System and method for managing multiple queues of non-persistent messages in a networked environment

#This application relates to a method and system for use with networked entities, according to one embodiment, and more specifically, for managing multiple queues of non-persistent messages in a networked environment.

#A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The following notice applies to the software and data as described below and in the drawings that form a part of this document: Copyright 2009-2011 IMVU Corporation, All Rights Reserved.

#The use of chat or instant messaging communications in a networked computer environment is well known. The America Online™ Instant Messaging system (AIM) is one well known system for controlling instant messaging in a networked environment. In these prior art systems, two computer users can communicate non-persistent text messages in real time using an instant message (IM) client on their computers in concert with an IM server.

#The various embodiments is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates the components of the Message Queue system of an example embodiment;

#FIG. 2 illustrates the components of the Gateways 12 of an example embodiment;

#In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments. It will be evident, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.

#The Message Queue system of a particular embodiment is a stand-alone software stack, which implements a scalable, efficient, secure, flexible and easily understood message and state update switching and routing fabric. The Message Queue system is a robust, scalable message queue system to which clients connect that routes messages from the site to clients. The Message Queue system can also be considered a light-weight message queue system and state management protocol optimized for real-time interactive multi-player systems. FIG. 1 illustrates the components of the Message Queue system of an example embodiment. In an example embodiment, the core Message Queue system 10 comprises three main roles: Client Gateway(s) 12, Message Queue Node(s) 14, and Queue Management 16. These are loosely referred to herein as “Gateway,” “Queue Node,” and “Supervisor” or “Boss” respectively. A “node” is generally any of the machines running as part of the Message Queue system. Note that a “node” as used herein is not the same as a “queue node.” A queue node may be one of many possible types of nodes.

#Topologically, the Client Gateways 12 of various embodiments are the interface to the users at client systems 20. FIG. 2 illustrates the components of the Gateways 12 of an example embodiment. User requests come in to a server at a particular domain name. The received user requests are load balanced by load balancers 22 across gateways 12. There is no requirement that successive sessions for each user go to the same gateway, as there can only be one simultaneous session (Transmission Control Protocol—TCP connection) per user at a time. Sessions are typically long-lived. For example, one session can last for the entire time a user is logged into the client. In a particular embodiment, sessions can use a custom protocol, based on Google Protocol Buffers, over TCP.