Method and System for Instant Messaging Traffic Routing
First Claim
1. A method implemented by an interconnect hub interconnecting a plurality of instant message communities for routing instant message communications, said method comprising:
- storing in a cache at said interconnect hub, records of associations between user identifiers for instant message users and corresponding service providers for said instant message users;
receiving, at said interconnect hub, an instant message communication from a sender including a user identifier for a recipient;
if a record exists in said cache for the user identifier specified in the instant message communication, forwarding the instant message communication to the service provider associated with the user identifier in said cache; and
if no record exists in said cache for said user identifier, initiating a search to identify a service provider for the user identifier, and, if a service provider for the user identifier is found, forwarding the instant message communication to the service provider for the user identifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is described an interconnect hub for routing an Instant Message (IM) or related communication between a sending IM device in a first IM community and a recipient IM device in one of a plurality of potential second IM communities. The interconnect hub comprises a router for determining the destination of IM communications and routing the IM communications to the intended recipient, a search function for finding the service provider providing IM services to the user identifier, and a cache comprising a plurality of records associating user identifiers with corresponding service providers (mobile or Internet). When the IM communication is received by the interconnect hub, the router examines the recipient user identifier, accesses the cache keying on the recipient user identifier, retrieves the service provider associated with the recipient user identifier, and forwards the IM communication to the associated service provider for delivery to the intended recipient. If there is no record in the cache for the user identifier, the searcher initiates a search to identify the service provider and to update the cache if the service provider is found.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method implemented by an interconnect hub interconnecting a plurality of instant message communities for routing instant message communications, said method comprising:
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storing in a cache at said interconnect hub, records of associations between user identifiers for instant message users and corresponding service providers for said instant message users; receiving, at said interconnect hub, an instant message communication from a sender including a user identifier for a recipient; if a record exists in said cache for the user identifier specified in the instant message communication, forwarding the instant message communication to the service provider associated with the user identifier in said cache; and if no record exists in said cache for said user identifier, initiating a search to identify a service provider for the user identifier, and, if a service provider for the user identifier is found, forwarding the instant message communication to the service provider for the user identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An interconnect hub for routing instant message communications between instant message users, said interconnect hub comprising:
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a cache for storing records of associations between user identifiers for said instant message users and corresponding service providers for said instant message users; a router for receiving instant message communications including a user identifier for a recipient of said instant message communication and for forwarding said instant message communications to a service provider for said recipient, said router configured to check said cache to find the service provider for the recipient; and a searcher for identifying a service provider for the user identifier when no record exists in the cache for the user identifier and for updating said cache if a service provider is identified. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification