Filter for instant messaging
The present invention provides for methods and computer programs for filtering instant messages sent to a recipient. An initial instant message is received from a sender, intended for the recipient. Then, a reply message is sent to the sender requesting that the sender perform a verification process. The method monitors for an incoming response message from the sender, and when the incoming response message is received, the method determines whether the sender properly completed the verification process.
1 . A method for filtering instant messages sent to a first user, the method comprising:
receiving an initial instant message from a second user intended for the first user;
sending a reply message to the second user requesting that the second user perform a verification process;
monitoring for an incoming response message from the second user; and
in the event that the incoming response message is received:
determining if the second user properly completes the verification process.
2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reply message appears to the second user in the form of an instant message reply.
3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the incoming response message is an instant message response from the second user.
4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the incoming response message from the second user; and
in the event that the second user properly completes the verification process:
displaying the initial instant message to the first user.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
initiating an instant messaging conversation between the first and second users;
receiving at least one subsequent instant message from the second user during the instant messaging conversation; and
displaying the at least one subsequent instant message to the first user without requiring the second user to perform the verification process again while participating in the instant messaging conversation.
6 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the initial instant message and the sending of the reply are performed by an instant messaging filter located at a central server.
7 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the initial instant message and the sending of the reply are performed by an instant messaging filter located on an instant messaging client, wherein the initial instant message is not displayed to the first user until the incoming response message is received and the verification process is complete.
8 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if the first user accepts messages from the second user; and
in the event that the first user accepts messages from the second user:
displaying the instant message to the first user without requiring the second user to completed the verification process.
9 . The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein determining if the first user accepts messages from the second user comprises determining if information regarding the second user is included on an instant messaging accept list for the first user.
10 . The method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising:
monitoring identities of users to whom the first user has sent instant messages; and
updating the accept list to include the identities of users to whom the first user has sent instant messages.
11 . The method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising updating the accept list to include the identity of the second user if the second user properly completes the verification process.
12 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the incoming response message from the second user; and
in the event that the first user improperly completes the verification process:
sending a reject message to the second user notifying the second user that the verification process was improperly completed.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the initial message in a storage medium, wherein the initial message is selectively viewable by the first user.
14 . A method for filtering instant messages sent to a first user, the method comprising:
receiving an initial instant message from a second user intended for the first user;
sending a reply message to the second user requesting that the second user perform a verification process;
receiving an incoming response message from the second user and determining if the second user properly completes the verification process; and
in the event that the second user properly completes the verification process:
displaying the initial instant message to the first user;
initiating an instant messaging conversation between the first and second users;
receiving at least one subsequent instant message from the second user during the instant messaging conversation; and
displaying the at least one subsequent instant message to the first user without requiring the second user to perform the verification process again while participating in the instant messaging conversation.
15 . The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the reply message appears to the second user in the form of an instant message reply.
16 . The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the incoming response message is an instant message response from the second user.
17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
determining if the first user blocks messages from the second user; and
in the event that the first user blocks messages from the second user:
storing the initial instant message in a pending folder.
18 . The method as recited in claim 17 , more specifically comprising determining if the first user block messages from the second user by determining if information identifying the second user is included on an instant messaging block list for the first user.
19 . The method as recited in claim 14 , further comprising:
determining if the first user accepts messages from the second user; and
in the event that in the event that the first user accepts messages from the second user:
displaying an instant message containing content of the initial instant message to the first user without requiring the second user to complete the verification process.
20 . The method as recited in claim 19 , wherein determining if the first user accepts messages from the second user comprises determining if information regarding the second user is included on an instant messaging accept list for the first user.
21 . The method as recited in claim 20 , further comprising:
monitoring identities of users to whom the first user has sent instant messages; and
updating the accept list to include the identities of users to whom the first user has sent instant messages.
22 . The method as recited in claim 20 , further comprising updating the accept list to include the identity of the second user if the second user properly completes the verification process.
23 . In a computer system that includes an instant messaging client, a computer program product for implementing a method of filtering instant messages sent to a first user, the computer program product comprising one or more computer readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, can cause the computer system to perform the following:
receive a initial instant message from a second user intended for the first user;
send a reply message to the second user requesting that the second user perform a verification process;
monitor for an incoming response message from the second user; and
in the event that the incoming response message is received:
determine if the second user properly completes the verification process.
24 . An instant messaging filter, comprising:
a processor for causing the filter to perform the following:
receive an initial instant message from a second user intended for a first user;
send a reply message to the second user requesting that the second user perform a verification process;
receive an incoming response message from the second user and determining if the second user properly completes the verification process; and
in the event that the second user properly completes the verification process:
display the initial instant message to the first user;
a pending instant messages folder for storing instant messages that were not displayed by the processor, and for allowing the first user to view and delete the instant messages stored therein.