GB2511983A - System and method for management of group based communications - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure describes systems and methods for managing instant messaging user groups. User data identifying a plurality of users in the instant messaging system 1 is stored 9. Data defining at least one messaging group, including a list of users 35 in the messaging group, is also stored 31. Status data 23 associated with at least one of a user and a messaging group is received 25 and the list of users of at least one messaging group 31 is modified based on the received status data. The arrangement allows for transient groups of users to be managed automatically based on status data, such as events, actions or changes of status. The status data may be related to data objects 21 associated with the users/groups. One embodiment described relates to a messaging group set-up for a patient in a hospital wherein a group is set-up to assign a nurse and doctor to the patient in a communication group. The system can detect automatically when a doctor/nurse e.g. goes off-duty (according to a work pattern/rota) or off-site (according to their detected location) to modify the communication group and e.g. assign a different nurse/doctor. Status data such as presence, location, availability/busy, on or off-duty, time zone, user types as examples seem embodied.

Description

System and Method for Management of Group Based Commnnications

Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates to data communication, and more particularly to systems and methods for management of group based instant messaging communications.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Instant messaging (Psi") systems and applications are well-known, in which data messages are exchanged between users in real-time. Typical JIM systems allow for the creation of groups of users, where any message sent by a member of the group is transmitted to each other member of the group, and viewable by all members of the group. Conventionally, management of such messaging groups is a manual task, often handled by an administrator user ol the group. such as the creator of the group. Individual users may also he able to manually leave an existing group.

[0003] What is needed is an improved technique for robust and efficient management of messaging groups in an instant messaging environment.

Statements of the Invention

[0004] Aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying claims.

[0005] According to one aspect. the present invention provides a method of managing instant messaging communication between groups of users via a communication network, comprising storing user data identifying a plurality of users, storing data defining at least one messaging group, including a list of users in the messaging group, receiving status data associated with at least one of a user and a messaging group, and modifying the list of users of at least one messaging group based on the received status data.

[0006] The status data may be received from a data management server storing data associated with a pJurality oldata objects. The status data may comprise one or more of data identilying an event, an action and a change of status associated with a data object. The user data may include a reference to a corresponding data object.

[0007] The list of users may be modified by adding or removing at least one user to the messaging group.

[00081 At least one user and/or messaging group may be identified based on the received status data and at least one stored rule. The at least one stored rule may identify at east one user and/or group based on status data associated with the availability of a registered user. The at least one stored rule may identify at least one user and/or group based on status data associated with characteristics of the registered user.

[0009] The data defining at kast one messaging group may further include data messages transmitted to users in the messaging group.

[00101 A new messaging group may be created based on received status data.

[0011] The user data may include a unique identifier for each of said plurality of users.

[0012] An instant messaging client may he configured to prompt for a user input digital signaturc to authcnticatc a data message, whcrcin the digital signature verifies the idcntity of the sender of the data message. The instant messaging client may also be configured to prompt. for a user input digital signature to acknowledge receipt of a data message, wherein the digital signature verifies the identity of the recipient of the data message. The signature may be a biometric information file including at least a portion of the content portion implanted therein.

[0013] One or more recipients may be determined to be offline and in response, the data message may he stored on one or more servers until it is determined that the recipients become online and subsequently receive the data message sent by said servers.

[0014] A status update message may be tnmsmitted to each user in the messaging group in response to modifying the list of users.

[0015] In further aspects, the present invention provides a system comprising means for performing the above methods. In yet other aspects, there is provided a computer program arranged to carry out the above methods when executed by a programmable device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] There now follows, by way of example only, a detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, with references to the figures identi lied below.

[0017] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the main components of a data communication system according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0018] Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the format of an exemplary data message.

