METHOD, SYSTEM AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING SELECTIVE ENHANCED PRIVACY AND CONTROL FEATURES TO ONE OR MORE PORTIONS OF AN ELECTRONIC MESSAGE

• US 20100042690A1
• Filed: 08/18/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wall, Stephen E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,832,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes

Abstract

A method, system and program product for providing selective enhanced privacy and control features to multiple portions of an electronic message. The method includes creating an electronic message on a device having an enhanced data messaging tool installed thereon, and further selecting, using the enhanced data messaging tool, one or more enhanced privacy and control features for different portions of data contained in the message created, such that, different privacy and control features can be selected for different portions of data contained in the message. The method further includes transmitting the message created to respective devices of one or more intended recipients, such that, the message received on a respective device of a respective recipient notifies the respective recipient regarding the privacy and control features selected by the sender for one or more portions of data contained in the message.

Claims

1. A communication method for sending electronic messages, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an enhanced data messaging tool;

creating an electronic message on a device for distribution of data to one or more intended recipients;

selecting, using said enhanced data messaging tool, one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features for one or more portions of said data contained in said electronic message created by a sender, wherein a respective one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features selected for one portion differs from another respective one or more predefined selective enhanced privacy and control features selected for another portion of said one or more portions of said data contained in said electronic message; and

transmitting, using a transmission medium, said electronic message created containing said one or more portions of said data for distribution to respective devices of said one or more intended recipients, wherein said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message received on said respective recipient device notifies a respective recipient regarding said one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features selected by said sender of said electronic message.

2. A communication method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more portions of said data comprises at least one of:

a text message, an e-mail message, an instant message, an application file, a video file, a picture file, a image file, a sound file, an audio file, a compressed file, an uncompressed file, a voicemail application, an electronic page, an Internet frame, a web page, an avatar, a folder, a container, an icon, an emoticon, a link, a software component, a programming component and a flash file.

3. A communication method according to claim 2, wherein said one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features comprises one or more of:

one or more pre-defined passwords, a pre-defined time frame for said one or more portions of said electronic message to auto delete on a recipient device, wherein said pre-defined time frame comprises at least one of;

number of seconds, number of days, number of weeks, number of months, number of years, a specific date, a specific time, a unique event, a recurring event and an arbitrary time frame pre-defined by said sender, one or more local time zones, one or more international time zones, control features applicable to sender only, control features applicable to recipient only, control features applicable to both recipient and sender, unsend feature, redirect feature, copying control features, forwarding control features, blind carbon copy control features, storing control features, printing control features, language type control features, voice control features, auto-recovery rights for said electronic message, sender'"'"'s rights to make changes to said electronic message, recipient'"'"'s rights to make changes to electronic message, repetition features for said electronic message, one or more attributes in said electronic message, in-network rights of sender, in-network rights of recipient, out-of-network rights of sender, out-of-network rights of recipient, track status of said one or more portions of said data within electronic message, track status of electronic message, data count features, billing features, advertising features, features for turning on said enhanced data messaging tool, features for turning off said enhanced data messaging tool, auto-recovery rights for said data in said electronic message, auto-recovery rights for said electronic message, recipient selection for said electronic message, animation features for said electronic message, syntax commands for initiating enhanced privacy and control features and security features for said electronic message comprising at least one of;

Morse code, encryption-decryption keys, fingerprinting, retinal scanning, temperature-based security feature, frequency-based security feature and a customized code for said electronic message.

4. A communication method according to claim 3, wherein said device comprises at least one of:

a wired device, a wireless device, a personal computer, a server, a blade, a storage device, a pager, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a touchscreen, a keyboard, a handheld device, a cell phone, a router, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) device, and wherein said enhanced data messaging tool is installed as at least one of;

an operating system, an operating system enhancement, firmware, an applet, a plug-in, a protocol, an application, a file and a folder.

5. A communication method according to claim 4, wherein said transmission medium comprises at least one of:

a phone line, a cable, the Internet, a wire line, a wireless line, a wired device, a wireless device, a satellite, a sound medium, a fiber optic cable, a light medium, a cell tower, a vibration medium, a frequency medium, a wavelength medium, a temperature medium, a Bluetooth medium, an infrared medium, a radio tower, an electrical line, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wireless mesh network (WMN), a global network, a temperature medium, a frequency medium, a language medium, a Braille code medium, a customizable code medium, a broadcast medium, a unicast medium, a multicast medium, a point-to-point broadcast, a point-to-multipoint broadcast, a multiplexed broadcast, a time-division multiplexed medium, a frequency-division multiplexed medium.

