Mobile messaging global directory

• US 6,996,408 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2002
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Som, Tapas K., Leuba, Paul E., Kundu, Krishnendu, Blossom, Kent, Baxley, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US10/037,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20030125022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/419, 455/426.1, 455/445, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/466, 455/517, 455/518, 455/519, 455/520, 455/413, 455/434, 455/414.1, 4554143-4144, 455/567, 455417-418, 455/422.1, 455424-425, 455/426.2, 455/432.1, 4554351-4353, 455/432.2, 455/521, 455/550.1, 455/553.1, 455560-561, 379 37- 51, 379 8813- 8814, 709/218, 709/219, 370/396, 3703953-3955, 370/395.54
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories

Abstract

A method and structure for a communication system has a first-level regional server connected to a first agency and a second agency, and a second-level regional server connected to a plurality of the first-level regional servers. The second-level regional server has a first connection for connecting to one first-level regional server. The invention also has a second connection for connecting to another first-level regional server. The invention also includes a global directory and a central processing unit.

Claims

1. A regional message server of a communication system, said regional message server comprising:

a first connection for connecting to a first agency, wherein said first agency communicates under a first addressing scheme;

a second connection for connecting to a second agency, wherein said second agency communicates under a second addressing scheme;

a global directory connected to said first connection and said second connection, wherein said global directory is adapted to provide a common hierarchical addressing scheme for said first agency and said second agency and to maintain both global addresses and local addresses for said first agency and said second agency, and wherein said common hierarchical addressing scheme provides said global addresses by adding to said local addresses additional information that identifies one of said first agency and said second agency; and

a central processing unit connected to said first connection and said second connection and said global directory,

wherein said central processing unit is adapted to receive from said first agency a message having a global address for said second agency, to substitute a local address corresponding to said global address, and to transmit said message to said local address in said second agency.

2. The regional message server in claim 1, wherein said first connection connects to a first message switching unit in said first agency and said second connection connects to a second message switching unit in said second agency.

3. The regional message server in claim 1, further comprising a translator, wherein said first agency and said second agency operate under different addressing protocols and said translator translates between said different addressing protocols.

4. The regional message saver in claim 1, wherein said global directory further maintains said local addresses and said corresponding global addresses of units within said first agency and said second agency.

5. The regional message server in claim 1, wherein said central processing unit changes a global address of a unit in said second agency in a message received from said first agency into a format, such as a local address, acceptable to said second agency and forwards said message to said second agency.

6. The regional message server in claim 1, wherein said first agency and said second agency are provided access to said global directory to obtain said global addresses of units within said global directory.

7. The regional message server in claim 1, wherein said central processing unit produces a report of active units in said first agency and said second agency.

8. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of first-level regional servers, each connected to a first agency and a second agency; and

a second-level regional server connected to a said plurality of said first-level regional servers, wherein each of said first-level regional servers comprises;

a first connection for connecting to said first agency, wherein said first agency communicates under a first addressing scheme;

a second connection for connecting to said second agency, wherein said second agency communicates under a second addressing scheme;

a global directory connected to said first connection and said second connection, wherein said global directory is adapted to provide a common hierarchical addressing scheme for said first agency and said second agency and to maintain both global addresses and local addresses for said first agency and said second agency, and wherein said common hierarchical addressing scheme provides said global addresses by adding to said local addresses additional information that identifies one of said first agency and said second agency; and

a central processing unit connected to said first connection and said second connection and said global directory.

wherein said central processing unit is adapted to receive from said first agency a message having a global address for said second agency, to substitute a local address corresponding to said global address, and to transmit said message to said local address in said second agency.

9. The communication system in claim 8, wherein said second-level regional server comprises:

a first connection for connecting to one first-level regional server;

a second connection for connecting, to another first-level regional server;

a directory of regional servers; and

a central processing unit.

10. The communication system in claim 9, wherein said directory of regional sewers maintains addresses of all regional servers serviced by said communication system.

11. The communication system in claim 9, wherein said central processing unit forwards said message from one first-level regional server to one or more second-level regional servers.

12. A method of transferring messages between a first agency and a second agency, said method comprising:

using a common hierarchical addressing scheme to provide corresponding global addresses for local addresses in said first agency and said second agency by adding to said local addresses additional information that identifies one of said first agency and said second agency;

transferring a message having one of a local address for said first agency and a global address for said second agency from a sending unit in said first agency to a first message switching unit within said first agency, wherein said first agency communicates under a first addressing scheme;

transferring said message from said first message switching unit to a regional message server if said message has said global address for said second agency;

substituting, by said regional message server, said local address corresponding to said global address for said second agency;

transferring said message from said regional message server to a second message switching unit in said second agency, wherein said second agency communicates under a second addressing scheme; and

transferring said message from said second message switching unit to a destination unit in said second agency.

13. The method in claim 12, further comprising translating, by said regional message server, said message from an addressing protocol used by said first agency to a protocol used by said second agency.

14. The method in claim 12, further comprising maintaining a global directory having said local addresses find said global addresses of units within said first agency and said second agency.

15. The method in claim 14, further comprising providing said first agency and said second agency access to said global directory to obtain said global addresses of said units within said global directory.

16. The method in claim 12, further comprising producing a report of active units in said first agency and said second agency.

17. A method of transferring messages between a first agency and a second agency, said method comprising:

establishing a network in which said first agency and said second agency are each in communication with a corresponding one of a plurality of first-level regional message servers and in which each of said plurality of first-level regional message servers are in communication with a second-level regional message server;

using a common hierarchical addressing scheme to provide corresponding global addresses for local addresses in said first agency and said second agency by adding to said local addresses additional information that identifies one of said first agency and said second agency and said corresponding one of said first-level regional message servers;

transferring a message from a sending unit in a first agency to a first message switching unit within said first agency, wherein said first agency communicates under a first addressing scheme;

transferring said message from said first message switching unit to said corresponding first-level regional message server of said first agency, if said message has a global address that identifies said second agency and said corresponding first-level regional message server;

transferring said message from said first-level regional message server of said first agency to a second-level regional message server;

transferring said message from said second-level regional message server to said first-level regional message server of said second agency;

substituting, by said first-level regional message server of said second agency said local address corresponding to said global address;

transferring said message from said first-level regional message server of said second agency to a second message switching unit in said second agency, wherein said second agency communicates under a second addressing scheme; and

transferring said message from said second message switching unit to a destination unit in said second agency.

18. The method in claim 17, further comprising translating, by one of said first regional message server and said second regional message server, said message from an addressing protocol used by said first agency to a protocol used by said second agency.

19. The method in claim 17, further comprising maintaining a global directory having said local addresses and said global addresses of units within said first agency and said second agency.

20. The method in claim 19, further comprising providing said first agency and said second agency access to said global directory to obtain said global addresses of units within said global directory.

21. The method in claim 17, further comprising producing a report of active units in said first agency and said second agency.