Multi-system instant messaging (IM)

• US 7,185,059 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Daniell, W. Todd, Friedman, Lee G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACOBS, LASHONDA T
• Application Number:
  US10/325,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20040054735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709203-204, 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Systems and methods for instant messaging (IM) with multiple contacts from multiple IM systems are presented. In one embodiment, incoming IM messages from multiple IM systems are translated and displayed to the user. Similarly, outgoing IM messages from the user are translated for compatibility with each of the multiple IM systems, thereby permitting communication between the user and contacts at the multiple IM systems. In another embodiment, an incoming IM message from one of the IM systems is translated for compatibility with each of the other IM systems, thereby permitting communication between contacts at the multiple IM systems.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a first instant-messaging (IM) session between a user on a client device and a first contact in a single IM-session window, the first IM session being initiated with the first contact having a first IM account, the first IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a first IM protocol; and

establishing a second IM session between the user and a second contact in the single IM-session window, the second IM session being initiated with the second contact having a second IM account, the second IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a second IM protocol, the client device being configured to permit IM communications between the first contact and the second contact,

wherein the IM communications between the first contact and the second contact are communicated via the client device of the user, and

wherein the first IM protocol is different than the second IM protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing the second IM session occurs substantially simultaneously with the establishing the first IM session.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an IM message from the first contact; and

displaying the received IM message from the first contact in the single IM-session window.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an IM message from the second contact; and

displaying the received IM message from the second contact in the single IM-session window.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving IM messages from the first contact and the second contact; and

displaying the received IM messages from the first contact and the second contact in the single IM-session window.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input at the IM-session window, the user input being an IM message;

conveying the IM message to the first contact at the first IM account; and

substantially simultaneously conveying the IM message to the second contact at the second IM account.

7. A method comprising:

receiving at a client device at a user location a first instant-messaging (IM) message from a first contact, the first contact having a first IM account, the first IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a first IM protocol; and

conveying the first IM message from the client device at a user location to a second contact, the second contact having a second IM account, the second IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a second IM protocol,

wherein the first IM protocol is different than the second IM protocol,

wherein the client device is configured to permit IM communications between the first contact and the second contact, and

wherein the IM communications between the first contact and the second contact are communicated via the client device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the conveying the first IM message comprises:

reformatting the first IM message; and

forwarding the reformatted first IM message to the second contact.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the reformatting the first IM message comprises:

removing a user IM address from the first IM message;

determining an IM address of the first contact;

extracting a first message content from the first IM message; and

appending the determined IM address of the first contact to the first message content.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the removing the user IM address from the first IM message comprises:

determining a number of characters in the user IM address;

inserting a number of delete characters adjacent to the user IM address, the number of delete characters being the same as the number of characters in the user IM address, each of the delete characters adapted to delete a character in the user IM address.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a second IM message from the second contact; and

conveying the received second IM message to the first contact.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the conveying the second IM message comprises:

reformatting the second IM message; and

forwarding the reformatted second IM message to the second contact.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the reformatting the second IM message comprises:

removing a user IM address from the second IM message;

determining an IM address of the second contact;

extracting a second message content from the second IM message; and

appending the determined IM address of the second contact to the second message content.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the removing the user IM address from the second IM message comprises:

determining a number of characters in the user IM address;

inserting a number of delete characters adjacent to the user IM address, the number of delete characters being the same as the number of characters in the user IM address, each of the delete characters adapted to delete a character in the user IM address.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying the first IM message and the second IM message on a single IM-session screen.

16. A system comprising:

means for establishing a first instant-messaging (TM) session between a user on a client device and a first contact in a single TM-session window, the first IM session being initiated with the first contact having a first IM account, the first IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a first IM protocol; and

means for establishing a second IM session between the user and a second contact in the single TM-session window, the second IM session being initiated with the second contact having a second IM account, the second IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a second IM protocol, the client device being configured to permit IM communications between the first contact and the second contact,

wherein the IM communications between the first contact and the second contact are communicated via the client device of the user, and

wherein the first IM protocol is different than the second IM protocol.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for receiving an IM message from the first contact; and

means for displaying the received IM message from the first contact in the single TM-session window.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for receiving an IM message from the second contact; and

means for displaying the received IM message from the second contact in the single TM-session window.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for receiving user input at the IM-session window, the user input being an IM message;

means for conveying the IM message to the first contact at the first IM account; and

means for substantially simultaneously conveying the IM message to the second contact at the second IM account.

20. A system comprising:

means for a user to receive, at a client device at a user location, a first instant-messaging (IM) message from a first contact, the first contact having a first IM account, the first IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a first IM protocol; and

means for conveying the first IM message from the client device at a user location to a second contact, the second contact having a second IM account, the second IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a second IM protocol,

wherein the first IM protocol is different than the second IM protocol,

wherein the client device is configured to permit IM communications between the first contact and the second contact, and

wherein the IM communications between the first contact and the second contact are communicated via the client device.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

means for reformatting the first IM message; and

means for forwarding a reformatted first IM message to the second contact.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for removing a user IM address from the first IM message;

means for determining an IM address of the first contact;

means for extracting a first message content from the first IM message; and

means for appending the determined IM address of the first contact to the first message content.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for determining a number of characters in the user IM address;

means for inserting a number of delete characters adjacent to the user IM address, the number of delete characters being the same as the number of characters in the user IM address, each of the delete characters adapted to delete a character in the user IM address.

