Patent ID: 7461378

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for facilitating processing of an instant message, comprising: receiving said instant message; determining at least one rule associated with and governing processing of said instant message, wherein said at least one rule further includes at least one of the following: an associated time period indicative of when said instant message should be deleted if said instant message is not read within said time period after said receiving said instant message; and an associated time period indicative of when said instant message should be forwarded if said instant message is not read within said time period after said receiving said instant message; determining a sender of said instant message; determining if said at least one rule applies to said instant message received from said sender; processing said instant message in accordance with said at least one rule, wherein said at least one rule includes an associated time period indicative of when a notification regarding said instant message should be sent to said sender of said instant message in an instance said instant message is not read by a recipient within said time period after receiving said instant message, wherein said recipient affirmatively acknowledges having read said instant message to indicate said instant message is read; sending said notification to said sender; and storing said instant message in accordance with said at least one rule in the instance said instant message is not read within said time period after said receiving said instant message.