Method and system for mobile instant messaging using multiple interfaces

• US 7,548,756 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Velthuis, Adrian, Haider, Syed, Patel, Biren, Chen, Xuming, Kupsh, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; CongVan
• Application Number:
  US11/501,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 455/415, 455/416, 455/466, 709/203, 709/206, 709/229, 709/232, 709/246
• US Class Current: 455/466
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A system and method for exchanging messages between a mobile device and a plurality of IM services. The system includes an SMS-based MIM client that runs on a mobile device and provides a plurality of user interfaces for a plurality of respective IM services. A user of the mobile device can log in to at least one of the IM services using the MIM client, and the mobile phone user can use the MIM client to exchange text messages with users logged into the at least one chosen IM service.

Claims

1. A mobile device operable by a user comprising a processor and a memory storing processing instructions for controlling the processor, the processor operative with the processing instructions to:

log a user of a mobile device in to a first IM service;

view a contact list of contacts of the first IM service using a first user interface;

send a message from the user to one of the contacts of the first IM service using the first user interface;

log the user in to at least a second IM service;

view a contact list of contacts of the second IM service using a second user interface; and

send a message from the user to one of the contacts of the second IM service using the second user interface,

wherein the first user interface and the second user interface are provided by a single application.

2. A mobile device operable by a user comprising a processor and a memory storing processing instructions for controlling the processor, the processor operative with the processing instructions to:

log a user of a mobile device in to a first IM service;

view a contact list of contacts of the first IM service using a first user interface;

send a message from the user to one of the contacts of the first IM service using the first user interface;

log the user in to at least a second IM service;

view a contact list of contacts of the second IM service using a second user interface;

send a message from the user to one of the contacts of the second IM service using the second user interface,

wherein the first user interface and the second user interface are provided by a single application;

receive presence information of at least one contact of at least one of the first and the second IM services; and

update at least one of the contact lists of the first and the second IM services displayed by the mobile device using the presence information.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the processor further comprises the processing instructions to provide a visual indication that the mobile device is waiting to receive the presence information.

4. A system for exchanging messages between a mobile device and a plurality of IM services, said system comprising:

an IM gateway for providing protocol translations that permit a user of the mobile device to exchange text messages with the users of a plurality of IM services, the IM gateway being connected to a plurality of IM servers, each IM server for one of the IM services, and to an MIM client running on the mobile device,

wherein the IM gateway transfers presence information of at least one contact, and the MIM client receives the presence information and updates a contact list displayed by the mobile device using the presence information, and

wherein the IM gateway calculates an unused payload of at least one SMS message comprising a text message directed to the mobile device user, the IM gateway uses the calculation of the unused payload to determine the amount of the presence information to add to the unused payload of the at least one SMS message comprising the text message, and the MIM client receives the presence information in the at least one SMS message comprising the text message.

5. A method for providing presence information for a mobile device used by a user, the method comprising the steps of:

logging in a user of the mobile device to a first IM service provided by an IM server;

storing presence information for at least a second user of the first IM service;

preparing a first SMS message comprising a text message from a third user of the IM service and directed to the mobile device user;

calculating an unused payload of the first SMS message;

attaching presence information to the first SMS message;

transmitting the first SMS message to the mobile device;

parsing the first SMS message into the text message and the presence information; and

updating a contact list displayed on the mobile device using the presence information.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of attaching presence information for at least a fourth user of a second IM service to the first SMS message.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

attaching presence information for at least a fourth user of the first IM service to a second SMS message comprising a login response message; and

transmitting the second SMS message to the mobile device user.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of attaching presence information for the third user to the first SMS message during the step of preparing the first SMS message.

9. A method for exchanging messages between a mobile device and an IM service, said method comprising the steps of:

launching an MIM client running on a mobile device providing a plurality of user interfaces each for one of a plurality of IM services;

selecting at least one IM service to which to log in;

sending at least one message using the MIM client to at least one contact logged into the at least one selected IM service; and

generating a message to transmit to the MIM client, the message generating step comprising the step of adding a header tag to a beginning of the message, the header tag indicating at least one of a teleservice type of the message and software used to create the MIM client.

10. A method for exchanging messages between a mobile device and an IM service, said method comprising the steps of:

launching an MIM client running on a mobile device providing a plurality of user interfaces each for one of a plurality of IM services;

selecting at least one IM service to which to log in;

sending at least one message using the MIM client to at least one contact logged into the at least one selected IM service;

storing an undelivered message directed to a user of the mobile device from the contact of the selected IM service;

waiting a predetermined period of time for notification that the mobile device is registered by an HLR;

automatically sending a logout request to the MIM client; and

automatically sending a login request to the selected IM service when the mobile device is re-registered with the HLR.

11. A communications network for enabling at least one user of a mobile device to exchange messages with a plurality of users each logged in to at least one of a plurality of IM services, said network comprising:

an interface for each of a plurality of IM services each provided by one of a plurality of IM servers, each interface allowing at least one user of a mobile device to exchange at least one message with a plurality of contacts each logged in to at least one of the IM services;

an IM gateway connected to each of the IM services; and

an SMPP gateway connecting the IM gateway to the at least one mobile device user,

wherein a message sent from one of the contacts using the IM service fails to be delivered to the mobile device and the IM gateway issues a message to the IM service to change a status of the user.

12. A method for providing presence information for a mobile device used by a user, the method comprising the steps of:

logging in a user of a mobile device to an IM service provided by an IM server;

registering the user with a presence and availability server that is capable of communicating with the IM server;

storing presence information relating to registration of the user in the presence and availability server after the step of registering the user;

determining that the mobile device is inactive;

notifying the presence and availability server that the mobile device is inactive;

notifying the IM server that the mobile device is inactive; and

storing presence information relating to deregistration of the user in the presence and availability server after the step of notifying the presence and availability server that the mobile device is inactive.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

determining that the mobile device is active after the step of storing the presence information relating to the deregistration of the user;

notifying the presence and availability server that the mobile device is active;

notifying the IM server that the mobile device is active; and

storing the presence information relating to the registration of the user in the presence and availability server after the step of notifying the presence and availability server that the mobile device is active.

14. A method for exchanging messages between a mobile device running a MIM client and a plurality of IM services, the method comprising the steps of:

launching a MIM client on a mobile device used by a user;

logging in to a first IM service using the MIM client;

displaying a first user interface for the first IM service;

determining whether the user of the mobile device wants to send a first message to a first online contact of the first IM service;

sending the first message to the first online contact;

logging in to a second IM service using the MIM client; and

displaying a second user interface for the second IM service.

15. A method for exchanging messages between a mobile device running a MIM client and a plurality of IM services, the method comprising the steps of:

launching a MIM client on a mobile device used by a user;

logging in to a first IM service using the MIM client;

displaying a first user interface for the first IM service;

determining whether the user of the mobile device wants to send a first message to a first online contact of the first IM service;

sending the first message to the first online contact;

logging in to a second IM service using the MIM client;

displaying a second user interface for the second IM service;

determining if the user is logged in to more than one IM service;

determining if the user wants the MIM client to display a user interface for another IM service, if the user is logged in to more than one IM service during the step of determining if the user is logged in to more than one IM service;

allowing the user to select the other IM service using a service selection screen; and

displaying the user interface for the other IM service.