METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR RETRACTING INSTANT MESSAGES

摘要

A method of and system for enabling retraction of instant messages detects a command to send an instant message from an instant message window. The system determines if the command is the first command sent from the instant message window after the window has received focus. If so, the system delays the execution of the command for a delay time according to a retraction policy, and provides a retraction control for canceling said command. The system cancels the command in response to actuation of the retraction control. The system may cancel the instant message in response to actuation of the retraction control. The system sends the instant message in response to expiration of the delay time without an actuation of the retraction control. The system may provide a control for sending the instant message before expiration of the delay time. The retraction policy may provide different delay times for different categories of recipients. The delay time may be zero for certain categories of recipients. The retraction policy may be configurable by a user.