Monitoring instant messaging usage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10397146-B2
Application number	US-201514862521-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2015
Priority date	Dec 20, 2007
Publication date	Aug 27, 2019
Grant date	Aug 27, 2019

Abstract

A method of monitoring instant messaging usage can include identifying an instant messaging session between a plurality of participants, selecting a participant in the instant messaging session, identifying at least one attribute of the instant messaging session, and identifying at least one attribute of the selected participant. The method further can include determining an instant messaging usage metric for the selected participant according to the at least one attribute of the instant messaging session and the at least one attribute of the selected participant and outputting the instant messaging usage metric of the selected participant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
selecting a participant in an instant messaging session between a plurality of participants;
weighting an identified attribute of the instant messaging session;
weighting an identified attribute of the selected participant; and
determining, based upon the weighted attributes of the instant messaging session and the selected participant, an instant messaging usage metric for the selected participant.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
dynamically updating the instant messaging usage metric for each succeeding instant messaging session.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying another participant in the instant messaging session; and
identifying an attribute of the another other participant.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the identified attribute of the selected participant is whether the selected participant is a sending participant or a receiving participant.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the identified attribute of the instant messaging session is a data type of the instant messaging session.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
determining, based upon the instant messaging usage metric, a fee for instant messaging usage by the selected participant.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
comparing the instant messaging usage metric for the selected participant to a predetermined instant messaging usage allotment for the selected participant; and
outputting, upon the instant messaging usage metric exceeding the instant messaging usage allotment, an alert.

8. A computer hardware system, comprising:
at least one hardware processor configured to initiate the following executable operations:
selecting a participant in an instant messaging session between a plurality of participants;
weighting an identified attribute of the instant messaging session;
weighting an identified attribute of the selected participant; and
determining, based upon the weighted attributes of the instant messaging session and the selected participant, an instant messaging usage metric for the selected participant.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the executable operations further include
dynamically updating the instant messaging usage metric for each succeeding instant messaging session.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the executable operations further include:
identifying another participant in the instant messaging session; and
identifying an attribute of the another other participant.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein
the identified attribute of the selected participant is whether the selected participant is a sending participant or a receiving participant.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein
the identified attribute of the instant messaging session is a data type of the instant messaging session.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the executable operations further include
determining, based upon the instant messaging usage metric, a fee for instant messaging usage by the selected participant.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the executable operations further include:
comparing the instant messaging usage metric for the selected participant to a predetermined instant messaging usage allotment for the selected participant; and
outputting, upon the instant messaging usage metric exceeding the instant messaging usage allotment, an alert.

15. A computer program product, comprising:
a computer storage device having stored therein computer usable program code,
the computer usable program code, which when executed by a computer hardware system, causes the computer hardware system to perform:
selecting a participant in an instant messaging session between a plurality of participants;
weighting an identified attribute of the instant messaging session;
weighting an identified attribute of the selected participant; and
determining, based upon the weighted attributes of the instant messaging session and the selected participant, an instant messaging usage metric for the selected participant.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the computer usable program code further causes the computer hardware system to perform
dynamically updating the instant messaging usage metric for each succeeding instant messaging session.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the computer usable program code further causes the computer hardware system to perform:
identifying another participant in the instant messaging session; and
identifying an attribute of the another other participant.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein
the identified attribute of the selected participant is whether the selected participant is a sending participant or a receiving participant.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein
the identified attribute of the instant messaging session is a data type of the instant messaging session.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the computer usable program code further causes the computer hardware system to perform
determining, based upon the instant messaging usage metric, a fee for instant messaging usage by the selected participant.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Braam Carl A
• Ogle David M

Classifications

• H04M15/57

  for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS] · CPC title

• G06Q10/107 Primary

  Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing] · CPC title

• H04L51/04 Primary

  Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] · CPC title

• H04W4/24

  Accounting or billing · CPC title

• H04M2215/208

  IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem · CPC title