Method and apparatus for message synchronization in instant messaging applications

• US 9,215,195 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tencent Technology Shenzhen Company Limited (Tencent Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tencent Technology Shenzhen Company Limited (Tencent Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Zhang, Xiaolong
• Primary Examiner(s): Yohannes, Tesfay
• Application Number:
  US14/092,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20140136638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/204, 709/206, 370/352
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

Implementations of the present invention disclose a message synchronizing method and apparatus in an instant messaging application. The method includes detecting a log-in status corresponding to an instant messaging account currently logged-in through an instant messaging application at a first terminal, receiving a request to update an application state of the instant messaging application, determining if the log-in status is a multi-terminal log-in status, where the multi-terminal log-in status indicates that the instant messaging account is simultaneously logged-in from the first terminal and a second terminal. Upon receiving the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application, when that the log-in status is the multi-terminal log-in status, a message synchronization operation is initiated between the first and second terminals. Otherwise, the log-in status is set to indicate that the instant messaging account is logged-in from the first terminal.

Claims

1. A method for message synchronization in instant messaging applications, comprising:

at a server system having one or more processors and memory storing programs to be executed by the one or more processors;

detecting a log-in status corresponding to an instant messaging account currently logged-in through an instant messaging application at a first terminal;

determining if the log-in status is a multi-terminal log-in status, wherein the multi-terminal log-in status indicates that the instant messaging account is simultaneously logged-in from the first terminal and a second terminal, further including detecting previously recorded information identifying the instant messaging account by a unique account identifier and identifying the second terminal by a unique terminal identifier corresponding to the second terminal;

receiving a request to update an application state of the instant messaging application;

upon receiving the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application;

in accordance with a determination that the log-in status is the multi-terminal log-in status, initiating a message synchronization operation between the first and second terminals; and

setting the log-in status to indicate that the instant messaging account is logged-in from the first terminal, further including;

recording information corresponding to the instant messaging account, wherein the information includes the unique account identifier and a unique terminal identifier corresponding to the first terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information includes an indication that the instant messaging application is either an instant messaging web client or an instant messaging client application installed at the first terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to update the application state includes a request to transmit one or more unread messages;

and the method further comprising;

upon receiving the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application;

sending the one or more unread messages to a third-party account distinct from the instant messaging account and sending the one or more message to the second terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application is received from a third party account distinct from the instant messaging account, and includes one or more unread messages directed to the instant messaging account;

and the method further comprising;

upon receiving the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application;

sending the one or more unread messages to the first terminal and sending the one or more unread messages to the second terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from the second terminal and includes a request to add or delete an identified conversation;

and the method further comprising;

upon receiving the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application;

generating instructions to add or delete the identified information in accordance with the indication that the instant messaging application is either a instant messaging web client or a instant messaging client application installed at the first terminal; and

sending the instructions to add or delete the identified conversation to the first terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application is received from one of the first and second terminals;

and the method further comprising;

prior to initiating the message synchronization operation;

sending a synchronization request to the other one of the first and second terminals requesting that the message synchronization operation be performed; and

upon receiving a response to the synchronization request from the other one of the first and second terminals;

in accordance with the received response indicating that the message synchronization operation is to be performed, performing the message synchronization operation;

in accordance with the received response indicating that the message synchronization operation is not to be performed, forgoing performing the message synchronization operation.

7. A message synchronization apparatus for an instant messaging application, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

a plurality of program modules stored in the memory and to be executed by the one or more processors, the plurality of program modules further including;

a detection module configured to detect a log-in status corresponding to an instant messaging account currently logged-in through an instant messaging application at a first terminal;

a receiving module configured to receiving a request to update an application state of the instant messaging application; and

a processing module configured to;

determine if the log-in status is a multi-terminal log-in status, wherein the multi-terminal log-in status indicates that the instant messaging account is simultaneously logged-in from the first terminal and a second terminal, further including detecting previously recorded information identifying the instant messaging account by a unique account identifier and identifying the second terminal by a unique terminal identifier corresponding to the second terminal;

upon receiving the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application;

in accordance with a determination that the log-in status is the multi-terminal log-in status, initiate a message synchronization operation between the first and second terminals; and

set the log-in status to indicate that the instant messaging account is logged-in from the first terminal, further including;

recording information corresponding to the instant messaging account, wherein the information includes the unique account identifier and a unique terminal identifier corresponding to the first terminal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information includes an indication that the instant messaging application is either an instant messaging web client or an instant messaging client application installed at the first terminal.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the request to update the application state includes a request to transmit one or more unread messages;

and

the processing module is further configured to, upon the receiving module receiving the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application, send the one or more unread messages to a third-party account distinct from the instant messaging account and send the one or more message to the second terminal.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application is received from a third party account distinct from the instant messaging account, and includes one or more unread messages directed to the instant messaging account;

and

the processing unit is further configured, upon the receiving module receiving the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application, send the one or more unread messages to the first terminal and sending the one or more unread messages to the second terminal.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the request is received from the second terminal and includes a request to add or delete an identified conversation;

and

the processing unit is further configured to, upon the receiving unit receiving the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application;

generate instructions to add or delete the identified information in accordance with the indication that the instant messaging application is either a instant messaging web client or a instant messaging client application installed at the first terminal; and

send the instructions to add or delete the identified conversation to the first terminal.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application is received from one of the first and second terminals;

and

the processing unit is further configured to, prior to initiating the message synchronization operation;

send a synchronization request to the other one of the first and second terminals requesting that the message synchronization operation be performed;

upon receiving a response to the synchronization request from the other one of the first and second terminals;

in accordance with the received response indicating that the message synchronization operation is to be performed, perform the message synchronization operation;

in accordance with the received response indicating that the message synchronization operation is not to be performed, forgo performing the message synchronization operation.

13. A server system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs stored in the memory, the one or more programs comprising instructions to;

detect a log-in status corresponding to an instant messaging account currently logged-in through an instant messaging application at a first terminal;

determine if the log-in status is a multi-terminal log-in status, wherein the multi-terminal log-in status indicates that the instant messaging account is simultaneously logged-in from the first terminal and a second terminal, further including detecting previously recorded information identifying the account by a unique account identifier and identifying the second terminal by a unique terminal identifier corresponding to the second terminal;

receive a request to update an application state of the instant messaging application;

upon receiving the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application;

in accordance with a determination that the log-in status is the multi-terminal log-in status, initiate a message synchronization operation between the first and second terminals; and

set the log-in status to indicate that the instant messaging account is logged-in from the first terminal, further including;

recording information corresponding to the instant messaging account, wherein the information includes the unique account identifier and a unique terminal identifier corresponding to the first terminal.

14. The server system of claim 13, wherein the request to update the application state includes a request to transmit one or more unread messages and the instructions further include instructions for:

upon receiving the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application;

sending the one or more unread messages to a third-party account distinct from the instant messaging account and sending the one or more message to the second terminal.

15. The server system of claim 13, wherein the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application is received from a third party account distinct from the instant messaging account, and includes one or more unread messages directed to the instant messaging account and the instructions further include instructions for:

upon receiving the request to update the application state of the instant messaging application;

sending the one or more unread messages to the first terminal and sending the one or more unread messages to the second terminal.