Facilitating an Extended IM Session in a Secure Way

• US 20100036916A1
• Filed: 08/05/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Finkelstein, Barbara, Soroka, Vladimir, Mizrachi, Boaz, Goldberg, Itzhack
• Granted Patent: US 8,214,442 B2
• 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 51/043 using or handling presence information

Abstract

A method includes steps of: receiving a prompt from a user to activate a message interface in order to begin a session; activating the message interface such that said message interface is presented to the user and is able to receipt input from the user; receiving user input from the message interface, including: a user selection of at least one target correspondent; and a first message to be sent to the at least one target correspondent; identifying the session with a unique identifier; and sending the first message to a messaging system for delivery to the target correspondent when the target correspondent is available.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising steps of:

receiving a prompt from a user to activate a message interface in order to begin an on-line session;

activating the message interface such that said message interface is presented to the user and is able to receive input from said user;

receiving user input from the message interface, said user input comprising;

a user selection of at least one target correspondent; and

a first message to be sent to the at least one target correspondent; and

sending the first message to a messaging system for delivery to the target correspondent when the target correspondent is detected to be available to receive the first message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein activating the message interface comprises instantiating a dialog box to be operated by the user.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after receiving the first message:

receiving user input from the message interface, said user input comprising a user selection of an additional action to be taken;

presenting a message screen to the user in response to the user selection;

receiving user input from the message interface, through the message screen, the user input comprising a second message to be sent to the at least one target correspondent responsive to a response transmission from the target correspondent; and

sending the second message to the messaging system for delivery to the at least one target correspondent upon receipt of the response transmission.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein receiving the second message further comprises receiving a first anticipated response, wherein the second message is tagged to be sent to the target correspondent only in response to receipt of the first anticipated response.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising receiving additional anticipated responses and additional messages to be sent only in response to receipt of the additional anticipated responses.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring availability status of the target correspondent; and

transmitting the availability status to the messaging system when the availability status indicates that the target correspondent is available and able to receive messages.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein monitoring the availability status of the target correspondent comprises at least one action selected from a group consisting of:

detecting keyboard input, detecting cursor movement, detecting voice commands, and detecting video presence of the target correspondent.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of generating a unique identifier for identifying the session by combining user ids of the user and target correspondent with a start time of the session.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising steps of:

receiving a first message from a sender as part of an on-line session, the first message to be delivered to a recipient upon receipt of an indication that the recipient is available;

tagging the first message with a unique identifier for the on-line session;

storing the first message;

receiving an indication that the recipient is available; and

delivering the first message to the recipient responsive to the indication.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising deleting the first message after it is delivered.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving a second message from the sender, the second message to be delivered to the recipient responsive to receipt of a specific response from the recipient;

tagging the second message with the unique identifier for the session;

storing the second message;

receiving a response from the recipient; and

delivering the second message to the recipient if the response matches the specific response.

12. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium and comprising code that, when executed, causes a computer to:

receive a prompt from a user to activate a message interface in order to begin an on-line session;

activate the message interface such that said message interface is presented to the user and able to receive input from said user;

receive user input from the message interface, said user input comprising;

a user selection of at least one target correspondent; and

a first message to be sent to the at least one target correspondent; and

send the first message to a messaging system for delivery to the target correspondent when the target correspondent is detected to be available.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the message interface is a graphical user interface.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the code further causes the computer to identify the session with a unique identifier.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the computer identifies the session with the unique identifier comprising a userid of the user, a userid of the target correspondent, and a time of the session.

16. A messaging system comprising:

a wireless network;

a plurality of messaging clients operatively coupled with the wireless network for participating in on-line sessions, wherein each of the plurality of messaging clients comprise a message interface for receiving user input and allowing user configuration of the user input in order to begin the on-line session; and

a messaging server operatively coupled with the wireless network for;

receiving status of a plurality of the messaging clients;

receiving messages from the plurality of messaging clients;

storing the messages; and

delivering the messages.

17. The messaging system of claim 16 wherein the message interface is activated by software downloaded by the messaging clients.

18. The messaging system of claim 16 wherein the message interface comprises a graphical user interface.

19. The messaging system of claim 18 wherein the graphical user interface comprises at least one free form text field.

20. The messaging system of claim 16 wherein the messaging server is further coupled with the wireless network for assigning a unique identifier to the on-line sessions.

21. The messaging system of claim 16 wherein the messaging clients assign unique identifiers to their on-line sessions through their message interfaces.

22. A system for extending an on-line session, the system comprising:

a memory having program code stored therein;

a processor operatively coupled with said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code, wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to;

receive a prompt from a user to activate a message interface in order to begin an on-line session;

activate the message interface such that said message interface is presented to the user and able to receive input from said user;

receive user input from the message interface, said user input comprising;

a user selection of at least one target correspondent; and

a first message to be sent to the at least one target correspondent; and

send the first message to a messaging system for delivery to the target correspondent when the target correspondent is detected to be available.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the program code further causes the processor to:

receive user input from the message interface, said user input comprising a user selection of an additional action to be taken;

present a message screen to the user in response to the user selection;

receive user input from the message interface, through the message screen, the user input comprising a message to be sent to the at least one target correspondent responsive to a response transmission from the target correspondent; and

send the second message to the messaging system for delivery to the at least one target correspondent upon receipt of the response transmission.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the program code further causes the processor to:

monitor availability status of the target correspondent; and

transmit the availability status to the messaging system when the availability status indicates that the target correspondent is available and able to receive messages.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the program code further causes the processor to:

generate a unique identifier for the on-line session; and

associate all messages pertaining to the on-line session with the unique identifier.