[0019] Figure 3 is a flow diagram of a persistent instant message enforcement process according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0020] Figures 4 to 7 are exemplary display screens of instant messaging clients according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 8 is a block diagram of an example of a computer system on which one or more of the functions of the embodiments may he implemented.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention [0022] A specific embodiment of the invention will now he described for an example method of managing one or more groups of data messaging users based on monitored actions associated with said users. Referring to Figure 1, a data communication system 1 comprises a plurality of computing devices 3, each computing device in communication with at least one other computing device 3 via a messaging server 5 and a data network 7. The computing devices 3 can be associated with respective registered users of the system 1, the messaging server 5 storing profile data 9 identi lying each registered user in a database 11, including a unique user identifier 10, for example one or more of a username. device identifier, address, number, user type. status.

etc. The computing devices 3 execute respective instant messaging (TM) applications (or software modules) 13, having a user interface for the user to compose and transmit data messages to other users, and for displaying transmitted and received data messages of an TM conversation. The transmitted and received data messages are stored in a memory 15 of the respective devices 3.

[0023] The system 1 is also in communication with a data management server 17, which maintains an object database 19 storing a plurality of data objects 21 associated with respective individuals or entities in an operating environment, each data object 21 having a respective status 23 of the individual or entity. Each data object 21 can also include a respective set of attributes, such as object type, unique identifier, etc. Preferably, each individual or entity is also a registered user of the data communication system 1, having a respective user profile 9 stored in the database 11 and associated with a respective computing device 3 with an IM client 13. The user profile 9 may include a reference or link to the conesponding data object 21 in the object database 19. The data management server 17 includes an object status interface 25 for maintaining the status data 23 of the data objects 21 in the database 19 and communicating status data 23 to the group manager 13 via a communication interface 1024 and the data network 7, for example in response to received request and/or data identifying an action or event associated with an individual or entity causing a change to the respective status 23. Itis appreciated that the data management server 17 may he an external component of a third party operating environment that is in communication with the messaging serverS. Alternatively, the messaging serverS may form part of the data management server 17.

[0024] The messaging server 5 is configured to communicate with the user devices 3 via an IM communication module 27 as is known in the zut. The messaging server 5 also includes a group manager module 29 for maintaining data identifying one or more messaging groups 31, each messaging group 31 having an associated unique identifier 33. data identifying a list of one or more member users 35 presently in the messaging group 31, and one or more data messages 37 previously transmitted to members of the group 31. The group manager module 29 creates the messaging groups 31 and modifies the list olmemher users 35 in the messaging group 31, for example in response to a request from an IM client 13 or based on predefined ru'es 39 that can be applied in response to action, event and/or status update data received from the object status interface 25 of the data management server 17.

[0025] It will he appreciated that the messaging server 5 of the described embodiments can he adapted to manage messaging groups within many different forms of operating environment. In one exemplary embodiment, the data management server 17 is a component of a hospital environment, where the data objects 21 are associated with respective individuals such as hospital staff members (e.g. doctors, nurses, consultants), patients, etc. In this example, the associated status data 23 can indicate a status of the individual within the hospital environment, for example defining an on-call/off-call or on-duty/off-duty status of a hospital staff member, or a treatment or procedural status of a patient, a rotation or schedule of a staff member that can be compared to a current date and time to determine a duty status. etc. hi another example, the operating environment is a financial account management system and the data objects 21 are associated with respective individuals or entities such as personnel (e.g. account managers, brokers, accounting personnel), products. accounts, etc. In this example, the associated status data 23 can indicate one or more status of the individual or entity within the environment, for example defining the current operating time zone of the personnel. culTent state of an account, etc. As a further example, the operating environment is an management system and the data objects 21 are associated with respective individuals such as pilots, engineers.

stewards/stewardesses, etc. In this example, the associated status data 23 can indicate a status of the individua' within the airline/flight environment, for example defining an oii-or off-duty status of personnel, in yet another example. the operating environment is a clinical trial management system and the data objects 21 are associated with respective entities such as products. saies persons. trial patients. etc. In this example, the associated status data 23 can indicate a status of an entity within the clinical trial environment.

[0026] In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1, the plurality of computing devices 3a, 3h and 3c are associated with respective registered users A. B and C of the system 1. The computing devices 3 may be of a type that is known per se, such as a desktop computer, laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone such as an iOSTM, BlackberryTM or AndroidTM based smartphone, a feature' phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or any processor-powered device with suitable input and display means. The data network 7 may comprise a terrestriai cellular network such as a 20, 30 or 40 network, a private or public wireless network such as a WiFiTM based network and/or a mobile satellite network or the Internet. It will he appreciated that a plurality of devices 3 are operable concurrently within the system 1.

