U.S. patent application number 11/206685 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-22 for system and method for obtaining remote instant messages.
Invention is credited to David Alson George, Raymond Byars III Jennings.
Application Number | 20070043820 11/206685 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37768435 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070043820 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
George; David Alson ; et
al. |
February 22, 2007 |
System and method for obtaining remote instant messages
Abstract
A system and method for retrieving instant messages includes
establishing a first instant message (IM) session an then,
establishing a second instant message session using a same account
as the first instant message session. The first IM session is
rendered dormant such that active instant messages are received by
the second instant message session.
Inventors: |
George; David Alson;
(Somers, NY) ; Jennings; Raymond Byars III;
(Ossining, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KEUSEY, TUTUNJIAN & BITETTO, P.C.
20 CROSSWAYS PARK NORTH, SUITE 210
WOOBURY
NY
11797
US
|
Family ID: |
37768435 |
Appl. No.: |
11/206685 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/207 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 51/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/207 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/16 20060101
G06F015/16 |
Claims
1. A method for retrieving instant messages, comprising:
establishing a first instant message (IM) session; establishing a
second IM session using a same account as the first IM session; and
rendering the first IM session dormant such that active instant
messages directed to the first IM session are received by the
second IM instant message session.
2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein establishing the
second IM session includes establishing the second IM session at a
different location from the first IM session.
3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein establishing the
second IM session includes establishing the second IM session at a
different client device from the first IM session.
4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising
authenticating a user of the second IM session prior to the step of
establishing the second IM session.
5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising warning a
user of the first IM session prior to establishing the second IM
session.
6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising responding
to instant messages using the second IM session.
7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising
establishing a third IM session using the same account.
8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising rendering
the second IM session dormant.
9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising restoring
an active status of the first IM session upon termination of the
second IM session.
10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising closing
the first IM session from the second IM session.
11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising deleting
active instant messages from the first IM session from the second
IM session.
12. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium
including a computer readable program, wherein the computer
readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to
perform: establishing a first instant message (IM) session;
establishing a second IM session using a same account as the first
IM session; and rendering the first IM session dormant such that
active instant messages are received by the second IM session.
13. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein
establishing the second IM session includes establishing the second
IM session at a different location from the first IM session.
14. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein
establishing the second IM session includes establishing the second
IM session at a different client device from the first IM
session.
15. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, further
comprising authenticating a user of the second IM session prior to
the step of establishing the second IM session.
16. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, further
comprising warning a user of the first IM session prior to
establishing the second IM session.
17. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, further
comprising responding to instant messages using the second IM
session.
18. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, further
comprising establishing a third IM session using the same
account.
19. The computer program product as recited in claim 18, further
comprising rendering the second IM session dormant.
20. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, further
comprising restoring an active status of the first IM session upon
termination of the second IM session.
21. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, further
comprising closing the first IM session from the second IM
session.
22. The computer program product as recited in claim 12, further
comprising deleting active instant messages from the first IM
session from the second IM session.
23. An instant message system, comprising: a server configured to
address instant messages; a first session associated with a first
client location, which receives instant messages for an account
from the server; and a second session associated with a second
client location, such that when the second session is established
the first session is rendered dormant and the second session can
retrieve the instant messages of the first session from the
server.
24. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the first and second
locations include different client devices.
25. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the server
authenticates a user of the second session prior to establishing
the second session.
26. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the server permits
establishing a plurality of session from the same account.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to on-line communications and
more particularly to a system and method for transferring/obtaining
instant messages.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Instant messaging can be a useful way of communicating
between on-line users. Users can send a text message with or
without attachments to one or more other users. Instant messages
may be sent directly to a computer associated with the screen name
of the instant message receiver.
[0005] Currently, there is no way for a user to retrieve an instant
message that is waiting on a user screen if the user is not
present.
SUMMARY
[0006] A system and method for retrieving instant messages includes
establishing a first instant message (IM) session an then,
establishing a second instant message session using a same account
as the first instant message session. The first IM session is
rendered dormant such that active instant messages directed to the
first IM session are received by the second instant message
session.
