Patent ID: 8495507

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: detecting, by one or more processors, a request for an electronic conversation, where the request is made by a sender to a recipient and wherein the electronic conversation includes instant messaging in a chat window; determining, by one or more processors, that topic based screening is enabled for the recipient of the request for an electronic conversation; determining, by one or more processors, based on information provided by the sender, a topic for the electronic conversation; displaying the topic to the recipient; determining that the recipient accepts the topic wherein the determining, by one or more processors that the recipient accepts the topic includes determining based on information provided by the sender, a requested amount of time for the electronic conversation; determining, by one or more processors, that the sender accepts the requested amount of time; starting the electronic conversation between the recipient and the sender; detecting words of the electronic conversation between the recipient and the sender; determining, by one or more processors, based on at least one of the words, that at least one of the recipient and the sender has strayed from the topic; and presenting a reminder of the topic to the recipient and the sender.