[0027] Figure 2 schematically illustrates an example of the format of an exemplary data message 37 that is generated by the IM cfients 4 in the present embodiments. The information can he packctised by the devices 3 into one or more data packets according to a predefined standard format. Typically, the data message 37 is composed of bits transmitted by the sender device 3a.

A header 13 of the data message 37 can comprise codes that uniquely represent the network addresses of the sender and the recipient devices 3, The sender's address identifies to the recipients who sent the data message. The recipients' addresses informs the system 5 indirectly how to route the data messages 37h through the data network 7 so that it may be delivered to each recipient device 3b. 3c. h the present embodiment, the header 13 also includes data identifying the messaging group 12 associated with the data message. The information content of the data message 37 is provided in one or more content data portions 14. The content portion 14 of the data message 37 may comprise one or more of text data, image data, audio data, video data and encoded data, or combinations thereof.

[0028] The data message 37 can also include data identifying a plurality of attributes 15 associated with the data message and/or the content data 14. For example, the message attributes can include an attribute 16 defining a message type of the associated data message 16, and a persistence attribute 17 defining a persistence state for the contents of the data message, which is to be applied by the JIM clients 4 of the sender and recipient devices 3. for example as described in the applicant's own patent application GBI4IOoGI1, The message attributes 15 can also include an message state attribute 19, which is used to identify a current status of the data message 37. For example. the message state attribute 19 can include, hut is not limited to, data indicating that the data message is being transmitted to the server 5 but not yet. delivered to the recipient device 3h, 3c. that the recipient device 3b. 3c has received the data message I hut not yet opened or viewed the contents of the data message 37, that the recipient device 3h. 3c has viewed the contents of the data message 37, that the recipient device 3b, 3c has confirmed receipt of and/or signed a received data message 37 to explicitly acknowledge receipt and/or accept or consent to any terms or conditions set out by the content data 14 of the data message 37, that the data message 37 has been counter-signed by the or ginal sender dcvicc 3a, etc. [0029] The data message 37 can further include at least one cryptographic attribute identifying that the content data 14 is encrypted and the encryption scheme utilised, as well as data defining a biometric binding of the message content data N and the sender's irrefutable identification, for example as described in the applicant's own patent GB2487503B and application GB14060818.

[0030] The messaging server 5 can also be configured to monitor and store data identifying whether the users and respective devices 3 are onhne, that is those dcvices 3 that have communications ability to send and receive data messages, and those devices 3 which are offline and temporarily are unable to send and receive data messages. It is appreciated that the IM client 13 may enable users to set their own presence state that will be seen by other users, such as online. offline, busy, etc. When it is determined that a recipient of a messaging group is online, a sender's IM client 13 can send a data message directly to the recipient's device 3, or indirectly to the recipient's device 3, for example via the messaging server S and/or a peer-to-peer based arrangement. On the other hand, when it is detenrnned that the recipient is offline, the sender's IM client 13 sends the data message to the server 5, where the data message is stored until the recipient's device 3 becomes online and then the data message is sent by the server 5 to the recipient's device 3.

[0031] A brief description has been given above of the components forming part of the data communication system I of this emhodiment. A more detailed description of the operation of these components in this embodiment will now be given with reference to the flow diagram of Figure 3, for an example computer-implemented process of maintaining one or more groups of users within an instant messaging environment. Reference is also macic to Figures 4 to 7 which are exemplary display screens of an IM client 13 according to the present embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, at step S3-1, the group manager module 29 of the messaging server 5 generates and stores data defining a new messaging group 31 in the database 11, based on received data identifying a data object 21 in the object database 19. For example. the group manager module 29 can receive a data message from the object status interface 25 of the data management server 17 when a new data object 21 is created, and in response, create a new messaging group 31. Alternatively or additiona1y, the group manager 31 can receive a request message from an TM client 13 to create a new messaging group 31 based on an identified data object 21. The unique identifier 33 of the created messaging group 31 can include data identifying the associated data object 21 and the current status 23, and/or a reference to the data object 21 in the object database 19.