[0007] An instant message system includes a server configured to
address instant messages. A first session is associated with a
first client location, which receives instant messages for an
account from the server. A second session is associated with a
second client location, such that when the second session is
established the first session is rendered dormant and the second
session can retrieve the instant messages of the first session from
the server.
[0008] These and other objects, features and advantages will become
apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative
embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] The disclosure will provide details in the following
description of preferred embodiments with reference to the
following figures wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system and interactions
between components of the system to carry out remote instant
message retrieval in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of
the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one implementation of a
system/program in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0012] FIG. 3 is a block/flow diagram showing a system/method for
remote retrieval and response of instant messages in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and
methods for an instant message user to obtain recently received
instant messages from an existing instant message (IM) session. In
one example, a user's original IM session is kept active at a first
location. When the user performs a login/authentication from a
second location, the contents and any IMs from the first location
are cleared and provided at the second location.
[0014] Embodiments of the present invention can take the form of an
entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an
embodiment including both hardware and software elements. In a
preferred embodiment, the present invention is implemented in
software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident
software, microcode, etc.
[0015] Furthermore, the present invention can take the form of a
computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or
computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in
connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For
the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer
readable medium can be any apparatus that may include, store,
communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in
connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or
device. The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical,
electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or
device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable
medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic
tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM),
a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical
disk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk--read
only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk--read/write (CD-R/W) and
DVD.
[0016] A data processing system suitable for storing and/or
executing program code may include at least one processor coupled
directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The
memory elements can include local memory employed during actual
execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories
which provide temporary storage of at least some program code to
reduce the number of times code is retrieved from bulk storage
during execution. Input/output or I/O devices (including but not
limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) may be
coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O
controllers.
[0017] Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable
the data processing system to become coupled to other data
processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through
intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and
Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of
network adapters.
[0018] Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals
represent the same or similar elements and initially to FIG. 1, a
system and associated timing diagram are shown to illustrate one
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A system 10 includes
a client device 12 and a client device 14. Client devices 12 and 14
may include computer devices, such as a personal computer, a
laptop, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a
cellular telephone, or any other device which can receive messages,
and in particular instant messages. Clients 12 and 14 include an
instant messenger program which includes one or more modules which
provide the functionality in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention.
[0019] System 10 may be included on a network 18, such as the
Internet, a local area network, a wireless network (e.g., a
cellular network) a cable or satellite network or any other system
where communications between locations or within a same location is
possible. System 10 includes a server or servers 16, which enable
instant messaging services.
[0020] In step 20, a first session is established by client 12. The
session is established by connecting to the server 16 and
optionally logging onto a service. The service includes instant
messaging capability.
[0021] In step 22, a second session is established by the same or a
different user using the same account, but at a different location
or using a different platform (e.g., client 14) or device. This may
be performed by logging into the system to permit a surrogate user
with an instant messaging system that permits for a remote user to
access previously received but not yet read, instant messages and
future messages. The user is permitted to login to an instant
message system/service (e.g., Lotus Sametime.TM.) without forcing
an already active session to logoff/disconnect. The first session
becomes a slave session until the second session disconnects.
[0022] In step 24, the server 16 tells the first session to go
dormant, and the second session asks for remote active IMs in step
26. Dormancy may include remaining open but inactive in favor of
the second or the latest open session. The server 16 requests the
remote active IMs from the first session, in step 28, and the
remote active IMs are sent back to the server in step 30, and
forwarded to the second session in step 32.
[0023] System 10 permits for multiple instances of an instant
messaging system for the same user ID. Each subsequent instant
messaging session/instance can get messages received from the
previous session/instance. The system 10 prevents an instance or
session from being permanently disconnected/logged off an instant
message system because the user logged in at a different
location.
[0024] In an example of a particular useful embodiment, a user
performs a login/authentication to an instant messenger program
(e.g., Lotus Sametime.TM.) at an office machine (client 12). The
user later goes home (client 14) and does a second
login/authentication using the same instant messenger service
(e.g., Lotus Sametime.TM.). The first instance or session becomes a
surrogate of the second instance or session. The second instance
can request all instant message windows that have been sent
(recently) to the first instance and be sent to the second
instance.
