Method and system for providing collaborative moderation and correction of message history in an instant mesaging session

Abstract

A system for providing collaborative moderation and correction of instant messaging session transcripts in an instant messaging session that includes an improved instant messaging client user interface that allows collaborative editing and moderation of an instant messaging session transcript in order to correct for errors. An instant messaging client operates to seek approval of changes to the session transcript during the session, and stores transcript changes such that the modifications are conveniently viewable by all session participants. The instant messaging client can be configured to automatically accept requests to modify the session transcript. Alternatively, the instant messaging client can be configured to explicitly notify and seek approval from all other participants when a participant attempts to make a modification to the session history. The time of each modification, and the identity of the participant making each modification, are stored within the session history.

1 . A method for collaborative modification of instant messaging session transcripts in an instant messaging session, comprising:
 receiving a plurality of original instant messages into said instant messaging session from a plurality of participants in said instant messaging session;   storing said original instant messages into an uncorrected session transcript;   receiving, from a first one of said participants, a proposed modification to one of said original instant messages;   storing said proposed modification in a modified session transcript separate from said uncorrected session transcript;   transmitting, to all of said participants other than said first one of said participants, in response to said receiving of said proposed modification from said first one of said participants, a modification approval request message;   storing said modification approval request message in said modified session transcript;   receiving approve modification and reject modification responses from said participants other than said first one of said participants;   storing said received approve modification and reject modification responses in said modified session transcript; and   displaying to said first one of said participants said modified session transcript with visual indications of said received approve modification and reject modification responses.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating, in response to receipt of said modification approval request message, a transcript modification approval request display object on each client system of each of said participants other than said first one of said participants, wherein said transcript modification approval request display object includes an approve modification selectable option and a reject modification selectable option.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 generating a session transcript display area in which said uncorrected session transcript is displayed; and   generating a separate modified session transcript display area in which said modified session transcript is displayed.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said modified transcript display area displays modifications within said modified session transcript in a visually distinct manner. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 generating a modification display object displaying information regarding said modification approval request message and said approve modification and reject modification responses.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said modification display object comprises a hover over display object generated in response to a user hovering the cursor over said proposed modification within said display of said modified session transcript within said modified session transcript display area. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said information regarding said modification approval request message and said approve modification and reject modification responses includes indications of which participants have approved the modification, and which participants have rejected the modification. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 storing a modification approval request timestamp in association with said proposed modification in said modified session transcript, said modification approval request timestamp indicating a time at which said modification approval request message was transmitted;   storing a receipt timestamp in association with each of said approve modification and reject modification responses, each said receipt timestamp indicating a time at which a corresponding one of said approve modification and reject modification responses was received; and   wherein said information regarding said modification approval request message and said approve modification and reject modification responses includes said modification approval request timestamp and said receipt timestamps for said approve modification and reject modification responses.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising storing indication of when each session participant enters said session and when each participant leaves said session in said modified session transcript. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising encrypting said modified session transcript such that only session participants can access said modified session transcript. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising digitally signing said modified session transcript by each of said session participants. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 upon termination of said instant messaging session, storing said modified session transcript in a session log file and deleting said uncorrected session transcript.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 upon termination of said instant messaging session, storing both said modified session transcript and said uncorrected session transcript into at least one session log file.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 enabling one of said session participants to automatically approve said proposed modification; and   wherein said information regarding said modification approval request message and said approve modification and reject modification responses includes an indication that said proposed modification was automatically approved.   
   
   
       15 . A system for collaborative modification of instant messaging session transcripts in an instant messaging session, said system including at least one processor and a computer readable program storage memory for storing program code executable on said at least one processor, said program code comprising:
 program code for receiving a plurality of original instant messages into said instant messaging session from a plurality of participants in said instant messaging session;   program code for storing said original instant messages into an uncorrected session transcript;   program code for receiving, from a first one of said participants, a proposed modification to one of said original instant messages;   program code for storing said proposed modification in a modified session transcript separate from said uncorrected session transcript;   program code for transmitting, to all of said participants other than said first one of said participants, in response to said receiving of said proposed modification from said first one of said participants, a modification approval request message;   program code for storing said modification approval request message in said modified session transcript;   program code for receiving approve modification and reject modification responses from said participants other than said first one of said participants;   program code for storing said received approve modification and reject modification responses in said modified session transcript; and   program code for displaying to said first one of said participants said modified session transcript with visual indications of said received approve modification and reject modification responses.   
   
   
       16 . A computer product including a computer readably memory, wherein said computer readable memory has program code stored thereon operable when executed on a computer system to cause said computer system to provide collaborative modification of instant messaging session transcripts in an instant messaging session, said program code comprising:
 program code for receiving a plurality of original instant messages into said instant messaging session from a plurality of participants in said instant messaging session;   program code for storing said original instant messages into an uncorrected session transcript;   program code for receiving, from a first one of said participants, a proposed modification to one of said original instant messages;   program code for storing said proposed modification in a modified session transcript separate from said uncorrected session transcript;   program code for transmitting, to all of said participants other than said first one of said participants, in response to said receiving of said proposed modification from said first one of said participants, a modification approval request message;   program code for storing said modification approval request message in said modified session transcript;   program code for receiving approve modification and reject modification responses from said participants other than said first one of said participants;   program code for storing said received approve modification and reject modification responses in said modified session transcript; and   program code for displaying to said first one of said participants said modified session transcript with visual indications of said received approve modification and reject modification responses.   
   
   
       17 . A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, said computer data signal having program code stored thereon for, when executed, causing a computer system to provide collaborative modification of instant messaging session transcripts in an instant messaging session, said program code comprising:
 program code for receiving a plurality of original instant messages into said instant messaging session from a plurality of participants in said instant messaging session;   program code for storing said original instant messages into an uncorrected session transcript;   program code for receiving, from a first one of said participants, a proposed modification to one of said original instant messages;   program code for storing said proposed modification in a modified session transcript separate from said uncorrected session transcript;   program code for transmitting, to all of said participants other than said first one of said participants, in response to said receiving of said proposed modification from said first one of said participants, a modification approval request message;   program code for storing said modification approval request message in said modified session transcript;   program code for receiving approve modification and reject modification responses from said participants other than said first one of said participants;   program code for storing said received approve modification and reject modification responses in said modified session transcript; and   program code for displaying to said first one of said participants said modified session transcript with visual indications of said received approve modification and reject modification responses.   
   
   
       18 . A system for collaborative modification of instant messaging session transcripts in an instant messaging session, comprising:
 means for receiving a plurality of original instant messages into said instant messaging session from a plurality of participants in said instant messaging session;   means for storing said original instant messages into an uncorrected session transcript;   means for receiving, from a first one of said participants, a proposed modification to one of said original instant messages;   means for storing said proposed modification in a modified session transcript separate from said uncorrected session transcript;   means for transmitting, to all of said participants other than said first one of said participants, in response to said receiving of said proposed modification from said first one of said participants, a modification approval request message;   means for storing said modification approval request message in said modified session transcript;   means for receiving approve modification and reject modification responses from said participants other than said first one of said participants;   means for storing said received approve modification and reject modification responses in said modified session transcript; and   means for displaying to said first one of said participants said modified session transcript with visual indications of said received approve modification and reject modification responses.