Apparatus and method for instant messaging collaboration

• US 7,401,158 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2002
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Beauchamp, Tim J., Nicholls, Geoffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar; Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOROBOV, VITALI A
• Application Number:
  US10/289,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20040054802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,079 Days
• Field of Search: 709/238, 709/239, 709/248, 709/224, 709/206, 709/207
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

An apparatus and method for instant message transmission includes a message center coupled to one or more servers and to an event engine by a network. An instant message is transmitted to the message center by the event engine over the network. An algorithm determines the optimum path for the transmission of the instant message. Users may share identical data via instant messaging, and may make changes to the data as it is streamed in real-time to designated users over the network. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a message center, a transmission from an event engine responsive to a particular event occurring in a computing runtime environment of an enterprise, the transmission containing data synchronized in real-time to data in the computing runtime environment that has changed as a result of the particular event;

determining by a presence component of the message center whether a first user is logged off, or is logged onto a proprietary instant messaging (IM) server of the enterprise via an intranet and is logged onto a third party IM server via the Internet;

executing an algorithm to determine a first optimum transmission path for a message to be sent to the first user, the message including the data changed as a result of the particular event, the first optimum transmission path being one among a plurality of transmission paths that includes a first path through the proprietary IM server, a second path through the third party IM server, and a third path via a mail server;

immediately transmitting the message to the first user via the first optimum transmission path;

determining by a presence component of a message center whether a second user is logged off, or is logged onto the proprietary IM server of the enterprise and is logged onto the third party IM server via the Internet;

determining a second optimum transmission path for the message to be sent to the second user; and

immediately transmitting the message to the second user via the second optimum transmission path.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

resolving an e-mail address associated with the first user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first optimum transmission path is provided through the proprietary server.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

encrypting the message prior to transmission to the first user.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

farming out transmission of the message to one or more back-up servers.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sharing, by the second user, the data contained in the message with at least one additional user in real-time via instant message collaboration.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the data is streamed in real-time through the proprietary server.

8. A computer program product, comprising a computer useable medium and computer readable code embodied on the computer useable medium, execution of the computer readable code causing the computer program product to:

receive a transmission from an event engine responsive to a particular event occurring in a computing runtime environment of an enterprise, the transmission containing data synchronized in real-time to data in the computing runtime environment that has changed as a result of the particular event;

determine whether each of a plurality of users is logged off, or is logged onto a proprietary instant messaging (IM) server of the enterprise via an intranet and is logged onto a third party IM server via the Internet;

execute an algorithm to determine, for each user, an optimum transmission path for a message to be communicated, the optimum transmission path being either through the proprietary IM server, the third party IM server, or through a mail server; and

immediately transmit the message to each user via the optimum transmission path.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein execution of the code further causes the computer program product to encrypt the message prior to transmission.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein execution of the code further causes the computer program product to farm out transmission of the message to one or more users to another server.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein execution of the code further causes the computer program product to resolve an e-mail address associated with each user.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein execution of the code further causes the computer program product to share the data contained in the message with at least one additional user in real-time via instant message collaboration.