Abstract: Methods and systems for protecting the privacy of a user of a communication system that include enabling a first user to block a second user so that the first user generally appears to the second user to be unavailable. The method includes allowing a third user to establish a group that includes the first user and the second user. The group may be any sort of group that involves communication among three or more users. For example, the group may be an instant message group, voice chat, conference call, video conference, or any other suitable group communication. The method also enables a blocked user to be temporarily unblocked so as to prevent his blocking decision to be revealed to the blocked user.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for choosing between different Communication Initiation Request (CIR) channels in a mobile communications system when there are multiple CIR channels amongst which to choose. Additionally, there is disclosed a system and method for exploiting a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection usage pattern that is characterized by periods of inactivity.

Abstract: In an instant messaging system, message latency is reduced by initiating traffic channel set-up at a receiving device concurrently while a sending device is generating the instant message. When a user begins generating an instant message, the sending device transmits a service request to a payload and connection server to indicate that an instant message is pending. Upon receipt of the service request, the payload and connection server notifies the receiving device so that the receiving device can initiate traffic channel set-up concurrently while the instant message is being recorded. When the traffic channel is established, the receiving device polls the server. If the instant message is not yet received by the payload and connection server when the polling request is received, the payload and connection server waits a predetermined period of time to receive the pending instant message and forwards the instant message when it is received.

Abstract: A method for downloading destination addresses associated with a given client device from a server to the client device is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining a resource limitation of the client device, sorting the addresses, and transmitting a subset of the sorted addresses from the server to the device, wherein the transmitted sorted address subset is determined by the resource limitation. There is also provided a system and server for supporting Instant Messaging (IM).

Abstract: There is described an interconnect hub for routing an Instant Message (IM) or related communication between a sending IM device in a first IM community and a recipient IM device in one of a plurality of potential second IM communities. The interconnect hub comprises a router for determining the destination of IM communications and routing the IM communications to the intended recipient, a search function for finding the service provider providing IM services to the user identifier, and a cache comprising a plurality of records associating user identifiers with corresponding service providers (mobile or Internet). When the IM communication is received by the interconnect hub, the router examines the recipient user identifier, accesses the cache keying on the recipient user identifier, retrieves the service provider associated with the recipient user identifier, and forwards the IM communication to the associated service provider for delivery to the intended recipient.

Abstract: A proxy maintains registration in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network for a user equipment while the user equipment is disconnected from the system. The user equipment connects to the proxy and establishes a proxy session with the proxy. The proxy opens a proxy session for the user equipment, establishes a registration within said IMS network for IMS services on behalf of the user equipment; and maintains the registration for the user equipment for the duration of the proxy session. While the proxy session is ongoing, the user equipment can disconnect from the IP proxy.

Abstract: In an instant messaging system, message latency is reduced by initiating traffic channel set-up at a receiving device concurrently while a sending device is generating the instant message. When a user begins generating an instant message, the sending device transmits a service request to a payload and connection server to indicate that an instant message is pending. Upon receipt of the service request, the payload and connection server notifies the receiving device so that the receiving device can initiate traffic channel set-up concurrently while the instant message is being recorded. When the traffic channel is established, the receiving device polls the server. If the instant message is not yet received by the payload and connection server when the polling request is received, the payload and connection server waits a predetermined period of time to receive the pending instant message and forwards the instant message when it is received.

Abstract: In an instant messaging system, message latency is reduced by initiating traffic channel set-up at a receiving device concurrently while a sending device is generating the instant message. When a user begins generating an instant message, the sending device transmits a service request to a payload and connection server to indicate that an instant message is pending. Upon receipt of the service request, the payload and connection server notifies the receiving device so that the receiving device can initiate traffic channel set-up concurrently while the instant message is being recorded. When the traffic channel is established, the receiving device polls the server. If the instant message is not yet received by the payload and connection server when the polling request is received, the payload and connection server waits a predetermined period of time to receive the pending instant message and forwards the instant message when it is received.

Abstract: user equipment while the user equipment is disconnected from the system. The user equipment connects to the proxy and establishes a proxy session with the proxy. The proxy opens a proxy session for the user equipment, establishes a registration within said IMS network for IMS services on behalf of the user equipment; and maintains the registration for the user equipment for the duration of the proxy session. While the proxy session is ongoing, the user equipment can disconnect from the IP proxy.

Abstract: An interworking gateway for interworking an OMA IMPS domain and a SIMPLE domain comprises an OMA IMPS interface for communication with the OMA IMPS domain, a SIMPLE interface for communication with the SIMPLE domain and an interworking function linking the interfaces and comprising a transaction mapping module for converting an interworking subset of OMA IMPS transactions received by the OMA IMPS interface to corresponding SIMPLE transactions and relaying the corresponding SIMPLE transactions to the SIMPLE interface for transfer to the SIMPLE domain and for mapping an interworking subset of SIMPLE transactions received by the SIMPLE interface to corresponding OMA IMPS transactions and relaying the corresponding OMA IMPS transactions to the OMA IMPS interface for transfer to the OMA IMPS domain.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for choosing between different Communication Initiation Request (CIR) channels in a mobile communications system when there are multiple CIR channels amongst which to choose. Additionally, there is disclosed a system and method for exploiting a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection usage pattern that is characterized by periods of inactivity.