[0032] At step S3-3. the group manager module 29 identifies one or more registered users to be added to the new messaging group 31. For example. the data message from the object status interface 25 or the request message from the IM client 13 can include data identifying one or more individuals to be added to the messaging group 31, and the group manager module 29 can determine the one or more registered users based on the corresponding user profiles 9 in the database 11. Alternatively, the group manager module 29 can determine one or more registered users to he added to the new messaging group 31 based on one or more predefined rules 39, the data object 21 and associated status data 23. For example, a matching rule 39 for a data object 21 and status 23 can define attributes (characteristics) of a user profile 9, such as user type and status, that are used to identify at least one registered user for addition to the new messaging group 31. At step S3-5, the group manager module 29 adds the identified registered users to the new messaging group 31, for example by adding each unique identifier 10 to the list of member users 35 of the group 31 or by adding a link or reference to the user profile 9 of each identified registered user.

[00331 Following from the first exemplary embodiment of the hospital operating environment mentioned above, the group manager module 29 in this example may receive a data message from the data management server 17 identifying a new patient data object 21, with corresponding status data 23 identifying for example that the patient has arrived in the waiting area and is complaining of pain in his right leg. In response, the group manager module 29 may retrieve a predefined rule 39 that matches the patient user type and present status, the retrieved rule 39 identifying for example that one doctor and one nurse user type with respective on-call status are to be added to the new messaging group 31 for this patient data object 21. The group manager modu'e 29 may then identify and add to the messaging group 31 a registered user, or a selected one of a plurality of registered users, having a doctor user type with a status identifying that the registered user is on-call or on-duty, as well as a registered user of an on-duty nurse in the hospital environment. It is appreciated that the group manager module 29 may retrieve the present status 23 of the data object 21 corresponding to the registered user profile 9 via the object status interface 25 of the data management server 17. Alternatively, the present status 23 may also be stored by the messaging server 5 within the registered user's profile 9.

[0034] At step S3-7, the group manager module 29 transmits a group status update message to each member user 35 in the messaging group 31 to inform the respective IM clients 13 that the respective registered user has been added to a new messaging group 31. It will be appreciated that alternatively or additionally, an IM client 13 can instead be used to create a new messaging group 31 and to transmit details to the group manager module 29 via a group status update message, for onward transmission by the group manager module 29 to each other user in the new messaging group 31.

[0035] Figure 4 shows an exemplary user interface 41 of a sender's lid client 13, displaying a sequence of data messages 37 of a group IM conversation within a message display portion 45 of the interface 41. In this particular example. the IM conversation is between two group members 35, "User A" and "User B", in a messaging group 31 associated with a data object 21, "Data Object 0", in the object database 19, as shown in the exemplary display screen of the user interface 41 in Figure 5 for displaying details of the messaging group 31. The user interface 41 provides a text input field 47 for the sender to input text data to compose a new data message 37, and a user-selectable button 49 to send the composed data message 37. A user-selectable menu 51 can also be presented for the sender to select other types of content data to be included in a data message 37. The user interface 41 can also provide a user-selectable element 53 to define a particular message type of the composed data message and/or to prompt the sender to select one of a plurality of template data messages stored by the IM chent 13, to he retrieved for composing a new data message.

[0036] Optionally, the user interface 41 can further prompt for user input to verify the sender's identity after the message content 14 has been composed, for example by recording a voice or video recording of the sender reading or hand-writing at least a portion of the message content, similar to the techniques described in the applicant's own patent GB2487503B and application GB14O6081,8, In this way, the sender's IrvI client 13 can bind the message content data 14 and sender's identity. Together with encryption of the content data N, an absolute level of irrefutable data is (hereby provided to verify that the sender of that particular data message is who he or she claims to he, based on the cryptographic attributes and irrefutable biometric binding.

[0037] As shown in Figure 4, the visible portion of an IM conversation between the sender and a group of recipients includes a plurality of messages stored by the sender's computing device 3, including status messages 37b indicating when users were added or removed from the group, data messages 37a previously received from present and past recipient members of the group 31, and data messages 37a previously composed and transmitted by the sender. It is appreciated that historical data mcssagcs 37 of the group 31 as stored in the database 11 can be transmitted to the TM clients of respective members of the group 31 when the registered users are added to the group 31. The user may scroll through the list of time-stamped messages 37 of the IM conversation that are displayed in the message display portion 45. In (he illustrated example, the displayed messages 37 include a first time-stamped status message 37a-l indicating that User A was added to the group at 11:01, a second time-stamped status message 37a-2 indicating that User B was also added to the group at 11:01, a first time-stamped data message 37h-l having image content data 14, and a second data message 37h-2 having plain text content data 14. As is known in the art, a visual indication such as an icon and/or a status text field may be provided adjacent the displayed data message 37b to indicate the present status of the message content, for example based on an associated message state attribute such as delivered or read.

