Method of authorizing receipt of instant messages by a recipient user
First Claim
1. In an instant messaging system, a method of controlling instant messaging access, by the steps of:
- generating a recipient user controlled instant messaging contact list;
segmenting the recipient user controlled instant messaging contact list into a plurality of segmented contact lists;
selection by the recipient user of various ones of the segmented contact lists and specifying a message category membership in each segmented contact list as a technique of specifying accessibility levels to messages of selected segments of the user controlled instant messaging contact list.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An instant messaging system allows an instant message recipient to generate a contact list of potential senders of instant messages. This contact list is segmented in to a plurality of sub lists each containing a list of pre-approved potential instant message senders. Each sub list may contain a list of potential instant messengers interested in a particular focus I.e., issue, subject mater, etc.). Some names of potential instant messengers may be common to more than one list. Each individual sub list is by recipient selection subject to certain conditions (i.e., set by a recipient) of acceptance or non-acceptance of instant messages addressed to the recipient. Conditions may encompass items as availability of the recipient, busyness of eh recipient, relations between sender and recipient, cause of the message such as an emergency, and other categories to be set by the recipient.
209 Citations
10 Claims
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1. In an instant messaging system, a method of controlling instant messaging access, by the steps of:
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generating a recipient user controlled instant messaging contact list; segmenting the recipient user controlled instant messaging contact list into a plurality of segmented contact lists; selection by the recipient user of various ones of the segmented contact lists and specifying a message category membership in each segmented contact list as a technique of specifying accessibility levels to messages of selected segments of the user controlled instant messaging contact list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In an instant messaging system having a capability for sending instant messages and monitoring an on-line status of PCs connected to a managing server/servers, a method for permitting a recipient of instant messages to control accessibility to receive instant messages from a list of potential senders, comprising the steps of:
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preparing a contact list of potential acceptable senders of instant messages; segmenting the contact list into a plurality of categories and inserting selected names from the list of potential acceptable senders in selected ones of the plurality of categories; enabling selected ones of the plurality of categories for controlling the acceptance of instant messages from senders of the selected ones of the plurality of categories. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification