METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING INSTANT MESSAGING

• US 20080028031A1
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bailey, Byron Lewis, Hintermeister, Gregory Richard, Garbow, Zachary Adam, Paterson, Kevin Glynn, Dettinger, Richard Dean, Holt, Robert Douglas, Nikolai, Jason Allan
• Application Number:
  US11/459,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20080028031A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An instant messaging system having logic for managing IM messages and an intelligent queuing mechanism. One aspect of the present invention is a method for selectively filtering instant messages, comprising receiving an instant message and analyzing the instant message to generate a priority score. Another aspect of the present invention is a graphical user interface for an instant messaging application, comprising at least one visible conversation pane for displaying relatively higher priority conversations, and at least one minimized conversation pane representing relatively lower priority conversations to the at least one minimized conversation panel.

Claims

1. A method for selectively filtering instant messages, comprising:

receiving an instant message; and

analyzing the instant message to generate a priority score.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises generating a default priority score for the instant message.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the default priority score is based at least in part on the identity of a sender of the instant message.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the default priority score is based at least in part on a group associated with a sender of the instant message;

and

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises dynamically updating the priority score.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising selectively displaying the instant message based at least in part on the updated priority score.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein selectively displaying the instant message comprises:

providing a graphical user interface comprising at least one visible conversation pane and at least one minimized conversation pane;

displaying a relatively higher priority conversation in the at least one visible conversation pane; and

assigning relatively lower priority conversations to the at least one minimized conversation panel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein dynamically updating the priority score comprises:

detecting user activity on a client device; and

changing the priority score based on the analysis.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the detected user activity comprises detecting an activity chosen from the group consisting of:

user activity in an instant messaging application; and

user activity in non-instant messaging application.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising analyzing the content of user interaction with the client device.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining an on-line presence level based at least in part on the analysis of the other users.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein dynamically updating the priority score comprises:

analyzing the activity of other users in an instant messaging system; and

changing the priority score based on the analysis.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the analysis of the activity of other users comprises an activity chosen from the group consisting of:

other user activity in an instant messaging application; and

other user activity in non-instant messaging application.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the analysis comprises:

analyzing a conversation history associated with an instant message partner.

15. A method for deploying computing infrastructure, comprising integrating computer readable code into a computing system, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is adapted to perform the method of claim 1.

18. A method for deploying computing infrastructure, comprising integrating computer readable code into a computing system, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is adapted to perform the method of claim 15.

16. A graphical user interface for an instant messaging application, comprising:

at least one visible conversation pane for displaying relatively higher priority conversations; and

at least one minimized conversation pane representing relatively lower priority conversations to the at least one minimized conversation panel.

17. The graphical user interface of claim 16, further comprising a busy-ness level selector for indicating a priority score required to have a message displayed in the at least one visible conversation pane.

19. A computer program product, comprising:

a) a program configured to perform a method for selectively filtering instant messages, comprising;

receiving an instant message; and

analyzing the instant message to generate a priority score.

b) a computer readable media bearing the program.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the program further comprises a graphical user interface for an instant messaging application, comprising:

at least one visible conversation pane for displaying relatively higher priority conversations; and

at least one minimized conversation pane representing relatively lower priority conversations to the at least one minimized conversation panel.