Accessing information using an instant messaging system

• US 20030093480A1
• Filed: 11/15/2001
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stewart, Eben P., Lagarde, Konrad C., Rooney, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,287,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

A system and method for transmitting messages from a client messaging application to a third party application is shown. The method includes registering with a set of client messaging applications for sending and receiving messages. A message includes an information request. A message is received from the one of the client messaging applications and the destination of the message is determined. The third party application determined to be the destination of the message is then selected and the message is transmitted to the third party application. In the event that the message included an information request, a return message is received from the third party application. The return message includes the requested information. The destination of the return message is determined. The client messaging application determined to be the destination of the return message is selected and the return message is transmitted to the client messaging application.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting messages from a client messaging application to a third party application, the system comprising:

an interface to a plurality of mutually registered client messaging applications, wherein the interface is mutually registered with at least one of the plurality of client messaging applications; and

a first application for performing the steps of;

connecting with the interface, wherein the interface provides portability between the plurality of client messaging applications and the first application;

receiving a message from a client messaging application via the interface;

determining the destination of the message, wherein the destination is a third party application;

selecting the third party application determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving a message from a client messaging application via the interface, wherein the message includes a request for information.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

enqueuing the message for transmission to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

4. The system of claim 2, the first application further performing the steps of:

receiving information from the third party application in a return message;

determining the destination of the return message, wherein the destination is a client messaging application;

selecting the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message.

5. The system of claim 4, further the step of:

enqueuing the message for transmission to the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises:

an API for interfacing with a plurality of mutually registered client messaging applications and for registering with at least one of the plurality of client messaging applications.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the first application further comprises:

an API for translating the request for information to the third party application and for translating the return message to the client messaging application.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the client messaging application comprises an instant messaging application for sending and receiving instant messages.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the instant messaging application comprises any one of:

Lotus Sametime Messaging;

America Online Instant Messenger;

MSN Messenger Service;

Yahoo Messenger;

ICQ;

Jabber Instant Messaging; and

a Telnet utility.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the third party application comprises a messaging server.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the messaging server comprises any one of:

an IBM MQSeries server;

a Microsoft Transaction server;

a Lotus Domino server; and

an LDAP utility.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the third party application retrieves the requested information from any one of:

a personal finance database;

a stock market database;

a personal contact database;

a web site;

an FTP site; and

a gopher site.

13. A system for transmitting messages from a client messaging application to a plurality of third party applications, the system comprising:

an interface to a mutually registered client messaging application, wherein the interface is mutually registered the client messaging application; and

a first application for performing the steps of;

connecting with the interface, wherein the interface provides portability between the client messaging application and the first application;

receiving a message from the client messaging application via the interface;

determining the destination of the message, wherein the destination is one of a plurality of third party applications;

selecting a third party application from the plurality of third party applications determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving a message from the client messaging application via the interface, wherein the message includes a request for information.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

enqueuing the message for transmission to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

16. The system of claim 13, the first application further performing the steps of:

receiving information from the third party application in a return message;

determining the destination of the return message, wherein the destination is the client messaging application;

selecting the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

enqueuing the message for transmission to the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the interface comprises:

an API for interfacing with the client messaging application and for registering with the plurality of client messaging application.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the first application further comprises:

an API for translating the request for information to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message and for translating the return message to the client messaging application.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the client messaging application comprises an instant messaging application for sending and receiving instant messages.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the instant messaging application comprises any one of:

Lotus Sametime Messaging;

America Online Instant Messenger;

MSN Messenger Service;

Yahoo Messenger;

ICQ;

Jabber Instant Messaging; and

a Telnet utility.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of third party applications comprise a messaging server.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the messaging server comprises any one of:

an IBM MQSeries server;

a Microsoft Transaction server;

a Lotus Domino server; and

an LDAP utility.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of third party applications retrieve the requested information from any one of:

a personal finance database;

a stock market database;

a personal contact database;

a web site;

an FTP site; and

a gopher site.

25. A system for transmitting messages from a plurality of client messaging applications to a plurality of third party applications, the system comprising:

an interface to a plurality of mutually registered client messaging applications, wherein the interface is mutually registered with at least one of the plurality of client messaging applications; and

a first application for performing the steps of;

connecting with the interface, wherein the interface provides portability between the plurality of client messaging applications and the first application;

receiving a message from a client messaging application via the interface;

determining the destination of the message, wherein the destination is one of a plurality of third party applications;

selecting one of a plurality of third party applications determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving a message from one of a plurality of client messaging applications via the interface, wherein the message includes a request for information.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

enqueuing the message for transmission to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

28. The system of claim 26, the first application further performing the steps of:

receiving information from the third party application in a return message;

determining the destination of the return message, wherein the destination is one of a plurality of client messaging applications;

selecting the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising the step of:

enqueuing the message for transmission to the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the interface comprises:

an API for interfacing with a plurality of mutually registered client messaging applications and for registering with at least one of the plurality of client messaging applications.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the first application further comprises:

an API for translating the request for information to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message and for translating the return message to the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein each of the plurality of client messaging applications comprise an instant messaging application for sending and receiving instant messages.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the instant messaging application comprises any one of:

Lotus Sametime Messaging;

America Online Instant Messenger;

MSN Messenger Service;

Yahoo Messenger;

ICQ;

Jabber Instant Messaging; and

a Telnet utility.

34. The system of claim 25, wherein each of the plurality of third party applications comprise a messaging server.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the messaging server comprises any one of:

an IBM MQSeries server;

a Microsoft Transaction server;

a Lotus Domino server; and

an LDAP utility.

36. The system of claim 28, wherein each of the plurality of third party applications retrieve the requested information from any one of:

a personal finance database;

a stock market database;

a personal contact database;

a web site;

an FTP site; and

a gopher site.

