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`Case 1:21-cv-00494 Document 1-1 Filed 02/19/21 USDC Colorado Page 1 of 19
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`EXHIBIT A
`EXHIBIT A
`
`

`

`(12) United States Patent
`O'Sullivan et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,367,521 B2
`Jun. 14, 2016
`
`US0093.67521B2
`
`CONTENT AND CONTEXT BASED
`HANDLING OF INSTANT MESSAGES
`
`Inventors: Patrick J. O'Sullivan, Dublin (IE):
`Edith H. Stern, Yorktown Heights, NY
`(US); Robert C. Weir, Westford, MA
`(US); Barry E. Willner, Briarcliff
`Manor, NY (US); Marjorie R. Willner,
`Briarcliff Manor, NY (US)
`Assignee: International Business Machines
`Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 2487 days.
`Appl. No.: 12/023,027
`
`Notice:
`
`7/2006 Lyle et al.
`2006, O168048 A1
`2006/0227943 A1 10, 2006 Yan
`2006/0248150 A1 11/2006 Chaar et al.
`2007/O156832 A1
`7/2007 Daniels-Farrar et al.
`2009/0063639 A1* 3/2009 Lingafelt et al. .............. TO9,206
`2009.00894.17 A1* 4, 2009 Giffin et al. ........
`TO9,224
`2009/0100497 A1* 4/2009 Goldberg et al. ................. T26.1
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Matt Hines, CNET News.com, IM status: More worms on the way,
`Mar. 23, 2005, pp. 1-3. http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/security/
`0.39044215,39222828,00.htm.
`Carroll Communications Inc., Solutions That Work, 2008, pp. 1-2,
`http://www.carrollcommunications.com/ipoffice/5donotclisturb.
`html.
`South Central Rural Telephone Company, Do Not Disturb Services,
`2006, pp. 1-2, http:www.scrtc.com/donotclisturbservice.html.
`(Continued)
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`(*)
`
`(21)
`(22)
`(65)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 30, 2008
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2009/O19297OA1
`Jul. 30, 2009
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. C.
`G06N5/00
`G06F I/00
`G06F 7/2
`H04L 2/58
`U.S. C.
`CPC ............ G06F 17/211 (2013.01); H04L 12/581
`(2013.01); H04L 51/04 (2013.01)
`Field of Classification Search
`USPC .................................. 706/48; 709/224; 726/1
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Primary Examiner — Stanley K Hill
`Assistant Examiner — Kalpana Bharadwaj
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Stevens & Showalter, LLP
`
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`Instant message systems are enhanced by establishing at least
`one handling rule that is evaluated in an instant messaging
`environment, each established handling rule defining a con
`dition based upon at least one of identified content or identi
`fied context, and a corresponding event handling action to be
`performed within the instant message environment. Upon
`identifying an instant message conversation within the instant
`message environment between a user and a correspondent,
`each handling rule is evaluated and the event handling action
`of an associated handling rule is performed if it is determined
`that the condition of handling rule is satisfied. Further, an
`indication that the corresponding event action was performed
`is conveyed to a corresponding user.
`
`2 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`7,827,561 B2 * 1 1/2010 McKee et al. ................. T19, 313
`2004/0201623 Al
`10/2004 Hamilton, II et al.
`2004/0205161 Al
`10/2004 Hamilton, II et al.
`2004/0215730 Al
`10/2004 Hamilton, II et al.
`2005, 0132011 A1
`6, 2005 Muller et al.
`
`
`
`Case 1:21-cv-00494 Document 1-1 Filed 02/19/21 USDC Colorado Page 2 of 19
`
`

`

`US 9,367,521 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Ecma International, Standard ECMA-193, Private Integrated Ser
`vices Network (PISN)—Specification, Functional Model and Infor
`mation Flows—Do Not Disturb and Do Not Disturb Override
`
`Supplementary Services (DND(O)SD), 2nd edition (Jun. 1997), 1
`O9.
