Protocol for instant messaging

• US 7,209,956 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mache, Niels
• Primary Examiner(s): Barróén, Jr.; Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): POLTORAK, PIOTR
• Application Number:
  US09/727,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20010003203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,336 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/201, 709/220, 709/238, 709/245, 709/249, 709206-207, 726/2
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging

Abstract

Messages are transmitted in nearly real-time in a distributed system. The message transmission system comprises a first message gateway (4) receiving a message from a sending client (9). Meta information is extracted by the first message gateway (4) from the received message and the meta information (MI) is transmitted from the first message gateway (4) to a message broker (2) connected to a client profile database (3). The message broker (2) selects a second message gateway (5) on the basis of the meta information and the client profile data of the client profile database (3). Than a message from the first message gateway (4) is transmitted to the selected second message gateway (5) which transfers the message to a target client (8).

Claims

1. A method for transmitting messages in a distributed system, the method comprising:

receiving a message comprising a message content and meta information from a sending client by a first message gateway, extracting the meta information from the received message,

transmitting the meta information from the fist message gateway to a message broker while keeping the received message content at the first message gateway,

selecting, by the message broker, a second message gateway and a message content conversion of the message content on the basis of the meta information and profile data of the target client managed by the message broker,

transmitting modified meta information including message messaging information from the message broker to the first message gateway, and

after receiving the modified meta information converting the message content and transmitting a message including the converted message content from the first message gateway to the selected second message gateway so that the second message gateway can transfer the message to a target client,

wherein the message broker is an entity physically separated from the first and second message gateways.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message broker processes the meta information to provide security and returns the meta information to the first message gateway.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message broker processes the meta information and returns the meta information to the first message gateway, and

wherein the message is sent to the selected second gateway together with the meta information under the control of the processed meta information.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the message content is converted by a message processor prior to being sent to the selected second message gateway.

5. A computer program stored in a tangible storage medium, for transmission of messages in a distributed system, the program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

receive a message comprising a message content and meta information from a sending client by a first message gateway;

extract the meta information for the received message;

transmit the meta information from the first message gateway to a message broker while keeping the received message content at the first message gateway,

select, by the message broker, a second message gateway and a message conversion of the message content on the basis of the meta information and profile data of the target client managed by the message broker;

transmit modified meta information including message managing information from the message broker to the first message gateway; and

after receiving the modified meta information convert the message content and transmit a message including the converted message content from the first message gateway to the selected second message gateway so that the second message gateway can transfer the message to a target client,

wherein the message broker is an entity physically separated from the first and second message gateways.

6. A distributed system to transmit messages, the system comprising:

a first message gateway configured to receive messages comprising a message content and meta information from sending clients, the first message gateway configured to extract the meta information from the received messages,

a message broker configured to receive only the extracted meta information from the first message gateway, the message broker processing the meta information and selecting a second message gateway and a message conversion of the message content on the basis of the meta information and profile data of the target client managed by the message broker, and returning the processed meta information to the first message gateway, and

a second message gateway configured to receive the a message including a converted content from the first message gateway controlled by the processed meta information, and to transfer the received message to a target client,

wherein the message broker is an entity physically separated from the first and second message gateways.

7. A distributed system according to claim 6, further comprising a client profile database connected to the message broker,

wherein the message broker processes the meta information on the basis of the data of the client profile database.

8. A distributed system according to claim 6, wherein the message broker provides for a security functionality.

9. A distributed system according to claim 6, further comprising

a message processor interconnected between the first and second message gateway for processing the content of the message.