Reducing Unsolicited Instant Messages by Tracking Communication Threads

• US 20080307038A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Nichols, David A., Parker, Chris G., Lehman, Wendy L., Garrison, Ben D., Orvendal, Per-Ola A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,779,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

Processes and techniques for reducing spam over instant messaging (SPIM) are described. In one implementation, the number of open instant messaging threads (“chat threads”) that a specific user can have at a given time is limited to prevent a potential spimmer from flooding instant messaging users with SPIM. Another implementation combines the technique of limiting the number of open instant messaging threads with a user feedback technique that enables users to inform an instant messaging service or other entity about users that are sending SPIM or other undesirable content. Another implementation combines the technique of limiting the number of open instant messaging threads with a text analysis technique that enables an instant messaging service or other entity to analyze text generated by a user to determine if the user is sending SPIM or other undesirable content to other instant messaging users.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request from an entity to start a new chat conversation; and

determining if the entity is permitted to start the new chat conversation based at least in part on how many open chat threads the user has initiated.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining comprises querying a chat queue for a number of open chat threads the entity has initiated.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the entity has less than a threshold number of open chat threads, permitting the entity to start the new chat conversation.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the entity has at least a threshold number of open chat threads, denying the request to start the new chat conversation.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

indicating that the entity is permitted to start the new chat conversation; and

responsive to the entity starting the new chat conversation, logging a new chat thread in a chat queue associated with the entity.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

removing from the chat queue any open chat threads that time out.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

removing from the chat queue any open chat threads that receive a reply.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing feedback associated with the entity; and

based at least in part on the feedback, transmitting a challenge to the entity.

9. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, perform acts comprising:

logging in a chat queue open chat threads that an entity has initiated;

removing from the chat queue any open chat threads initiated by the entity that receive a reply; and

determining if the entity is permitted to begin a new chat conversation based at least in part on a number of open chat threads initiated by the entity that remain in the chat queue.

10. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein the chat queue is configured to remove any open chat threads that time out.

11. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, the computer-readable media further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, perform acts comprising:

responsive to a determination that the number of open chat threads initiated by the entity that remain in the chat queue is less than a threshold amount, permitting the entity to begin the new chat conversation.

12. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, the computer-readable media further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, perform acts comprising:

receiving feedback associated with the entity; and

based at least in part on the feedback, transmitting a challenge to the entity.

13. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, the computer-readable media further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, perform acts comprising:

analyzing text that the entity has generated as part of a chat conversation;

based at least in part on the analyzing, transmitting a challenge to the entity.

14. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein the determining further comprises:

receiving feedback associated with the entity; and

analyzing text that the entity has generated as part of a chat conversation.

15. A system comprising:

a request module configured to determine if an entity is permitted to open a new chat thread based at least in part on a number of open chat threads that the entity has initiated;

a chat queue to track a number of open chat threads that the entity has initiated; and

a timer to time each open chat thread in the chat queue and to remove any open chat threads that time out.

16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the request module is configured to provide an indication that the entity is not permitted to open a new chat thread in the event that the number of open chat threads that the entity has initiated is equal to or greater than a threshold amount.

17. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the chat queue is configured to remove any chat threads that receive a reply.

18. A system as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a feedback module to receive feedback associated with a chat behavior of the entity.

19. A system as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a text analysis module to analyze text that the entity has generated as part of a chat conversation.

20. A system as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a challenge generator to generate challenges and to transmit challenges to the entity based at least in part on at least one of feedback associated with the entity and text analysis of text that the entity has generated as part of an chat conversation.