`http://www.ecimal-international.org/flat/publications/Stan
`dards/ecma-193.htm.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Case 1:21-cv-00494 Document 1-1 Filed 02/19/21 USDC Colorado Page 3 of 19
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 14, 2016
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
`
`US 9,367,521 B2
`
`
`
`Case 1:21-cv-00494 Document 1-1 Filed 02/19/21 USDC Colorado Page 4 of 19
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 14, 2016
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
`
`US 9,367,521 B2
`
`CLENT
`
`1O33
`
`
`
`11O
`
`12
`
`1252
`
`134
`
`INSTANT MESSAGING SERVER SOFTWARE
`
`INSTANT MESSAGE
`CLIENT
`
`CONTENT MANAGER
`
`1356
`
`CONTEXT MANAGER
`
`ADAPTIVE/AUTOMATIC
`BEHAVIORMANAGER
`
`
`
`
`
`USER
`DATABASES)
`
`PRESENSE
`AWARENESS
`DATA
`
`
`
`Case 1:21-cv-00494 Document 1-1 Filed 02/19/21 USDC Colorado Page 5 of 19
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`
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`128
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`
`
`
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`CONTEXT
`RULES
`
`CONTENT
`RULES
`
`13O
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`12O
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`
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`HANDLINGRULES
`
`122
`
`
`
`CONTEXT
`RULES
`
`CONTENT
`RULES
`
`FIG. 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 14, 2016
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
`
`US 9,367,521 B2
`
`
`
`INSTANTMESSAGE
`CLENT
`
`1O3A-
`132A
`
`134A
`
`
`
`INSTANT MESSAGE CLIENT
`LOCAL INSTANT
`LOCAL CONTENT
`MESSAGEMANAGER
`MANAGER
`
`1256A
`
`LOCAL CONTEXT
`MANAGER
`
`ADAPTIVE/AUTOMATIC -1253A
`BEHAWOR MANAGER
`
`114A
`
`LOCALUSER
`DATABASES)
`
`
`
`LOCAL
`PREFERENCES
`
`LOCAL
`PRESENSE
`AWARENESS
`DATA
`
`113A
`
`Case 1:21-cv-00494 Document 1-1 Filed 02/19/21 USDC Colorado Page 6 of 19
`
`
`
`CONTEXT
`RULES
`
`CONTENT
`RULES
`
`122A
`
`
`
`124A
`
`FG. 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 14, 2016
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`US 9,367,521 B2
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`15O
`
`152
`
`154
`
`ESTABLISHHANDLINGRULEIS)
`
`INSTANT MESSAGE CONVERSATION
`
`
`
`
`
`156
`
`EVALUATE HANDLINGRULEIS)
`
`
`
`158
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`
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`
`
`CONDITIONS)
`SATISFED2
`
`PERFORMEVENTHANDLING ACTIONS)
`
`
`
`
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`Case 1:21-cv-00494 Document 1-1 Filed 02/19/21 USDC Colorado Page 7 of 19
`
`FG. 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 14, 2016
`
`Sheet 5 Of 7
`
`US 9,367,521 B2
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`164 NESTABLISHACTIVATION RULEIS)
`
`166 NEWALUATE ACTIVATION RULEIS)
`
`
`
`CONDITIONS
`SATISFED2
`
`EVENTHANDLING
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Case 1:21-cv-00494 Document 1-1 Filed 02/19/21 USDC Colorado Page 8 of 19
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 14, 2016
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
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`US 9,367,521 B2
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`2OO
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`Case 1:21-cv-00494 Document 1-1 Filed 02/19/21 USDC Colorado Page 9 of 19
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`INSTANT MESSAGE
`CONVERSATION
`
`
`
`APPLY ACTIVATION
`RULEIS)- CONTENT
`AND/OR CONTEXT
`
`2O2
`
`2O4
`
`2O6
`
`ACTIVATE
`HANDLING?
