System and method for instant messaging using an e-mail protocol
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for exchanging messages between an instant messaging user and an e-mail user, the method comprising:
- receiving a first outgoing instant message from the instant messaging user for delivery to an e-mail address of the e-mail user;
creating a first outgoing e-mail message from the first outgoing instant message;
generating a token that is usable to associate a subsequent incoming e-mail message with the instant messaging user;
inserting the token into the outgoing e-mail message, wherein the token is returnable in a reply to the first outgoing e-mail message; and
transmitting the first outgoing e-mail message to the e-mail address, wherein a subsequently received e-mail message that includes the token is deliverable to the instant messaging user as an incoming instant message.
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Abstract
Systems and methods allowing an instant messaging user to exchange messages with an e-mail user. To the instant messaging user, the experience is a seamless exchange of instant messages; to the e-mail user, the experience is a seamless exchange of e-mail messages. Conversion of an instant message to an e-mail message includes insertion of a token into the e-mail message, and conversion of an e-mail message to an instant message includes validating a token extracted from the e-mail message.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for exchanging messages between an instant messaging user and an e-mail user, the method comprising:
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receiving a first outgoing instant message from the instant messaging user for delivery to an e-mail address of the e-mail user;
creating a first outgoing e-mail message from the first outgoing instant message;
generating a token that is usable to associate a subsequent incoming e-mail message with the instant messaging user;
inserting the token into the outgoing e-mail message, wherein the token is returnable in a reply to the first outgoing e-mail message; and
transmitting the first outgoing e-mail message to the e-mail address, wherein a subsequently received e-mail message that includes the token is deliverable to the instant messaging user as an incoming instant message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for exchanging messages between an instant messaging user and an e-mail user, the method comprising:
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generating a token that is usable to associate incoming e-mail messages with the instant messaging user;
receiving an incoming e-mail message that includes the token;
extracting the token from the incoming e-mail message;
based at least in part on the token, identifying the instant messaging user;
converting the incoming e-mail message to an incoming instant message; and
delivering the incoming instant message to the instant messaging user. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A system for transmitting messages between an instant messaging user and an e-mail user, the system comprising:
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an outgoing message module configured to receive an outgoing instant message from the instant messaging user to the e-mail user, to convert the outgoing instant message into an outgoing e-mail message, the outgoing e-mail message including a first token, and to transmit the outgoing e-mail message to the e-mail user;
an incoming message module configured to receive an incoming e-mail message that includes the first token, to convert the incoming e-mail message into an incoming instant message based at least in part on the first token, and to transmit the incoming instant message to the instant messaging user; and
a token module configured to communicate with the outgoing message module and the incoming message module, the token module further configured to maintain a set of valid tokens including at least the first token. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for exchanging messages between an instant messaging user and an e-mail user, the method comprising:
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receiving a first instant message from the instant messaging user addressed to the e-mail user;
generating a token associated with the instant messaging user and the e-mail user;
converting the first instant message to a first e-mail message including the token, wherein the token is returnable in a reply to the first e-mail message;
storing the token in a token table;
transmitting the first e-mail message to the e-mail user;
receiving a second e-mail message from the e-mail user, the second e-mail message including the token;
extracting the token from the second e-mail message;
validating the token by accessing the token table; and
in the event that the token is validated;
converting the second e-mail message to a second instant message; and
delivering the second instant message to the instant messaging user.
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46. A method for exchanging messages between an instant messaging user and an e-mail user, the method comprising:
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generating a first instant message addressed to the e-mail user;
transmitting the first instant message to an outgoing message server configured to convert the first instant message to a first e-mail message for transmission to the e-mail user and to include in the first e-mail message a token identifying at least one of the instant messaging user and the first instant message;
receiving a second instant message from an incoming message server configured to receive a second e-mail message originating with the e-mail user, the second e-mail message containing the token or a representation thereof, and to create the second instant message from the second e-mail message.
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47. A method for exchanging messages between an e-mail user and an instant messaging user, the method comprising:
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receiving a first e-mail message that originated from a first instant message sent by the instant messaging user, the first e-mail message including a token identifying at least one of the instant messaging user and the first instant message;
generating a second e-mail message in reply to the first e-mail message, the second e-mail message including the token or a representation thereof; and
transmitting the second e-mail message to a server configured to recognize the token or the representation thereof and convert the second e-mail message to a second instant message deliverable to the instant messaging user.
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Specification