Method for user-specified error correction in an instant messaging system

• US 7,296,057 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2002
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Vincent, Christopher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Salad; Abdullahi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barqadle; Yasin M
• Application Number:
  US10/042,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20030131050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207, 709/244, 715/751, 715/758
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

A method and system enter a correction for a previously sent message, determine whether to send a complete corrected message or a message correction specification, and send the selected message to a messaging server. The messaging server receives the message correction specification and a message identifier (ID), and sends the message correction specification and the message ID to a recipient client system if a message with a corresponding message ID has previously been sent to the recipient client system. Then, the recipient client system receives the message correction specification and message ID, retrieves the message with a corresponding message ID from its conversation log, corrects the message, updates the conversation log, and activates an alert to notify a user of an update. If the message has not previously been sent, the messaging server corrects the message and sends the corrected message and the message ID to the recipient client system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one instant message originating client system, for accepting a correction to a previously sent instant message, determining whether a message correction of the previously sent instant message requires sending one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification, and based on the determination of message correction of the previously sent message, sending from the at least one instant message originating client system to an instant messaging server one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification;

an instant messaging server, communicatively coupled to the at least one instant message originating client system, for receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from the at least one originating client system, and sending the message correction specification and the message ID to the recipient client system; and

at least one instant message recipient client system, communicatively coupled to the instant messaging server, for receiving a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from the instant messaging server during an ongoing instant messaging conversation between the instant message originating client system and the instant message recipient client system, retrieving a message with a corresponding message ID from a conversation log for the instant messaging conversation, correcting the content of the retrieved message by updating text in the retrieved message, updating the conversation log with the corrected message, and activating an alert to notify a user of the at least one instant message recipient client system of an update to the conversation log.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the message correction specification comprises at least one text replacement specification.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the text replacement specification comprises:

a start character index;

an end character index; and

insertion text.

4. A method of instant messaging, the method comprising:

accepting, with at least one instant message originating client system, a correction to a previously sent instant message;

determining, with the least one instant message originating client system, whether a message correction of the previously sent instant message requires sending one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification;

sending, with the least one instant message originating client system, to an instant messaging server one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification in response to determining the message correction of the previously sent message; and

receiving, with an instant messaging server, a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from the at least one originating client system;

sending, with the instant messaging server, the message correction specification and the message ID to a recipient client system; and

receiving, with at least one instant message recipient client system, a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from the instant messaging server during an ongoing instant messaging conversation between the instant message originating client system and the instant message recipient client system;

retrieving, with the least one instant message recipient client system, a message with a corresponding message ID from a conversation log for the instant messaging conversation;

correcting, with the least one instant message recipient client system, the content of the retrieved message by updating text in the retrieved message;

updating, with the least one instant message recipient client system, the conversation log with the corrected message; and

activating, with the least one instant message recipient client system, an alert to notify a user of the at least one instant message recipient client system of an update to the conversation log.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the message correction specification comprises at least one text replacement specification.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the text replacement specification comprises:

a start character index;

an end character index; and

insertion text.

7. A computer readable storage medium for instant messaging, the computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for:

accepting, with at least one instant message originating client system, a correction to a previously sent instant message;

determining, with the least one instant message originating client system, whether a message correction of the previously sent instant message requires sending one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification;

sending, with the least one instant message originating client system, to an instant messaging server one of a complete corrected message and a message correction specification in response to determining the message correction of the previously sent message; and

receiving, with an instant messaging server, a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from the at least one originating client system;

sending, with the instant messaging server, the message correction specification and the message ID to a recipient client system; and

receiving, with at least one instant message recipient client system, a message correction specification and a message identifier (ID) from the instant messaging server during an ongoing instant messaging conversation between the instant message originating client system and the instant message recipient client system;

retrieving, with the least one instant message recipient client system, a message with a corresponding message ID from a conversation log for the instant messaging conversation;

correcting, with the least one instant message recipient client system, the content of the retrieved message by updating text in the retrieved message;

updating, with the least one instant message recipient client system, the conversation log with the corrected message; and

activating, with the least one instant message recipient client system, an alert to notify a user of the at least one instant message recipient client system of an update to the conversation log.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the correction specification comprises at least one text replacement specification.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the text replacement specification comprises:

a start character index;

an end character index; and

insertion text.