Session management enhancements for instant messaging applications

Abstract

The invention comprises an improved demand-based messaging system that enables a user to effectively manage multiple messaging sessions. The messaging system comprises a messaging program operable on a plurality of electrical computers or data processing machines connected by one or more communications media. The messaging program comprises a conventional message composer program, a conventional message transport program, a conventional message reader program, and an inventive, user-configurable, policy-driven session management program.

1 . A demand-based messaging system for opening and managing messaging sessions, the system comprising: 
 a configuration means for configuring an activity limit parameter;    a receiving means for receiving a message from a remote user;    a tracking means for determining the number of messaging sessions that are active before processing the message;    an activity display means for displaying the number of active messaging sessions; and    a session management means comprising a blocking means for blocking the message if the number of active messaging sessions exceeds the activity limit parameter.    
   
   
       2 . The demand-based messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the session management means further comprises: 
 a queuing means for storing the blocked message in a session queue until the tracking means determines that the number of active messaging sessions is less than the activity limit parameter; and    a message processing means for displaying the message to a local user and removing the message from the session queue if the tracking means determines that the number of active messaging sessions is less than the activity limit parameter.    
   
   
       3 . The demand-based messaging system of  claim 2  wherein the session management means further comprises a queue display means for displaying the number of messages in the session queue.  
   
   
       4 . The demand-based messaging system of  claim 2  wherein the session management means further comprises a queue display means for displaying the number of messages in the session queue before the queuing means stores the message in the session queue.  
   
   
       5 . The demand-based messaging system of  claim 1  further comprising a session deactivation means for deactivating messaging sessions that are inactive.  
   
   
       6 . The demand-based messaging system of  claim 2  further comprising a session deactivation means for deactivating messaging sessions that are inactive.  
   
   
       7 . The demand-based messaging system of  claim 1  wherein the configuration means further comprises a means for configuring a block list parameter comprising one or more remote user identities, and the blocking means blocks the message if the remote user's identity matches a remote user identity in the block list parameter.  
   
   
       8 . A computer-implemented method of managing messaging sessions, the method comprising: 
 configuring an activity limit parameter;    receiving a message from a remote user;    determining the number of messaging sessions that are active before processing the message;    displaying the number of active messaging sessions; and    blocking the message if the number of active messaging sessions exceeds the activity limit parameter.    
   
   
       9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 storing the blocked message in a session queue until the number of active messaging sessions is less than the activity limit parameter; and    displaying the message to a local user and removing the blocked message from the session queue if the number of active messaging sessions is less than the activity limit parameter.    
   
   
       10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 displaying the number of messages stored in the session queue.    
   
   
       11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 displaying the number of messages stored in the session queue before storing the message in the session queue.    
   
   
       12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 deactivating messaging sessions that are inactive.    
   
   
       13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9  further comprising: deactivating messaging sessions that are inactive.  
   
   
       14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 configuring a block list parameter comprising one or more remote user identities; and    blocking the message if the remote user's identity matches a remote user identity in the block list parameter.    
   
   
       15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 configuring a block list parameter comprising one or more remote user identities; and    blocking the message if the remote user's identity matches a remote user identity in the block list parameter.    
   
   
       16 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of managing messaging sessions, wherein the method comprises: 
 configuring an activity limit parameter;    receiving a message from a remote user;    determining the number of messaging sessions that are active before processing the message;    displaying the number of active messaging sessions; and    blocking the message if the number of active messaging sessions exceeds the activity limit parameter.    
   
   
       17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 storing the blocked message in a session queue until the number of active messaging sessions is less than the activity limit parameter; and    displaying the message to a local user and removing the blocked message from the session queue if the number of active messaging sessions is less than the activity limit parameter.    
   
   
       18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 displaying the number of messages stored in the session queue.    
   
   
       19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 configuring a block list parameter comprising one or more remote user identities; and    blocking the message if the remote user's identity matches a remote user identity in the block list parameter.    
   
   
       20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 configuring a block list parameter comprising one or more remote user identities; and    blocking the message if the remote user's identity matches a remote user identity in the block list parameter.