[0038] Optionally, the IM chents 13 can he further configured to prompt the recipient to initiate a function to sign a particular received data message, for example to acknowledge receipt of the content 14 of that data message. In such an alternative embodiment, the computing device 3 receives user input of data representative of a digital signature to acknowledge receipt of the message by the intended recipient. For example, one signing process may involve the recipient's IM client 13 prompting the user to record a biometric signature implanting at least a portion of the message content or a calculated hash value of at least a portion of the message content, for example as described in the applicant's own patent GB2487503B and application GB140608L8.

Alternatively, the recipient JIM client 13 may prompt the user to input an electronic hand-wrtten signature, for example within an identified region of a touchscreen display of the device 2.

[00391 In another alternative embodiment, the signing process can involve data messages 37b that are digitally signed hy the sender so that recipients can he sure the received content data 14 is associated with the true ID of the sender, and more generally that the received data messages 37h are genuine. In certain applications of the present embodiments, recipients need to he certain that they have complied with rules or laws pertaining to time sensitive information. For example, the RSA public-private key-based cryptography system as discussed in "A Method for Obtaining Digital Signatures and Public-Key Cryptosystems", R, Rivest, A. Shamir and L. Adlcman Communications of the ACM 21 (2): 120-126, 1978.can be employed, where the sender securely holds a private key. which is used for signing. The recipients are in possession of the sender's public key, In the signing operation, prior to being transmitted in data messages 37h, content data 14 is decrypted by the sender computing device 3 using his or her private key. and the resulting decrypted output is thereby contained in the transmitted data messages 37b.

Following data message 37 reception, the recipient computing devices 3 can perlorm the reverse process by encrypting the received text using the sender's public key to retrieve the content data 14. The recipients know at this stage that the only person who could have sent the data message is the sender because no one else is in the possession of the sender's private key.

[0040] As a further alternative, a cryptographic hash function such as published in Secure Hash Standard (SI-IS) Federal Information Processing Standards Pubhcation 180-4 may be applied to content data 14 and the resulting message digest is decrypted by the sender computing device 3 using his or her private key, and the resulting decrypted output is thereby contained in the transmitted data messages 37h. Following data message 37 reception, the recipient computing devices 3 can calculate the message digest of received content data using the same cryptographic hash function and check the calculated digest has the same value as obtained by encrypting the colTesponding portion of the received text using the sender's public key. The recipients know at this stage that the only person who could have sent the data message is the sender because no one else is in the possession of the sender's private key. These alternative embodiments further advantageously enable the sender to uniquely sign the data message to he communicated to the messaging group.

[0041] Referring back to Figure 3. at step S3-9. the group manager module 29 receives data from the object status interface 25 of the data numagement server 17, identifying a change of status 23 of a data object 21, for example as a result of an action or event in the associated operating environment. Alternatively or additionally, the group manager module 29 can receive data from the data management server 17 identifying the action or event associated with the data object 21.

Data identifying an action or event iii the operating environment may be provided to the data management server 17 using any number of different mechanisms. For example, the data management server 17 may he configured to receive, via the communication interface 1024.

input data from a computing device 3 of a user defining an action, event or change of status for that user. As another example, the user's computing device 3 may be configured to automatically transmit location-hased data to the data management server 17 to indicate when the user is within a predeteimined geographical proximity of the associated operating environment. Such mechanisms are of a type that are known per se. and need riot be described further.