6. A communication method according to claim 5, wherein if said one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features selected include a respective pre-defined time frame for said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message to auto delete on a recipient device, said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message being automatically deleted on said respective recipient device upon expiration of said respective pre-defined time frame.

7. A communication method according to claim 6, wherein if said one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features selected does not include a respective pre-defined time frame for said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message to auto delete on a respective recipient device, said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message will not automatically delete on said respective recipient device upon expiration of said respective pre-defined time frame.

8. A system for providing selective enhanced privacy and control features to one or more portions of an electronic message, comprising:

a network communications channel;

one or more subscriber devices connected to said network communications channel, said one or more subscriber devices having a respective enhanced data messaging tool deployed thereon;

a server connected to said network communications channel and including a respective enhanced data messaging tool for providing selective enhanced privacy and control features to one or more portions of an electronic message sent by said one or more subscriber devices connected to said network communications channel, said server including a central processing unit for executing said respective enhanced data messaging tool deployed thereon said server, and wherein said respective enhanced data messaging tool deployed on said one or more subscriber devices further comprises;

a command line interface module for selecting one or more pre-defined enhanced privacy and control features for one or more portions of data contained in an electronic message created by a respective sender, wherein a respective one or more pre-defined enhanced privacy and control features selected for one portion differs from another respective one or more predefined enhanced privacy and control features selected for another portion of said one or more portions of said data contained in said electronic message;

a command interpreter module for interpreting said one or more pre-defined enhanced privacy and control features selected for said one or more portions of said data contained in an electronic message received by a respective recipient;

a command processing module for executing said one or more pre-defined enhanced privacy and control features selected for said one or more portions of said data contained in said electronic message received by a respective recipient; and

a data display module for displaying said one or more portions of data contained in said electronic message received by a respective recipient.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said one or more portions of said data comprises at least one of:

a text message, an e-mail message, an instant message, an application file, a video file, a picture file, a image file, a sound file, an audio file, a compressed file, an uncompressed file, a voicemail application, an electronic page, an Internet frame, a web page, an avatar, a folder, a container, an icon, an emoticon, a link, a software component, a programming component and a flash file.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features comprises one or more of:

one or more pre-defined passwords, a pre-defined time frame for said one or more portions of said electronic message to auto delete on a recipient device, wherein said pre-defined time frame comprises at least one of;

number of seconds, number of days, number of weeks, number of months, number of years, a specific date, a specific time, a unique event, a recurring event and an arbitrary time frame pre-defined by said sender, one or more local time zones, one or more international time zones, control features applicable to sender only, control features applicable to recipient only, control features applicable to both recipient and sender, unsend feature, redirect feature, copying control features, forwarding control features, blind carbon copy control features, storing control features, printing control features, language type control features, voice control features, auto-recovery rights for said electronic message, sender'"'"'s rights to make changes to said electronic message, recipient'"'"'s rights to make changes to electronic message, repetition features for said electronic message, one or more attributes in said electronic message, in-network rights of sender, in-network rights of recipient, out-of-network rights of sender, out-of-network rights of recipient, track status of said one or more portions of said data within electronic message, track status of electronic message, data count features, billing features, advertising features, features for turning on said enhanced data messaging tool, features for turning off said enhanced data messaging tool, auto-recovery rights for said data in said electronic message, auto-recovery rights for said electronic message, recipient selection for said electronic message, animation features for said electronic message, syntax commands for initiating enhanced privacy and control features and security features for said electronic message comprising at least one of;

Morse code, encryption-decryption keys, fingerprinting, retinal scanning, temperature-based security feature, frequency-based security feature and a customized code for said electronic message.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said device comprises at least one of:

a wired device, a wireless device, a personal computer, a server, a blade, a storage device, a pager, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a touchscreen, a keyboard, a handheld device, a cell phone, a router, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) device, and wherein said enhanced data messaging tool is installed on a respective device as at least one of;

an operating system, an operating system enhancement, firmware, an applet, a plug-in, a protocol, an application, a file and a folder.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said transmission medium comprises at least one of:

a phone line, a cable, the Internet, a wire line, a wireless line, a wired device, a wireless device, a satellite, a sound medium, a fiber optic cable, a light medium, a cell tower, a vibration medium, a frequency medium, a wavelength medium, a temperature medium, a Bluetooth medium, an infrared medium, a radio tower, an electrical line, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wireless mesh network (WMN), a global network, a temperature medium, a frequency medium, a language medium, a Braille code medium, a customizable code medium, a broadcast medium, a unicast medium, a multicast medium, a point-to-point broadcast, a point-to-multipoint broadcast, a multiplexed broadcast, a time-division multiplexed medium, a frequency-division multiplexed medium.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein if said one or more pre-defined enhanced privacy and control features selected include a respective pre-defined time frame for said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message to auto delete on a respective recipient device, said one or more subscriber devices further comprises:

a data tracking module for tracking said respective pre-defined time frame for said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message sent by said respective sender, wherein said data tracking module automatically deletes said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message on said respective recipient device upon expiration of said respective pre-defined time frame.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein if said one or more pre-defined enhanced privacy and control features selected does not include a respective pre-defined time frame for said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message to auto delete on a respective recipient device, said data tracking module of said one or more subscriber devices does not automatically delete said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message on said respective recipient device upon expiration of said respective pre-defined time frame.

