Methods and apparatus providing a web based messaging system

In a messaging client, a method for processing message data, the method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a first connection with a messaging server;
• receiving, over the first connection, an messaging page including a message processing script that defines an output area in the messaging page and that defines functionality to enable the messaging client to display message data encapsulated within a message display script received by the messaging client independent of the operating system of the messaging client and exclusive of any messaging software residing and previously stored on the messaging client;
• receiving a first message over the first connection from the messaging server, the first message including message data encapsulated ha a message display script;
• operating the message display script in conjunction with the message processing script to display first message data associated with the first message in the output area of the messaging page;
• receiving a second message over the fast connection from the messaging server, the second message including message data encapsulated in a message display script;
• operating the message display script of the second message in conjunction with the message processing script to display second message data associated with the second message in the output area of the messaging page;
• and
• repeating the steps of receiving a second message and operating the message display script of the second message such that message data in a series of second messages is received over the same first connection that remains in an open state between the message client and messaging server and is displayed to a user of the messaging client.

A method for receiving messages, the method comprising the steps of:

• opening a messaging connection between a messaging client and a messaging server;
• receiving message data of a first type over the open message connection;
• maintaining the message connection in an open state between the messaging client and the messaging server, such that the messaging client perceives that message data received over the messaging connection is not yet completely received;
• receiving message data of a second type over the open messaging connection;
• and
• repeating the steps of receiving massage data of a first type, maintaining the message connection in an open state, and receiving message data of a second type such that individual messages contained in the message data of the first and second types are successively received for display on the messaging client independent of the operating system thereof and exclusive of messaging software residing and previously stored on the messaging client and such that that the messaging client perceives that message data received over the messaging connection is not yet completely received.

A messaging system comprising:

• a messaging client;
• a messaging server;
• a computer network coupling the messaging client and the messaging server;
• the messaging client configured to:
• establish a message connection with the messaging server over the computer network using only hypertext-related protocols and a simple scripting language;
• receive a message connection response from the server indicating that the message connection is an open message connection;
• receiving message data of a first type containing the contents of a first message over the open message connection;
• receiving message data of a second type containing the contents of a second message over the open message connection;
• repeating the steps of receiving message data while maintaining the open message connection and while awaiting delivery of a message termination indicator indicating that a message associated with the message connection has been completely received by the messaging client;
• the messaging server configured to:
• establish a message connection with the messaging client over the computer network using only hypertext-related protocols and a simple scripting language;
• transmit a message connection response to the messaging client identifying the message connection has an open message connection;
• transmitting message data of a first type containing the contents of a first message from the messaging server over the open message connection to the messaging client;
• transmitting message data of a second type containing the contents of a second message over the open message connection to the messaging client;
• repeating the steps of transmitting in order to provide a continuous stream of message data over the open message connection, the continuous stream of message data comprising a plurality of messages perceived by the messaging client as a single continuous message received over the open message connection for display on the messaging client independent of the operating system thereof and exclusive of proprietary messaging software residing and previously stored on the messaging client.

A messaging server computer system comprising:

• at least one communications interface;
• a memory;
• a processor;
• and
• an interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface, the memory and the processor;
• wherein the memory is encoded with a server message handler application that when performed on the processor, produces a server message handler process that causes the messaging server computer system to processing message data by performing the operations of:
• receiving, over the at least one communications interface, a first message to be sent to a messaging client;
• establishing a first connection to the messaging client over the at least one communications interface;
• transmitting a message processing script and the first message over the first connection to the messaging client, the message processing script enabling the messaging client to display the first message and to receive and display at least one second message over the first connection to the messaging client independent of the operating system thereof and exclusive of proprietary messaging software residing and previously stored on the messaging client;
• maintaining the first connection in an open state after transmitting the first message to the messaging client;
• receiving, over the at least one communications interface, a second message to be sent to the messaging client;
• transmitting the second message over the first connection to the messaging client for receipt by the message processing script, while continuing to maintain the first connection in an open state;
• and
• repeating, for subsequent second messages, the steps of maintaining the first connection in an open state, receiving a second message, and transmitting the second message such that separate second messages are transmitted from the messaging server to the messaging client over the first connection.

