System and method for maintaining presence and communicating over a computer network using the HTTP protocol
View Patent ↗A computer-implemented process facilitates communication with an entity over a network. A static HTTP URL is associated with the entity. Communications information reflecting the entity's current online presence including the entity's dynamic session information as determined using the HTTP protocol is linked with the URL. Communication with the entity is facilitated using the URL and the communications information. The forms of communication facilitated include type chat/instant messaging, voice communication over a computer network, video communication over a computer network, voice communication from a computer network to a telephone network and two-way text messaging to Internet enabled wireless devices.
1. A computer implemented method of using HTTP to transport a message between a first client device to a second client device over a network, the method comprising:
receiving a first HTTP request initiated from a first client device at a server;
establishing a first socket and a first HTTP connection between the first client device and the server;
receiving the message from the first client device at the server using the first socket and the first HTTP connection;
receiving a second HTTP request initiated from a second client device to the server;
establishing and maintaining a second socket and a second HTTP connection between the second client device and the server; and
delivering the message from the first client device to the second client device using the second socket and the second HTTP connection as a response to the second HTTP request from the second client device to the server.
2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising displaying the message.
3. A method as in claim 2 wherein said message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
4. A method as in claim 2 wherein said message comprises a reply message.
5. A method as claim 4 wherein said reply message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
6. A method as in claim 1 wherein said message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
7. A method as in claim 1 wherein said message comprises a reply message.
8. A method as claim 7 wherein said reply message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
9. A method as in claim 1 wherein said network comprises a wireless telephony network and said second client device comprises an Internet enabled wireless device.
10. A method as in claim 1 wherein the first client device is an Internet enabled wireless device.
11. A method as in claim 1 wherein the second client device is an Internet enabled wireless device.
12. A method as in claim 11 further comprising delivering a second message from the Internet enabled wireless device to the first client device.
13. A method as in claim 12 wherein said second message comprises a reply message.
14. A method as in claim 13 wherein said second message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
15. A method as in claim 12 wherein said second message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
16. A method as in claim 12 further comprising receiving at the server said second message from the Internet enabled wireless device using the second socket and HTTP connection.
17. A method as in claim 12 further comprising displaying the second message.
18. A method as in claim 17 wherein said second message comprises a reply message.
19. A method as in claim 18 wherein said second message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
20. A method as in claim 17 wherein said second message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
21. An article of manufacture for using HTTP to transport a message between a first client device to a second client device over a network, the article of manufacture comprising computer-readable storage media holding computer-executable instructions stored in computer memory for a method comprising:
receiving a first HTTP request initiated from a first client device at a server;
establishing a first socket and a first HTTP connection between the first client device and the server;
receiving the message from the first client device at the server using the first socket and the first HTTP connection;
receiving a second HTTP request initiated from a second client device to the server,
establishing and maintaining a second socket and a second HTTP connection between the second client device and the server; and
delivering the message from the first client device to the second client device using the second socket and the second HTTP connection as a response to the second HTTP request from the second client device to the server.
22. An article of manufacture as in claim 21 further comprising displaying the message.
23. An article of manufacture as in claim 22 wherein said message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
24. An article of manufacture as in claim 22 wherein said message comprises a reply message.
25. An article of manufacture as in claim 24 wherein said reply message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
26. An article of manufacture as in claim 21 wherein said message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
27. An article of manufacture as in claim 21 wherein said message comprises a reply message.
28. An article of manufacture as in claim 27 wherein said reply message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
29. An article of manufacture as in claim 21 wherein said network comprises a wireless telephony network and said second client device comprises an Internet enabled wireless device.
30. An article of manufacture as in claim 21 wherein the first client device is an Internet enabled wireless device.
31. An article of manufacture as in claim 21 wherein the second client device is an Internet enabled wireless device.
32. An article of manufacture as in claim 31 further comprising delivering a second message from the Internet enabled wireless device to the first client device.
33. An article of manufacture as in claim 32 wherein said second message comprises a reply message.
34. An article of manufacture as in claim 33 wherein said second message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
35. An article of manufacture as in claim 32 wherein said second message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
36. An article of manufacture as in claim 32 further comprising receiving at the server said second message from the Internet enabled wireless device using the second socket and HTTP connection.
37. An article of manufacture as in claim 32 further comprising displaying the second message.
38. An article of manufacture as in claim 37 wherein said second message comprises a reply message.
39. An article of manufacture as in claim 38 wherein said second message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.
40. An article of manufacture as in claim 37 wherein said second message comprises a text, chat, instant or SIP message.