Message Delivery System and Method

• US 20090125593A1
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Skype S.Ã R.L. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Suursoho, Sven, Karner, Kaido, Kosemae, Mati, Laur, Aarne, Karu, Mihkel, Kasesalu, Priit, Hiir, Tanel
• Granted Patent: US 9,756,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method of delivering messages to a user of a user terminal executing a communication client and connected to a packet-based communication network, includes receiving a message at the communication client from the communication network, the message comprising a content portion and a control portion, wherein the content portion comprises information intended for display to the user of the user terminal, and storing the message in a data store at the user terminal. The communication client reads the control portion of the message and extracts data defining a trigger event and a condition. The communication client is monitored to determine whether the communication client state corresponds to the trigger event. Responsive to the communication client state corresponding to the trigger event, the communication client determines whether the condition is met. In the case that the condition is met, the content portion of the message is displayed in the communication client.

Claims

1. A method of delivering messages to a user of a user terminal executing a communication client and connected to a packet-based communication network, comprising:

receiving a message at the communication client from the communication network, the message comprising a content portion and a control portion, wherein the content portion comprises information intended for display to the user of the user terminal;

storing the message in a data store at the user terminal;

the communication client reading the control portion of the message and extracting data defining a trigger event and a condition;

monitoring the communication client to determine whether the communication client state corresponds to the trigger event;

responsive to the communication client state corresponding to the trigger event, the communication client determining whether the condition is met; and

in the case that the condition is met, displaying the content portion of the message in the communication client.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the condition comprises at least one parameter and at least one respective required value, and the step of determining whether the condition is met comprises reading, for each of the at least one parameters, a current value of the parameter in the communication client and comparing the current value to the respective required value.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein one of the at least one parameters is a display count for the message and the respective required value defines a maximum number of times the message should be displayed.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein one of the at least one parameters is a time interval parameter and the respective required value defines a start and end time for displaying the message.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of the communication client transmitting a request for messages over the communication network.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the request for messages comprises an identifier of messages stored at the user terminal.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the request for messages comprises at least one of a version number for the communication client and an identifier of an operating system executed on the user terminal.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message is received at the communication client in a bundle comprising a plurality of messages.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the displayed message comprises a selectable control arranged to cause the communication client to display further information to the user.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the further information is obtained from the communication network.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the selectable control is a hyperlink comprising a network address of the further information.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication client is a voice over internet protocol communication client.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the voice over internet protocol communication client is a peer-to-peer communication client.

14. A computer program product comprising program code which when executed by a computer implement the steps according to the method of claim 1.

15. A user terminal connected to a packet-based communication network, comprising:

a data store;

a display; and

a processor arranged to execute a communication client, wherein the client is configured to;

receive a message from the communication network, the message comprising a content portion and a control portion, wherein the content portion comprises information intended for display to the user of the user terminal;

store the message in the data store;

read the control portion of the message and extract data defining a trigger event and a condition;

monitor the communication client to determine whether the communication client state corresponds to the trigger event;

determine whether the condition is met responsive to the communication client state corresponding to the trigger event; and

display the content portion of the message on the display in the case that the condition is met.

16. A user terminal according to claim 15, wherein the client is further configured to transmit a request for messages over the communication network.

17. A user terminal according to claim 16, wherein the request for messages comprises an identifier of messages stored at the user terminal.

18. A user terminal according to claim 16, wherein the request for messages comprises at least one of a version number for the communication client and an identifier of an operating system executed on the user terminal.

19. A user terminal according to claim 15, wherein the message is received at the communication client in a bundle comprising a plurality of messages.

20. A user terminal according to claim 15, wherein the displayed message comprises a selectable control arranged to cause the communication client to display further information to the user.

21. A user terminal according to claim 20, wherein the further information is obtained from the communication network.

22. A user terminal according to claim 20, wherein the selectable control is a hyperlink comprising a network address of the further information.

23. A user terminal according to claim 15, wherein the data store is a message database.

24. A user terminal according to claim 15, wherein the communication client is a voice over internet protocol communication client.

25. A user terminal according to claim 15, wherein the voice over internet protocol communication client is a peer-to-peer communication client.