Method and apparatus for managing messages in a messaging session

• US 7,475,119 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hulu LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Waters, Timothy Moffett, Seaman, James Wesley, Gusler, Carl Phillip, Hamilton, Rick Allen II
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacobs; Lashonda T
• Application Number:
  US12/020,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20080140790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/205, 709/206, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224
• 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 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing messages. In response to a request by an invitee to add a third party to a messaging session with a number of parties, a stealth invite is sent to the third party. If the stealth invite is accepted, messages sent to and received from the parties are sent to the third party without the number of parties knowing of a presence of the third party in the messaging session. The addition of the third party is not announced or indicated to the other parties. The third party also is unable to send messages to the other parties, but may in some cases send messages to the invitee. A recording feature allows a party to automatically record all messages that the party can see. This feature is initiated at the beginning of a messaging session and can be set as a default.

Claims

1. A data processing system for managing messages, the data processing system comprising:

first receiving means for receiving a request by an invitee to add a third party to a messaging session with a number of parties;

second sending means, responsive to receiving the request, for sending a stealth invite to the third party;

third sending means, responsive to receiving an acceptance of the stealth invite, for sending messages sent to and received from the number of parties to the third party without the number of parties knowing of a presence of the third party in the messaging session;

allowing means for allowing the third party to send messages only to a user sending the invitation;

determining means, responsive to initiation of the messaging session, for determining whether a default has been set; and

recording means, responsive to the default being set, for recording all messages sent and received during the messaging session.

2. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the allowing means is also for allowing the third party and the invitee to send messages to each other without the number of parties knowing of a presence of the third party in the messaging session.

3. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the number of parties is one party.

4. The data processing system of clam 1, wherein the third party is disabled from sending messages into the messaging session.

5. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a request by an invitee to add a third party to a messaging session with a number of parties, send a stealth invite to the third party in response to receiving the request, send messages sent to and received from the number of parties to the third party without the number of parties knowing of a presence of the third party in the messaging session in response to receiving an acceptance of the stealth invite, allowing the third party to send messages only to a user sending the invitation, responsive to the initiation of the messaging session, determine whether a default has been set, and responsive to the default being set, record all messages sent and received during the messaging session.

6. A computer program product in a computer recordable-type medium for managing messages, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving a request by an invitee to add a third party to a messaging session with a number of parties;

second instructions, responsive to receiving the request, for sending a stealth invite to the third party;

third instructions, responsive to receiving an acceptance of the stealth invite, for sending messages sent to and received from the number of parties to the third party without the number of parties knowing of a presence of the third party in the messaging session;

fourth instructions for allowing the third party to send messages only to a user sending the invitation;

fifth instructions for, responsive to the initiation of the messaging session, determining whether a default has been set; and

sixth instructions for, responsive to the default being set, recording all messages sent and received during the messaging session.