Facetime Communications, Inc,

Actiance, Inc.

Alex Sherstinsky

Joseph Petviashvili

Eugene Mandel

John Onusko

Yuri Khodosh

Jonathan Christensen

Lewis Roth

Mehdi Maghsoodnia

Frank Mangin

Rahul Abhyankar

Eric Young

Techniques for managing instant message (IM) communications are provided. In various embodiments, IM communications in a plurality of network implementations are managed using one or more policies. A policy in the one or more policies includes an action applicable for an IM communication. Once an IM communications is received from an IM client, a policy that is applicable for that IM communication is determined. After determining an applicable policy, an action associated with the policy for the instant message communication is performed. Examples of actions that may be taken include recording the IM communication, modifying the IM communication, blocking the IM communication, forwarding the IM communication, and the like.

Management capabilities for real-time messaging networks

Techniques for processing instant messages (IM) received from entities destined for IM clients are provided. An IM module is used to receive the instant messages and process them. In one embodiment, the IM module may be used to determine if a message is spam (or spim) or not. The IM module receives an instant message for the IM client and determines if a challenge message should be sent to the sender of the IM. The challenge IM is an IM that is sent to the sender of the IM that necessitates a challenge. If a response to the IM challenge is received at the IM module, it is determined if the response satisfies an answer required by the challenge IM. If the response satisfies the answer, the IM received may be forwarded to the intended recipient IM client. Additionally, a method for processing buddy list events using an IM module is provided.

SpIM blocking and user approval techniques for real-time messaging networks

Techniques for enabling secure communications between IM modules are provided. An IM is received from a first IM client for a second IM client at a first IM module. It is determined if the second IM client can receive IMs through a second IM module that is capable of receiving secure communications from the first IM module. If the second IM module is capable of receiving secure communications from the first IM module, an encrypted IM is sent from the first IM module to the second IM client. The encrypted IM is received at the second IM module, which decrypts the IM and sends the decrypted IM to the second IM client.

Method and apparatus for secure IM communications using an IM module

Techniques for managing instant message (IM) communications are provided. Instant message communications of a plurality of network implementations is managed using an instant message module that uses one or more policies. A policy in the one or more policies includes an action applicable for an IM communication. The techniques comprise receiving an instant message communication at the instant message module. The IM communication may be in a network implementation of one of the plurality of network implementations. Then, a policy is determined from the one or more policies that is applicable for the instant message communication. An action associated with the policy for the instant message communication is then performed.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Alex Sherstinsky