Instant messaging architecture and system for interoperability and presence management

• US 20050044144A1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale, Peterson, Matt
• Granted Patent: US 7,016,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• 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: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A computer network system establishes an instant messaging (IM) session between a first user registered with a first ISP (ISP) and at least one user registered with a second ISP when the two ISPs operate using different IM protocols. The ISPs each contain a Local IM server connected to each registered user. Each ISP also contains a Universal IM server that is connected to the distributed network. The Universal IM server includes a database that stores routing information and Presence information for each user registered with the second ISPs and facilitates communications between the first and second user using a universal format, such as XML.

Claims

1. A computer network system for allowing at least one user from a first plurality of user associated with a first ISP (ISP) network to establish an Instant Messaging (IM) session with at least one user from a second plurality of users associated with a second ISP, comprising:

a distributed network connecting the first ISP and the second ISP,

wherein the first ISP and the second ISP each comprises;

a Universal IM server connected to the distributed network, the Universal IM server comprising a database containing routing information and Presence information associated with each user registered on the other ISP network;

a Local IM server connected to each user of the service provider network, the bimodal Local IM server being operable of establishing an IM connection between at least two users registered with the ISP; and

a plurality of bimodal IM clients, wherein the bimodal IM clients are capable of establishing a connection with the local IM server using a proprietary IM and establishing a connection with the Universal IM server using a universal IM format.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the local IM server comprises the routing information and Presence information for each user registered with that particular local IM server.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the Local IM Sever on each ISP is operable for establishing an IM session between at least two users registered with the same ISP using the proprietary IM protocol.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the Local IM server on each ISP is operable for establishing a connection between at least two users registered with the same ISP using the universal IM protocol.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one user is registered with the Universal IM server.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the Presence information comprises:

a list of personal information associated with the each user;

a list of the Internet device types associated with each user;

a list of connection options associated with each user;

a list of the available states associated with each Internet device; and

an application identifier associated with each Internet device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the universal format is structured in extensible markup language (XML).

8. A method of establishing an instant message (IM) session between a first user registered on a first ISP (ISP) network and a second user registered on a second ISP, comprising:

transmitting a connection request from the first user to a Local IM server to establish communications with the second user, the connection request comprising routing information associated with the second user;

transmitting the connection request from the Local IM server associated with the first ISP to a Universal IM server associated with the first ISP;

checking a network extension contained in the routing information to determine whether the second user is registered with the second ISP;

if the second user is registered with the second ISP performing a first sequence, comprising;

routing the connection request to the second Universal IM server on the second ISP;

receiving the address of the Local IM server on the second ISP from the Universal IM server on the second ISP;

determining whether the second user is available to establish an IM session; and

establishing the IM session between the first user registered with the first ISP and the second user registered with the second ISP if the second user is available; and

if the second user is not registered with the second ISP performing a second sequence, comprising;

routing the connection request to the second Universal IM server on the second ISP;

locating the address of the Local IM server associated with the second user on the first ISP

determining whether the second user is available to establish an IM session; and

establishing the IM session between the first user registered with the first ISP and the second user registered with the first ISP if the second user is available.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein establishing a connection between the first user registered with the first ISP and the second user registered with the second ISP, comprises:

retrieving the routing information and Presence information for the second user from the Universal IM server connected to the first ISP; and

using the routing information and Presence information to establish a communications link between the first user and the second user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the instant message session comprises a universal format.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the universal format is structured in extensible markup language (XML).

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising registering a new user with the Universal IM server on the first ISP.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein registering the new user, comprises:

validating the USERID for availability at the Universal IM server;

receiving a request from the new user for a new user identification;

processing the request at a Local IM server associated with the first service provider;

providing a USERID for the new user;

storing the USERID in a database at the Local IM server;

storing the USERID in a database in the first Universal IM server;

transmitting the USERID to a second Universal IM server associated with a second service provider network; and

storing the transmitted USERID in a database at the second Universal IM server.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing routing information associated with the user to the database on the first Universal IM server.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing Presence information associated with the new user to the database on the first Universal IM server.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the routing information, comprises:

the USERID associated with the new user; and

at least one special character appended to the USERID.

17. A method of transmitting an instant message between a first user registered on a first ISP (ISP) network and a second user registered on a second ISP over the Internet, comprising:

receiving a connection request from the first user to establish an instant messaging session with the second user;

transmitting the connection request from the first user to a Local IM server attached to the first ISP;

transmitting the connection request from the Local IM server to a Universal IM server associated with the first ISP, the first Universal IM server comprising the routing information for every user registered with the second ISP;

transmitting the request from the first Universal IM server associated with the first ISP to a second Universal IM server associated with the second ISP;

using the routing information for the second user to establish a connection between the second Universal IM server and a Local IM server located on the second ISP,

wherein the second Local IM server will make the final connection to the second user via the appropriate routing instructions.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

logging the first user onto the first ISP;

creating a roster comprising a list of all users registered with the first ISP and currently logged onto the Local IM server and a list of all users logged onto the Universal IM server on the first ISP.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the roster comprises an IP address and Presence information associated each user listed in the roster.

20. A method of registering a new user on a first ISP (ISP) network to send and receive instant messages from at least one user registered with a different ISP, wherein the first IPS network contains a Universal IM server, comprising:

sending a request for a new user identification (USERID) from the new user to a Local IM server associated with first ISP;

transmitting the request from the Local IM server to the Universal IM server;

assigning a new USERID to the new user from the Universal IM server;

transmitting the new USERID from the Universal IM server to the Local IM server associated with the first ISP;

storing the new USERID in a database of users at the Local IM server;

transmitting the new USERID from the Universal IM server to a plurality of Universal IM servers, each Universal IM server associated with a separate ISP, wherein each Universal IM server stores the USERID in a database of users.

21. A system for facilitating an Instant Messaging (IM) session between a first user associated with a first network service provider and a second user, comprising:

a Local IM server for receiving a connection request from the first user requesting the IM session with the second user, the connection request identifying the second user;

the Local IM server establishing the IM session between the first user and the second user, if the second user is associated with the first network service provider;

a Universal IM server connected to the Local IM server and having a database containing routing information and Presence information for a plurality of users;

if the second user is not associated with the first network service provider;

the Local IM server forwarding the connection request to the Universal IM server;

after receiving the connection request from the Local IM server, the Universal IM server checking the database for the routing information and Presence information for the second user;

the Universal IM server forwarding the connection request to a second network service provider associated with the second user; and

upon receiving the Presence information from the second network service provider, the Universal IM server establishing the IM session between the first user and the second user.

22. The system as set forth in claim 21, wherein the Universal IM server sends the connection request to a second Universal IM server in the second network service provider if the second user is not associated with the first network service provider.

23. The system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the Universal IM server is associated with the first network service provider which has a first IM protocol and wherein the second Universal IM server is associated with the second network service provider which has a second IM protocol, the first IM protocol being different than the first IM protocol.

24. The system as set forth in claim 21, wherein the first and second network service providers comprise Internet service providers.