SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAINTAINING PRESENCE AND COMMUNICATING OVER A COMPUTER NETWORK USING THE HTTP PROTOCOL

• US 20070112966A1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Planetexchange Incorporated
• Inventors: Eftis, Paul, Panashchenko, Oleg
• Granted Patent: US 7,636,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/026 using e-messaging for transporting management information, e.g. email, instant messaging or chat
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5093 wherein the managed service relates to messaging or chat services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• 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

Abstract

A computer-implemented process facilitates communication with an entity over a network. A static HTTP URL is associated with the entity. Communications information reflecting the entity'"'"'s current online presence including the entity'"'"'s dynamic session information as determined using the HTTP protocol is linked with the URL. Communication with the entity is facilitated using the URL and the communications information. The forms of communication facilitated include type chat/instant messaging, voice communication over a computer network, video communication over a computer network, voice communication from a computer network to a telephone network and two-way text messaging to Internet enabled wireless devices.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of sending text messages from a first entity to a second entity over a network using HTTP, the network including a host computer, the method comprising:

(a) establishing and maintaining a socket and an HTTP connection between the second entity and the host computer;

(b) sending a text message from the first entity to the host computer to be delivered to the second entity;

(c) sending the text message to the second entity from the host computer using the socket and the HTTP connection.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) is performed by:

(a) establishing and maintaining a second socket and a second HTTP connection between the first entity and the host computer; and

(b) sending the text message from the first entity to the host computer using the second socket and the second HTTP connection.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a reply message is sent from the second entity to the first entity, the method further comprising:

(a) sending a reply message from the second entity to the host computer using the socket and the HTTP connection; and

(b) sending the reply message from the host computer to the first entity using the second socket and the second HTTP connection.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) displaying the text message on the second entity.

5. A computer-implemented method of transporting SIP messages from a first entity to a second entity over a network, the network including a host computer, the method comprising:

(a) establishing and maintaining a socket and an HTTP connection between the second entity and the host computer;

(b) sending a SIP message from the first entity to the host computer to be delivered to the second entity;

(c) sending the SIP message to the second entity from the host computer using the socket.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

(a) sending a reply to the SIP message from the second entity to the host computer using an HTTP request.

7. A computer-implemented method of sending text messages from an entity to an Internet enabled wireless device over a network, the network including a host computer, the method comprising:

(a) sending a communications request to the Internet enabled wireless device from the host computer that includes an URL identifying the host computer;

(b) establishing and maintaining a socket and an HTTP connection between the Internet enabled wireless device and the host computer using the URL;

(c) sending a text message from the entity to the host computer to be delivered to the Internet enabled wireless device;

(d) sending the text message to the Internet enabled wireless device from the host computer using the socket and the HTTP connection.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein step (c) is performed by:

(a) establishing and maintaining a second socket and a second HTTP connection between the entity and the host computer; and

(b) sending the text message from the entity to the host computer using the second socket and the second HTTP connection.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a reply message is sent from the Internet enabled wireless device to the entity, the method further comprising:

(a) sending a reply message from the Internet enabled wireless device to the host computer using the socket and the HTTP connection; and

(b) sending the reply message from the host computer to the entity using the second socket and the second HTTP connection.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

(a) displaying the text message on the Internet enabled wireless device.

11. An article of manufacture for sending text messages from a first entity to a second entity over a network using HTTP, the network including a host computer, the article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

(a) establishing and maintaining a socket and an HTTP connection between the second entity and the host computer;

(b) sending a text message from the first entity to the host computer to be delivered to the second entity;

(c) sending the text message to the second entity from the host computer using the socket and the HTTP connection.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11 wherein step (b) is performed by:

(a) establishing and maintaining a second socket and a second HTTP connection between the first entity and the host computer; and

(b) sending the text message from the first entity to the host computer using the second socket and the second HTTP connection.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 12 wherein a reply message is sent from the second entity to the first entity, the computer-executable instructions performing a method further comprising:

(a) sending a reply message from the second entity to the host computer using the socket and the HTTP connection; and

(b) sending the reply message from the host computer to the first entity using the second socket and the second HTTP connection.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 11 wherein the computer-executable instructions perform a method further comprising:

(a) displaying the text message on the second entity.

