Instant messaging architecture and system for interoperability and presence management

• US 7,844,716 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2009
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Peterson, Matt, Malik, Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Donaghue; Larry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gillis; Brian J.
• Application Number:
  US12/544,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20090307327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709/227, 709/230, 709/207
• US Class Current: 709/227
• 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 bimodal local instant messaging server, comprising:

a memory component configured to store a program that causes the bimodal local instant messaging server to perform at least the following;

establish an instant messaging connection between at least two users registered with an Internet service provider using a proprietary instant messaging protocol; and

upon determination that the at least two users are configured to communicate using a universal instant messaging protocol, facilitate communication between the at least two users using the universal instant messaging protocol.

2. The bimodal local instant messaging server of claim 1, wherein the bimodal local instant messaging server is coupled to a universal instant messaging server and a plurality of bimodal instant messaging clients that establish a connection with the bimodal local instant messaging server using the proprietary instant messaging protocol.

3. The bimodal local instant messaging server of claim 1, the memory component further storing routing information and presence information for at least one user registered with the bimodal local instant messaging server.

4. The bimodal local instant messaging server of claim 3, the presence information comprising:

a list of personal information associated with the at least one user;

a list of the Internet device types associated with at least one user; and

a list of connection options associated with at least one user.

5. The bimodal local instant messaging server of claim 1, the memory component further storing a program that establishes an instant messaging session between at least two users registered with a common Internet service provider using the proprietary instant messaging protocol.

6. The bimodal local instant messaging server of claim 1, the memory component further storing a program that establishes a connection between at least two users registered with a common Internet service provider using the universal instant messaging protocol.

7. The bimodal local instant messaging server of claim 1, wherein the universal instant messaging protocol is structured in extensible markup language.

8. A method, comprising:

establishing, by a computing device, an instant messaging connection between at least two users registered with a first Internet service provider using a proprietary instant messaging protocol; and

upon a determination that the at least two users are configured to communicate using a universal instant messaging protocol, facilitating communication between the at least two users using the universal instant messaging protocol, wherein the universal instant messaging protocol allows the at least two users to communicate with at least one other user registered at a second Internet service provider via the universal instant messaging protocol.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising communicatively coupling to a plurality of bimodal instant messaging clients using the proprietary instant messaging protocol.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising establishing a connection with a universal instant messaging server using the universal instant messaging protocol.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing routing information and presence information for at least one user registered with a bimodal local instant messaging server, the presence information comprising:

a list of personal information associated with the at least one user;

a list of the Internet device types associated with at least one user; and

a list of connection options associated with at least one user.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising establishing an instant messaging session between at least two users registered with a common Internet service provider using the proprietary instant messaging protocol.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising establishing a connection between at least two users registered with a common Internet service provider using the universal instant messaging protocol.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one user is registered with the universal instant messaging server.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes a program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform at least the following:

establish an instant messaging connection between at least two users registered with a first Internet service provider using a proprietary instant messaging protocol; and

upon a determination that the at least two users are configured to communicate using the a universal instant messaging protocol, facilitate communication between the at least two users using the universal instant messaging protocol, the universal instant messaging protocol allowing the at least two users to communicate with at least one other user registered at a second Internet service provider via the universal instant messaging protocol.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program further causing the computer to communicatively couple to a plurality of bimodal instant messaging clients that establish a connection with a local instant messaging server using the proprietary instant messaging protocol.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program further causing the computer to establish a connection with a universal instant messaging server using the universal instant messaging protocol.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program further causing the computer to store routing information and presence information for at least one user registered with a bimodal local instant messaging server.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program further causing the computer to establish an instant messaging session between at least two users registered with a common Internet service provider using the proprietary instant messaging protocol.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program further causing the computer to establish a connection between at least two users registered with a common Internet service provider using the universal instant messaging protocol.