37. A method for transmitting messages from a client messaging application to a third party application, comprising the steps of:

registering with at least one of a plurality of client messaging applications;

receiving a message from one of a plurality of client messaging applications;

determining the destination of the message, wherein the destination is a third party application;

selecting the third party application determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving a message from one of a plurality of client messaging applications, wherein the message includes a request for information.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of:

enqueuing the message for transmission to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising the steps of:

receiving information from the third party application in a return message;

determining the destination of the return message, wherein the destination is one of a plurality of client messaging applications;

selecting the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of:

enqueuing the message for transmission to the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the first receiving step comprises:

receiving, via an API, a message from one of a plurality of client messaging applications, wherein the API interfaces with the plurality of mutually registered client messaging applications and registers with at least one of the plurality of client messaging applications.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising a step before the transmitting step of:

translating, by an API, the request for information to the third party application.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising a step before the second transmitting step of:

translating, by the API, the return message to the client messaging application.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein each of the plurality of client messaging applications comprise an instant messaging application for sending and receiving instant messages.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the instant messaging application comprises any one of:

Lotus Sametime Messaging;

America Online Instant Messenger;

MSN Messenger Service;

Yahoo Messenger;

ICQ;

Jabber Instant Messaging; and

a Telnet utility.

47. The method of claim 37, wherein the third party application comprises a messaging server.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the messaging server comprises any one of:

an IBM MQSeries server;

a Microsoft Transaction server;

a Lotus Domino server; and

an LDAP utility.

49. The method of claim 40, wherein the third party application retrieves the requested information from any one of:

a personal finance database;

a stock market database;

a personal contact database;

a web site;

an FTP site; and

a gopher site.

50. A method for transmitting messages from a client messaging application to a third party application, comprising the steps of:

registering with a client messaging application;

receiving a message from the client messaging application;

determining the destination of the message, wherein the destination is one of a plurality of third party applications;

selecting the third party application determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

51. A method for transmitting messages from a client messaging application to a third party application, comprising the steps of:

registering with at least one of a plurality of client messaging applications;

receiving a message from one of a plurality of client messaging applications;

determining the destination of the message, wherein the destination is one of a plurality of third party applications;

selecting the third party application determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

52. A computer readable medium including computer instructions for transmitting messages from a plurality of client messaging applications to a third party application, the computer instructions comprising instructions for:

registering with at least one of the plurality of client messaging applications;

receiving a message from one of the plurality of client messaging applications;

determining the destination of the message, wherein the destination is a third party application;

selecting the third party application determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the receiving instruction comprises:

receiving a message from one of the plurality of client messaging applications, wherein the message includes a request for information.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 53, further comprising the instruction of:

enqueuing the message for transmission to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 53, further comprising instructions for:

receiving information from the third party application in a return message;

determining the destination of the return message, wherein the destination is one of the plurality of client messaging applications;

selecting the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 55, further comprising the instruction of:

enqueuing the message for transmission to the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the first receiving step comprises:

receiving, via an API, a message from one of a plurality of client messaging applications, wherein the API interfaces with the plurality of mutually registered client messaging applications and registers with at least one of the plurality of client messaging applications.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 55, further comprising a step before the first transmitting step of:

translating, by an API, the request for information to the third party application.

59. The computer readable medium of claim 58, further comprising a step before the second transmitting step of:

translating, by the API, the return message to the client messaging application determined to be the destination of the message.

60. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the client messaging application comprises an instant messaging application for sending and receiving instant messages.

61. The computer readable medium of claim 60, wherein the instant messaging application comprises any one of:

Lotus Sametime Messaging;

America Online Instant Messenger;

MSN Messenger Service;

Yahoo Messenger;

ICQ;

Jabber Instant Messaging; and

a Telnet utility.

62. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the third party application comprises a messaging server.

63. The computer readable medium of claim 62, wherein the messaging server comprises any one of:

an IBM MQSeries server;

a Microsoft Transaction server;

a Lotus Domino server; and

an LDAP utility.

64. The computer readable medium of claim 55, wherein the third party application retrieves the requested information from any one of:

a personal finance database;

a stock market database;

a personal contact database;

a web site;

an FTP site; and

a gopher site.

65. A computer readable medium including computer instructions for transmitting messages from a client messaging application to a plurality of third party applications, the computer instructions comprising instructions for:

registering with the client messaging application;

receiving a message from the client messaging application;

determining the destination of the message, wherein the destination is one of the plurality of third party applications;

selecting the third party application determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

66. A computer readable medium including computer instructions for transmitting messages from a plurality of client messaging applications to a plurality of third party applications, the computer instructions comprising instructions for:

registering with at least one of the plurality of client messaging applications;

receiving a message from one of the plurality of client messaging applications;

determining the destination of the message, wherein the destination is one of the plurality of third party applications;

selecting the third party application determined to be the destination of the message; and

transmitting the message to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

67. A method for providing access to a third party application via an instant messaging application, comprising the steps of:

registering with at least one of a plurality of instant messaging applications;

receiving from an instant messaging application an instant message including a request for information;

determining the destination of the instant message, wherein the destination is a third party application;

selecting the third party application determined to be the destination of the message;

translating the request for information in the instant message into a request for information compatible with the third party application determined to be the destination of the instant message; and

transmitting the translated request for information to the third party application, wherein the third party application processes the translated request for information.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising the step of:

enqueuing the message for transmission to the third party application determined to be the destination of the message.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving from an instant messaging application an instant message including a request for information.

70. The method of claim 67, further comprising the steps of:

receiving information from the third party application;

generating an instant message including the received information; and

sending the generated instant message to the instant messaging application.