Client-based message protocol translation

In a communication system, a method comprising:

• instantiating a transport protocol object (TPO) at an instant messaging (IM) user agent location having an IM user agent, the TPO adapted to provide a translation between a first IM protocol and a second IM protocol, the IM user agent adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using the first IM protocol;
• establishing a connection between the TPO and a foreign server, the foreign server adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using the second IM protocol;
• and
• providing a communication pathway between the IM user agent and the foreign server through the instantiated TPO.

In a communication system, a method comprising:

• instantiating a plurality of transport protocol objects (TPOs) at an instant messaging (IM) user agent location having an IM user agent, each of the plurality of TPOs adapted to provide a translation between a first IM protocol and a different IM protocol, the IM user agent adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using the first IM protocol;
• establishing a plurality of connections between the plurality of TPOs and a plurality of IM servers, each of the plurality of IM servers adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using one of the different IM protocols;
• and
• providing a communication pathway between the IM user agent and the plurality of IM servers through the plurality of instantiated TPOs.

A communication system comprising:

• means for instantiating a plurality of transport protocol objects (TPOs) at an instant messaging (IM) user agent location having an IM user agent, each of the plurality of TPOs adapted to provide a translation between a first IM protocol and a different IM protocol, the IM user agent adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using the first IM protocol;
• means for establishing a plurality of connections between the plurality of TPOs and a plurality of IM servers, each of the plurality of IM servers adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using one of the different IM protocols;
• and
• means for providing a communication pathway between the IM user agent and the plurality of IM servers through the plurality of instantiated TPOs.

A computer-readable medium comprising:

• computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to instantiate a plurality of transport protocol objects (TPOs) at an instant messaging (IM) user agent location having an IM user agent, each of the plurality of TPOs adapted to provide a translation between a first IM protocol and a different IM protocol, the IM user agent adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using the first IM protocol;
• computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to establish a plurality of connections between the plurality of TPOs and a plurality of IM servers, each of the plurality of IM servers adapted to transmit and receive IM messages using one of the different IM protocols;
• and
• computer-readable code adapted to instruct a programmable device to provide a communication pathway between the IM user agent and the plurality of IM servers through the plurality of instantiated TPOs.