A messaging client computer system comprising:

• at least one communications interface;
• a memory;
• a processor;
• a display;
• and
• an interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface, the memory, the processor and the display;
• wherein the memory is encoded with a client message handler application that when performed on the processor, produces a client message handler process that causes the messaging client computer system to process message data by performing the operations of:
• establishing a first connection with a messaging server over the at least one communications interface;
• receiving, over the first connection, an messaging page including a message processing script that defines an output area in the messaging page and that defines functionality to enable the messaging client to display message data encapsulated within a message display script received by the messaging client;
• receiving a first message over the first connection from the messaging server, the first message including message data encapsulated in a message display script;
• operating, on the processor, the message display script in conjunction with the message processing script to display first message data associated with the first message in the output area of the messaging page independent of the operating system and exclusive of proprietary messaging software residing and previously stored on the messaging client;
• receiving a second message over the first connection from the messaging server, the second message including message data encapsulated in a message display script;
• operating the message display script of the second message in conjunction with the message processing script to display, on the display, second message data associated with the second message in the output area of the messaging page;
• and
• repeating the steps of receiving a second message and operating the message display script of the second message such that message data in a series of second messages is received over the same first connection that remains in an open state between the message client and messaging server and is displayed to a user of the messaging client.

A messaging system comprising:

• a messaging client;
• a messaging server;
• a computer network coupling the messaging client and the messaging server;
• the messaging client configured to provide:
• means for establishing a message connection with the messaging server over the computer network using only hypertext-related protocols and a simple scripting language;
• means for receiving a message connection response from the server indicating that the message connection is an open message connection;
• means for receiving message data of a first type containing the contents of a first message over the open message connection;
• means for receiving message data of a second type containing the contents of a second message over the open message connection;
• means for repeating the steps of receiving message data while maintaining the open message connection and while awaiting delivery of a message termination indicator indicating that a message associated with the message connection has been completely received by the messaging client;
• the messaging server configured to provide:
• means for establishing a message connection with the messaging client over the computer network using only hypertext-related protocols and a simple scripting language;
• means for transmitting a message connection response to the messaging server identifying the message connection has an open message connection;
• means for transmitting message data of a first type containing the contents of a first message from the messaging server over the open message connection to the messaging client;
• means for transmitting message data of a second type containing the contents of a second message over the open message connection to the messaging client
• means for repeating the steps of transmitting in order to provide a continuous stream of message data over the open message connection, the continuous stream of message data comprising a plurality of messages perceived by the messaging client as a single continuous message received over the open message connection for display on the messaging client independent of the operating system thereof and exclusive of proprietary messaging software residing and previously stored on the messaging client.

A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that performed on a processor in a computerized device having a coupling of a memory, a processor, and at least one communications interface provides a method for processing message data by performing the operations of:

• receiving a first message to be sent to a messaging client;
• establishing a first connection to the messaging client;
• transmitting a message processing script and the first message over the first connection to the messaging client, the message processing script enabling the messaging client to display the first message and to receive and display at least one second message over the first connection to the messaging client independent of the operating system thereof and exclusive of proprietary messaging software residing and previously stored on the messaging client;
• maintaining the first connection in an open state after transmitting the first message to the messaging client;
• receiving a second message to be sent to the messaging client;
• transmitting the second message over the first connection to the messaging client for receipt by the message processing script, while continuing to maintain the first connection in an open state;
• and
• repeating, for subsequent second messages, the steps of maintaining the first connection in an open state, receiving a second message, and transmitting the second message messages such that separate second message are transmitted from the messaging server to the messaging client over the first connection.

A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that performed on a processor in a computerized device having a coupling of a memory, a processor, and at least one communications interface provides a method for processing message data by performing the operations of:

• establishing a first connection with a messaging server;
• receiving, over the first connection, an messaging page including a message processing script that defines an output area in the messaging page and that defines functionality to enable the messaging client to display message data encapsulated within a message display script received by the messaging client independent of the operating system thereof and exclusive of proprietary messaging software residing and previously stored on the messaging client;
• receiving a first message over the first connection from the messaging server, the first message including message data encapsulated in a message display script;
• operating the message display script in conjunction with the message processing script to display first message data associated with the first message in the output area of the messaging page;
• receiving a second message over the first connection from the messaging server, the second message including message data encapsulated in a message display script;
• operating the message display script of the second message in conjunction with the message processing script to display second message data associated with the second message in the output area of the messaging page;
• and
• repeating the steps of receiving a second message and operating the message display script of the second message such that message data in a series of second messages is received over the same first connection that remains in an open state between the message client and messaging server and is displayed to a user of the messaging client.