Facilitating an extended IM session in a secure way

• US 8,214,442 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2008
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Finkelstein, Barbara, Goldberg, Itzhack, Mizrachi, Boaz, Soroka, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baturay, Alicia
• Application Number:
  US12/186,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• 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 receive 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:

using one or more processor devices configured to perform;

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

activating the message interface wherein the user sets up at least one message to be sent to at least one target correspondent when the at least one target correspondent becomes available, and enabling the user to set up alternative messages for predefined anticipated responses of the at least one target correspondent and also a general message to be sent when the target correspondent responds with an unanticipated message;

presenting the message interface to the user;

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

a user selection of the at least one target correspondent; and

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

tagging the first message with a tag associating said first message with the user and the target correspondent;

storing the first message;

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;

wherein sending the first message comprises delaying transmission of the first message until the target correspondent is available;

receiving user input comprising the predefined anticipated responses expected to be received from the target correspondent and corresponding responsive messages matched with the predefined anticipated responses, said corresponding responsive messages to be sent only in response to receipt of responses from the target correspondent that match the predefined anticipated responses;

tagging the predefined anticipated responses and the corresponding responsive messages with an identifier associated with the user and the target correspondent;

storing the predefined anticipated responses and the corresponding responsive messages; and

sending the corresponding responsive message to the message system for delivery to the target correspondent upon receipt of the predefined anticipated response.

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:

receiving further 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 different responsive 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 different response transmission.

4. 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.

5. The method of claim 4 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.

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

7. A computer-implemented method comprising steps of:

using one or more processor devices configured to perform;

receiving a first message from a sender as part of an on-line session, the first message comprising a predefined anticipated message expected to be received from the recipient;

receiving a second message comprising an answer to the predefined anticipated message to be delivered to the recipient upon receipt of a response matching the first message;

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

storing the first message and the second message in a storage device;

receiving a message from the recipient;

matching the response to the first message;

delivering the second message to the recipient responsive to matching the recipient'"'"'s message to the first message;

receiving a general message to be sent to the recipient;

storing the general message; and

delivering the general message to the recipient when the message from the recipient does not match the first message.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising deleting the second message after it is delivered.

9. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising code that, when executed, causes a 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 is able to receive from said user, wherein said user sets up at least one message to be sent to at least one target correspondent when the at least one target correspondent becomes available, and enabling the user to set up alternative messages for predefined anticipated responses of the at least one target correspondent, and also a general message to be sent when the target correspondent corresponds with an unanticipated message;

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

a user selection of the at least one target correspondent; and

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

send the first message to a messaging system for delivery to the target correspondent when the target correspondent is detected to be available, wherein the target correspondent is determined to be available when said target correspondent commences typing on a keyboard;

receiving user input comprising the predefined anticipated responses expected to be received from the target correspondent and corresponding responsive messages matched with the predefined anticipated responses, said corresponding responsive messages to be sent only in response to receipt of responses from the target correspondent that match the predefined anticipated responses;

tagging the predefined anticipated responses and the corresponding responsive messages with an identifier associated with the user and the target correspondent;

storing the predefined anticipated responses and the corresponding responsive messages; and

sending the corresponding responsive message to the message system for delivery to the target correspondent upon receipt of the predefined anticipated response.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the message interface is a graphical user interface.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the code further causes the computer to identify the session with a unique identifier.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 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.

13. A messaging system comprising:

a wireless network;

a plurality of messaging clients each 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 future message device, wherein the future message device stays in a sleep mode until a recipient'"'"'s activity on a keyboard is detected and then the message is sent when the recipient is available; 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;

delivering the messages when the recipient is available, as determined by said recipient commencing typing on the keyboard;

receiving a first message from a sender as part of an on-line session, the first message comprising a predefined anticipated message expected to be received from the recipient;

receiving a second message comprising an answer to the predefined anticipated message to be delivered to the recipient upon receipt of a response matching the first message;

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

storing the first message and the second message in a storage device;

receiving a message from the recipient;

matching the response to the first message;

delivering the second message to the recipient responsive to matching the recipient'"'"'s message to the first message;

receiving a general message to be sent to the recipient;

storing the general message; and

delivering the general message to the recipient when the message from the recipient does not match the first message.

14. The messaging system of claim 13 wherein the message interface is activated by software downloaded by the messaging clients.

15. The messaging system of claim 13 wherein the message interface comprises a graphical user interface.

16. The messaging system of claim 13 wherein the graphical user interface comprises at least one free form text field.

17. The messaging system of claim 13 wherein the messaging server is further coupled with the wireless network for assigning a unique identifier to the on-line sessions.

18. The messaging system of claim 13 wherein the messaging clients assign unique identifiers to their on-line sessions through their message interfaces.

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

a memory having program code stored therein;

a processor device operatively coupled with said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code, and

a future message device enabled with instant messaging capabilities, activated by selecting an icon on an IM user interface, wherein said program code, when executed by said processor device, 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 is 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 when the at least one target correspondent becomes available;

send the first message to a messaging system for delivery to the target correspondent when the target correspondent is detected to be available, wherein the target correspondent is determined to be available when said target correspondent activates a system by typing on its keyboard;

receiving user input comprising the predefined anticipated responses expected to be received from the target correspondent and corresponding responsive messages matched with the predefined anticipated responses, said corresponding responsive messages to be sent only in response to receipt of responses from the target correspondent that match the predefined anticipated responses;

tagging the predefined anticipated responses and the corresponding responsive messages with an identifier associated with the user and the target correspondent;

storing the predefined anticipated responses and the corresponding responsive messages; and

sending the corresponding responsive message to the message system for delivery to the target correspondent upon receipt of the predefined anticipated response.

20. The system of claim 19 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 second message to be sent to the at least one target correspondent, said second message 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.

21. The system of claim 20 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.

22. The system of claim 19 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.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving user input comprising the general message to be sent to the target correspondent;

storing the general message; and

sending the general message to the message system for delivery to the target correspondent when a response from the target correspondent does not match any of the predefined anticipated responses.