Adaptive messaging method, system and computer program product
AssigneeMotive Communications, Inc.
InventorThomas William Bereiter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method, system and computer program product for adaptive messaging in a computer network having a client machine and at least one server. Typically, the client machine is located behind a firewall. According to the invention, a communication from the server to the client may be “repackaged” in an e-mail message in the event a point-to-point connection between the server and the client cannot be established due to the firewall or some other network constraint. The client typically communicates with the server by the point-to-point connection. The technique is especially useful in an automated diagnostic method wherein users of client machines interact with a diagnostic system located at a server.
Claims16
An electronic communications method between first and second entities over a computer network having an e-mail subsystem, comprising the steps of:
- upon a connection request from the first entity to the second entity, determining whether a connection can be established between the first and second entities using a first connection preference;
- if the connection cannot be established using the first connection preference, opening a connection to the e-mail subsystem;
- encapsulating a communication in an e-mail message;
- and
- transmitting the e-mail message, together with the encapsulated communication, from the first entity to the second entity via the e-mail subsystem.
An electronic communications method between a server and a client over a computer network having an e-mail subsystem, the client located behind a firewall, comprising the steps of:
- upon a connection request from the server to the client, determining whether a point-to-point connection can be established between the server and the client;
- if the connection cannot be established using the point-to-point connection, encapsulating a given communication in an e-mail message;
- delivering the e-mail message, together with the given communication, from the server to the client via the e-mail subsystem;
- and
- sending a response to the communication from the client to the server via a point-to-point connection.
A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for facilitating electronic communications between a server and a client in a computer network having an e-mail system, the computer program product executable in the server and comprising:
- means operative upon a connection request from the server to the client for determining whether a point-to-point connection can be established between the server and the client;
- means responsive to the determining means for opening a connection to the e-mail system if the point-to-point connection cannot be established;
- and
- means for associating to an e-mail message a given communication to be delivered from the server to the client.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.