`
`
`
`APPLY HANDLING
`RULEIS)- CONTENT
`AND/OR CONTEXT
`
`2O3
`
`21O
`
`212
`
`ACTION
`
`INSTANT MESSAGE
`ACTION (EG,
`WINDOWPOPUP)
`
`PROCESS, EG, LOGIN
`CHAT SESSION
`TRANSCRIPT
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 14, 2016
`
`Sheet 7 Of 7
`
`US 9,367,521 B2
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`3O2
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`3O2
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`PROCESSOR
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`3OO
`112
`
`<
`
`
`
`SYSTEM BUS
`
`Dr.
`3O4
`LI/OBRIDGE N2O
`
`
`
`3O6
`
`MEMORY
`CONTROLLER/
`CACHE
`
`3O8.
`
`LOCAL
`MEMORY
`
`
`
`k
`
`BUS
`BRIDGE
`
`BUS
`
`D
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`COMM
`DEVICE
`
`BUS
`K it
`
`D
`
`BRIDGE
`
`316
`
`GRAPHICS
`ADAPTAER
`
`
`
`318 N. SIORAGE
`
`
`
`32O
`
`COMPUTER
`USABLE
`MEDIUM
`HAVING
`COMPUTER
`USABLE
`PROGRAM
`
`
`
`Case 1:21-cv-00494 Document 1-1 Filed 02/19/21 USDC Colorado Page 10 of 19
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`

`

`US 9,367,521 B2
`
`1.
`CONTENT AND CONTEXT BASED
`HANDLING OF INSTANT MESSAGES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
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`15
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`25
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`30
`
`The present invention relates to systems, computer-imple
`mented methods and computer program products for the
`implementation of content and/or context based handling of
`instant messages in an instant message environment.
`Instant messaging (IM) is a means of communication
`wherein individuals can communicate with one another using
`text-based communication over a network in Substantially
`real-time. For purposes of illustration, in an exemplary instant
`messaging system, a client program executed on a user's
`processing device may connect to an instant message server,
`and may further communicate to the server, the internet pro
`tocol (IP) address and/or other relevant contact information
`for the user. The client program may also communicate to the
`server, a private list of individuals that the user is interested in
`communicating with via instant messaging. The instant mes
`sage server temporarily stores the user's connection informa
`tion and checks to see if any of the individuals in the user's
`private list are also currently logged into the instant message
`server. If individuals associated with the user's private list are
`also logged into the instant message server, then a message
`may be sent to the user's client program with the connection
`information for each such located individual. Likewise, the
`instant message server may also send the user's contact infor
`mation to individuals who have included the user in their
`private list.
`The client program can then be used to participate in a chat
`session, e.g., with one or more selected individuals on the
`user's private list who have also logged into the instant mes
`sage system. Because the client program has received the
`appropriate contact information, it is not required that the
`35
`instant message server itself be involved in the instant mes
`sage chat session. During the chat session participants enter
`messages to each other into a chat session window. When a
`message drafted by one participant is transmitted, a window
`typically pops up on the display of the processing device of
`40
`each recipient which contains a scrolling transcription of the
`conversation including messages entered by each participant
`of the chat session. The above process continues until the chat
`session is terminated by the participants.
`
`45
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Case 1:21-cv-00494 Document 1-1 Filed 02/19/21 USDC Colorado Page 11 of 19
`
`According to aspects of the present invention, a method of
`processing instant message transactions is provided. The
`method comprises establishing at least one handling rule that
`is evaluated in an instant messaging environment where each
`established handling rule defines a condition and a corre
`sponding eventhandling action. Each condition is based upon
`at least one of identified content or identified context and the
`event handling action defines an action to be performed
`within the instant message environment if the associated con
`dition is satisfied. The method further comprises identifying
`an instant message conversation within the instant message
`environment between a user and a correspondent and evalu
`ating at least one handling rule. Still further, the method
`comprises performing at least one event handling action of an
`associated handling rule if it is determined that the condition
`of that handling rule is satisfied and conveying to a corre
`sponding user, an indication that the corresponding event
`action was performed.