15. A computer program product for providing selective enhanced privacy and control features to one or more portions of an electronic message, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first program instructions to create an electronic message on a device for distribution of data to one or more intended recipients, said device having an enhanced data messaging tool installed thereon;

second program instructions to select, using said enhanced data messaging tool, one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features for one or more portions of said data contained in said electronic message created by a sender, wherein a respective one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features selected for one portion differs from another respective one or more predefined selective enhanced privacy and control features selected for another portion of said one or more portions of said data contained in said electronic message;

third program instructions to transmit, using a transmission medium, said electronic message created containing said one or more portions of said data for distribution to respective devices of said one or more intended recipients, wherein said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message received on said respective recipient device notifies a respective recipient regarding said one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features selected by said sender of said electronic message, and wherein said first, second and third program instructions are recorded on said computer readable medium for execution by a network system central processing unit for providing selective enhanced privacy and control features to said one or more portions of said electronic message.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15, wherein if said one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features include a respective pre-defined time frame for said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message to auto delete on a recipient device, said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message being automatically deleted on said respective recipient device upon expiration of said respective pre-defined time frame.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein if said one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features does not include a respective pre-defined time frame for said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message to auto delete on a respective recipient device, said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message will not automatically delete on said respective recipient device upon expiration of said respective pre-defined time frame.

18. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein said one or more portions of said data comprises at least one of:

a text message, an e-mail message, an instant message, an application file, a video file, a picture file, a image file, a sound file, an audio file, a compressed file, an uncompressed file, a voicemail application, an electronic page, an Internet frame, a web page, an avatar, a folder, a container, an icon, an emoticon, a link, a software component, a programming component and a flash file.

19. The computer program product according to claim 18, wherein said one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features comprises one or more of:

one or more pre-defined passwords, a pre-defined time frame for said one or more portions of said electronic message to auto delete on a recipient device, wherein said pre-defined time frame comprises at least one of;

number of seconds, number of days, number of weeks, number of months, number of years, a specific date, a specific time, a unique event, a recurring event and an arbitrary time frame pre-defined by said sender, one or more local time zones, one or more international time zones, control features applicable to sender only, control features applicable to recipient only, control features applicable to both recipient and sender, unsend feature, redirect feature, copying control features, forwarding control features, blind carbon copy control features, storing control features, printing control features, language type control features, voice control features, auto-recovery rights for said electronic message, sender'"'"'s rights to make changes to said electronic message, recipient'"'"'s rights to make changes to electronic message, repetition features for said electronic message, one or more attributes in said electronic message, in-network rights of sender, in-network rights of recipient, out-of-network rights of sender, out-of-network rights of recipient, track status of said one or more portions of said data within electronic message, track status of electronic message, data count features, billing features, advertising features, features for turning on said enhanced data messaging tool, features for turning off said enhanced data messaging tool, auto-recovery rights for said data in said electronic message, auto-recovery rights for said electronic message, recipient selection for said electronic message, animation features for said electronic message, syntax commands for initiating enhanced privacy and control features and security features for said electronic message comprising at least one of;

Morse code, encryption-decryption keys, fingerprinting, retinal scanning, temperature-based security feature, frequency-based security feature and a customized code for said electronic message.

20. The computer program product according to claim 19, wherein said device comprises at least one of:

a wired device, a wireless device, a personal computer, a server, a blade, a storage device, a pager, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a touchscreen, a keyboard, a handheld device, a cell phone, a router, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) device, and wherein said enhanced data messaging tool is installed as at least one of;

an operating system, an operating system enhancement, firmware, an applet, a plug-in, a protocol, an application, a file and a folder.

