Seamless interfacing for instant messaging and internet telephony across wireless networks

• US 20050259612A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yarlagadda, Madhu
• Granted Patent: US 7,260,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/25 of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/02 Buffering or recovering information during reselection ; Modification of the traffic flow during hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

A method for managing communications while an application location changes between a first wireless network and a second wireless network is provided. The method includes mapping an internal address to a first external address for the first wireless network. A second wireless network is determined to use for sending communications for the application. The internal address is then mapped to a second address for the second wireless network.

Claims

1. A method for providing instant message communications while roaming between a plurality of base stations, the method comprising:

receiving a first external internet protocol (IP) address for a first base station;

mapping the first external IP address to an internal IP address for an IM client;

allowing communications with the first base station using the external IP address and internal IP address;

receiving a second external internet protocol (IP) address for a second base station;

mapping the second external IP address to the internal IP address for an IM client; and

allowing communications with the second base station using the external IP address and internal IP address.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining connection information for the IM client;

storing the connection information; and

sending the connection information to the second base station to establish a connection with the second base station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the IM client does not need to send the connection information when the connection with the second base station is established.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending presence information to an IM server indicating a status of the IM client at the first external IP address.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the external IP address to an IM server, the IM server configured to provide IM communications to the IM client using the external IP address.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving an IM from the IM server for the first external IP address;

mapping the first external IP address to the internal IP address; and

sending the IM to the internal IP address.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a second IM from the IM server for the second external IP address;

mapping the second external IP address to the internal IP address; and

sending the IM to the internal IP address.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an IM from the IM client at the internal IP address;

mapping the internal IP address to the first or second external IP address; and

sending the IM using the first or second external IP address.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising caching data received from the IM client during a change in connection from the first base station to the second base station.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending the cached data when a connection to the second base station is changed.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal IP address remains constant during the communications with the first base station and the second base station.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless network that is considered a better connection and is chosen over other networks.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the base station comprises a wireless network.

14. An interface for providing IM communications over a plurality of networks, the interface comprising:

an internal address store configured to store an internal address for an IM client;

a changeable address store configured to store an external address for a base station;

an address mapper configured to map the internal address for the IM client to the changeable address, wherein the changeable address changes based on external addresses received from a plurality of base station, the plurality of base stations being connected to by the IM client at different times.

15. The interface of claim 14, further comprising a cache configured to store data for the IM client when a change in connection from a first base station in the plurality of base station to a second base station in the plurality of base stations occurs.

16. The interface of claim 14, further comprising a cache configured to store connection information for the IM client, the connection information used to establish a connection with a second base station in the plurality of base stations after a connection with a first base station is lost.

17. The interface of claim 14, wherein the plurality of base stations comprise wireless networks.

18. The interface of claim 14, wherein the internal address and external address comprise an IP address.

19. A method for managing communications while an application location changes between a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the method comprising:

mapping an internal address to a first external address for the first wireless network;

determining a second wireless network to use for sending communications for the application; and

mapping the internal address to a second address for the second wireless network.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining connection information for the application;

storing the connection information; and

sending the connection information to the second wireless network to establish a connection with the second wireless network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the application does not need to send the connection information when the connection with the second wireless network is established