Multicast distribution of presence information for an instant messaging system
First Claim
1. A system for multicast distribution of presence information to a plurality of communication devices comprising:
- a plurality of communication devices, each communication device associated with a contact list that identifies at least one of the other communication devices; and
a network capable of multicast communication with the plurality of communication devices, the network being effective to provide at least one multicast address based on the contact lists of the communication devices to the plurality of communication devices and convey multicast messages identified by the at least one multicast address to the plurality of communication devices, each multicast address identifying a group of multicast devices among the plurality of communication devices, the multicast messages including presence information about the group of multicast devices, wherein a portion of the plurality of communication devices receives the multicast messages identified by the at least one multicast address and extracts the presence information about the group of multicast devices from the multicast messages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a system, method and network (110) for multicast distribution of presence information to a plurality of communication devices (102, 104, 106, 108). A contact list (122, 124, 126, 128), associated with each communication device, identifies one or more of the other communication devices. The network provides one or more multicast addresses based on the contact lists of the communication devices to the plurality of communication devices. The network also sends multicast messages identified by the one or more multicast addresses to the plurality of communication devices. Each multicast address identifies a group of multicast devices among the plurality of communication devices, and the multicast messages include presence information about the group of multicast devices. A portion of the plurality of communication devices receives the multicast messages identified by the one or more multicast addresses and extracts the presence information about the group of multicast devices from the multicast messages.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for multicast distribution of presence information to a plurality of communication devices comprising:
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a plurality of communication devices, each communication device associated with a contact list that identifies at least one of the other communication devices; and
a network capable of multicast communication with the plurality of communication devices, the network being effective to provide at least one multicast address based on the contact lists of the communication devices to the plurality of communication devices and convey multicast messages identified by the at least one multicast address to the plurality of communication devices, each multicast address identifying a group of multicast devices among the plurality of communication devices, the multicast messages including presence information about the group of multicast devices, wherein a portion of the plurality of communication devices receives the multicast messages identified by the at least one multicast address and extracts the presence information about the group of multicast devices from the multicast messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for multicast distribution of presence information to a plurality of communication devices, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a network connection between the plurality of communication devices and a network;
accessing a contact list of each communication device by the network, each contact list being capable of identifying devices of the plurality of communication devices;
generating at least one multicast address based on the contact lists of the plurality of communication devices by the network, each multicast address identifying a group of multicast devices among the plurality of communication devices;
providing the at least one multicast address from the network to the plurality of communication devices; and
delivering multicast messages identified by the at least one multicast address to the plurality of communication devices by the network, the multicast messages including presence information about the group of multicast devices and being directed to devices that desire the presence information about the group of multicast devices. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification