Method and system for querying, monitoring and controlling a wireless sensor network using instant messaging system

1. A method for enabling a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) messaging client to converse with an instant messaging client over a network during communication with one or more sensor nodes in the WSN, the method comprising:

identifying a first instant messaging client from among a plurality of instant messaging clients that a user is using for conversing by sending messages, wherein the first instant messaging client employs a first instant messaging protocol that is different from a second instant messaging protocol employed by a second instant messaging client from among the plurality of instant messaging clients;

determining one or more instant messaging protocols that are employed by the identified at least one instant messaging client;

configuring the WSN messaging client to communicate with the first instant messaging client, wherein configuring the WSN messaging client comprises:

selecting an application programming interface (API) from among a plurality of API's each configured to provide instant messaging communication functionality, wherein the selected API provides instant messaging communication functionality compatible with the first instant messaging protocol; and

implementing within the WSN messaging client, instant messaging communication capability based on functionality provided within the selected API; and

configuring the first instant messaging client for network communication with the one or more sensor nodes in the WSN through the WSN messaging client, by adding to the first instant messaging client a messaging buddy with a unique identifier name associated with the configured WSN messaging client.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of configuring the WSN messaging client comprises tuning the WSN messaging client to operate with at least one of an XMPP protocol, an YMSG protocol, a Skype™ protocol, an ICQ protocol, a Virtual Places protocol, Session Initiation protocol, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, and an MSN® protocol.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the messaging buddy is an instance of the WSN messaging client.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the messaging buddy with its unique identifier name refers to one of the one or more sensor nodes in the WSN or to a group of sensor nodes in the WSN.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of creating the messaging buddy comprises checking availability of the unique identifier name with at least one of the WSN messaging client and the instant messaging client.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the step of creating the messaging buddy comprises configuring the WSN messaging client with at least one domain name.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the messaging buddy with its unique identifier name is added to the instant messaging client of at least one or more users.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 , additionally comprises the step of validating the messaging buddy before adding to the instant messaging, by the WSN messaging client.

9. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein for enabling a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) messaging client to converse with an instant messaging client over a network during communication with one or more sensor nodes in a WSN, the computer program product comprising:

a program code adapted for:

identifying a first instant messaging client from among a plurality of instant messaging client that an user is using for communication by sending messages, wherein the first instant messaging client employs a first instant messaging protocol that is different from a second instant messaging protocol employed by a second instant messaging client from among the plurality of instant messaging clients;

determining one or more instant messaging protocols that is employed by the identified at least one instant messaging client;

configuring the WSN messaging client to communicate with the first instant messaging client wherein configuring the WSN messaging client comprises:

selecting an application programming interface (API) from among a plurality of API's each configured to provide instant messaging communication functionality, wherein the selected API provides instant messaging communication functionality compatible with the first instant messaging protocol; and

implementing within the WSN messaging client, instant messaging communication capability based on functionality provided within the selected API; and

configuring the first instant messaging client for network communication with the one or more sensor nodes in the WSN through the WSN messaging client, by adding to the first instant messaging client a messaging buddy with a unique identifier name, associated with the configured WSN messaging client.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein identification of the at least one of a plurality of instant messaging clients is achieved by querying the user.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the WSN messaging client is configured to operate with more than one instant messaging protocol based on a user demand.

12. A method for enabling a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) messaging client to converse with an instant messaging client over a network during communication with one or more sensor nodes in the WSN, the method comprising:

identifying a first instant messaging client from among a plurality of instant messaging clients that a user is using for conversing by sending messages, wherein the first instant messaging client employs a first instant messaging protocol that is different from a second instant messaging protocol employed by a second instant messaging client from among the plurality of instant messaging clients;

determining one or more instant messaging protocols that are employed by the identified at least one instant messaging client;

configuring the WSN messaging client to operate with the determined one or more instant messaging protocols; and

configuring the first instant messaging client for network communication with the one or more sensor nodes in the WSN through the WSN messaging client, by adding to the first instant messaging client a messaging buddy with a unique identifier name associated with the configured WSN messaging client, wherein:

the unique identifier name associated with the configured WSN messaging client includes a domain name corresponding to the WSN; and

said domain name corresponding to the WSN is extracted from setup information corresponding to the WSN installation.

13. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein for enabling a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) messaging client to converse with an instant messaging client over a network during communication with one or more sensor nodes in a WSN, the computer program product comprising:

a program code adapted for:

identifying a first instant messaging client from among a plurality of instant messaging client that an user is using for communication by sending messages, wherein the first instant messaging client employs a first instant messaging protocol that is different from a second instant messaging protocol employed by a second instant messaging client from among the plurality of instant messaging clients;

determining one or more instant messaging protocols that is employed by the identified at least one instant messaging client;

configuring the WSN messaging client to operate with the determined one or more instant messaging protocols; and

configuring the first instant messaging client for network communication with the one or more sensor nodes in the WSN through the WSN messaging client, by adding to the first instant messaging client a messaging buddy with a unique identifier name, associated with the configured WSN messaging client, wherein:

the unique identifier name associated with the configured WSN messaging client includes a domain name corresponding to the WSN; and

said domain name corresponding to the WSN is extracted from setup information corresponding to the WSN installation.