User initiated rule-based restrictions on messaging applications
First Claim
1. A rule based method of sending messages from a pre-specified one sender to a receiver in a communications network, wherein message sessions are established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, and during each of the message sessions, one or more messages are sent from the pre-specified one sender to the receiver, the method comprising:
- the receiver establishing a set of rules for the pre-specified one sender and storing the set of rules in a data store, said set of rules including allowing the pre-specified one sender a limited number of defined message events with the receiver, and setting a number as a limit on the number of message sessions the pre-specified one sender is allowed to establish with the receiver during a defined time period;
the pre-specified one sender attempting to send a message to the receiver;
determining whether a message session is currently established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver;
if a message session is currently established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, accessing said set of rules in the data store, by using one or more processing units executing a data access program, and determining if the pre-specified one sender is allowed, based on said set of rules, to send the message to the receiver during said currently established message session;
if the pre-specified one sender is allowed to send said message during the currently established message session, sending the message to the receiver;
if a message session is not currently established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, determining, based on said set of rules, whether a new message session is allowed to be established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, including determining whether the number of message sessions established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver during said defined time period is less than the number set as said limit on the number of message sessions the pre-specified one the sender is allowed to establish with the receiver during the defined time period; and
if the number of message sessions established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver during said defined time period is less than the number set as said limit on the number of message sessions that the pre-specified one sender is allowed to establish with the receiver, establishing the new message session between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, and sending the message to the receiver during said new message session.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for user initiated rule based restrictions on sending messages from a sender to a receiver in a communications network. The receiver establishes a set of rules for the sender that allows the sender a limited number of defined messages events with the receiver. The defined message events may be messages or message sessions. When the sender attempts to send a message to the receiver, it is determined whether a message session currently exists between the sender and the receiver. If a current session exists, the rules set by the receiver are used to determine if the message is allowed to be sent to the receiver. If a session does not currently exist, the rules are used to determine whether a new session is allowed. If a new message session is allowed, a new session is established, and the message is sent to the receiver during the new session.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A rule based method of sending messages from a pre-specified one sender to a receiver in a communications network, wherein message sessions are established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, and during each of the message sessions, one or more messages are sent from the pre-specified one sender to the receiver, the method comprising:
-
the receiver establishing a set of rules for the pre-specified one sender and storing the set of rules in a data store, said set of rules including allowing the pre-specified one sender a limited number of defined message events with the receiver, and setting a number as a limit on the number of message sessions the pre-specified one sender is allowed to establish with the receiver during a defined time period; the pre-specified one sender attempting to send a message to the receiver; determining whether a message session is currently established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver; if a message session is currently established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, accessing said set of rules in the data store, by using one or more processing units executing a data access program, and determining if the pre-specified one sender is allowed, based on said set of rules, to send the message to the receiver during said currently established message session; if the pre-specified one sender is allowed to send said message during the currently established message session, sending the message to the receiver; if a message session is not currently established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, determining, based on said set of rules, whether a new message session is allowed to be established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, including determining whether the number of message sessions established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver during said defined time period is less than the number set as said limit on the number of message sessions the pre-specified one the sender is allowed to establish with the receiver during the defined time period; and if the number of message sessions established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver during said defined time period is less than the number set as said limit on the number of message sessions that the pre-specified one sender is allowed to establish with the receiver, establishing the new message session between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, and sending the message to the receiver during said new message session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14)
-
-
8. A rule based system for sending messages from a pre-specified one sender to a receiver in a communications network, wherein message sessions are established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, and during each of the message sessions, one or more messages are sent from the pre-specified one sender to the receiver, the system comprising:
-
a receiver unit for receiving a set of rules for the pre-specified one sender; a memory storage device for storing the set of rules, said set of rules including allowing the sender a limited number of defined message events with the receiver, and setting a number as a limit on the number of message sessions the pre-specified one sender is allowed to establish with the receiver during a defined time period; a pre-specified one sender unit for attempting to send a message to the receiver unit; and one or more processor units including instructions for; determining whether a message session is currently established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver; if a message session is currently established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, accessing said set of rules in the memory storage device and determining if the pre-specified one sender is allowed, based on said set of rules, to send the message to the receiver during said currently established message session existing; if the pre-specified one sender is allowed to send said message during the currently established message session;
sending the message to the receiver;if a message session is not currently established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, determining, based on said set of rules, whether a new message session is allowed to be established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, including determining whether the number of message sessions established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver during said defined time period is less than the number set as said limit on the number of message sessions the pre-specified one sender is allowed to establish with the receiver during the defined time period; and if the number of message sessions established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver during said defined time period is less than the number set as said limit on the number of message sessions that the pre-specified one sender is allowed to establish with the receiver, establishing the new message session between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, and sending the message to the receiver during said new message session. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
-
10. An article of manufacture comprising:
-
at least one tangible computer readable device having computer readable program code logic tangibly embodied therein to execute machine instructions in one or more processing units for implementing rule-based restrictions on a messaging application in a communication network, wherein message sessions are established between a pre-specified one sender and a receivers and during each of the message sessions, one or more messages are sent from the sender to the receiver, the receiver establishes a set of rules for the pre-specified one sender, and the pre-specified one sender attempts to send a message to the receiver, said computer readable program code logic, when executing, performing the following; storing the set of rules in a data store, said set of rules including allowing the pre-specified one sender a limited number of messages sessions with the receiver, and setting a number as a limit on the number of message sessions the pre-specified one sender is allowed to establish with the receiver during a defined time period; determining whether a message session is currently established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver; if a message session is currently established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, accessing said set of rules in the data store, and determining if the sender is allowed, based on said set of rules, to send the message to the receiver during said currently established message session; if the pre-specified one sender is allowed to send said message during the currently established message session, sending the message to the receiver; if a message session is not currently established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, determining, based on said set of rules, whether a new message session is allowed to be established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, including determining whether the number of message sessions established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver during said defined time period is less than the number set as said limit on the number of message sessions that the pre-specified one sender is allowed to establish with the receiver during the defined time period; and if the number of message sessions established between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver during said defined time period is less than the number set as said limit on the number of message sessions that the pre-specified one sender is allowed to establish with the receiver, establishing the new message session between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver, and sending the message to the receiver during said new message session. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
Specification