Method for user-specified error correction in an instant messaging system

• US 20030131050A1
• Filed: 01/08/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Vincent, Christopher R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,296,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

A method and system enter a correction for a previously sent message, determine whether to send a complete corrected message or a message correction specification, and send the selected message to a messaging server. The messaging server receives the message correction specification and a message identifier (ID), and sends the message correction specification and the message ID to a recipient client system if a message with a corresponding message ID has previously been sent to the recipient client system. Then, the recipient client system receives the message correction specification and message ID, retrieves the message with a corresponding message ID from its conversation log, corrects the message, updates the conversation log, and activates an alert to notify a user of an update. If the message has not previously been sent, the messaging server corrects the message and sends the corrected message and the message ID to the recipient client system.

Claims

1. A method of instant messaging comprising:

accepting a correction to a previously sent message;

determining whether a message correction of the previously sent message requires sending one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification; and

based on the determination of message correction of the previously sent message, sending to a messaging server one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises determining whether at least one factor of the following corresponds to a system:

allowing message correction by message correction specification;

implementing message processing services at a messaging server; and

transmitting binary formats.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message correction specification comprises at least one text replacement specification.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the text replacement specification comprises:

a start character index;

an end character index; and

insertion text.

5. A method comprising:

receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from an originating client system; and

sending the message correction specification and the message ID to a client system if a message with a corresponding message ID has previously been sent to a recipient client system.

6. A method comprising:

receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from an originating client system;

correcting a message with a corresponding message ID if a message with a corresponding message ID has not previously been sent to a recipient client system; and

sending the corrected message and the message ID to a recipient client system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the message correction specification comprises at least one text replacement specification.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the text replacement specification comprises:

a start character index;

an end character index; and

insertion text.

9. A method comprising:

maintaining an ephemeral storage log of an instant messaging conversation;

receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from an originating client system;

determining if a message processing service is required;

correcting a message with a corresponding message ID in the ephemeral storage log if a message processing service is required; and

sending the corrected message and the message ID to a recipient client system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining step comprises determining whether at least one factor of the following corresponds to a system:

language translation;

correction of binary format information in a message;

correction of image information in a message;

system processing efficiency; and

network communication efficiency.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from a messaging server;

retrieving a message with a corresponding message ID from a conversation log;

correcting the message;

updating the conversation log; and

activating an alert to notify a user of an update.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the alert comprises at least one of:

displaying highlighted corrected text in a conversation log and an auditory alert.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the message correction specification comprises at least one text replacement specification.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the text replacement specification comprises:

a start character index;

an end character index; and

insertion text.

15. An apparatus comprising:

an instant messaging client, for sending and receiving messages and message correction specifications; and

an error corrector, communicatively coupled to the instant messaging client, for accepting a correction to a previously sent message, determining whether a message correction of the previously sent message requires sending one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification, and based on the determination of message correction of the previously sent message, sending to a messaging server one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the message correction specification comprises at least one text replacement specification.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the text replacement specification comprises:

a start character index;

an end character index; and

insertion text.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the error corrector is further for:

receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from a messaging server;

retrieving a message with a corresponding message ID from a conversation log;

correcting the message;

updating the conversation log; and

activating an alert to notify a user of an update.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the message correction specification comprises at least one text replacement specification.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the text replacement specification comprises:

a start character index;

an end character index; and

insertion text.

21. An apparatus comprising:

an instant message manager for routing messages and message correction specifications to a recipient system; and

an error corrector, communicatively coupled to the instant message manager, for receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from an originating client system, correcting a message with a corresponding message ID if a message with a corresponding message ID has not previously been sent to a recipient client system, and sending the corrected message and the message ID to a recipient client system.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the message correction specification comprises at least one text replacement specification.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the text replacement specification comprises:

a start character index;

an end character index; and

insertion text.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising

an ephemeral storage system for temporarily maintaining a log of an instant message conversation.

25. A system comprising:

at least one originating client system, for accepting a correction to a previously sent message, determining whether a message correction of the previously sent message requires sending one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification, and based on the determination of message correction of the previously sent message, sending to a messaging server one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification;

a messaging server, communicatively coupled to the at least one originating client system, for receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from the at least one originating client system, correcting a message with a corresponding message ID if a message with a corresponding message ID has not previously been sent to a recipient client system, and sending the corrected message and the message ID to the recipient client system; and

at least one recipient client system, communicatively coupled to the messaging server, for receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from the messaging server, retrieving a message with a corresponding message ID from a conversation log, correcting the message, updating the conversation log, and activating an alert to notify a user of an update.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the message correction specification comprises at least one text replacement specification.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the text replacement specification comprises:

a start character index;

an end character index; and

insertion text.

28. A computer readable medium comprising computer instructions for:

accepting a correction to a previously sent message;

determining whether a message correction of the previously sent message requires sending one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification; and

based on the determination of message correction of the previously sent message, sending to a messaging server one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the determining comprises determining whether at least one factor of the following corresponds to a system:

allowing message correction by message correction specification;

implementing message processing services at a messaging server; and

transmitting binary formats.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the message correction specification comprises at least one text replacement specification.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the text replacement specification comprises:

a start character index;

an end character index; and

insertion text.

32. A computer readable medium comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from an originating client system; and

sending the message correction specification and the message ID to a client system if a message with a corresponding message ID has previously been sent to a recipient client system.

33. A computer readable medium comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from an originating client system;

correcting a message with a corresponding message ID if a message with a corresponding message ID has not previously been sent to a recipient client system; and

sending the corrected message and the message ID to a recipient client system.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein the message correction specification comprises at least one text replacement specification.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the text replacement specification comprises:

a start character index;

an end character index; and

insertion text.

36. A computer readable medium comprising computer instructions for:

maintaining an ephemeral storage log of an instant messaging conversation;

receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from an originating client system;

determining if a message processing service is required;

correcting a message with a corresponding message ID in the ephemeral storage log if a message processing service is required; and

sending the corrected message and the message ID to a recipient client system.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the determining step comprises determining whether at least one factor of the following corresponds to a system:

language translation;

correction of binary format information in a message;

correction of image information in a message;

system processing efficiency; and

network communication efficiency.

38. A computer readable medium comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from a messaging server;

retrieving a message with a corresponding message ID from a conversation log;

correcting the message;

updating the conversation log; and

activating an alert to notify a user of an update.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 38, wherein the alert comprises at least one of:

displaying highlighted corrected text in a conversation log and an auditory alert.