Instant Messaging Private Tags

Abstract

Systems for instant messaging private tags preferably comprise a parser for parsing an instant message for sensitive data and an encryption engine for encrypting the sensitive data. A modified uuencoder is also preferably included for converting the encrypted sensitive data into a data stream that complies with an XML format. Other systems and methods are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 parsing unstructured text content within a first e-mail message to identify, from the text content, a first set of sensitive data;   encrypting the first set of sensitive data;   transmitting the first e-mail message with a first set of private tags surrounding the first set of sensitive data, the first set of private tags identifying a first name and value pair;   receiving a second e-mail message;   parsing the second e-mail message to identify a second set of private tags surrounding a second set of sensitive data in the e-mail message; and   decrypting the second set of sensitive data using a decryption type identified by a second name and value pair identified by the second set of private tags.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein parsing the unstructured text content further comprises identifying the first set of sensitive data by evaluating the text content using user-defined rules. 
     
     
         3 . A method comprising
 parsing received instant message data to identify private tags, the private tags surrounding sensitive data within the instant message and identifying a name and value pair to use in decrypting the sensitive data;   determining a key associated with the name and value pair;   decrypting the sensitive data using the key associated with the name and value pair;   removing the private tags from the received data stream; and   displaying the received instant message in a user interface.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein each of the private tags includes a start tag and an end tag. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 decoding the received data into an extensible markup language compliant format. 
 
     
     
         6 . A system for privatizing an instant message, comprising:
 a first parser for parsing an instant message received in a user interface for identification of sensitive data;   an encryption engine for encrypting the sensitive data, the encryption engine including a uuencoder for converting the encrypted sensitive data into a data stream complying with an XML format, and configured to generate a private tag that surrounds the sensitive data; and   a second parser for parsing a received data stream including encrypted data, the second parser configured to parse the received data stream for a private tag comprising a name/value pair usable by the encryption engine to decrypt the message display the decrypted message in a user interface.