Patent ID: 7711781

Claim:
A method for blocking first, second and third different screen names, correlated to a same e-mail address, from sending subsequent instant messages via an instant messaging server system, the method comprising the steps of: the instant messaging server system receiving first, second and third instant messages from the first, second and third screen names addressed to first, second and third respective users of the instant messaging server system; the instant messaging server system receiving a first blocking request from the first user to block the first screen name individually from sending subsequent instant messages to the first user, and in response, the instant messaging server system configuring itself to block subsequent instant messages from the first screen name addressed to the first user; the instant messaging server system receiving a second blocking request from the second user to block the second screen name individually from sending subsequent instant messages to the second user, and in response, the instant messaging server system configuring itself to block subsequent instant messages from the second screen name addressed to the second user; and the instant messaging system server correlating the first, second and third screen names to the e-mail address by checking a prior registration of the first, second and third screen names by a fourth user using the e-mail address, and subsequently determining that a predetermined amount of users of the instant messaging server system have sent blocking requests for any individual screen name correlated to the e-mail address, and in response, the instant messaging server system configuring itself to block subsequent instant messages from the first, second and third screen names addressed to the first, second and third users and other users of the instant messaging server system regardless of whether the first user has sent a blocking request for the second or third screen name, the second user has sent a blocking request for the first or third screen name, and the third user and other users have sent a blocking request for the first, second or third screen name.