System for immediate popup messaging across the internet
First Claim
1. In a computer messaging system that includes a global server connected to a plurality of home servers each of which are in turn connected to a plurality of client systems, and wherein a firewall is interposed between at least a first said client system and a first home server to which said first client system is connected, a second client system and a second home server to which the second client system is connected, a method for performing immediate point-to-point messaging between said first client system and the second client system, comprising the steps of:
- storing on each home server a unique identifier of each client system connected to that home server;
storing on said global server a repository that identities each home server logically connected to the global server and the unique identifier of each client system connected to each said logically connected home server;
initiating from the first client system a request to transmit a message to the second client system;
transmitting the message from the first client system to the firewall, and from the firewall to the first home server;
establishing a back connection from the first home server to the first client server through the firewall;
if the identity of the second home server to which the second client system is connected is not already known by the first home server, then sending an inquiry from the first home server to the global server to discover the identity of the second home server, and receiving at the first home server the identity of the second home server; and
once the identity of the second home server is known by the first home server, transmitting the message from the first home server to the second home server, and if the second client system is on line with the second home server, immediately notifying the second client system of the message in order to provide the capability of permitting the second client system to immediately respond to the message by communicating to the first client system via the first home server and the established back connection from the first home server through the firewall to the first client system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for sending immediate popup messages between Internet users, the system including a user interface for sending messages and displaying messages in popup windows; a method and infrastructure for continuously tracking and reporting the online status of users, the infrastructure comprising servers and client software; and a method for communicating to users behind firewalls.
200 Citations
7 Claims
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1. In a computer messaging system that includes a global server connected to a plurality of home servers each of which are in turn connected to a plurality of client systems, and wherein a firewall is interposed between at least a first said client system and a first home server to which said first client system is connected, a second client system and a second home server to which the second client system is connected, a method for performing immediate point-to-point messaging between said first client system and the second client system, comprising the steps of:
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storing on each home server a unique identifier of each client system connected to that home server; storing on said global server a repository that identities each home server logically connected to the global server and the unique identifier of each client system connected to each said logically connected home server; initiating from the first client system a request to transmit a message to the second client system; transmitting the message from the first client system to the firewall, and from the firewall to the first home server; establishing a back connection from the first home server to the first client server through the firewall; if the identity of the second home server to which the second client system is connected is not already known by the first home server, then sending an inquiry from the first home server to the global server to discover the identity of the second home server, and receiving at the first home server the identity of the second home server; and once the identity of the second home server is known by the first home server, transmitting the message from the first home server to the second home server, and if the second client system is on line with the second home server, immediately notifying the second client system of the message in order to provide the capability of permitting the second client system to immediately respond to the message by communicating to the first client system via the first home server and the established back connection from the first home server through the firewall to the first client system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer messaging system for performing immediate point-to-point messaging between a first client system which is logically connected over the internet to a second client system and wherein the first client system is connected to the internet through a firewall that separates the first and second client systems, the system comprising:
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a plurality of home servers logically connected to a global server, each said home server being connected to a plurality of client systems, and at least a first client system being connected through a firewall to a first home server; storage means for storing on each home server a unique identifier of each client system connected to that home server; storage means for storing on said global server a repository that identifies each home server logically connected to the global server and the unique identifier of each client system connected to each said logically connected home server; first program code means for initiating from the first client system a request to transmit a message to the second client system; second program code means for transmitting the message from the first client system to the firewall, and from the firewall to the first home server; third program code means for establishing a back connection from the first home server to the first client server through the firewall; fourth program code means for sending an inquiry from the first home server to the global server to discover the identity of the second home server to which the second client system is connected if the identity of the second home server is not already know by the first home server, and for receiving at the first home server the identity of the second home server; and fifth program code means for causing transmission of the message from the first home server to the second home server once the identity of the second home server is known by the first home server, and if the second client system is on line with the second home server, for immediately notifying the second client system of the message in order to provide the capability of permitting the second client system to immediately respond to the message by communicating to the first client system via the first home server and the established back connection from the first home server through the firewall to the first client system.
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Specification