Providing uniform settings for multiple resources in a client-server environment

• US 20040054719A1
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Daniell, W. Todd, Daigle, Brian K., Friedman, Lee G., Kent, Larry G. Jr., Davis, Joel (Hassan)
• Application Number:
  US10/408,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20040054719A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0457 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply dynamic encryption, e.g. stream encryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for stream encryption H04L9/065
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

The present invention includes systems and methods for providing uniform settings for multiple resources in a client-server environment. In an example embodiment, configuration information for an IM client is stored at a remotely-located database coupled to an IM server. Thus, regardless of the resource used to access an IM account, the IM client at that resource will be configured according to the information stored at the remotely-located database. Also, configuration information for an email client may also be stored at the remotely-located database, thereby permitting uniform configuration of email clients using the information stored at the remotely-located database.

Claims

1. In a client-server environment, a method comprising the steps of:

receiving an input at a client, the input being indicative of a change in a configuration parameter of the client; and

conveying configuration information to a central repository for storage at the central repository, the configuration information being indicative of the change in the configuration parameter of the client.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration parameter is a user-adjustable parameter.

3. The method of claim 1:

wherein the receiving the input at the client comprises receiving an input at an instant messaging (IM) client, the input being indicative of a change in a configuration parameter of the IM client; and

wherein the conveying configuration information to the central repository comprises conveying configuration information to an IM server for storage at a database, the database being coupled to the IM server.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of conveying configuration information to the IM server comprises the step of:

conveying resource-based configuration information indicative of a resource at which the IM client is running.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the resource is one selected from a group consisting of:

a workstation;

a cellular telephone;

a personal digital assistant (PDA); and

a pager.

6. The method of claim 1:

wherein the step of receiving the input at the client comprises the step of receiving an input at an email client, the input being indicative of a change in a configuration parameter of the email client; and

wherein the step of conveying configuration information to the central repository comprises the step of conveying configuration information through an instant messaging (IM) transport to an IM server for storage at a database, the database being coupled to the IM server.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of conveying configuration information through an instant messaging (IM) transport to an IM server comprises the step of:

conveying resource-based configuration information indicative of a resource at which the email client is running.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the resource is one selected from a group consisting of:

a workstation;

a cellular telephone;

a personal digital assistant (PDA); and

a pager.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the input comprises a process selected from the group consisting of:

receiving an input indicative of a change in a notification setting of an instant messaging (IM) client;

receiving an input indicative of a change in an appearance setting of an IM client;

receiving an input indicative of a change in an archive setting of an IM client;

receiving an input indicative of a change in a chat setting of an IM client;

receiving an input indicative of a change in a content setting of an IM client;

receiving an input indicative of a change in a file-transfer setting of an IM client;

receiving an input indicative of a change in a status setting of an IM client;

receiving an input indicative of a change in a webcam setting of an IM client;

receiving an input indicative of a change in a notification setting of an email client;

receiving an input indicative of a change in an appearance setting of an email client;

receiving an input indicative of a change in an archive setting of an email client;

receiving an input indicative of a change in a content setting of an email client; and

receiving an input indicative of a change in a file-transfer setting of an email client.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

configuring the client in response to the received input.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of configuring the client comprises a process selected from the group consisting of:

configuring a notification setting of an instant messaging (IM) client;

configuring an appearance setting of an IM client;

configuring an archive setting of an IM client;

configuring a chat setting of an IM client;

configuring a content setting of an IM client;

configuring a file-transfer setting of an IM client;

configuring a status setting of an IM client;

configuring a webcam setting of an IM client;

configuring a notification setting of an email client;

configuring an appearance setting of an email client;

configuring an archive setting of an email client;

configuring a content setting of an email client; and

configuring a file-transfer setting of an email client.

12. In a client-server environment, a communication method comprising the steps of:

retrieving configuration information from a central repository; and

configuring a client according to the retrieved configuration information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the configuration information comprises a user-adjustable configuration parameter.

14. The method of claim 12:

wherein the step of retrieving configuration information comprises the step of retrieving a configuration setting of an instant messaging (IM) client from a database, the database being coupled to an IM server; and

wherein the step of configuring the client comprises the step of configuring the IM client according to the retrieved configuration setting.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of retrieving the configuration setting comprises the steps of:

retrieving a resource-based configuration setting indicative of a resource at which the IM client is running.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the resource is one selected from a group consisting of:

a workstation;

a cellular telephone;

a personal digital assistant (PDA); and

a pager.

17. The method of claim 12:

wherein the step of retrieving configuration information comprises the step of retrieving a configuration setting of an email client from a database, the database being coupled to an instant messaging (IM) server; and

wherein the step of configuring the client comprises the step of configuring the email client according to the retrieved configuration setting.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of retrieving the configuration setting comprises the step of:

retrieving a resource-based configuration setting indicative of a resource at which the email client is running.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the resource is one selected from a group consisting of:

a workstation;

a cellular telephone;

a personal digital assistant (PDA); and

a pager.

20. In a client-server environment, a client comprising:

an interface adapted to interface the client to a network; and

logic adapted to convey configuration information to a central repository for storage at the central repository, the configuration information being indicative of a change in a configuration parameter of the client.

21. The system of claim 20:

wherein the client is an instant messaging (IM) client; and

wherein the central repository is a database coupled to an IM server.

22. The system of claim 20:

wherein the client is an email client; and

wherein the central repository is a database coupled to an instant messaging (IM) server.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the configuration parameter comprises a parameter selected from the group consisting of:

a notification setting of an instant messaging (IM) client;

an appearance setting of an IM client;

an archive setting of an IM client;

a chat setting of an IM client;

a content setting of an IM client;

a file-transfer setting of an IM client;

a status setting of an IM client;

a wcbcam setting of an IM client;

a notification setting of an email client;

an appearance setting of an email client;

an archive setting of an email client;

a content setting of an email client; and

a file-transfer setting of an email client.

24. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

logic adapted to retrieve a configuration setting from a central repository, the configuration setting being indicative of a configuration parameter of the client.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the configuration parameter is a user-adjustable parameter.