Dynamic integration of application input and output in an instant messaging/chat session

1. An instant messaging/chat system comprising:

an instant messaging/chat client;

an application event interface to said instant messaging/chat client, said interface having a configuration for receiving application input and output and integrating said received application input and output with instant messaging/chat content for an established instant messaging/chat session; and,

an instant messaging/chat server configured for communicative coupling to said instant messaging/chat client, said server having logic for receiving application input from the instant messaging/chat client as a posting to the established instant messaging/chat session between instant messaging/chat clients, the application input is an application command distinguishable from conversational text, for forwarding said received application input to a designated external application, for receiving application output from said designated external application via a second instant messaging/chat client as instant messaging/chat content in said established instant messaging/chat session, for determining in said established instant messaging/chat session whether instant messaging/chat clients participating in said established instant messaging/chat session process said application output in a native data format and which of said instant messaging/chat clients process said application output only as a session processible textual representation, for converting said application output to said session processible textual representation for said instant messaging/chat clients determined to process said application output only as a session processible textual representation, while forwarding said application output in said native data format to instant messaging/chat clients determined to process said application output in a native data format, and for posting said converted application output as content in said established instant messaging/chat session for instant message/chat clients determined to process said application output only as a session processible textual representation.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said instant messaging/chat client comprises logic for attaching an application to said established instant messaging/chat session so as to integrate input and output to and from said application into said instant messaging/chat content.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said instant messaging/chat client comprises logic for pre-processing application input before forwarding said received application input to said designated external application.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein said instant messaging/chat client comprises logic for post-processing application output before integrating said output into said instant messaging/chat content.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said configuration for receiving application output comprises logic for processing XML formatted application output.

6. A method for integrating dynamically produced application input and output into instant messaging/chat content in an established instant messaging/chat session, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving application input from a remote instant messaging/chat client as a posting to the established instant messaging/chat session between instant messaging/chat clients, the application input is an application command distinguishable from conversational text;

forwarding said received application input to a designated external application;

receiving application output from said designated external application via a second remote instant messaging/chat client as content in said established instant messaging/chat session;

determining in said established instant messaging/chat session which instant messaging/chat clients participating in said established instant messaging/chat session process said application output in a native data format and which of said instant messaging/chat clients process said application output only as a session processible textual representation;

converting said application output to said session processible textual representation for said instant messaging/chat clients determined to process said application output only as a session processible textual representation, while forwarding said application output in said native data format to instant messaging/chat clients determined to process said application output in a native data format; and,

posting said converted application output as content in said established instant messaging/chat session for instant message/chat clients determined to process said application output only as a session processible textual representation.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step pre-processing said application input before forwarding said received application input to the designated external application.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step post-processing said application output before performing said posting step.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein said posting step comprises the steps of:

formatting said application output in an XML format and providing said formatted application output to said instant messaging/chat client through an application programming interface; and,

providing said formatted application output as an encapsulated event to an instant messaging/chat server for distribution to instant messaging/chat clients participating in said established instant messaging/chat session.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein said posting step comprises the steps of:

encapsulating said application output into an event; and,

forwarding said event to an instant messaging/chat server for distribution to instant messaging/chat clients participating in said established instant messaging/chat session.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein said application output is an XML compliant markup language document.

12. A machine readable storage device having stored thereon a computer program for integrating dynamically produced application input and output into instant messaging/chat content in an established instant messaging/chat session, the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions which when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform the steps of:

receiving application input from a remote instant messaging/chat client as a posting to the established instant messaging/chat session between instant messaging/chat clients, the application input is an application command distinguishable from conversational text;

forwarding said received application input to a designated external application;

receiving application output from said designated external application via a second remote instant messaging/chat client as content in said established instant messaging/chat session;

determining in said established instant messaging/chat session which instant messaging/chat clients participating in said established instant messaging/chat session process said application output in a native data format and which of said instant messaging/chat clients process said application output only as a session processible textual representation;

converting said application output to said session processible textual representation for said instant messaging/chat clients determined to process said application output only as a session processible textual representation, while forwarding said application output in said native data format to instant messaging/chat clients determined to process said application output in a native data format; and,

posting said converted application output as content in said established instant messaging/chat session for instant message/chat clients determined to process said application output only as a session processible textual representation.

13. The machine readable storage device of claim 12 , further comprising a routine set of instructions for causing the machine to further perform the step of pre-processing said application input before forwarding said received application input to the designated external application.

14. The machine readable storage device of claim 12 , further comprising a routine set of instructions for causing the machine to further perform the step post-processing said application output before performing said posting step.

15. The machine readable storage device of claim 12 , wherein said posting step comprises the steps of:

formatting said application output in an XML format and providing said formatted application output to said instant messaging/chat client through an application programming interface; and,

providing said formatted application output as an encapsulated event to an instant messaging/chat server for distribution to instant messaging/chat clients participating in said established instant messaging/chat session.

16. The machine readable storage device of claim 12 , wherein said posting step comprises the steps of:

encapsulating said application output into an event; and,

forwarding said event to an instant messaging/chat server for distribution to instant messaging/chat clients participating in said established instant messaging/chat session.

17. The machine readable storage device of claim 12 , wherein said application output is expressed in an XML compliant markup language document.