USER INITIATED RULE-BASED RESTRICTIONS ON MESSAGING APPLICATIONS

摘要

A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for user initiated rule based restrictions on sending messages from a sender to a receiver in a communications network. The receiver establishes a set of rules for the sender that allows the sender a limited number of defined messages events with the receiver. The defined message events may be messages or message sessions. When the sender attempts to send a message to the receiver, it is determined whether a message session currently exists between the sender and the receiver. If a current session exists, the rules set by the receiver are used to determine if the message is allowed to be sent to the receiver. If a session does not currently exist, the rules are used to determine whether a new session is allowed. If a new message session is allowed, a new session is established, and the message is sent to the receiver during the new session.

主权项

1. A method of implementing user initiated rule based restrictions on the use of messaging applications, wherein message sessions are established between a pre-identified one sender and a receiver, and during each of the message sessions, one or more messages are sent from the pre-specified one sender to the receiver, the method comprising:
the receiver establishing a set of specified rules for the pre-specified one sender, said set of rules including a limit on the number of message sessions the pre-specified one sender is allowed to establish with the receiver during a defined time period; the pre-specified one sender attempting to initiate a new message session with the receiver; determining, based on said set of rules and by using one or more processing units executing a messaging access program, whether a new message session is allowed to be established between the pre-identified one sender and the receiver, including determining whether a number of message sessions established between the pre-identified one sender and the receiver during said defined time period is less than the number of message sessions the pre-identified one sender is allowed to establish with the receiver during the defined time period; if the number of message sessions established between the pre-identified one sender and the receiver during said defined time period is less than the number of message sessions that the pre-specified one sender is allowed to establish with the receiver during said defined time period, establishing the new message session between the pre-specified one sender and the receiver; and the receiver modifying the set of specified rules.