[0042] At step S3-11, the group manager moduk 29 determines one or more affected group member users 35 and messaging groups 31, based on the received status update data and the predefined rules 39. For example. the group manager module 29 can identify all of the stored messaging groups 31 associated with the data object 21 identified in the received status update data. As another example, predeuined rules 39 that match the received status update data can define one or more affected user profiles 9 that are to be added to or removed from a messaging group 31, and consequently the group manager module 29 can identify all of the stored messaging groups 31 associated with each affected user profile 9. At step S3-13, the group manager module 29 modifies each affected messaging group 31, for example by adding or removing affected member users 35 to or from a messaging group 31. At step S3-15, the group manager module 29 transmits a group status update message 37a to each affected registered user and to each remaining member user 35 in an affected messaging group 31. In response to receiving the group status update message 37a, the IM client 13 of an affected user who has been removed from a messaging group 31 may be configured to disable or inhibit display of the user interface elements for composing and sending a new message to that messaging group. In this way. a record of the communications within tile group may be preserved on a computing device 3, for example as a report of actions taken and decisions made while the associated user was a member of that messaging group 31. Alternatively, the IM client 13 may he configured to remove the data messages 37 of a messaging group 31 once the affected user has been removed from that group.

[0043] Following again from the first exemplary embodiment of the hospital operating environment mentioned above, the group manager module 29 may receive status update data identifying that a particular doctor is no longer on-call and/or that. a particular nurse is now off-duty, for example in response to a determined event or action taken by the doctor or nurse (e.g. logging oil, switching oft the computing device, eaving the geographical proximity of the hospital, determining that the doctor or nurse is no longer on duty based on rotation or scheduling details. etc.). In response, the group manager module 29 may identify all of the messaging groups 31 that include the identified doctor or nurse as member users 35. As another example, the group manager module 29 may receive status update data identifying a change of status of a patient data object, for cxampe indicating that the patient now requires an x-ray of his leg. hi response, the group manager module 29 may identify all of the messaging groups 31 that are associated with the patient data object. and based on a predefined rule 39 matching the updated status, may identify that one x-ray technician user type with respective on-duty status is to be added to each identified messaging group 31 associated with the updated patient data object 21. The group manager module 29 may then identify and add to the messaging group 31 a registered user, or a selected one of a plurahty of registered users, having an x-ray technician user type with a status identi lying that the registered user is on-duty. As yet another example, the group manager module 29 may receive status update data identifying at least one data object 21 and/or registered user to be added to an identified messaging group 31, for example in response to a doctor nominating another doctor or a consultant, or a type of doctor/consultant, to he added to the messaging group 31 to provide a second opinion. The group manager moduk 29 may then identify a registered user based on the received status update data and add the registered user to the identified messagiug group 31.

[0044] As shown in the exemphiry display screen of Figure 6, the visiffle portion 45 of the IM conversation between the sender and the other group members now indudes a further time-stamped status message 37a-3 indicating that User C was added to the group by the group manager module 29, in response to received data identifying a status change, action or event associated with User C at 12:25 the following day. The 1M conversation also includes a third time-stamped data message 37b-3 having plain text content data 14 sent by User C shortly after joining the messaging group 31. Figure 7 illustrates a subsequent exemplary display screen of the sender's user interface 41, where the sender has sent a further data message 37b-4 to the messaging group 31, and received a further data message 37h-5 from User C informing the group members 35 that s/he is about to go off-duty. Shortly thereafter, a new time-stamped status message 37a-4 is received and displayed, indicating that User C has been removed from the messaging group 31 by the group manager 29 in response to received data identifying a status change, action or event associated with User C at 13:30.

[0045] Advantageously. (he present embodiments provides for creation and management of messaging groups to manage and record a complete sequence of data messages communicating between user devices 3 of users that are, or have been at some point in time, related to the subject data object of the messaging group. where the existence of the group is effectively independent of the registered users and computing devices involved. Put another way, the member users of a particular messaging group are transient members of the group, and the group manager module controls the addition and removal of member users to each group based on predelined criteria.

Computer Systems [0046] The entities described herein, such as the computing devices 3, the messaging server 5.

and the data management server 17 may be implemented by computer systems such as computer system 1000 as shown in Figure 8. Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as programmable code for execution by such computer systems 1000. After reading Uis description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the art how to implement the invention using other computer systems and/or computer architectures.

[0047] Computer system 1000 includes one or more processors, such as processor 1004.

Processor 1004 may be any type of processor. including but not limited to a special purpose or a general-purpose digital signal processor. Processor 1004 is connected to a communication infrastructure 1006 (for example. a bus or network). Various software implementations are described in terms of this exemplary computer system. After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the art how to implement the invention using other computer systems and/or computer architectures.

