Instant messaging architecture and system for interoperability and presence management

• US 7,016,978 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale, Peterson, Matt
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gillis, Brian J.
• Application Number:
  US10/135,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20050044144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709/217, 709/230, 709/246, 709/205
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A computer network system establishes an instant messaging (IM) session between a first user registered with a first ISP (ISP) and at least one user registered with a second ISP when the two ISPs operate using different IM protocols. The ISPs each contain a Local IM server connected to each registered user. Each ISP also contains a Universal IM server that is connected to the distributed network. The Universal IM server includes a database that stores routing information and Presence information for each user registered with the second ISPs and facilitates communications between the first and second user using a universal format, such as XML.

Claims

1. A computer network system for allowing at least one user from a first plurality of users associated with a first Internet Service Provider (ISP) network to establish an Instant Messaging (IM) session with at least one user from a second plurality of users associated with a second ISP, comprising:

a distributed network connecting the first ISP and the second ISP, wherein the first ISP and the second ISP each comprises;

a Universal IM server coupled to the distributed network, the Universal IM server comprising a database containing routing information and Presence information associated with at least one user registered on the other ISP network, wherein the Universal IM server is configured to facilitate communication between users using a universal IM protocol; and

a bimodal Local IM server configured to establish an IM connection between at least two users registered with the ISP using a proprietary IM protocol, wherein upon determination that the users are configured to communicate using the universal IM protocol, the bimodal Local IM server is configured to facilitate communication between users using the universal IM protocol.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the local IM server comprises the routing information and Presence information for each user registered with that particular local IM server.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the Local IM Server on each ISP is operable for establishing an IM session between at least two users registered with the same ISP using the proprietary IM protocol.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the Local IM server on each ISP is operable for establishing a connection between at least two users registered with the same ISP using the universal IM protocol, wherein the universal IM protocol is different than the proprietary protocol.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one user is registered with the Universal IM server.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the Presence information comprises:

a list of personal information associated with the each user;

a list of the Internet device types associated with each user;

a list of connection options associated with each user;

a list of the available states associated with each Internet device; and

an application identifier associated with each Internet device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the universal IM protocol is structured extensible markup language (XML).

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of bimodal IM clients, wherein the bimodal IM clients are capable of establishing a connection with the local IM server using a proprietary IM and establishing a connection with the Universal IM server using a universal IM format.

9. A method of establishing an instant message (IM) session between a first user and a second user, wherein the first user is associated with a first ISP that facilitates communication between users using a first proprietary IM protocol, wherein the second user is associated with a second ISP that facilitates communication between users using a second proprietary IM protocol, wherein the first IM protocol is incompatible with the second proprietary IM protocol, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a connection request from the first user to establish communications with the second user, the connection request comprising routing information associated with the second user;

transmitting the connection request to a first Universal IM server associated with the first user, the first Universal IM server being configured to facilitate communication between the first user and the second user using a universal IM protocol;

checking a network extension contained in the routing information to determine whether the second user is registered;

locating an address server associated with the second user;

determining whether the second user is available to establish an IM session; and

establishing the IM session between the first user and the second user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein establishing an IM session between the first user and the second user further comprises:

retrieving routing information and Presence information for the second user; and

using the routing information and the Presence information to establish a communications link between the first user and the second user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the instant message session comprises a universal format.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the universal format is structured extensible markup language (XML).

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising registering a new user with the first Universal IM server.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein registering the new user, comprises:

receiving a request from the new user for a new user identification;

processing the request at a Local IM server;

providing a USERID for the new user;

storing the USERID in a database at the Local IM server;

storing the USERID in a database in the first Universal IM server;

transmitting the USERID to a second Universal IM server; and

storing the transmitted USERID in a database at the second Universal IM server.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing routing information associated with the user to a database on the first Universal IM server.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the routing information, comprises:

a USERID associated with the new user; and

at least one special character appended to the USERID.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing Presence information associated with the new user to a database on the first Universal IM server.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein:

if the second user is registered, the method further comprising;

routing the connection request to a second Universal IM server; and

receiving an address of a Local IM server from the Universal IM server;

if the second user is not registered, the method further comprising;

routing the connection request to a second Universal IM server;

locating the address of a Local IM server associated with the second user; and

establishing the IM session between the first user and the second user, if the second user is available.

19. A method of transmitting an instant message between a first user that is associated with a first ISP that utilizes a first proprietary IM protocol, and a second user that is associated with a second ISP that utilizes a second proprietary IM protocol, wherein the first proprietary IM protocol is incompatible with the second proprietary IM protocol, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a connection request from the first user to establish an instant messaging session with the second user;

transmitting the connection request to a first Universal IM server associated with the first user, the first Universal IM server comprising routing information for at least one registered user, wherein the first Universal IM server is configured to facilitate communication between the first user and the second user using a universal IM protocol;

transmitting the connection request to a second Universal IM server; and

using the routing information for the second user to establish a connection between the second Universal IM server and a Local IM server.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

logging the first user onto a first ISP;

creating a roster comprising a list of at least one user registered with the first ISP and currently logged onto the Local IM server and a list of at least one user logged onto the Universal IM server on the first ISP.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the roster comprises an IP address and Presence information associated at least one user listed in the roster.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein a second Local IM server is configured to make a final connection to the second user via appropriate routing instructions.

23. A method of registering a new user with a first instant messaging service to allow the new user to send and receive instant messages from at least one user registered with a second instant messaging service, wherein the first instant messaging service comprises a Universal IM server, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a request for a new user identification (USERID) from the new user;

transmitting the request to the Universal IM server;

assigning a new USERID to the new user;

transmitting the new USERID to a Local IM server;

storing the new USERID in a database.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

transmitting the new USERID to a plurality of Universal IM servers, each Universal IM server associated with a separate ISP,

wherein each Universal IM server stores the USERID in a database of users.

25. A system for facilitating an Instant Messaging (IM) session between a first user associated with a first network service provider and a second user, comprising:

a Local IM server for receiving a connection request from the first user requesting the IM session with the second user, the connection request identifying the second user;

the Local IM server for establishing the IM session between the first user and the second user, if the second user is associated with the first network service provider;

a Universal IM server connected to the Local IM server and having a database containing routing information and Presence information for a plurality of users;

if the second user is not associated with the first network service provider;

the Local IM server forwarding the connection request to the Universal IM server;

the Universal IM server checking the database for the routing information and Presence information for the second user;

the Universal IM server forwarding the connection request to a second network service provider associated with the second user; and

the Universal IM server establishing the IM session between the first user and the second user.

26. The system as set forth in claim 25, wherein the Universal IM server sends the connection request to a second Universal IM server in the second network service provider if the second user is not associated with the first network service provider.

27. The system as set forth in claim 26, wherein the Universal IM server is associated with the first network service provider which has a first IM protocol and wherein the second Universal IM server is associated with the second network service provider which has a second IM protocol, the first IM protocol being different than the second IM protocol.

28. The system as set forth in claim 25, wherein the first and second network service providers comprise Internet service providers.