Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for enabling messaging systems to use alternative message delivery mechanisms. In existing instant messaging systems, messages cannot be delivered to an intended recipient unless the recipient is currently logged on to an instant messaging system. According to the present invention, users may register one or more alternative message delivery mechanisms (such as pagers, cell phones, etc.) through which they are available as an alternative to an instant messaging system. Constraints may optionally be added to these registered alternatives, such as specifying a limitation on days of the week and/or hours of the day when a particular alternative may be used. Providing that an alternative messaging mechanism is registered, and any constraints for this alternative are satisfied, in the first preferred embodiment the extended IMS will select a suitable alternative and deliver the message.

Abstract: Methods, systems and program products for tracking the distribution of information (e.g., television programming) to viewers. Tracking is accomplished by inserting a tracking identifier within the information. When a client (e.g., a television set top box) receives the content, it extracts the tracking identifier, and transmits the identifier to a server. When the server receives the tracking identifier, it records the tracking identifier on a storage device for analysis. In one embodiment, the information includes television programs, and the tracking identifier is transmitted in the programs' blanking intervals.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for enabling messaging systems to use alternative message delivery mechanisms. In existing instant messaging systems, messages cannot be delivered to an intended recipient unless the recipient is currently logged on to an instant messaging system. According to the present invention, users may register one or more alternative message delivery mechanisms (such as pagers, cell phones, etc.) through which they are available as an alternative to an instant messaging system. Constraints may optionally be added to these registered alternatives, such as specifying a limitation on days of the week and/or hours of the day when a particular alternative may be used. Providing that an alternative messaging mechanism is registered, and any constraints for this alternative are satisfied, in the first preferred embodiment the extended IMS will select a suitable alternative and deliver the message.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for enabling messaging systems to use alternative message delivery mechanisms. In existing instant messaging systems, messages cannot be delivered to an intended recipient unless the recipient is currently logged on to an instant messaging system. According to the present invention, users may register one or more alternative message delivery mechanisms (such as pagers, cell phones, etc.) through which they are available as an alternative to an instant messaging system. Constraints may optionally be added to these registered alternatives, such as specifying a limitation on days of the week and/or hours of the day when a particular alternative may be used. Providing that an alternative messaging mechanism is registered, and any constraints for this alternative are satisfied, in the first preferred embodiment the extended IMS will select a suitable alternative and deliver the message.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which route messages from a source device on a first network to a destination device on a second network through a first routing device where the first routing device transmits a message to a master routing device. The first routing device receives a routing address from the master routing device responsive to the transmitted message. The routing address specifies an address of a device to which subsequent communications to the destination device are routed. The first routing device stores the received routing address in a list of addresses so as to associate the stored routing address with an address of the destination device of the message. The first routing device may also determine a routing address for a second message from the stored list of routing addresses based upon a destination address of the second message and transmit the second message to the determined routing address.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which dynamically balance the load between gateways which provide access between a first computer network and a second computer network. This load balancing includes receiving at a gateway a communication to be transmitted to a second computer network from a source device on the first computer network. The gateway determines, preferably based on an address contained in the communication, through which of the gateways the communication is to be transmitted and then either transmits the communication to the second network or over the first network to the determined gateway. A redirect message may then be sent to the source device to direct subsequent messages to the proper gateway. The gateway determination may be made by dividing a resource identifier into subgroups, summing the subgroups and then dividing the sum by the number of parallel gateways. The remainder may then be used as a gateway identifier.