# US 11,451,504 B2 · Method and apparatus for operating instant messaging server > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,451,504 B2 - Document ID: US11451504B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/137,377 - Filed: 2020-12-30 - Published: 2021-07-08 - Granted: 2022-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-03 - Assignees: Kakao Corp. - Applicants: Kakao Corp. - Inventors: Myung Jun Kim; Myung O Ha; Jin Hwan Lee; Hun Jae Lee; Chun Ho Kim; Soo Bum Kim; Eung Ju Park; Yong Ha Yoo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451504B2 ## CPC - H04L 51/216: Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads - H04L 51/046: Interoperability with other network applications or services - H04L 51/42: Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes - H04L 51/56: Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM] - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method and apparatus for operating an instant messaging server are disclosed. The method for operating an instant messaging server according to an example embodiment includes managing a message sent and received through a first chat room of a messenger application, managing a message sent and received through a second chat room of a 3rd party application receiving support a chat function through the instant messaging server, identifying a user account of an instant messaging service (IMS) linked with a user account of the 3rd party service participating in the second chat room, and providing, based on the identified user account of the IMS, the second chat room of the 3rd party application to the messenger application. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating an instant messaging server comprising: managing a message sent and received through a messenger application of an instant messaging service (IMS); managing a message sent and received through a second chat room of a 3rd party application of a 3rd party service receiving support for a chat function through the instant messaging server; identifying a user account of the IMS linked with a user account of the 3rd party service participating in the second chat room; and providing, based on the identified user account of the IMS, the second chat room of the 3rd party application to the messenger application. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises providing an interface for accessing the second chat room with the identified user account of the IMS. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the providing of the interface comprises providing an interface for accessing a first chat room of the messenger application and an interface for accessing the second chat room in different categories. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: providing an interface for accessing a first chat room of the messenger application and an interface for accessing the second chat room in the same category. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing participant information for matching the user account of the 3rd party service and the identified user account of the IMS, the participant information corresponding to the second chat room; storing type information indicating a chat room type of the 3rd party application, the type information corresponding to the second chat room; and storing setting information including at least one setting of the 3rd party application, the setting information corresponding to the second chat room. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, in response to a request to access the second chat room, a type of an application that has sent the request; and providing, based on participant information corresponding to the second chat room, sender information of the message sent and received through the second chat room according to the type of the application. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, in response to a request to access the second chat room, a type of an application that has sent the request; and providing, based on setting information corresponding to the second chat room, the second chat room according to the type of the application. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the message sent and received through the second chat room comprises: a user account of a service corresponding to a type of an application that has sent the message; and an identifier of the second chat room managed by the instant messaging server. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing, to the 3rd party application, another user account having a predetermined relationship with the identified user account in the IMS; and sending, to a messenger application of the other user account, a message for inviting the other user account to the second chat room. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: providing, in response to the message for invitation being selected by the other user account, the second chat room to a messenger application of the other user account. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instruction that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of claim 1. ### Claim 12 An instant messaging server comprising: at least one processor, wherein the processor is configured to: manage a message sent and received through a messenger application of an instant messaging service (IMS); manage a message sent and received through a second chat room of a 3rd party application of a 3rd party service receiving support for a chat function through the instant messaging server; identify a user account of the IMS linked with a user account of the 3rd party service participating the second chat room; and provide, based on the identified user account of the IMS, the second chat room of the 3rd party application to the messenger application. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The message server of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to provide an interface for accessing the second chat room with the identified user account of the IMS. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The message server of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to provide an interface for accessing first chat room of the messenger application and an interface for accessing the second chat room in different categories. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The message server of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to provide an interface for accessing first chat room of the messenger application and an interface for accessing the second chat room in the same category. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The message server of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to: store participant information for matching the user account of the 3rd party service and the identified user account of the IMS, the participant information corresponding to the second chat room; store type information indicating a chat room type of the 3rd party application, the type information corresponding to the second chat room; and store setting information including at least one setting of the 3rd party application, the setting information corresponding to the second chat room. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The message server of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to: determine, in response to a request to access the second chat room, a type of an application that has sent the request; and provide, based on participant information corresponding to the second chat room, sender information of the message sent and received through the second chat room according to the type of the application. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The message server of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to: determine, in response to a request to access the second chat room, a type of an application that has sent the request; and provide, based on setting information corresponding to the second chat room, the second chat room according to the type of the application. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The message server of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to: provide, to the 3rd party application, another user account having a predetermined relationship with the identified user account in the IMS; and send, to a messenger application of the other user account, a message for inviting the other user account to the second chat room. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The message server of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to provide, in response to the message for invitation being selected by the other user account, the second chat room to a messenger application of the other user account.