21. The computer program product according to claim 20, wherein said transmission medium comprises at least one of:

a phone line, a cable, the Internet, a wire line, a wireless line, a wired device, a wireless device, a satellite, a sound medium, a fiber optic cable, a light medium, a cell tower, a vibration medium, a frequency medium, a wavelength medium, a temperature medium, a Bluetooth medium, an infrared medium, a radio tower, an electrical line, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wireless mesh network (WMN), a global network, a temperature medium, a frequency medium, a language medium, a Braille code medium, a customizable code medium, a broadcast medium, a unicast medium, a multicast medium, a point-to-point broadcast, a point-to-multipoint broadcast, a multiplexed broadcast, a time-division multiplexed medium, a frequency-division multiplexed medium.

22. A process for deploying computing infrastructure comprising integrating computer-readable code into a computing system, wherein said code in combination with said computing system is capable of performing a process for providing selective enhanced privacy and control features to one or more portions of an electronic message, said process comprising:

creating an electronic message on a device for distribution of data to one or more intended recipients, said device having an enhanced data messaging tool installed thereon;

selecting, using said enhanced data messaging tool, one or more pre-defined enhanced privacy and control features for one or more portions of said data contained in said electronic message created by a sender, wherein a respective one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features selected for at least a first portion differs from another respective one or more predefined selective enhanced privacy and control features selected for at least a second portion of said one or more portions of said data contained in said electronic message; and

transmitting, using a transmission medium, said electronic message created containing said one or more portions of said data for distribution to respective devices of said one or more intended recipients, wherein said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message received on said respective recipient device prompts a respective recipient regarding said one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features selected by said sender of said electronic message, and wherein if said one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features include a respective pre-defined time frame for said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message to auto delete on a respective recipient device, said one or more portions of said data in said electronic message being automatically deleted on said respective recipient device upon expiration of said respective pre-defined time frame.

23. The process according to claim 22, wherein said one or more portions of said data comprises at least one of:

a text message, an e-mail message, an instant message, an application file, a video file, a picture file, a image file, a sound file, an audio file, a compressed file, an uncompressed file, a voicemail application, an electronic page, an Internet frame, a web page, an avatar, a folder, a container, an icon, an emoticon, a link, a software component, a programming component and a flash file.

24. The process according to claim 23, wherein said one or more pre-defined selective enhanced privacy and control features comprises one or more of:

one or more pre-defined passwords, a pre-defined time frame for said one or more portions of said electronic message to auto delete on a recipient device, wherein said pre-defined time frame comprises at least one of;

number of seconds, number of days, number of weeks, number of months, number of years, a specific date, a specific time, a unique event, a recurring event and an arbitrary time frame pre-defined by said sender, one or more local time zones, one or more international time zones, control features applicable to sender only, control features applicable to recipient only, control features applicable to both recipient and sender, unsend feature, redirect feature, copying control features, forwarding control features, blind carbon copy control features, storing control features, printing control features, language type control features, voice control features, auto-recovery rights for said electronic message, sender'"'"'s rights to make changes to said electronic message, recipient'"'"'s rights to make changes to electronic message, repetition features for said electronic message, one or more attributes in said electronic message, in-network rights of sender, in-network rights of recipient, out-of-network rights of sender, out-of-network rights of recipient, track status of said one or more portions of said data within electronic message, track status of electronic message, data count features, billing features, advertising features, features for turning on said enhanced data messaging tool, features for turning off said enhanced data messaging tool, auto-recovery rights for said data in said electronic message, auto-recovery rights for said electronic message, recipient selection for said electronic message, animation features for said electronic message, syntax commands for initiating enhanced privacy and control features and security features for said electronic message comprising at least one of;

Morse code, encryption-decryption keys, fingerprinting, retinal scanning, temperature-based security feature, frequency-based security feature and a customized code for said electronic message.

25. The process according to claim 24, wherein said device comprises at least one of:

a wired device, a wireless device, a personal computer, a server, a blade, a storage device, a pager, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a touchscreen, a keyboard, a handheld device, a cell phone, a router, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) device, and wherein said enhanced data messaging tool is installed as at least one of;

an operating system, an operating system enhancement, firmware, an applet, a plug-in, a protocol, an application, a file and a folder, and wherein said transmission medium comprises at least one of;

a phone line, a cable, the Internet, a wire line, a wireless line, a wired device, a wireless device, a satellite, a sound medium, a fiber optic cable, a light medium, a cell tower, a vibration medium, a frequency medium, a wavelength medium, a temperature medium, a Bluetooth medium, an infrared medium, a radio tower, an electrical line, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wireless mesh network (WMN), a global network, a temperature medium, a frequency medium, a language medium, a Braille code medium, a customizable code medium, a broadcast medium, a unicast medium, a multicast medium, a point-to-point broadcast, a point-to-multipoint broadcast, a multiplexed broadcast, a time-division multiplexed medium, a frequency-division multiplexed medium.