CONTENT AND CONTEXT BASED HANDLING OF INSTANT MESSAGES

• US 20090192970A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ginegar LLC (K.Mizra LLC)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Willner, Marjorie R., Stern, Edith H., Willner, Barry E., O'Sullivan, Patrick J., Weir, Robert C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,367,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

Instant message systems are enhanced by establishing at least one handling rule that is evaluated in an instant messaging environment, each established handling rule defining a condition based upon at least one of identified content or identified context, and a corresponding event handling action to be performed within the instant message environment. Upon identifying an instant message conversation within the instant message environment between a user and a correspondent, each handling rule is evaluated and the event handling action of an associated handling rule is performed if it is determined that the condition of handling rule is satisfied. Further, an indication that the corresponding event action was performed is conveyed to a corresponding user.

Claims

1. A method of processing instant message transactions comprising:

establishing at least one handling rule that is evaluated in an instant messaging environment, each established handling rule defining at least one condition based upon at least one of identified content or identified context, and at least one corresponding event handling action to be performed within the instant message environment;

identifying an instant message conversation within the instant message environment between a user and a correspondent;

evaluating at least one handling rule;

performing at least one event handling action of an associated handling rule if it is determined that the condition of that handling rule is satisfied; and

conveying to a corresponding user, an indication that the corresponding event action was performed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein establishing at least one handling rule comprises:

defining a select handling rule as at least one entry in a first list of content expressions, wherein the condition of the select handling rule is satisfied where at least one entry in the list of content expressions is matched to content associated with at least one instant message transaction.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein defining a select handling rule as at least one entry in a first list of content expressions further comprises defining each entry into the list of content expressions as at least one word, phrase or symbol.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein defining a select handling rule as at least one entry in a first list of content expressions further comprises:

building the list of content expressions from at least one of user-selected expressions, expressions derived from a plurality of instant message users, expressions selected from a pick list of expressions or expressions set by an instant message administrator.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein defining a select handling rule as at least one entry in a first list of content expressions further comprises:

building the list of content expressions using an autonomic self learning process to dynamically adjust the list of content expressions based upon at least one of knowledge learned from autonomously monitoring a corresponding user of the instant messaging system or knowledge learned from autonomously monitoring a community of instant message users.

6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

defining a plurality of content expression lists where each list is associated with at least one instant message user.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein each expression list is defined based upon an organizational hierarchy.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein establishing at least one handling rule comprises:

defining a select handling rule wherein the condition of the select handling rule is satisfied by a context determined by at least one of user behavior, user activity, environment, setting, or hierarchical prioritization.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein establishing at least one handling rule comprises:

defining a select handling rule wherein the condition of the select handling rule is satisfied by a context determined by detecting a predefined pattern of keystrokes.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein establishing at least one handling rule comprises:

defining a select handling rule wherein the condition of the select handling rule is satisfied by a context determined by detecting a predetermined application is being used.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein establishing at least one handling rule comprises:

establishing a handling rule that if satisfied, triggers an event handling action that implements a filter that prevents an instant message pop up window from becoming the active window of a corresponding display in response to receiving an instant message transaction.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein establishing at least one handling rule comprises:

establishing a handling rule that if satisfied, triggers an event handling action that suppresses an instant message pop up window from becoming the active window of a corresponding display in response to receiving an instant message transaction until the user has completed a predetermined context.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

defining at least one triggering event derived from at least one of identified content or identified context to determine whether at least one event handling rule should be applied within an instant messaging environment.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein defining at least one triggering event comprises defining at least one activation rule that is applied in an instant messaging environment, each established activation rule defining a triggering event derived from at least one of identified content or context to determine whether at least one corresponding handling rule should be evaluated.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein establishing at least one activation rule that is applied in an instant messaging environment comprises:

defining a select activation rule as at least one entry in a first list of content expressions, wherein a corresponding triggering event is defined where at least one entry in the list of content expressions is matched to content associated at least one instant message transaction.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein:

establishing at least one activation rule that is applied in an instant messaging environment comprising establishing a rule that event handling of instant message transactions should be applied after detecting that content of an instant message indicates a termination of an instant message conversation.

17. A method of processing instant message transactions comprising:

logging a first instant message client into an instant message server;

obtaining from the instant message server, at least one handling rule that is evaluated in an instant messaging environment, each established handling rule defining a condition based upon at least one of identified content or identified context, and a corresponding event handling action to be performed within the instant message environment;

identifying an instant message conversation within the instant message environment between a user and a correspondent;

evaluating each handling rule;

performing the event handling action of an associated handling rule if it is determined that the condition of handling rule is satisfied; and

conveying to a corresponding user, an indication that the corresponding event action was performed.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one handling rule is autonomically generated based upon a dynamic evaluation of at least one of a user or a community of instant message users.

19. A method of processing instant message transactions comprising:

logging a first instant message client into an instant message server to obtain information regarding instant message users associated with a corresponding private list;

obtaining from a locally stored memory, at least one handling rule that is evaluated in an instant messaging environment, each established handling rule defining a condition based upon at least one of identified content or identified context, and a corresponding event handling action to be performed within the instant message environment;

identifying an instant message conversation within the instant message environment between a user and a correspondent;

evaluating at least one handling rule;

performing at least one event handling action of an associated handling rule if it is determined that the condition of handling rule is satisfied; and

conveying to a corresponding user, an indication that the corresponding event action was performed.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the handling rules are derived in a manner that is unique to a corresponding user.