Patent ID: 9009237
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving, via at least one of a client electronic device and a server computer, an instant message request from a first user associated with an instant message request target of a second user; determining, via at least one of the client electronic device and the server computer, an instant message status based upon, at least in part, the instant message request of the first user and the instant message request target of the second user; restricting at least one of instant message access, voice access, telephone access, email access, and web access associated with the instant message request target, to the instant message request initiator based on a determination that the instant message request sent from the first user to the second user is a request for exclusivity between the first user and the second user; and in response to the determination, providing, via at least one of the client electronic device and the server computer, an indication of the instant message status; wherein determining the instant message status is based upon, at least in part, at least one of an organizational hierarchy, a social network, a predefined relationship, a predefined policy, and a weighting determination.