Patent ID: 7882178

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for using business rules to control invitations to participate in instant message collaborations, comprising: identifying, by a computing system, a primary invitee to be invited to participate in an instant message (IM) collaboration via a first instant message to be sent at a specified time, wherein said first instant message includes an invitation to said primary invitee to participate in said IM collaboration; subsequent to said identifying said primary invitee, said computing system applying a business rule associated with said primary invitee, wherein said business rule associates said primary invitee with a valid invitation time period during which said primary invitee is allowed to receive said invitation; determining, by a processor of said computing system and in response to said applying, that said specified time at which said first instant message is to be sent is not included in said valid invitation time period during which said primary invitee is allowed to receive said invitation to participate in said IM collaboration; and automatically inviting, via a second instant message sent by said computing system and in response to said determining said specified time at which said first instant message is to be sent is not included in said valid invitation time period during which said primary invitee is allowed to receive said invitation to participate in said IM collaboration, a backup invitee to participate in said IM collaboration.