System and method of sending and receiving categorized messages in instant messaging environment

• US 7,502,831 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Shah, Dhaval K., Kottawar, Saidas Tukaram, Gandhi, Salil Pradeep, Mahajan, Sandip Dnyaneshwar, Macias, Mike V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Thu Ha T
• Application Number:
  US12/045,415
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-206, 707/1, 707/10, 370/260, 715733-759, 715/763
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

An embodiment provides a flexible way to categorize instant messages (IM) or instant data by segmenting them. The default category would be viewable and/or readable as currently is with no change. However, those categories which are categorized as CONFIDENTIAL and/or PERSONAL would be displayed in a hidden form. The invention is demonstrated using a CONFIDENTIAL category; however, the invention is not limited to just CONFIDENTIAL category as it can be applied to other categories as well, such as INFORMATIONAL. An embodiment of the invention allows users to view CONFIDENTIAL informational in private and data would be hidden on the receiving end until a request to un-hide is made by the receiver.

Claims

1. Method of sending and receiving categorized messages in an instant messaging environment, said method comprising:

a sender sending an instant message to a receiver;

said sender using a sender client;

said receiver using a receiving client;

said sender segmenting said instant message into multiple segments;

said sender marking limits of said multiple segments;

said sender assigning a first category from a list of predefined categories to a first segment among said multiple segments, by indicating start and end of said first segment for a given category selected from said list of predefined categories;

said sender tagging said first segment with said first category from said list of predefined categories;

said receiver identifying a layout, a view, and rules associated with said first category;

said receiver displaying said first segment, based on said layout, said view, and said rules associated with said first category;

if said first category is confidential category, then;

hiding, obscuring, or collapsing said first segment, as display default;

wherein a section appears in a window displaying a phrase indicating confidential information, informing that confidential data is permitted to be entered prior to sending;

said receiver receiving said confidential data as pulled up into a hidden form;

said receiver expanding said section to view contents;

said receiver collapsing said section, after reading said contents;

said receiver proceeding with chat session without displaying confidential data;

wherein said receiver has an option to override said assignment of said first category by said sender; and

in case said receiver exercises said option to override said assignment of said first category by said sender, changing said assignment to a second category.