[0025] For example, someone may have sent an instant message to the
user while they were away, but now that the user is at a different
location, the sender has no idea of the message sitting on the
screen at the first location. The surrogate user can then forward
these messages/windows to the new instance of the user. Once the
second instance logs off the surrogate instance goes back to being
the "master" instance. In one embodiment, both the first and second
instances can be terminated from either the first or the second
location.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, an instant message program structure is
illustratively shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
Instant messenger software 100 may be loaded at a client location
from a program storage device or down loaded from a server on a
network. Software 100 includes the features and functions of any
conventional IM software package.
[0027] In addition, software 100 includes a surrogate session
module 102, which provides the capabilities as described herein in
accordance with the present invention. Module 102 may be provided
with conventional IM software packages or be included in an add-on
at a later time. Module 102 includes code 104 (e.g., an object,
HTML code, etc.), which may be included at the client location or
at the server. Code 104 may be distributed between client and
server devices. Code 104 permits intermittent or continuous
monitoring to detect whether a new session has been opened using
the user ID of the present instance of the software 100. This may
be performed at a client location or at a server. When a new
session is detected by module 102, a request is made of the server
for a new address to forward any instant messages received at the
current address. In one embodiment, the forwarded messages are
forwarded to a second location but are viewable at the first
location as well. In another embodiment, messages are viewable only
at the second location.
[0028] Module 102 further includes code 106 (e.g., an object, HTML,
etc.) for receiving messages from the second location and
forwarding the messages to the server as though the messages
originated from the first location.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, a block/flow diagram showing a
system/method 200 for multi-access instant messaging services. The
system/method 200 provides for an instant message user to obtain
recently received instant messages from an existing remote IM
session, and keeps a user's original IM session active when a user
performs a login/authentication from a second location. The
system/method 200 permits for a second IM session to clear the
contents of a first IM session, and otherwise control the first
session as though the second session were the first.
[0030] In block 202, an instant messenger program is equipped with
or modified to include a capability for running a remote session,
and passing control or a portion of the control to the remote
session. In block 204, a first session is initiated by a user. In
block 206, a second session is initiated using same user ID or
account information. In block 208, a system server or client
detects the redundant session and notifies the first instance to
verify whether the second instance is an imposter or requests that
that the second instance user provide additional information to
authenticate themselves in block 210.
[0031] If the second instance properly authenticates the user in
the second instance, the first instance goes dormant or is set in a
dormant state by the server in block 212. When an instant message
server receives a second connection for a user, the server sends a
message to the first session to go into a dormant state where the
connection is kept open but no further user messages are delivered
to this session.
[0032] Any messages received in the first instance from other
active sessions that have active open windows are made accessible
to the second instance and responses may be returned in block 214.
The second session can request from the server any "open messages"
from the first session where an open message is any open instant
message window.
[0033] In this way, the user of the second instance retrieves
waiting messages and may respond to them while keeping the initial
instant messaging session open to act as a surrogate while the
second session is active.
[0034] In block 216, the second session is permitted to clear the
contents of any open windows of the first session. In block 218,
when the second session is terminated, the first session may be
restored to a previous state (e.g. "away") or may be terminated as
well depending on a default setting or a user selected
preference.
[0035] It is to be understood that while two sessions were
illustratively described, any number of surrogate connections may
be used. The present invention may be employed in any number of
scenarios, for example, a user leaves their office and wants to
retrieve any messages from a conference room or remote location, or
a user arrives at home and wants to retrieve any messages sent to
the office. Instant messages are frequently sent to other people
even when there presence is listed as "away".
[0036] Having described preferred embodiments of a system and
method for obtaining remote instant messages (which are intended to
be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications
and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light
of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that
changes may be made in the particular embodiments disclosed which
are within the scope and spirit of the invention as outlined by the
appended claims. Having thus described aspects of the invention,
with the details and particularity required by the patent laws,
what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set
forth in the appended claims.
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