Apparatus and method controlling use of individual segments of instant messaging content

• US 7,689,653 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X Corp. (f/k/a Twitter, Inc.) (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Craig, Ronald Eugene, Cohen, Gabriel Aaron, Mitchell, Gerald Laverte Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): DONAGHUE, LARRY D
• Application Number:
  US11/039,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20060161630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,897 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/228, 709/229
• 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 is provided for a configuration of client work stations for instant messaging, wherein a participant intending to send a particular segment of chat content can elect to send the segment in an “off the record” mode. Content sent in this mode can be viewed but cannot be copied or saved by other instant messaging participants. The apparatus usefully includes a mode select device operable by the participant at a given station to designate each of a succession of chat content segments generated at the given station to be either for unrestricted use, or for off the record use, selectively. The apparatus further includes a component for applying a first use control message to each of the off the records segments sent from the given station to one or more of the other stations. A content control device located at a station receiving the off the record segments is responsive to the applied first use control messages to prevent the receiving station from retaining or otherwise propagating any of the received off the record segments.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling selected chat content produced by instant messaging, wherein said apparatus comprises:

a mode select hardware device operable by a participant at a sending station to selectively designate each of a succession of chat content segments generated at the sending station to be either for unrestricted use, or for off the record use; and

a hardware component for applying a first use control message to each of said segments designated for off the record use that is sent from said sending station directly to one or more receiving stations, wherein the first use control message is configured to cause said one or more receiving stations to respond to the first use control message by preventing said chat content segments from being transferred to another computer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

each station of a configuration of client work stations is provided with a mode select device, a content control device, and a component for applying first use control messages, wherein the configuration of client work stations comprises at least one sending station and at least one receiving station.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said hardware component for applying first use control messages is adapted to apply second use control messages to chat content segments that are respectively designated to be for unrestricted use; and

wherein

said content control device is responsive to a particular second use control message to enable a station receiving said particular second use control message and its associated content segment to save or otherwise propagate said associated content segment.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said mode select hardware device is adapted to display first and second buttons, wherein said buttons are operable by the participant at said sending station to transmit a given content segment and to designate said given content segment as being either for unrestricted use or for off the record use, selectively.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said mode select hardware device is adapted to display a single button and a check box, a given content segment being sent from said sending station when said button is operated by said participant, and the presence or absence of a check in said check box determining whether a first use control message is applied to the given content segment.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said first use control message comprises a flag attached to the corresponding content segment.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said content control device is provided with an application programmable interface (API) that is operated by a first use control message applied to a received off the record segment to prevent said receiving station from retaining or otherwise propagating said received off the record segment.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said apparatus further comprises a device for producing a transcript at a conclusion of an instant messaging event, wherein said transcript includes all chat content segments designated for unrestricted use, and automatically excludes all chat content segments designated for off the record use.

9. A computer implemented method comprising:

designating, by at least one specific processor, each of a succession of chat content segments generated at a given station to be either for unrestricted use, or for off the record use, selectively; and

applying a first use control message to each of said chat content segments designated for off the record use that is directly sent from said given station to one or more other remote stations, wherein said chat content segments are directly transmitted to said one or more other remote stations, and wherein the first use control message causes said one or more other remote stations to respond to the first use control message by preventing said chat content segments from being transferred to another computer.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein:

each station in a configuration of client work stations is provided with a mode select device, a content control device, and a component for applying first use control messages.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein:

second use control messages are applied to chat content segments that are respectively designated to be for unrestricted use.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein:

first and second buttons displayed by a mode select device are operated by a participant at said given station to transmit a given content segment and to designate said given content segment to be either for unrestricted use or for off the record use, selectively.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein:

a single button and a check box displayed by a mode select device are operated by the participant at said given station to transmit and designate a given content segment to be either for unrestricted use or for off the record use, selectively.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

producing a transcript at a conclusion of an instant messaging event, wherein said transcript includes all chat content segments designated for unrestricted use, and automatically excludes all chat content segments designated for off the record use.

15. A computer-recordable medium for controlling selected chat content produced by the instant messaging, wherein said tangible computer storage medium comprises:

first instructions for receiving each of a succession of chat content segments at a first station, wherein each of said segments is generated at a second station and is designated to be either for unrestricted use or for off the record use, selectively, a first use control message being applied to each of said segments designated for off the record use;

second instructions for detecting each segment received at said first station that has a first control use message and is thereby identified to be an off the record segment; and

third instructions for using the first use control messages respectively applied to said received off the record segments to prevent said first station from retaining or otherwise propagating said received off the record segments.

16. The computer-recordable medium of claim 15, wherein:

each station of a configuration of work stations is provided with a mode select device, a content control device, and a component for applying first use control messages, wherein the configuration of work stations comprises the first station and the second station.

17. The computer-recordable medium of claim 15, wherein:

second use control messages are applied to chat content segments that are respectively designated to be for unrestricted use.

18. The computer-recordable medium of claim 16, wherein:

said mode select device at said second station is adapted to display first and second buttons, wherein said buttons are operable by the participant at said second station to transmit and designate a given content segment as being either for unrestricted use or for off the record use, selectively.

19. The computer-recordable medium of claim 16, wherein:

said mode select device at said second station is adapted to display a single button and a check box, a given content segment being sent from said second station when said button is operated by the participant at said second station, and the presence or absence of a check in said check box determines whether a first use control message is applied to the given content segment.

20. The computer-recordable medium of claim 15, wherein:

fourth instructions are provided for producing a transcript at a conclusion of an instant messaging event, wherein said transcript includes all chat content segments designated for unrestricted use, and automatically excludes all chat content segments designated for off the record use.