24. A system comprising:

logic adapted to establish a first instant-messaging (IM) session between a user on a client device and a first contact in a single IM-session window, the first IM session being initiated with the first contact having a first IM account, the first IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a first IM protocol; and

logic adapted to establish a second IM session between the user and a second contact in the single IM-session window, the second IM session being initiated with the second contact having a second IM account, the second IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a second IM protocol, the client device being configured to permit IM communications between the first contact and the second contact,

wherein the IM communications between the first contact and the second contact are communicated via the client device of the user, and

wherein the first IM protocol is different than the second IM protocol.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

logic adapted to receive an IM message from the first contact; and

logic adapted to display the received IM message from the first contact in the single IM-session window.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

logic adapted to receive an IM message from the second contact; and

logic adapted to display the received IM message from the second contact in the single IM-session window.

27. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

logic adapted to receive user input at the IM-session window, the user input being an IM message;

logic adapted to convey the IM message to the first contact at the first IM account; and

logic adapted to substantially simultaneously convey the IM message to the second contact at the second IM account.

28. A system comprising:

logic adapted to allow a user to receive, at a client device at a user location, a first instant-messaging (IM) message from a first contact, the first contact having a first IM account, the first IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a first IM protocol; and

logic adapted to convey the first IM message from the client device at a user location to a second contact, the second contact having a second IM account, the second IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a second IM protocol,

wherein the first IM protocol is different than the second IM protocol,

wherein the client device is configured to permit IM communications between the first contact and the second contact, and

wherein the IM communications between the first contact and the second contact are communicated via the client device.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

logic adapted to reformat the first IM message; and

logic adapted to forward a reformatted first IM message to the second contact.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

logic adapted to remove a user IM address from the first IM message;

logic adapted to determine an IM address of the first contact;

logic adapted to extract a first message content from the first IM message; and

logic adapted to append the determined IM address of the first contact to the first message content.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

logic configured to determine a number of characters in the user IM address;

logic configured to insert a number of delete characters adjacent to the user IM address, the number of delete characters being the same as the number of characters in the user IM address, each of the delete characters adapted to delete a character in the user IM address.

32. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

logic adapted to receive a second IM message flow the second contact; and

logic adapted to convey the received second IM message to the first contact.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

logic adapted to reformat the second IM message; and

logic adapted to forward a reformatted second IM message to the second contact.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

logic adapted to remove a user IM address from the second IM message;

logic adapted to determine an IM address of the second contact;

logic adapted to extract a second message content from the second JM message; and

logic adapted to append the determined IM address of the second contact to the second message content.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

logic adapted to determine a number of characters in the user IM address;

logic adapted to insert a number of delete characters adjacent to the user IM address, the number of delete characters being the same as the number of characters in the user IM address, each of the delete characters adapted to delete a character in the user IM address.

36. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

logic adapted to display the first IM message and the second IM message on a single IM-session screen.

37. A computer-readable storage medium embodying computer-readable code configured to instruct:

a programmable device to establish a first instant-messaging (IM) session between a user on a client device and a first contact in a single IM-session window, the first IM session being initiated with the first contact having a first IM account, the first IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a first IM protocol, and

a programmable device to establish a second IM session between the user and a second contact in the single IM-session window, the second IM session being initiated with the second contact having a second IM account, the second IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a second IM protocol, the client device being configured to permit IM communications between the first contact and the second contact,

wherein the IM communications between the first contact and the second contact are communicated via the client device of the user, and

wherein the first IM protocol is different than the second IM protocol.

38. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, further comprising:

a programmable device to receive an IM message from the first contact, and

a programmable device to display the received IM message from the first contact in the single IM-session window.

39. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, further comprising:

a programmable device to receive an IM message from the second contact; and

a programmable device to display the received IM message from the second contact in the single IM-session window.

40. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, further comprising:

a programmable device to receive user input at the IM-session window, the user input being an IM message;

a programmable device to convey the IM message to the first contact at the first IM account, and

a programmable device to substantially simultaneously convey the IM message to the second contact at the second IM account.

41. A computer-readable storage medium embodying computer-readable code configured to instruct:

a programmable device to allow a user to receive, at a client device at a user location, a first instant-messaging (IM) message from a first contact, the first contact having a first IM account, the first IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a first IM protocol; and

a programmable device to convey the first IM message from the client device at a user location to a second contact, the second contact having a second IM account, the second IM account adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using a second IM protocol,

wherein the first IM protocol is different than the second IM protocol,

wherein the client device is configured to permit IM communications between the first contact and the second contact, and

wherein the IM communications between the first contact and the second contact are communicated via the client device.

42. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, further comprising:

a programmable device to reformat the first IM message; and

a programmable device to forward a reformatted first IM message to the second contact.

43. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 42, further comprising:

a programmable device to remove a user IM address from the first IM message,

a programmable device to determine an IM address of the first contact;

a programmable device to extract a first message content from the first IM message; and

a programmable device to append the determined IM address of the first contact to the first message content.

44. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, further comprising:

determining a number of characters in the user IM address;

inserting a number of delete characters adjacent to the user IM address, the number of delete characters being the same as the number of characters in the user IM address, each of the delete characters adapted to delete a character in the user IM address.

45. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, further comprising:

a programmable device to receive a second IM message from the second contact; and

a programmable device to convey the received second IM message to the first contact.

46. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 45, further comprising:

a programmable device to reformat the second IM message; and

a programmable device to forward a reformatted second IM message to the second contact.

47. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 46, further comprising:

a programmable device to remove a user IM address from the second IM message;

programmable device to determine an IM address of the second contact;

a programmable device to extract a second message content from the second IM message; and

a programmable device to append the determined IM address of the second contact to the second message content.

48. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, further comprising:

a programmable device to determine a number of characters in the user IM address,

a programmable device to insert a number of delete characters adjacent to the user IM address, the number of delete characters being the same as the number of characters in the user IM address, each of the delete characters adapted to delete a character in the user IM address.

49. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 45, further comprising:

a programmable device to display the first IM message and the second IM message on a single IM-session screen.