`According to further aspects of the present invention, a
`method of processing instant message transactions is pro
`
`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
`
`2
`vided. The method comprises logging a first instant message
`client into an instant message server and obtaining from the
`instant message server, at least one handling rule that is evalu
`ated in an instant messaging environment where each estab
`lished handling rule defines a condition based upon at least
`one of identified content or identified context, and a corre
`sponding event handling action to be performed within the
`instant message environment. The method further comprises
`identifying an instant message conversation within the instant
`message environment between a user and a correspondent
`and evaluating each handling rule. The method still further
`comprises performing the event handling action of an asso
`ciated handling rule if it is determined that the condition of
`handling rule is satisfied and conveying to a corresponding
`user, an indication that the corresponding event action was
`performed.
`According to still further aspects of the present invention,
`a method of processing instant message transactions is pro
`vided. The method comprises logging a first instant message
`client into an instant message server to obtain information
`regarding instant message users associated with a corre
`sponding private list and obtaining from a locally stored
`memory, at least one handling rule that is evaluated in an
`instant messaging environment where each established han
`dling rule defines a condition based upon at least one of
`identified content or identified context, and a corresponding
`event handling action to be performed within the instant mes
`sage environment. The method further comprises identifying
`an instant message conversation within the instant message
`environment between a user and a correspondent and evalu
`ating at least one handling rule. The method further comprises
`performing at least one event handling action of an associated
`handling rule if it is determined that the condition of handling
`rule is satisfied and conveying to a corresponding user, an
`indication that the corresponding event action was per
`formed.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL
`VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary system in
`which instant messaging can be implemented;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system where a server
`provides enhanced capabilities directed to content and/or
`context based handling of instant messages in an instant mes
`sage environment according to various aspects of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a local system that provides
`enhanced capabilities directed to content and/or context
`based handling of instant messages in an instant message
`environment according to various aspects of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for implementing content
`and/or context based handling of instant messages in an
`instant message environment according to various aspects of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method of applying selective
`activation of content and/or context based handling of instant
`messages according to various aspects of the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram and flow chart of a computer
`implementation of instant messaging according to various
`aspects of the present invention; and
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system
`including a computerusable medium having computerusable
`program code embodied therewith, where the exemplary
`computer system is capable of executing a computer program
`
`

`

`US 9,367,521 B2
`
`3
`product to provide content and/or context based handling of
`instant messages in an instant message environment accord
`ing to various aspects of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`15
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`40
`
`According to various aspects of the present invention,
`methods, computer program products and systems are pro
`vided for utilizing context and/or content in order to enhance
`a user's experience with an instant messaging system. Con
`10
`textual information may comprise information that is
`detected, obtained or otherwise derived either internally or
`externally to a corresponding instant messaging system,
`which may be related to circumstances such as facts, knowl
`edge, conditions or other information determined to be rel
`evant to an instant message user. For example, contextual
`information may pertain to a particular event, situation, etc.
`and may characterize user behavior, user activity, environ
`ment, setting, hierarchical prioritizations and/or other factors.
`Content may comprise information that is detected, obtained
`or otherwise derived either internally or externally to a cor
`responding instant messaging system, Such as information
`that is matched to designated key words, phrases, symbols
`and other indicia.
`As will be described in greater detail herein, various
`aspects of the present invention are directed to obtaining and
`exploiting context and/or content for use in processing instant
`message transactions. For example, content and/or context
`can be used to derive “handling rules” that define event han
`dling actions for managing user preferences, e.g., to perform
`a defined action Such as message filtering, message genera
`tion or limiting display screen interruptions. Content and/or
`context may also be used to define “activation rules” which
`define a triggering event, after which corresponding handling
`rules may be evaluated and applied if a corresponding han
`dling rule is satisfied. Thus, certain handling rules may be
`evaluated regardless of circumstances and other handling
`rules may require that a corresponding activation rule is first
`satisfied, i.e. the occurrence of a predetermined triggering
`event occurs before being evaluated as will be described in
`greater detail herein.
`Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a
`general diagram of a computer system 100 is illustrated,
`which may be utilized to enhance instant message environ
`ments according to various aspects of the present invention.
`The computer system 100 comprises a plurality hardware
`and/or software processing devices, designated generally by
`the reference 102 that are linked together by a network 104.