Abstract: There is described an interconnect hub for routing an Instant Message (IM) or related communication between a sending IM device in a first IM community and a recipient IM device in one of a plurality of potential second IM communities. The interconnect hub comprises a router for determining the destination of IM communications and routing the IM communications to the intended recipient, a search function for finding the service provider providing IM services to the user identifier, and a cache comprising a plurality of records associating user identifiers with corresponding service providers (mobile or Internet). When the IM communication is received by the interconnect hub, the router examines the recipient user identifier, accesses the cache keying on the recipient user identifier, retrieves the service provider associated with the recipient user identifier, and forwards the IM communication to the associated service provider for delivery to the intended recipient.

Abstract: In an instant messaging system, message latency is reduced by initiating traffic channel set-up at a receiving device concurrently while a sending device is generating the instant message. When a user begins generating an instant message, the sending device transmits a service request to a payload and connection server to indicate that an instant message is pending. Upon receipt of the service request, the payload and connection server notifies the receiving device so that the receiving device can initiate traffic channel set-up concurrently while the instant message is being recorded. When the traffic channel is established, the receiving device polls the server. If the instant message is not yet received by the payload and connection server when the polling request is received, the payload and connection server waits a predetermined period of time to receive the pending instant message and forwards the instant message when it is received.

Abstract: A presence server comprises a state machine to maintain current machine states for a plurality of users, and a mapper to map the current machine state for each user to a corresponding presence status.

Abstract: Methods and systems for protecting the privacy of a user of a communication system that include enabling a first user to block a second user so that the first user generally appears to the second user to be unavailable. The method includes allowing a third user to establish a group that includes the first user and the second user. The group may be any sort of group that involves communication among three or more users. For example, the group may be an instant message group, voice chat, conference call, video conference, or any other suitable group communication. The method also enables a blocked user to be temporarily unblocked so as to prevent his blocking decision to be revealed to the blocked user.

Abstract: A method for downloading destination addresses associated with a given client device from a server to the client device is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining a resource limitation of the client device, sorting the addresses, and transmitting a subset of the sorted addresses from the server to the device, wherein the transmitted sorted address subset is determined by the resource limitation. There is also provided a system and server for supporting Instant Messaging (IM).

Abstract: An interworking gateway for interworking an OMA IMPS domain and a SIMPLE domain comprises an OMA IMPS interface for communication with the OMA IMPS domain, a SIMPLE interface for communication with the SIMPLE domain and an interworking function linking the interfaces and comprising a transaction mapping module for converting an interworking subset of OMA IMPS transactions received by the OMA IMPS interface to corresponding SIMPLE transactions and relaying the corresponding SIMPLE transactions to the SIMPLE interface for transfer to the SIMPLE domain and for mapping an interworking subset of SIMPLE transactions received by the SIMPLE interface to corresponding OMA IMPS transactions and relaying the corresponding OMA IMPS transactions to the OMA IMPS interface for transfer to the OMA IMPS domain.

Abstract: A DCR telecommunications network comprises a plurality of network switching elements interconnected by circuit groups for carrying calls, and a network processor communicating with the network elements. If it cannot use a direct route to a neighbouring network element, the switching element may access a routing table containing alternate routes which are updated periodically by the network controller. The network functions as a group of nodes interconnected by links. Routing takes place on a node-to-node basis. At least one of the nodes is a virtual destination node, vis. a logical entity corresponding to a group of two or more components which are network elements. A link to the virtual destination node is a set of circuit groups connecting to its components. Final destinations outside the network can be associated with the virtual destination node as an intermediate destination node, thereby allowing a call to exit the DCR network via any of the components rather than via only one Unique Exit Gateway.

Abstract: An "Intelligent" telecommunications network comprises a plurality of switching units interconnected by links and connected to a central computer unit by a data communication system. For dynamic routing of a call, a first switching unit responds to a destination address in a call to attempt a direct link to a neighboring switching unit and, in the event that the attempt is unsuccessful, issues to the central computer unit a message containing the destination address. The central computer unit uses the destination address to identify the unsuccessful link; (ii) updates a routing database to identify the link as unavailable; (iii) determines an alternative route for the call using a tandem node and (iv) compiles a return message including a network address for a tandem switching unit and transmits it to the first switching unit. The latter attempts to route the call via a link to the tandem unit which attempts to complete the call by a direct link to the destination switching unit.

Abstract: A dynamically controlled routing (DCR) telecommunications network is formed by a plurality of network switching elements, each connected to at least one other by at least one circuit group for carrying calls therebetween, and a network processor connected to the network elements by data links. Each network switching element determines, for each call, a neighboring network element to which it should be routed. It does so by accessing a routing table which contains alternate routes to be attempted if a direct route either does not exist or cannot be used. The routing tables are updated periodically by the network controller. The DCR network functions as a group of nodes interconnected by links and routing takes place on a node-to-node basis.