Apparatus and method for monitoring instant messaging accounts

• US 7,032,007 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2001
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gusler, Carl Phillip, Schatz, Harry, Hamilton, Rick Allen II, Fellenstein, Craig William
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, NGHI V
• Application Number:
  US10/004,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20030105822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709223-226, 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

An apparatus and method for monitoring instant messaging user accounts are provided. The apparatus and method provide a mechanism by which transcripts of instant messages may be generated and analyzed to determine if inappropriate contact with unapproved users is occurring. A user is registered with an instant messaging service provider such that an indication as to whether or not transcripts of the user'"'"'s instant messages should be stored. In addition, a listing of destination user identifications that are approved, and thus do not require transcripts, may be provided to the instant messaging service provider. Thereafter, when an instant message is received, a look-up of the source user identification of the instant message, and optionally, the destination user identification, may be used to determine if transcripts are to be stored. The transcript may be reported to an authorized recipient of the transcript. An analysis tool is provided for analyzing the content of the instant messaging transcripts to provide additional information regarding contacts in the transcript. Also, a mechanism for maintaining the integrity of the transcripts is also provided such that tampering will be identified and the instant messaging user account may be suspended.

Claims

1. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for monitoring use of an instant messaging user account, comprising:

first instructions for receiving an instant message;

second instructions for determining if a log of the instant message is to be stored;

third instructions for storing the log of the instant message in storage device if the log of the instant message is to be stored; and

fourth instructions for providing the log to a designated monitor of the instant messaging user account;

wherein the second instructions for determining if a log of the instant message is to be stored further include;

instructions far looking up a user identification of a source of the instant message in a user database;

instructions for determining if a log field indicates if a log is to be stored;

instructions for looking up a user identification of a destination of the instant message in an approved contact list;

end

instructions for determining that a log is to be stored if the user identification of the destination does not appear in the approved contact list.