[0048] Computer system 1000 also includes a user input interface 1003 connected to one or more input device(s) 1005 and a display interface 1007 connected to one or more display(s) 1009. Input devices 1005 may include, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse or touchpad, a keyboard, a touchscreen such as a resistive or capacitive touchscreen, etc. After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the art how to implement the invention using other computer systems and/or computer architectures, for example using mobile electronic devices with integrated input and display components.

[00491 Computer system 1000 also includes a main memory 1008, preferably random access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory 610. Secondary memory 1010 may include, for example. a hard disk drive 1012 and/or a removable storage drive 1014, representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. Removable storage drive 1014 reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit 1018 in a well-known manner.

Removable storage unit 1018 represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc.. which is read by and written to by removable storage drive 1014. As will he appreciated. removable storage unit 1018 includes a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data.

[0050] In alternative implementations. secondary memory 1010 may include other similar means for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into computer system 1000.

Such means may include, for example, a removable storage unit 1022 and an interface 1020.

Examp'es of such means may include a program cartridge and cartridge interlace (such as that previously found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an EPROM, or PROM, or flash memory) and associated socket, and other removable storage units 1022 and interfaces 1020 which allow software and data to be transferred from removable storage unit 1022 to computer system 1000. Alternatively, the program may he executed andlor the data accessed from the removable storage unit 1022, using the processor I (X)4 of the computer system 1000.

[0051] Computer system 1000 may also include a communication interface 1024.

Communication interface 1024 allows software and data to he transferred between computer system 1000 and external devices. Examples of communication interface 1024 may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communication port. a Personal Computer Memory Card ffiternational Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc. Software and data traiisferred via communication interface 1024 are in the form of signals 1028, which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other signals capable of being received by communication interface 1024. These signals 1028 are provided to communication interlace 1024 via a communication path 1026. Communication path 1026 carries signals 1028 and may be implemented using wire or cable, fibre optics, a phone line, a wireless link, a cellular phone link, a radio frequency link, or any other suitable communication channel. For instance, communication path 1026 may be implemented using a combination of channels.

[0052] The terms "computer program medium" and "computer usable medium" are used generally to refer to media such as removable storage drive 1014, a hard disk installed in hard disk drive 1012. and signals 1028. These computer program products are means for providing software to computer system 1000. However, these terms may also include signals (such as electrical, optical or electromagnetic signals) that embody the computer program disclosed herein.

[0053] Computer programs (also called computer control logic) are stored in main memory 1008 and/or secondary memory 1010. Computer programs may also be received via communication interface 1024. Such computer programs, when executed, enable computer system 1000 to implement embodiments of the present invention as discussed herein. Accordingly, such computer programs rcprcscnt controllers of computer systcm 1000. Where thc cmbodimcnt is implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product 1030 and loaded into computer system 1000 using removable storage drive 1014. hard disk drive 1012, or communication interface 1024. to provide some examples.

Alternative embodiments may be implemented as control logic in hardware. firmware, or software or any combination thereof.

Alternatives and Modifications [0054] It will be understood that embodiments of the present invention are described herein by way of example only, and that various changes and modifications may he made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0055] For example, a specific example is provided in the exemplary embodiment above in the context of a hospital operating environment. The skilled person will appreciate that the operation of the messaging server and IM clients as described in the above embodiments can he applied to manage messaging groups within any other type of operating environment, including hut not hmited lo the further examples mentioned above, where the status update data received from the data management server will indicate actions, events and/or entity statuses associated with that particular operating environment, and where the predefined rules of the messaging server S will include rule definitions relating to the possible actions, events and/or entity statuses.

[0056] As another modification, the system can be configured to take into account the event that some recipient devices are offline, wherein the information will not he displayed on any recipient's device until such time as all recipients are online, or a given percentage of recipients are online or a fixed point in time has been passed. For example, the server and IM clients can be adapted to implement command and status messages transmitted therehetween, the messages including data identifying that a respective event or action has occurred, along with a timestamp of the occurrence. it is appreciated that other forms of synchronisation techniques may he instead be used to synchronise the recipients' devices so that the contained information in received data messages may he displayed at the same starting time. It is further appreciated that the server may he configured to maintain synchronization of the acknowledgement status attributes of colTesponding data messages for sender and recipient devices that are offline, where data can only be transmitted by the server to the devices after the respective sender or recipient becomes online.

