Method and system for continuous interactive communication in an electronic network

• US 20010049721A1
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cloudrock LLC (Slingshot Technologies LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kenamea, Inc. (Refinitiv US Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blair, John, Pasker, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,155,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for providing continuous, interactive communication among devices on an electronic network (110). A permanent, dedicated symmetric connection is provided between a server application and a client device (164). Both client and server can therefore communicate bi-directionally. Message storage is provided for allowing messages to be stored (166,178) while the client is offline or otherwise unavailable. The method and system is operable with any addressable device (164, 174, 174) on the electronic network. The invention can be used as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, prior art electronic network communication methods. The invention implements an advanced message routing system. A set of base capabilities are built on top of the message routing system. The communication method and system according to the present invention use a graphical user interface to virtually represent the applications that are used to interact with the electronic network. These graphical representations (276) are used to facilitate the transmission and receipt of messages across the electronic network. Applications according to the present invention are grouped into different levels according to their increasing levels of power and specificity. An interface (384, 472) is also provided to iconically represent the underlying interactive connections of the communication system. The present invention provides a one-to-one connection for bi-directionally publishing and receiving messages and a one-to-many connection. This interface enables applications to interact and deliver any type of focused functionality.

Claims

1. A method for continuous, interactive communication across an electronic network, comprising the steps of:

connecting a first addressable device to the electronic network;

displaying on the first addressable device a graphical representation associated with an application; and

using the graphical representation to permit interaction between the application and the electronic network;

wherein the interaction can be performed independently of a web browser application.

2. The method of

claim 1

, further comprising displaying at least one graphical representation in an application window of the first addressable device.

3. The method according to

claim 1

, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a representation of data on the first addressable device; and

automatically manipulating the data according to the application by moving the displayed representation of the data onto the graphical representation of the application.

4. The method according to

claim 3

, wherein moving the displayed representation of the data onto the graphical representation of the application is operable to transmit the data to an address on the electronic network.

5. The method according to

claim 3

, wherein moving the displayed representation of the data onto the graphical representation of the application is operable to transmit the data to an addressable device represented by the graphical representation.

6. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the application is implemented solely on an application provider server.

7. The method according to

claim 1

, further comprising the steps of;

providing a client application module that is operable on the first addressable device;

providing a server application module that is operable on an application provider server; and

implementing the application through communication between the client application module and the server application module.

8. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the application is implemented as a standalone application operable on the first addressable device.

9. The method of

claim 1

, further comprising the step of transmitting the graphical representation across the electronic network.

10. The method of

claim 9

, further comprising the steps of:

providing a permanent connection between the first addressable device and at least a second addressable device on the electronic network;

displaying on at least one of the first and second addressable devices an iconic representation of the permanent connection; and

using the iconic representation to transmit the graphical representation between the first and second addressable devices.

11. A method for continuous, interactive communication across an electronic network, comprising the steps of:

providing a permanent, bi-directional connection between at least two addressable devices on an electronic network;

displaying on at least one of the addressable devices an iconic representation of the permanent connection; and

using the iconic representation to exchange data between the at least two addressable devices.

12. The method of

claim 11

, wherein the iconic representation is a one-to-one connection for bi-directionally publishing and receiving messages.

13. The method of

claim 12

, wherein the iconic representation is a one-to-many connection for bi-directionally publishing and receiving messages.

14. The method of

claim 11

, further comprising the steps of:

displaying on at least one of the addressable devices a graphical representation associated with an application;

using the graphical representation to permit interaction between the application and the electronic network;

using the iconic representation to transmit the graphical representation between the at least two addressable devices.

15. A method for continuous, interactive communication in an electronic network comprising the steps of:

providing, through the electronic network, a persistent bi-directional connection between at least one communication system server and a plurality of application elements;

storing, in a server message store, a message received from an application element; and

routing the message, using the communication system server, to a client device on the electronic network.

16. The method of

claim 15

, wherein the message store is at least one non-volatile storage medium accessible to the communication system server.

17. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising the steps of:

retaining control, by the communication system server, over a message delivered to the client device; and

releasing control of the message, by the communication system server, in response to a confirmation of receipt of the message by the client device.

18. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising the step of the client storing a message during an off-line process in a client message store.

19. The method of

claim 18

wherein the client message store is at least one non-volatile storage medium that is accessible to the client device.

20. A method for performing a traffic shaping function in an electronic network, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a level of bandwidth consumption for data to be transmitted through a permanent, bi-directional connection between devices on the electronic network;

transmitting the data in accordance with the selected level;

storing the transmitted data in a transactionally safe store accessible to the electronic network; and

permitting a continuous interaction between the transactionally safe store and an application accessible to a device on the electronic network.

21. The method of

claim 20

, further comprising the steps of:

automatically reconnecting a prematurely terminated connection between the device and the electronic network; and

recommencing a data transmission interrupted by the prematurely terminated connection at the point at which the transmission was terminated.

22. A method for message routing in an electronic communication system having a continuous bidirectional connection among devices on the system, comprising the steps of:

associating a message type with a message transmitted from a first device through the communication system;

providing an addressing mechanism for the first device to designate an address of a second, recipient device for the message;

associating the message type with the designated second device address; and

transmitting the message to the designated second device address;

wherein the addressing mechanism is operable for the group consisting of individual addressing and topic-based addressing.

23. The method of

claim 22

, further comprising the steps of:

providing a sub-address for at least one sub-device at the designated second device address;

associating the sub-address with the transmitted message; and

directing the transmitted message to the sub-device.

24. A system for communication across an electronic network, comprising:

a first addressable device connected to the electronic network; and

a graphical representation module for displaying on the first addressable device a graphical representation associated with an application;

wherein the graphical representation is operable to permit continuous, bi-directional interaction between the application and the electronic network.

25. The system of

claim 24

, further comprising an application display window module for displaying an application display window on the first addressable device, wherein at least one graphical representation can be displayed in the application display window.

26. The system according to

claim 24

, further comprising a display module for displaying a representation of data on the first addressable device, wherein data may be automatically manipulating the data according to the application by moving the displayed representation of the data onto the graphical representation of the application.

27. The system according to

claim 26

, further comprising:

a client application module operable on the first addressable device; and

a server application module operable on an application provider server;

means for communication between the client application module and the server application module wherein the application is implemented.

28. The system according to

claim 24

, wherein the application is a standalone application operable on the first addressable device.

29. The system of

claim 24

, further comprising a transmitting module for transmitting the graphical representation across the electronic network.

30. The system of

claim 29

, further comprising:

means for providing a permanent connection between the first addressable device and at least a second addressable device on the electronic network;

means for displaying on at least one of the first and second addressable devices an iconic representation of the permanent connection; and

means for using the iconic representation to transmit the graphical representation between the first and second addressable devices.

31. A computer-implemented system for continuous, bi-directional communication through an electronic network, comprising:

a first client device in communication with the electronic network;

a bi-directional communications channel through the electronic network from at least one network application to the client device;

a first storage module within the bi-directional communications channel for allowing messages to be stored while the client device is offline from the electronic network;

an electronic network management system;

at least one gateway for connecting the management system to at least one addressable device that is not on the electronic network;

a second storage module accessible to the client device for allowing messages to be stored while the client device is offline from the electronic network;

a third storage module accessible to the client device for storing application state data; and

a user management system for managing system and client configurations.