`Typical processing devices 102 may include servers, personal
`computers, notebook computers, transactional systems, pur
`pose-driven appliances, pervasive computing devices such as
`a personal data assistant (PDA), palm computers, cellular
`access processing devices, special purpose computing
`devices and/or other devices capable of communicating over
`the network 104. The processing devices 102 may also com
`55
`prise software, including applications and servers that pro
`cess information stored in various databases, spreadsheets,
`structured documents, unstructured documents and/or other
`files containing information.
`The network 104 provides communications links between
`the various processing devices 102, and may be Supported by
`networking components 106 that interconnect the processing
`devices 102, including for example, routers, hubs, firewalls,
`network interfaces, wired or wireless communications links
`and corresponding interconnections. Moreover, the network
`104 may comprise connections using one or more intranets,
`extranets, local area networks (LAN), wide area networks
`
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`60
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`Case 1:21-cv-00494 Document 1-1 Filed 02/19/21 USDC Colorado Page 12 of 19
`
`4
`(WAN), wireless networks (WIFI), the Internet, including the
`world wide web, and/or other arrangements for enabling
`communication between the processing devices 102, in either
`real time or otherwise, e.g., via time shifting, batch process
`ing, etc. The system 100 is shown by way of illustration, and
`not by way of limitation, as a computing environment in
`which various aspects of the present invention may be prac
`ticed.
`As illustrated, the processing devices 102 may participate
`in a collaborative environment, which may include an instant
`messaging system. For example, the various processing
`devices 102 may each execute an instant messaging (IM)
`client 108 that facilitates instant messaging between process
`ing devices 102 across the network 104. To support instant
`messaging within the collaborative environment, the illus
`trated system includes a presence and awareness server 110.
`The presence and awareness server 110 executes one or more
`components directed towards instant messaging and may also
`execute components directed towards other collaborative
`objectives such as on-line conferencing, paging, person locat
`ing and contacting, calendaring etc. Moreover, the presence
`and awareness server 110 may be implemented across mul
`tiple servers through both vertical and horizontal scaling. In
`general, each user of the collaborative environment Supports
`a “subscription list”, “buddy list” or other logical organiza
`tion that identifies other users within the community whose
`presence information is to be monitored by that user. The
`presence and awareness server 110 thus provides publication
`and/or notification of presence information so that each user
`receives notifications of presence and optionally, availability
`changes for the individuals that are identified on their sub
`scription list, e.g., so that user's are updated as to the avail
`ability of individuals within the user's subscription list for
`instant messaging.
`Although instant messaging provides a number of conve
`niences, such as near real-time text based chatting, the con
`Versational courtesies typically used in instant messaging
`environments does not always align with the demands of busy
`individuals. To illustrate, assume that a user initiates an
`instant message conversation with a correspondent also
`within the collaborative environment to ask a question, Such
`as by opening an instant message window, entering the ques
`tion into the instant message window and transmitting the
`message to the correspondent. When the correspondent
`responds, e.g., with the answer to the original question, the
`users instant message client 108 interrupts processing per
`formed on the associated processing device 102 to bring the
`instant message window into focus as the active program.
`This action may be acceptable to the user since the user was
`expecting an answer from the correspondent. The user may
`then reply to the correspondent by entering a courteous ges
`ture, Such as “Thanks' into the instant message window and
`transmitting the message to the correspondent. This reply
`serves as both a courtesy and as an acknowledgement of
`receipt of the communication from the correspondent.
`This reply may also be of value to the correspondent. By
`noting acknowledgment of receipt of the response, the corre
`spondent may, for example, cross off the need to respond to
`the user's question from a TO-DO list or other organization of
`required tasks. From the user's perspective, the conversation
`has been completed, and the user typically moves on to some
`other activity. However, the user may then be interrupted with
`a reply message from the correspondent, such as “yw' (your
`welcome), which causes the instant message window to pop
`up and gain focus as the active window on the user's process
`ing device, thus interrupting the user from the current activity.