15. An article of manufacture for transporting SIP messages from a first entity to a second entity over a network, the network including a host computer, the article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

(a) establishing and maintaining a socket and an HTTP connection between the second entity and the host computer;

(b) sending a SIP message from the first entity to the host computer to be delivered to the second entity;

(c) sending the SIP message to the second entity from the host computer using the socket.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15 wherein the computer-executable instructions perform a method further comprising:

(a) sending a reply to the SIP message from the second entity to the host computer using an HTTP request.

17. An article of manufacture for sending text messages from an entity to an Internet enabled wireless device over a network, the network including a host computer, the article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

(a) sending a communications request to the Internet enabled wireless device from the host computer that includes an URL identifying the host computer;

(b) establishing and maintaining a socket and an HTTP connection between the Internet enabled wireless device and the host computer using the URL;

(c) sending a text message from the entity to the host computer to be delivered to the Internet enabled wireless device;

(d) sending the text message to the Internet enabled wireless device from the host computer using the socket and the HTTP connection.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17 wherein step (c) is performed by:

(a) establishing and maintaining a second socket and a second HTTP connection between the entity and the host computer; and

(b) sending the text message from the entity to the host computer using the second socket and the second HTTP connection.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein a reply message is sent from the Internet enabled wireless device to the entity, the computer-executable instructions performing a method further comprising:

(a) sending a reply message from the Internet enabled wireless device to the host computer using the socket and the HTTP connection; and

(b) sending the reply message from the host computer to the entity using the second socket and the second HTTP connection.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 17 wherein the computer-executable instructions perform a method further comprising:

(a) displaying the text message on the Internet enabled wireless device.

21. A computer-implemented apparatus for sending text messages from a first entity to a second entity over a network using HTTP, the network including a host computer, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for establishing and maintaining a socket and an HTTP connection between the second entity and the host computer;

(b) means for sending a text message from the first entity to the host computer to be delivered to the second entity;

(c) means for sending the text message to the second entity from the host computer using the socket and the HTTP connection.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the means for sending a text message from the first entity to the host computer comprise:

(a) means for establishing and maintaining a second socket and a second HTTP connection between the first entity and the host computer; and

(b) means for sending the text message from the first entity to the host computer using the second socket and the second HTTP connection.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein a reply message is sent from the second entity to the first entity, the apparatus further comprising:

(a) means for sending a reply message from the second entity to the host computer using the socket and the HTTP connection; and

(b) means for sending the reply message from the host computer to the first entity using the second socket and the second HTTP connection.

24. The apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising:

(a) means for displaying the text message on the second entity.

25. A computer-implemented apparatus for transporting SIP messages from a first entity to a second entity over a network, the network including a host computer, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for establishing and maintaining a socket and an HTTP connection between the second entity and the host computer;

(b) means for sending a SIP message from the first entity to the host computer to be delivered to the second entity;

(c) means for sending the SIP message to the second entity from the host computer using the socket.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising:

(a) means for sending a reply to the SIP message from the second entity to the host computer using an HTTP request.

27. A computer-implemented apparatus for sending text messages from an entity to an Internet enabled wireless device over a network, the network including a host computer, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for sending a communications request to the Internet enabled wireless device from the host computer that includes an URL identifying the host computer;

(b) means for establishing and maintaining a socket and an HTTP connection between the Internet enabled wireless device and the host computer using the URL;

(c) means for sending a text message from the entity to the host computer to be delivered to the Internet enabled wireless device;

(d) means for sending the text message to the Internet enabled wireless device from the host computer using the socket and the HTTP connection.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the means for sending a text message from the entity to the host computer comprise:

(a) means for establishing and maintaining a second socket and a second HTTP connection between the entity and the host computer; and

(b) means for sending the text message from the entity to the host computer using the second socket and the second HTTP connection.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein a reply message is sent from the Internet enabled wireless device to the entity, the apparatus further comprising:

(a) means for sending a reply message from the Internet enabled wireless device to the host computer using the socket and the HTTP connection; and

(b) means for sending the reply message from the host computer to the entity using the second socket and the second HTTP connection.

30. The apparatus according to claim 27 further comprising:

(a) means for displaying the text message on the Internet enabled wireless device.