instant message cannot be printed.

16. The computing device for instant messaging as claimed in claim 13, wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of:

a personal computer, a laptop computer, a mobile phone, and a GPS device.

17. A system for instant messaging, comprising:

a server;

a network;

at least two client computing devices connected to the server through the network;

wherein a first of the client computing devices has a processor enabled to execute instructions to perform the steps of;

sending an instant message;

sending an instruction associated with the instant message to destroy the instant message;

wherein a second of the client computing devices has a processor enabled to execute instruction to perform the steps of;

receiving and detecting the instruction to destruct the instant message; and

destroying the instant message on the first client device based on detection of the instant message.

18. The system for instant messaging as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the instruction having a specified time in which the instance message is destroyed.

19. The system for instant messaging as claimed in claim 17, wherein the network is an Internet.

20. The system for instant messaging as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and second client computing devices are selected from the group consisting of:

a personal computer, a laptop computer, a mobile phone, and a GPS device.

21. The system for instant messaging as claimed in claim 17, wherein the destroyable message cannot be saved.

22. The system for instant messaging as claimed in claim 17, wherein the destroyable message cannot be printed.