Universal peer-to-peer internet messaging

• US 20050027810A1
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kevin Remington Joseph Bartholomew Donovan
• Original Assignee: Kevin Remington Joseph Bartholomew Donovan
• Inventors: Donovan, Kevin Remington Joseph Bartholomew
• Application Number:
  US10/924,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20050027810A1
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method of conducting an instant messaging session between a first user and a second user over the Internet, the users being associated with two different realms, each realm being accessible via the Internet using a protocol characteristic to the realm, the method including: determining if a peer-to-peer communication connection is available between the first and second users over the Internet, and if the peer-to-peer connection is available, then establishing the peer-to-peer communication connection between the first and second users based on said determining; and sending the message substantially instantaneously over the established communication connection to the second user by using a current IP address and the protocol characteristic to the realm of the second user.

Claims

1. A method of conducting an instant messaging session between a first user and a second user over the Internet, the users being associated with two different realms, each realm being accessible via the Internet using a protocol characteristic to the realm, the method comprising:

determining if a peer-to-peer communication connection is available between the first and second users over the Internet, and if the peer-to-peer connection is available, then establishing the peer-to-peer communication connection between the first and second users based on said determining; and

sending the message substantially instantaneously over the established communication connection to the second user by using a current IP address and the protocol characteristic to the realm of the second user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing comprises bypassing a service provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said sending the message comprises sending a file having at least one of an image, a video-clip, a sound-clip, and a document.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said sending the message comprises sending voice.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said sending the message comprises streamlining the message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein in said step of determining, if the peer-to-peer communication connection is not available, then establishing a relay connection between respective servers of the first and second users.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one said realm comprises a service provider.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one said realm comprises a portal instant messaging provider.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one said realm comprises a general instant messaging provider.

24. The method of any one of claims 1-23, further including the steps of receiving the message;

and providing a handheld computer with IM session manager software; and

wherein at least one of said sending and receiving steps is carried out by using the handheld computer.

25. The method of any one of claims 1-23, further including the steps of receiving the message;

and a Web TV device using IM session manager software; and

wherein at least one of said sending and receiving steps is carried out by using the Web TV device.

10. A method of sending a message, the method comprising:

determining if a peer-to-peer communication connection is available between a first user and a second user over the Internet, each said user associated with a different realm, each said realm having a protocol characteristic to the respective realm; and

if the peer-to-peer communication connection is available, then sending the message from the first user substantially instantaneously over the peer-to-peer communication connection to the second user by using a current IP address and the protocol characteristic to the realm of the second user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said sending the message comprises sending a file having an image.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said sending the message comprises sending a file having a video-clip.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said sending the message comprises sending a file having a sound-clip.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said sending the message comprises sending a file having a document.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said sending the message comprises sending voice.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said sending the message comprises streamlining the message.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein in said step of determining, if the peer-to-peer communication connection is not available, then establishing a relay connection between respective servers of the first and second users, and sending the message from the first user substantially instantaneously over the relay connection to the second user by using a current IP address and the protocol characteristic to the realm of the second user.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one said realm comprises a service provider.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one said realm comprises a general instant messaging provider.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one said realm comprises a portal instant messaging provider.

21. A method of conducting an instant messaging session between a first user and a second user over the Internet, the users being associated with two different realms, each realm being accessible via the Internet using a protocol characteristic to the realm, the method comprising the steps of:

determining if a peer-to-peer communication connection is available between the first and second users over the Internet,

establishing the peer-to-peer communication connection between the first and second users based on said determining, said establishing comprising bypassing a service provider;

establishing a relay connection between respective servers of the first and second users if said determining finds that a peer-to-peer connection is not available; and

sending an instant message over the established connection by using a current IP address and the protocol characteristic to the realm of the second user.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said sending the message comprises sending voice.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said sending the message comprises streamlining the message.