Dynamic integration of application input and output in an instant messaging/chat session

• US 20060059237A1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wilcox, Eric M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,903,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for integrating dynamic application input and output in an instant messaging/chat system. In this regard, a method for integrating dynamically produced application input and output into instant messaging/chat content in an established instant messaging/chat session can include receiving application input from a remote instant messaging/chat client as a posting to an established instant messaging/chat session and forwarding the received application input to a designated external application. Finally, the application output from the external application can be posted as content in the established instant messaging/chat session. Additionally, the application input can be pre-processed before performing the forwarding step, and the application output can be post-processed before performing the posting step.

Claims

1. An instant messaging/chat system comprising:

an instant messaging/chat client;

an application event interface to said instant messaging/chat client, said interface having a configuration for receiving application input and output and integrating said received application input and output with instant messaging/chat content for an established instant messaging/chat session.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an instant messaging/chat server configured for communicative coupling to said instant messaging/chat client, said server having logic for determining whether selected other instant messaging/chat clients can process application output in a data format, or whether said selected other instant messaging/chat clients can process only a textual representation of said application output.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said instant messaging/chat client comprises logic for attaching an application to said established instant messaging/chat session so as to integrate input and output to and from said application into said instant messaging/chat content.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said configuration for receiving application output comprises logic for processing XML formatted application output.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said instant messaging/chat client comprises logic for pre-processing application input before forwarding said input to said application.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said instant messaging/chat client comprises logic for post-processing application output before integrating said output into said instant messaging/chat content.

7. A method for integrating dynamically produced application input and output into instant messaging/chat content in an established instant messaging/chat session, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving application input from a remote instant messaging/chat client as a posting to an established instant messaging/chat session;

forwarding said received application input to a designated external application; and

,

posting application output from said external application as content in said established instant messaging/chat session.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step pre-processing said application input before performing said forwarding step.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step post-processing said application output before performing said posting step.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said posting step comprises the steps of:

formatting said application output in an XML format and providing said formatted application output to said instant messaging/chat client through an application programming interface; and

,

providing said formatted application output as an encapsulated event to an instant messaging/chat server for distribution to participating other instant messaging/chat clients.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said posting step comprises the steps of:

encapsulating said application output into an event; and

,

forwarding said event to an instant messaging/chat server for distribution to participating other instant messaging/chat clients.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

determining which of said participating other instant messaging/chat clients can process said application output in a data format, and which of said participating other instant messaging/chat clients can process said application output only as a textual representation of said application output; and

,

converting said application output to a textual representation and forwarding said textual representation to said participating other instant messaging/chat clients which can process said application output only as a textual representation of said application output, while forwarding said application output in said data format to said participating other instant messaging/chat clients which can process said application output in a data format.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said data format is an XML compliant markup language document.

15. The machine readable storage of claim 10, further comprising a routine set of instructions for causing the machine to further perform the step of pre-processing said application input before performing said forwarding step.

16. The machine readable storage of claim 10, further comprising a routine set of instructions for causing the machine to further perform the step post-processing said application output before performing said posting step.

17. The machine readable storage of claim 10, wherein said posting step comprises the steps of:

formatting said application output in an XML format and providing said formatted application output to said instant messaging/chat client through an application programming interface; and

,

providing said formatted application output as an encapsulated event to an instant messaging/chat server for distribution to participating other instant messaging/chat clients.

18. The machine readable storage of claim 10, wherein said posting step comprises the steps of:

encapsulating said application output into an event; and

,

forwarding said event to an instant messaging/chat server for distribution to participating other instant messaging/chat clients.

19. The machine readable storage of claim 10, further comprising a routine set of instructions for causing the machine to further perform the steps of:

determining which of said participating other instant messaging/chat clients can process said application output in a data format, and which of said participating other instant messaging/chat clients can process said application output only as a textual representation of said application output; and

,

converting said application output to a textual representation and forwarding said textual representation to said participating other instant messaging/chat clients which can process said application output only as a textual representation of said application output, while forwarding said application output in said data format to said participating other instant messaging/chat clients which can process said application output in a data format.

20. The machine readable storage of claim 15, wherein said data format is an XML compliant markup language document.

14. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for integrating dynamically produced application input and output into instant messaging/chat content in an established instant messaging/chat session, the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions which when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform the steps of:

receiving application input from a remote instant messaging/chat client as a posting to an established instant messaging/chat session;

forwarding said received application input to a designated external application; and

,

posting application output from said external application as content in said established instant messaging/chat session.