[0057] As a further modification, additional cryptography can bc cmploycd so that it almost impossible for a recipient to gain an advantage by displaying or otherwise access any sent inlormation ahead of other recipients. In such an embodiment, the inlormation contained in sent data messages is encrypted using an encryption key that is unknown to the recipients. An example of a suitable encryption method is the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), as defined in Federal information Processing Standards Publication 197, United States National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), November 26, 2001. AES is an example of symmetric encryption system where there is a secret key that is used to encrypt information and the same key is used to decrypt the information. There are also asymmetric encryption systems where the encryption key is a public key that is no help in trying to break the system because a different, secret key is used for decryption. RSA is one example of such a system, Either symmetric or asymmetric key encryption may he used in these embodiments. The decryption key is withheld from the recipients so that although the recipients may have received the data messages containing said information, it is impossible for them to access the information without. the decryption key or breaking the encryption system. At a suitable time, a data message containing the decryption key together with one or more timer attributes is sent, possibly simultaneously, to each intended recipient. The system then operates as in the embodiments discussed above.

Encrypting the said information ensures that is almost impossible for intended recipients to access the information prior to the decryption key being sent.

[0058] In the embodiments described above, the group manager module of the messaging server creates and maintains the plurality of messaging groups. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, in an alternative embodiment, an INI client associated with a group administrator user may instead be configured to carry out some or all of the functionality of the group manager modu'e as discussed in the above embodiments, including creating and maintaining the messaging oups based on status change, event and/or action data received from the data management server, either directly or indirectly via the messaging server.

[0059] Yet further alternative embodiments may be envisaged, which nevertheless fall within the scope of the foflowing claims.

Claims (20)

1. Claims 1. A computer-implemented method of managing instant messaging communication between groups of users via a communication network, comprising: storing user data identifying a plurality of users; storing data defining at least one messaging group. including a fist of users in the messaging group; receiving status data associated with at least one of a user and a messaging group; and modifying the list of users of at least one messaging group based on the received status data.
2. 2. The method of claim 1. wherein the status data is received from a data management server storing data associated with a plurality of data objects.
3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the status data comprises one or more of data identifying an event, an action and a change of status associated with a data object.
4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user data includes a reference to a corresponding data object.
5. 5. The method of any preceding claim, wherein modifying the list of users comprises adding or removing at least one user to the messaging group.
6. 6. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising identifying at least one user and/or messaging group based on the received status data and at least one stored rule.
7. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the a least one stored rule identifies at least one user and/or group based on status data associated with the availability of a registered user.
8. 8. The method of claim 6. wherein the at least one stored rule identifies at least one user and/or group based on status data associated with characteristics of the registered user.
9. 9. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the data defiiiing at least one messaging group lurther includes data messages transmitted to users in the messaging group.
10. 10. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising creating a new messaging group based on received status data.
11. 11. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the user data includes a unique identifier for each of said plurality of users.
12. 12. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising prompting for a user input digital signature to authenticate a data message, wherein the digital signature verifies the identity of the sender of the data message.
13. 13. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising prompting for a user input digital signature to acknowledge receipt of a data message. wherein the digital signature verifies the identity of the recipient of the data message.
14. 14. The method of daim 13, wherein the signature is a biometric information file including at least a portion of the content portion implanted therein.
15. 15. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising determining that one or more recipients are offline and in response, storing the data message on one or more servers until it is determined that the recipients become online and subsequently receive the data message sent by said servers.
16. 16. The method of any preceding claim. further comprising transmitting a status update message to each user in the messaging group in response to modifying the Ust of users.
17. 17. A system or apparatus comprising means for performing the method of any one of claims ltol6.
18. 18. A storage medium comprising machine readable instructions stored thereon for causing a computer system to perform a method in accordance with any one of claims I to 16.
19. 19. A computer system substantially as hereinhefore described with reference to, or as illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
20. 20. A method substantially as hereinhefore described with reference to. or as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.