Apparatus and method for instant messaging collaboration

• US 8,402,095 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Beauchamp, Tim J., Nicholls, Geoffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Kenny
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMARTH, GERALD A
• Application Number:
  US12/039,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20080155020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

An apparatus and method for instant message transmission includes a message center coupled to one or more servers and to an event engine by a network. An instant message is transmitted to the message center by the event engine over the network. An algorithm determines the optimum path for the transmission of the instant message. Users may share identical data via instant messaging, and may make changes to the data as it is streamed in real-time to designated users over the network. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b)

Claims

1. A method for conducting message transmission in a system that comprises an event engine coupled to an enterprise computing runtime environment and to a message center through a network, the method comprising:

receiving raw enterprise data from a plurality of enterprise applications that are desired to be monitored;

formatting the raw enterprise data received from the plurality of enterprise applications to create a message;

transmitting the message to the event engine;

receiving the message at the event engine over the network, the message containing data synchronized in real-time to data in the enterprise computing runtime environment, and the message generated according to a change in the data in the enterprise computing runtime environment;

determining with the event engine whether the data is to be transmitted instantly to at least one user coupled to the message center via the network;

determining with at least one server coupled to the message center an optimum path for transmitting the data to the at least one user using a set of rules that identifies an order in which a proprietary instant message server, an external instant message server and an email transmission should be tried to contact the at least one user, wherein;

the external instant message server is accessed via the internet by the at least one server as a peer; and

the proprietary instant message server is accessed via an in-house connection; and

sending a message containing the data to the at least one user through the at least one server coupled to the message center through the network using the determined optimum path.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising tracking a logon state of the at least one user.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining a list of users that includes the at least one user in the message center that are eligible for communication by instant message transmission; and

resolving an e-mail address associated with the one or more users from the list of users.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the optimum path is provided through a mail server.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the optimum path is provided through a MicrosoftQY instant messaging server.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the optimum path is provided through a proprietary server.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing encryption for the message transmission through the proprietary server.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the proprietary server allows for the farming out of instant message transmission to back-up servers, the back-up servers providing for message transmission to the one or more users.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

establishing a direct connection to the at least one user; and

sending the message to the at least one user via the direction connection.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the changes are made utilizing a pen-type device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the network is a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the network includes the Internet.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining with the least one server coupled to the message center the optimum path for transmitting the data to the at least one user is further based on a presence of the at least one user.

14. A system comprising:

a network;

an enterprise link engine, configured to;

receive raw enterprise data from a plurality of enterprise applications that are desired to be monitored;

format the raw enterprise data received from the plurality of enterprise applications to create a message; and

transmit the message to the event engine;

an event engine coupled with the network, the event engine configured to;

receive the message over the network, the message containing data synchronized in real-time to data in an enterprise computing runtime environment, and the message generated according to a change in the data in the enterprise computing runtime environment, and

determine whether the data is to be transmitted instantly to at least one user coupled to the message center via the network; and

at least one server of a message center, coupled with the network, configured to;

determine an optimum path for transmitting the data to the at least one user using a set of rules that identifies an order in which a proprietary instant message server, an external instant message server and an email transmission should be tried to contact the at least one user, wherein;

the external instant message server is accessed via the internet by the at least one server as a peer; and

the proprietary instant message server is accessed via an in-house connection; and

send a message containing the data to the at least one user through the at least one server coupled to the message center through the network using the determined optimum path.

15. A machine-readable memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive raw enterprise data from a plurality of enterprise applications that are desired to be monitored;

format the raw enterprise data received from the plurality of enterprise applications, wherein the formatted raw enterprise data is synchronized in real-time to data in an enterprise computing runtime environment, and the data indicates a change in data of the enterprise computing runtime environment;

determine whether the data is to be transmitted instantly to at least one user;

determine an optimum path for transmitting the data to the at least one user using a set of rules that identifies an order in which a proprietary instant message server, an external instant message server and an email transmission should be tried to contact the at least one user, wherein;

the external instant message server is accessed via the internet by the at least one server as a peer; and

the proprietary instant message server is accessed via an in-house connection; and

send a message containing the data to the at least one user using the determined optimum path.