Method and system for using business rules to control invitations to join instant message collaborations

US7882178B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Charles S. Lingafelt · Durham, US
• David P. Merrill · New Paltz, US
• John E. Moore, Jr. · Pflugerville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 5, 2007
• Grant date: Feb 1, 2011
• Expiry date: Feb 2, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/06
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system for using business rules to control invitations to participate in instant message (IM) collaborations. A primary invitee is invited to participate in an IM collaboration via a first IM. A business rule associated with the primary invitee is applied to determine that the primary invitee is unavailable to participate in the IM collaboration. A second IM is sent to automatically invite a backup invitee to participate in the IM collaboration. In another embodiment, a primary invitee with credentials specified by a business rule is to be invited to an IM collaboration at a specified time. An application of the business rule determines that the specified time is outside a valid invitation time period or the primary invitee's credentials are not included in a set of predefined credentials. Following the application of the business rule, a backup invitee is invited.