The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 30, 2010
Filed:
Jan. 18, 2005
Gabriel Aaron Cohen, Raleigh, NC (US);
Ronald Eugene Craig, Pittsboro, NC (US);
Gerald Laverte Mitchell, Jr., Raleigh, NC (US);
Gabriel Aaron Cohen, Raleigh, NC (US);
Ronald Eugene Craig, Pittsboro, NC (US);
Gerald Laverte Mitchell, Jr., Raleigh, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
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.