HIGH LEVEL NETWORK LAYER SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100228747A1
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBuddy Technologies B.V.
• Original Assignee: eBuddy Holding B.V. (Booking Holdings, Inc., fka Priceline Group Inc.)
• Inventors: Bakker, Onno, Taylor, Paulo, Rueb, Jan-Joost
• Granted Patent: US 8,356,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• 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 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] H04L51/04; selective video distribution H04N21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1044 Group management mechanisms management of multicast group membership H04L12/185; reconfiguring of node membership in a computing system to eliminate errors G06F11/1425
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

A technique for providing high level network layer functionality to an IM environment involves providing a high level platform through which IM clients can connect to IM networks. A platform according to the technique may include a low level network connect engine, an aggregated low level information database, and/or a high level function engine. A method according to the technique may include facilitating a high level login; checking user configurations; accomplishing one or more IM network logins in accordance with the user configurations; and providing high level services in association with at least one of the IM networks. Another method according to the technique may include logging into a high level platform; logging into a first IM network; logging into a second IM network; and accessing at the high level platform aggregated low level information associated with the first IM network and the second IM network.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a low level network connect engine for coupling a low level client to a low level server;

an aggregated low level information database that includes data associated with the low level client;

a high level function engine for providing functionality to the low level client not normally available to low level clients of the low level server, and for making information from the aggregated low level information database at least available online.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the low level network connect engine includes a protocol conversion module for converting from a low level protocol to a high level protocol.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the low level network connect engine includes a protocol conversion module for converting from a high level protocol to a low level protocol.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the aggregated low level information database includes stored images, and wherein the high level function engine provides the images in association with messages from the low level client to the low level server.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the low level network connect engine monitors traffic from the low level client to the low level server and stores a log in the aggregated low level information database.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the high level function engine provides event notifications to the low level client in response to high level or low level events.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the aggregated low level information database includes, at least while the low level client is coupled to the low level network through the low level connect engine, an aggregated contact list that includes contacts associated with the low level client and the low level network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the aggregated low level information database includes location-based fields associated with contacts of a contacts list.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the contacts list is remotely maintained.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the high level function engine includes a location-based sorting module, wherein, in operation, the high level function engine uses the location-based sorting module to facilitate sorting of the contacts list based upon location associated with the contacts.

11. A method comprising:

facilitating a high level login;

checking user configurations;

accomplishing one or more instant messaging (IM) network logins in accordance with the user configurations;

providing high level services in association with at least one of the IM networks.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising prompting a user for information to accomplish the one or more IM network logins.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising utilizing the user configurations to accomplish the one or more IM network logins.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising making data associated with at least one of the one or more IM network logins available online.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising facilitating an IM network logoff.

16. A method comprising:

logging into a high level platform;

logging into a first instant message (IM) network;

logging into a second IM network;

accessing at the high level platform aggregated low level information associated with the first IM network and the second IM network.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving augmented IM functionality options from the high level platform.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing user configuration details to the high level platform to enable automatic login to the first IM network.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising accessing the high level platform using a browser.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising accessing the first IM network and the second IM network through the high level platform.