`The user may further get interrupted yet again with another
`
`

`

`US 9,367,521 B2
`
`10
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`5
`Superfluous message from the correspondent that causes the
`instant message window to pop up on the user's display. Such
`as a “ttyl (talk to you later) message. Moreover, when the
`instant message window pops up and takes focus as the active
`window, keystrokes being typed by the user, which are
`intended for other applications, may be inappropriately
`directed to the instant message pop up window, thus creating
`further disruption in the work flow of the user.
`In the above illustrative example, the automated Screen pop
`ups that apply processing focus to the instant messaging
`system for Such “end of conversation' or gratuitous or Super
`fluous responses may not be desired under all circumstances.
`Rather, the user may prefer that the instant messaging system
`convey some other indication of the receipt of a message
`without actually causing a pop up of the instant message
`window, Such as by logging the message in a chat session
`transcript to be looked at later, by setting a flag or icon in a
`system tray to alert the user that a message has been received,
`to delay the message until the user is not busy or by perform
`ing some other activity that provides an indication of the
`transaction without changing the focus of the user's process
`ing device 102.
`As yet another illustrative example, depending upon the
`specific application, the user may not want to be interrupted
`by a screen pop up related to an instant message transaction,
`even during certain active conversations, such as where some
`other activity of interest takes priority to the user's conversa
`tion with the correspondent. As such, according to various
`aspects of the present invention, context and/or content rules
`may be utilized to actively, adaptively and/or dynamically
`enhance the instant messaging environment.
`Referring to FIG. 2, according to aspects of the present
`invention, a user on a first processing device, designated
`102A may communicate using instant messaging via its
`instant message client 108A with a correspondent on a second
`processing device, designated 102B via the corresponding
`instant message client 108B across a network 104. For
`example, the instant message clients 108A, 108B may com
`prise dedicated instant message applications or they may
`execute within a web browser or other application on the
`40
`corresponding processing device 108A, 108B respectively. In
`the illustrated arrangement, the presence and awareness
`server 110 includes instant message server software 112 hav
`ing components for facilitating the instant message commu
`nications.
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`The presence and awareness server 110 may allow each
`user to set an online status or away message so that Subscrib
`ing peers are notified when the user is available, busy, or away
`from an associated processing device 102, etc. In this regard,
`the instant message server Software 112 may include a user
`database 114, which identifies the users participating in the
`instant message system and their corresponding Subscribing
`peers as well as other user information pertinent to the par
`ticular implementation of the instant messaging system. For
`example, the user database 114 may provide information
`needed to search for and find other users as well as contact
`users when they are online, identify their status, etc.
`The instant messaging server Software 112 may also inter
`act with preference data 116. The preference data may be used
`to enhance user interaction with the instant messaging envi
`ronment based upon content and/or context as will be
`described in greater detail herein. The instant message server
`software 112 may also be coupled to other optional presence
`and awareness data, such as may be stored in a presence and
`awareness database 118.
`The preferences stored in the preference database 116 may
`be characterized in any practical manner. For example, the
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`preferences may be expressed as rules that define how the
`instant message system responds to predetermined events.
`For purposes of illustration, the preferences have been con
`ceptually organized to include handling rules 120, which may
`consist of rules defined by context, Such as may be stored in a
`context data Source 122. Also, the handling rules may consist
`of rules defined by content, which may be stored in a content
`data source 124. For example, content and/or context based
`handling rules may be used to define event handling actions
`for managing user preferences, e.g., to perform a defined
`action Such as message filtering, message generation or lim
`iting display Screen interruptions. Still further, preferences
`for handling rules may be derived that consider characteris
`tics of both content and context. Examples of content and/or
`context based handling rules will be described in greater
`detail herein.
