Interface and method for extending a target application over an instant message link of a communication network

• US 7,310,659 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2003
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: George, Kenneth V.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALAD, ABDULLAHI ELMI
• Application Number:
  US10/696,099
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/231, 709/246, 719/328, 719/329, 370/466, 455/466, 715/523
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/546 Message passing systems or structures, e.g. queues
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression

Abstract

An instant message (IM) interface configured to extend a target application over an IM link of a communication network is provided according to the invention. The IM interface includes a communication interface configured to transfer a reply IM to an originating application. The IM interface further includes a processing system configured to obtain data from the target application and provide an output form to a messaging Application Programming Interface (messaging API). The output form is provided from a set of Forms Definition Language (FDL) forms. The messaging API is substantially protocol-dependent and the set of FDL forms is protocol-independent. The processing system is further configured to generate the reply IM in an originating application protocol using the data, the output form, and one or more protocol-specific libraries of the messaging API. The reply IM is an originating application protocol-specific IM.

Claims

1. An instant message (IM) interface configured to extend a target application over an IM link of a communication network, the IM interface comprising:

a communication interface configured to transfer a reply IM to an originating application; and

a processing system configured to obtain data from the target application, provide an output form to a messaging Application Programming Interface (messaging API), with the output form being provided from a set of Forms Definition Language (FDL) forms, with the messaging API being protocol-dependent and with the set of FDL forms being protocol-independent, and generate the reply IM in an originating application protocol using the data, the output form, and one or more protocol-specific libraries of the messaging API, with the reply IM comprising an originating application protocol-specific IM.

2. The IM interface of claim 1, with the communication interface being further configured to receive an IM from the originating application, with the IM requesting a target application transaction and wherein the data is obtained in response to the IM.

3. The IM interface of claim 1, with the communication interface being further configured to receive an IM from the originating application, with the IM requesting a target application transaction and wherein the data is obtained in response to the IM, and with the communication interface being further configured to transfer an input request form IM to the originating application in response to the IM;

and

with the processing system being further configured to select an input form in the messaging API from a set of Forms Definition Language (FDL) forms in response to the IM and generate the input request form IM in the messaging API and using the input form and the one or more protocol-specific libraries, wherein the input request form IM requests and accepts input data related to the target application transaction.

4. The IM interface of claim 1, wherein the communication network comprises an IM communication network.

5. The IM interface of claim 1, with the processing system being further configured to encrypt the target protocol IM to create an encrypted target protocol IM.

6. The IM interface of claim 1, wherein the target application protocol comprises eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP).

7. The IM interface of claim 1, with the obtaining data comprising:

generating a target protocol data request message in a target application protocol using the output form and one or more protocol-specific libraries of the messaging API, with the target protocol data request message comprising a target application protocol-specific transaction request;

receiving a reply message from the target application in response to the target protocol data request message;

generating a reply IM from the reply message using the one or more protocol-specific libraries, wherein the reply IM includes target application reply data from the target application; and

transferring the reply IM to the originating application.

8. The IM interface of claim 1, wherein the output form is selected and provided by an IM interface.

9. The IM interface of claim 1, wherein the output form is provided by the originating application.

10. A method for extending a target application over an Instant Message (IM) link of a communication network, the method comprising:

obtaining data from the target application;

providing an output form to a messaging Application Programming Interface (messaging API), with the output form being provided from a set of Forms Definition Language (FDL) forms, with the messaging API being protocol-dependent and with the set of FDL forms being protocol-independent;

generating a reply IM in an originating application protocol using the data, the output form, and one or more protocol-specific libraries of the messaging API, with the reply IM comprising an originating application protocol-specific instant message; and

transferring the reply IM to the originating application.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the communication network comprises an IM communication network.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising encrypting the reply IM to create an encrypted reply IM.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the originating application protocol comprises eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP).

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the output form is selected and provided by an IM interface.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the output form is provided by the originating application.

16. A method for extending a target application over an Instant Message (IM) link of a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving an IM in a messaging Application Programming Interface (messaging API) from an originating application, with the IM requesting a target application transaction;

obtaining data requested in the IM;

providing an output form to the messaging API, with the output form being provided from a set of Forms Definition Language (FDL) forms, with the messaging API being protocol-dependent and with the set of FDL forms being protocol-independent;

generating a reply IM in an originating application protocol using the data, the output form, and one or more protocol-specific libraries of the messaging API, with the reply IM comprising an originating application protocol-specific instant message; and

transferring the reply IM to the originating application.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the communication network comprises an IM communication network.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising encrypting the reply IM to create an encrypted reply IM.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the originating application protocol comprises eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP).

20. The method of claim 16, with the obtaining data comprising:

generating a target protocol data request message in a target application protocol using the output form and one or more protocol-specific libraries of the messaging API, with the target protocol data request message comprising a target application protocol-specific transaction request;

receiving a reply message from the target application in response to the target protocol data request message;

generating a reply IM from the reply message using the one or more protocol-specific libraries, wherein the reply IM includes target application reply data from the target application; and

transferring the reply IM to the originating application.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the output form is selected and provided by an IM interface.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the output form is provided by the originating application.

23. A method for extending a target application over an Instant Message (IM) link of a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a first IM in a messaging Application Programming Interface (messaging API) from an originating application, with the first IM requesting a target application transaction;

selecting an input form in the messaging API from a set of Forms Definition Language (FDL) forms in response to the first IM, with the messaging API being protocol-dependent and with the set of FDL forms being protocol-independent;

generating an input request form IM in the messaging API using the input form and one or more protocol-specific libraries, wherein the input request form IM requests and accepts input data related to the target application transaction;

transferring the input request form IM to the originating application;

receiving a second IM in the messaging API in response to the input request form IM;

obtaining data requested in the second IM;

providing an output form to the messaging API, with the output form being provided from the set of FDL forms;

generating a reply IM in an originating application protocol using the data, the output form, and the one or more protocol-specific libraries of the messaging API, with the reply IM comprising an originating application protocol-specific instant message; and

transferring the reply IM to the originating application.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the communication network comprises an IM communication network.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising encrypting the reply IM to create an encrypted reply IM.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the originating application protocol comprises eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP).

27. The method of claim 23, with the obtaining data comprising:

generating a target protocol data request message in a target application protocol using the output form and one or more protocol-specific libraries of the messaging API, with the target protocol data request message comprising a target application protocol-specific transaction request;

receiving a reply message from the target application in response to the target protocol data request message;

generating a reply IM from the reply message using the one or more protocol-specific libraries, wherein the reply IM includes target application reply data from the target application; and

transferring the reply IM to the originating application.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the output form is selected and provided by an IM interface.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the output form is provided by the originating application.