Reducing unsolicited instant messages by tracking communication threads

• US 7,779,079 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Orvendal, Per-Ola A, Garrison, Ben D, Lehman, Wendy L, Parker, Chris G., Nichols, David A
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Conaway; James E
• Application Number:
  US11/760,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20080307038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 709203-206, 726/23
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

Processes and techniques for reducing spam over instant messaging (SPIM) are described. In one implementation, the number of open instant messaging threads (“chat threads”) that a specific user can have at a given time is limited to prevent a potential spimmer from flooding instant messaging users with SPIM. Another implementation combines the technique of limiting the number of open instant messaging threads with a user feedback technique that enables users to inform an instant messaging service or other entity about users that are sending SPIM or other undesirable content. Another implementation combines the technique of limiting the number of open instant messaging threads with a text analysis technique that enables an instant messaging service or other entity to analyze text generated by a user to determine if the user is sending SPIM or other undesirable content to other instant messaging users.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request from an entity to start a new chat conversation;

logging in a chat queue open chat threads that the entity has initiated;

removing from the chat queue any open chat threads initiated by the entity that receive a reply;

determining if the entity is permitted to start the new chat conversation based at least in part on how many open chat threads a user has initiated;

analyzing feedback associated with the entity;

tracking positive feedback associated with the entity;

awarding the entity with additional new chat threads based upon achieving a threshold amount of positive feedback; and

based at least in part on the feedback, transmitting a challenge to the entity.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining comprises querying the chat queue for a number of open chat threads the entity has initiated.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the entity has less than a threshold number of open chat threads, permitting the entity to start the new chat conversation.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the entity has at least a threshold number of open chat threads, denying the request to start the new chat conversation.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

indicating that the entity is permitted to start the new chat conversation; and

responsive to the entity starting the new chat conversation, logging a new chat thread in the chat queue associated with the entity.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

removing from the chat queue any open chat threads that time out.

7. One or more memory storage devices encoded with computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform operations comprising:

logging in a chat queue open chat threads that an entity has initiated;

removing from the chat queue any open chat threads initiated by the entity that receive a reply;

determining if the entity is permitted to begin a new chat conversation based at least in part on a number of open chat threads initiated by the entity that remain in the chat queue;

analyzing text that the entity has generated as part of a chat conversation;

based at least in part on the analyzing, transmitting a challenge to the entity;

receiving feedback associated with the entity; and

based at least in part on the feedback, tracking positive feedback associated with the entity and awarding the entity additional new chat threads based upon achieving a threshold amount of positive feedback.

8. One or more memory storage devices as recited in claim 7, wherein the chat queue is configured to remove any open chat threads that time out.

9. One or more memory storage device as recited in claim 7, the operations further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the number of open chat threads initiated by the entity that remain in the chat queue is less than a threshold amount, permitting the entity to begin the new chat conversation.

10. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a request module stored in the memory and configured to be operated by the processor to determine if an entity is permitted to open a new chat thread based at least in part on a number of open chat threads that the entity has initiated;

a chat queue to track a number of open chat threads that the entity has initiated, wherein the chat queue is configured to remove any chat threads that receive a reply;

a timer to time each open chat thread in the chat queue and to remove any open chat threads that time out; and

a feedback module to receive feedback associated with a chat behavior of the entity, wherein the feedback module tracks positive feedback associated with the entity, wherein the system awards the entity additional new chat threads based upon achieving a threshold amount of positive feedback.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the request module is configured to provide an indication that the entity is not permitted to open a new chat thread in the event that the number of open chat threads that the entity has initiated is equal to or greater than a threshold amount.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a challenge generator to generate challenges and to transmit challenges to the entity based at least in part on at least one of feedback associated with the entity and text analysis of text that the entity has generated as part of a chat conversation.