`The preferences 116 may also be organized to include
`“activation rules' 126 which define a triggering event, after
`which corresponding handling rules may be evaluated and
`applied if a corresponding handling rule is satisfied. Thus,
`certain handling rules 120 may be evaluated regardless of
`circumstances and other handling rules 120 may first require
`the occurrence of a predetermined triggering event, e.g.,
`defined by a corresponding activation rule 126 before being
`evaluated as will be described in greater detail herein. As
`shown, the activation rules 126 may be organized into acti
`Vation rules defined by context. Such as may be stored in a
`context data source 128. Also, the activation rules may consist
`of rules defined by content, which may be stored in a content
`data source 130. Still further, preferences that define activa
`tion rules may be derived that consider characteristics of both
`content and context. Examples of content and/or context
`based activation rules 126 will also be described in greater
`detail herein.
`The instant message server Software 112 may be imple
`mented in any appropriate manner to implement the features
`and functions set out more fully herein. For purposes of
`illustration, and not by way of limitation, the instant message
`server Software 112 is illustrated as having an instant message
`manager 132 for managing aspects of the instant message
`system in a conventional manner, Such as by maintaining user
`lists, e.g., in the user database 114, facilitating, logging or
`otherwise enabling instant message communications, etc.
`The instant message manager 132 may also interact with
`other presence and awareness data 118 as may be necessary to
`provide contact information, availability information and
`other relevant information as required by the particular imple
`mentation of the presence and awareness server 110.
`The instant message server Software 112 also comprises a
`context manager 134, which may interact with the processing
`devices 102 within the instant message community, the
`instant message clients 108, the handling rules context data
`source 122, the activation rules context data source 128 and
`other information that may be relevant that is accessible
`across the network 104 in order to create and/or evaluate
`context based handling or activation rules. Similarly, the
`instant message server Software 114 comprises a content
`manager136, which may interact with the processing devices
`102 within the instant message community, the instant mes
`sage clients 108, the handling rules content data Source 124.
`the activation rules content data source 130 and other infor
`mation that may be relevant that is accessible across the
`network 104 in order to create and/or evaluate content based
`handling or activation rules as will be described in greater
`detail herein.
`Still further, the instant message server software 112 may
`comprise an adaptive and/or autonomic behavior manager
`
`

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`8
`local activation rules 126A and optionally with other
`resources across the network 104. Such as other processing
`devices 102 and/or the presence and awareness server 110
`(shown in FIG. 1) in order to create and/or evaluate local
`content based handling/activation rules 120A, 126A as will
`be described in greater detail herein.
`Still further, the instant message client 108A may comprise
`an adaptive and/or autonomic behavior manager 138A for
`providing dynamic autonomic features for instant message
`enhancement, as will be described in greater detail herein. For
`example, the instant message client 108 can autonomically
`learn about behaviors, activities, environments, etc. of the
`user to dynamically create, adjust or otherwise modify the
`user's preferences.
`Still further, the content and/or context based enhancement
`of instant messaging system may be distributed across a cor
`responding local processing device 102, the presence and
`awareness server 110, and/or other processing devices across
`the network 104 So as to leverage local processing capabilities
`with knowledge derived across the instant message commu
`nity.
`Referring to FIG. 4, a method 150 of processing instant
`message transactions is illustrated. The method 150 com
`prises establishing at least one handling rule at 152 that is
`evaluated in an instant messaging environment. Each estab
`lished handling rule may define a condition based upon an
`identified content or identified context. Each handling rule
`may also designate a corresponding event handling action to
`be performed within the instant message environment if the
`condition is satisfied. Each handling rule may be created,
`stored and evaluated locally and/or via a corresponding server
`such as the presence and awareness server 110, depending
`upon the specific implementation. For example, the instant
`message manager 132 or local instant message manager
`132A may provide the necessary processing to evaluate infor
`mation, such as by actively probing for the information or by
`utilizing agents or other processing devices/techniques to
`collect, manage, evaluate or otherwise ascertain the informa
`tion required to test the condition(s) specified in the event
`handling rules. Conditions may be satisfied by literally meet
`ing the specified conditions, by detecting correlations or other
`statistical patterns indicative of a condition being satisfied,
`etc. In certain circumstances, satisfying one or more predi
`cates of a condition may be sufficient to satisfy the event
`handling rule.
`The user engages in an instant messaging communication
`with a correspondent at 154. During the instant mess