Computer network communication method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A computer network communications method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting from a client to a server a request to establish a connection;
iteratively(a) maintaining the connection in the absence of a substantive message, wherein maintaining the connection includes transmitting a single character indicator pre-established to indicate a non-substantive message from the server to the client at short intervals; and
(b) transmitting from the server to the client a substantive message upon existence of the substantive message at the server, the single character indicator being outside of and separate from a substantive message.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for using standard global computer network communication protocol to implement server driven “push” technology. An initial communication connection is established between a server and a client. The connection is maintained by predefined periodic signals which are non-substantive messages from the server to the client. Upon existence of a substantive message at the server, the server transmits an appropriate predefined signal to the client. The client thereafter receives the substantive message. In one application, the server exchanges substantive messages between two clients and as such provides instant messaging.
21 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A computer network communications method comprising the steps of:
-
transmitting from a client to a server a request to establish a connection; iteratively (a) maintaining the connection in the absence of a substantive message, wherein maintaining the connection includes transmitting a single character indicator pre-established to indicate a non-substantive message from the server to the client at short intervals; and (b) transmitting from the server to the client a substantive message upon existence of the substantive message at the server, the single character indicator being outside of and separate from a substantive message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A computer network communications system comprising:
-
a request from a client computer to a server computer for establishing a connection; and the server, in response to the request, maintaining the connection by transmitting a single character indicator pre-established to indicate a non-substantive message from the server to the client at short intervals and, upon existence of a substantive message at the server, transmitting to the client the substantive message, the single character indicator being outside of and separate from a substantive message. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A computer network communications method comprising the steps of:
-
transmitting from a client to a server a request to establish a connection;
iteratively(a) maintaining the connection in the absence of a substantive message, wherein maintaining the connection includes transmitting a single character indicator pre-established to indicate a non-substantive message from the server to the client at short intervals; and (b) transmitting from the server to the client a substantive message upon existence of the substantive message at the server, the single character indicator being outside of and separate from a substantive message, wherein the transmitted single character indicator comprises a single bit.
-
Specification