Method, system, and computer program product for providing privacy measures in instant messaging systems

• US 20070064899A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Andrew, Hamilton, Rick, McConnell, Kevin, Boss, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

The present invention provides privacy measures in instant messaging systems. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: setting a time-out value for a message; sending the message to a receiving user; and displaying the message to the receiving user only for a time period equal to the time-out value. In another embodiment, a stealth delivery mode is provided in which an IM message is displayed to the receiving user only if the receiving user has approved the display of the IM message. In a further embodiment, a predetermined number of elements received prior to a current IM message are displayed in the conversation pane of an IM client, based on a threshold value.

Claims

1. A method for providing message privacy, comprising:

setting a time-out value for a message;

sending the message to a receiving user; and

displaying the message to the receiving user only for a time period equal to the time-out value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises an instant messaging (IM) message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises an electronic mail (email) message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a sending user sends the message to the receiving user, further comprising:

displaying the message to the sending user only for a time period equal to the time-out value.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

overriding the time-out value to display the message to the receiving user for a time period greater than the time-out value.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

starting a remove message timer set to the time-out value upon receipt of the message by the receiving user;

counting down the remove message timer; and

stopping the display of the message to the receiving user after the remove message timer has counted down from the time-out value to zero.

7. A system for providing message privacy, comprising:

a system for setting a time-out value for a message;

a system for sending the message to a receiving user; and

a system for displaying the message to the receiving user only for a time period equal to the time-out value.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the message comprises an instant messaging (IM) message.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the message comprises an electronic mail (email) message.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein a sending user sends the message to the receiving user, further comprising:

a system for displaying the message to the sending user only for a time period equal to the time-out value.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a system for overriding the time-out value to display the message to the receiving user for a time period greater than the time-out value.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a system for starting a remove message timer set to the time-out value upon receipt of the message by the receiving user;

a system for counting down the remove message timer; and

a system for stopping the display of the message to the receiving user after the remove message timer has counted down from the time-out value to zero.

13. A program product stored on a computer readable medium for providing message privacy, the computer readable medium comprising program code for performing the steps of:

setting a time-out value for a message;

sending the message to a receiving user; and

displaying the message to the receiving user only for a time period equal to the time-out value.

14. The program product of claim 13, wherein the message comprises an instant messaging (IM) message.

15. The program product of claim 13, wherein the message comprises an electronic mail (email) message.

16. The program product of claim 13, wherein a sending user sends the message to the receiving user, further comprising program code for performing the step of:

displaying the message to the sending user only for a time period equal to the time-out value.

17. The program product of claim 13, further comprising program code for performing the step of:

overriding the time-out value to display the message to the receiving user for a time period greater than the time-out value.

18. The program product of claim 13, further comprising program code for performing the steps of:

starting a remove message timer set to the time-out value upon receipt of the message by the receiving user;

counting down the remove message timer; and

stopping the display of the message to the receiving user after the remove message timer has counted down from the time-out value to zero.

19. A method for providing message privacy, comprising:

selecting, by a sending user, a stealth delivery option for an instant message (IM) message;

sending the IM message to a receiving user;

upon receipt of the IM message, preventing display of the IM message and requesting the receiving user to approve the display of the IM message; and

displaying the IM message to the receiver only if the receiver has approved the display of the IM message.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of requesting the receiving user to approve the display of the IM message further comprises:

displaying a message requesting the receiving user to approve, disapprove, or save the received IM message.

21. A method for providing message privacy, comprising:

setting a threshold value;

receiving a current instant messaging (IM) message;

displaying the current IM message in a conversation pane; and

displaying in the conversation pane a predetermined number of elements received prior to the current IM message, based on the threshold value.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the elements are selected from the group consisting of characters, words, lines, and IM messages.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

causing a predetermined number of the elements received prior to the current IM message to completely disappear.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

causing a predetermined number of the elements received prior to the current IM message to partially disappear.

25. A method for deploying an application for providing message privacy, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

set a time-out value for a message;

send the message to a receiving user; and

display the message to the receiving user only for a time period equal to the time-out value.