Controlling computer response message traffic

• US 7,734,709 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wu, Jessica, Stewart, Eben P., Lagarde, Konrad C., Van Der Meulen, Michael, Goodman, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Dhairya A
• Application Number:
  US11/226,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/204, 709/205, 709/206, 709/207, 709/220, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/207
• 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 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities

Abstract

Electronic message response reception at a client computer in a conversation are throttled according to a predetermined critera in order to reduce the volume of messages the client is presented. Critera for throttling messages comprises only presenting messages in a predetermined time window, presenting only a predetermined number of response messages, presenting messages based on previous responder activity and presenting only messages from predefined senders.

Claims

1. A method for controlling electronic conversation message response traffic, said method comprising the steps of:

a first user receiving response electronic conversation messages comprising a first electronic conversation message from an unknown subscriber comprising a second user;

setting a response throttle characteristic comprising an external threshold characteristic not part of the content of an electronic conversation message, said response throttle characteristic for limiting the presentation of responses from unknown subscribers of messages from said first user, said electronic conversation message being sent from said first user to said unknown subscribers through a BOT, said unknown subscribers being anonymous to the first user and being anonymous to other said unknown subscribers;

identifying said first electronic conversation message as a conversation session, the conversation session related to said response throttle characteristics;

determining whether presentation of said first electronic message to said first user is permitted based on said response throttle characteristics;

wherein said determining step further comprises the steps of;

limiting the number of response electronic conversation messages presented to the first user to a predetermined number of responses,

limiting presentation of response electronic conversation messages to said first user to response electronic conversation messages received during a predetermined time period,

prioritizing presentation of response electronic conversation messages to the first user by prioritizing response electronic conversation messages of previous responders over response electronic conversation messages of new responders, and presenting only response electronic conversation messages from predefined senders;

presenting said first electronic conversation message to said first user when said determination permits presentation; and

blocking presentation of said first electronic conversation message to said first user when said determination does not permit presentation.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of storing response throttle characteristics in an application storage.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of transmitting a second electronic conversation message from the first user to the second user, wherein the response first electronic conversation message from the second user initiates the conversation session.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the transmitting step comprises the further step of broadcasting the second electronic conversation message to a predetermined plurality of users, the plurality of users comprising the second user.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein information about users of the predetermined plurality of users is hidden from the first user.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of users is anonymously represented to the first user as a community nickname or a widget.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the transmitting step comprises the further steps of

transmitting the second electronic conversation message from the first user to a channel of a pub/sub service, the channel representing a plurality of users of a community of users subscribing to the channel;

the pub/sub service determining the plurality of users represented by the channel, the plurality of users comprising the second user; and

the pub/sub service broadcasting the second electronic conversation message to the plurality of users.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of authorizing users as predefined users.

9. A computer program product for controlling electronic conversation message response traffic, the program product comprising:

a storage medium having recorded thereon computer readable program code performing the method comprising;

a first user receiving response electronic conversation messages comprising a first electronic conversation message from an unknown subscriber comprising a second user;

setting a response throttle characteristic comprising an external threshold characteristic not part of the content of an electronic conversation message, said response throttle characteristic for limiting the presentation of responses from unknown subscribers of messages from said first user, said electronic conversation message being sent from said first user to said unknown subscribers through a BOT, said unknown subscribers being anonymous to the first user and being anonymous to other unknown subscribers;

identifying said first electronic conversation message as a conversation session, the conversation session related to said response throttle characteristics;

determining whether presentation of said first electronic message to said first user is permitted based on said response throttle characteristics;

wherein said determining step further comprises the steps of;

limiting the number of response electronic conversation messages presented to the first user to a predetermined number of responses,

limiting presentation of response electronic conversation messages to said first user to response electronic conversation messages received during a predetermined time period,

prioritizing presentation of response electronic conversation messages to the first user by prioritizing response electronic conversation messages of previous responders over response electronic conversation messages of new responders, and presenting only response electronic conversation messages from predefined senders;

presenting said first electronic conversation message to said first user when said determination permits presentation; and

blocking presentation of said first electronic conversation message to said first user when said determination does not permit presentation.

10. The computer program product according to claim 9, comprising the further step of transmitting a second electronic conversation message from the first user to the second user,

wherein the transmitting step comprises the further step of broadcasting the second electronic conversation message to a predetermined plurality of users, the plurality of users comprising the second user.

11. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein information about users of the predetermined plurality of users is hidden from the user.

12. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the transmitting step comprises the further steps of transmitting the second electronic conversation message from the first user to a channel of a pub/sub service, the channel representing a plurality of users of a community of users subscribing to the channel;

the pub/sub service determining the plurality of users represented by the channel, the plurality of users comprising the second user; and

the pub/sub service broadcasting the second electronic conversation message to the plurality of users.

13. The computer program product according to claim 9, comprising the further step of authorizing users as predefined users.

14. A system for controlling electronic conversation message response traffic, the system comprising:

a network;

a server system in communication with the network;

a client system in communication with the server system by way of the network, wherein the system includes a storage medium storing therein computer readable instructions to execute a method comprising the steps of;

a first user receiving response electronic conversation messages comprising a first electronic conversation message from an unknown subscriber comprising a second user;

setting a response throttle characteristic comprising an external threshold characteristic not part of the content of an electronic conversation message, said response throttle characteristic for limiting the presentation of responses from unknown subscribers of messages from said first user, said electronic conversation message being sent from said first user to said unknown subscribers through a bot, said unknown subscribers being anonymous to the first user and being anonymous to other unknown subscribers;

identifying said first electronic conversation message as a conversation session, the conversation session related to said response throttle characteristics;

determining whether presentation of said first electronic message to said first user is permitted based on said response throttle characteristics;

wherein said determining step further comprises the steps of limiting the number of response electronic conversation messages presented to the first user to a predetermined number of responses,

limiting presentation of response electronic conversation messages to said first user to response electronic conversation messages received during a predetermined time period,

prioritizing presentation of response electronic conversation messages to the first user by prioritizing response electronic conversation messages of previous responders over response electronic conversation messages of new responders and presenting only response electronic conversation messages from predefined senders;

presenting said first electronic conversation message to said first user when said determination permits presentation; and

blocking presentation of said first electronic conversation message to said first user when said determination does not permit presentation.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the method further comprises the further step of transmitting a second electronic conversation message from the first user to the second user,

wherein the transmitting step comprises the further step of broadcasting the second electronic conversation message to a predetermined plurality of users, the plurality of users comprising the second user.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein information about users of the predetermined plurality of users is hidden from the user.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the transmitting step comprises the further steps of transmitting the second electronic conversation message from the first user to a channel of a pub/sub service, the channel representing a plurality of users of a community of users subscribing to the channel;

the pub/sub service determining the plurality of users represented by the channel, the plurality of users comprising the second user; and

the pub/sub service broadcasting the second electronic conversation message to the plurality of users.