Method and apparatus for storing real-time text messages

Abstract

A synchronization (“synch”) module may reside on a source computing platform and a destination computing platform. The synch module may be configured to operate as a source synch module or a destination synch module depending on which computing platform is a data source. As an data source or initiator, the synch module may be configured to transfer data, e.g., an archived message history, from a source computing platform to a destination computing platform. At the destination computing platform, the synch module may be further configured to convert the received archived message history to a specified data format, where the data format is predetermined by a user. The converted data, e.g., an archived message history, may then be stored in a pre-determined location by the synch module.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for transferring data between a data source and a data sink, comprising: 
 initiating a transfer of a message history data;    transferring said message history data in response to an establishment of a communication channel;    converting received message history data to a previously selected data format; and    storing converted message history data in a previously selected location.    
     
     
         2 . The method for transferring data according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 indicating an unavailability in response to a non-establishment of said communication channel.    
     
     
         3 . The method for transferring data according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 providing a second attempt of establishing said communication channel in response to said unavailability.    
     
     
         4 . The method for transferring data according to  claim 1 , wherein said transferring further comprises: 
 activating a destination synchronization module in response to the establishment of said communication channel; and    transferring said data in response to said activation of said destination synchronization module.    
     
     
         5 . The method for transferring data according to  claim 1 , wherein said converting further comprises: 
 providing a plurality of selectable data formats.    
     
     
         6 . The method for transferring data according to  claim 1 , wherein said storing further comprises: 
 providing a plurality of selectable storage locations for storage of said converted message history data.    
     
     
         7 . The method for transferring data according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 establishing said communication channel over a wireless network.    
     
     
         8 . The method for transferring data according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 establishing said communication channel over a wired network.    
     
     
         9 . A method for transferring chat history, comprising: 
 initiating a transfer of said chat history;    transferring said chat history in response to an establishment of a communication channel;    combining associated data related to said chat history; and    determining a destination of said chat history.    
     
     
         10 . The method for transferring chat history according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 converting said chat history to a previously selected data format in response to said destination being a current computing platform; and    storing converted chat history in a location previously determined.    
     
     
         11 . The method for transferring chat history according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 transmitting a completion message in response to completion of said storing.    
     
     
         12 . The method for transferring chat history according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 attempting to connect to a final destination device in response to said destination being said final destination device.    
     
     
         13 . The method for transferring chat history according to  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 transferring said chat history in response to an establishment of a communication channel with said final destination device;    converting received chat history to a previously selected data format; and    storing converted chat history in a previously selected location.    
     
     
         14 . The method for transferring chat history according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 transmitting a completion message in response to completion of said storing.    
     
     
         15 . A method for synchronizing a message history, comprising: 
 initiating a transfer of said message history;    transferring said message history in response to an establishment of a communication channel; and    determining a destination of said message history.    
     
     
         16 . The method for synchronizing a message history according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 converting said message history to a previously selected data format in response to said destination being a current computing platform; and    storing converted message history in a location previously determined.    
     
     
         17 . The method for synchronizing a message history according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 transmitting a completion message in response to completion of said storing.    
     
     
         18 . The method for synchronizing a message history according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 attempting to connect to another computing platform in response to said destination being said another computing platform.    
     
     
         19 . The method for synchronizing a message history according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 transferring s aid message history in response to an establishment of a communication channel with said destination;    converting received message history to a previously selected data format; and    storing converted message history data in a previously selected location.    
     
     
         20 . The method for synchronizing a message history according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 transmitting a completion message in response to a completion of said storing.    
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for synchronizing a chat history, comprising: 
 an interface adapted to communicate with a destination device;    a memory configured to store said chat history of a messaging program; and    a processor, wherein said processor is configured to accept a synchronization request and to transfer said chat history from said memory in response to said an establishment of a communication channel through said interface.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus for synchronizing a chat history according to  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said processor is further configured to report unavailability of said destination device in response to an non-establishment of said communication channel.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus for synchronizing a chat history according to  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said processor is further configured to provide a second attempt of establishing said communication channel in response said unavailability of destination device.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus for synchronizing a chat history according to  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said processor is further adapted to activate a synchronization module on said destination device in response to said establishment of said communication channel and to transfer to said chat history in response to said activation of said synchronization module.    
     
     
         25 . The apparatus for synchronizing a chat history according to  claim 24 , wherein said synchronization module of said destination is adapted to receive said chat history, convert said chat history to a previously selected data format and to store converted chat history in a previously selected location.  
     
     
         26 . A source device for synchronizing a message history, comprising: 
 an interface adapted to communicate with a destination device;    a memory configured to store said message history of a messaging program; and    a processor, wherein said processor is configured to accept a synchronization request, and to transfer said message history from said memory in response to said an establishment of a communication channel through said interface.    
     
     
         27 . The source device for synchronizing a message history according to  claim 26 , wherein said processor is adapted to activate a synchronization module on said destination device and to transfer said message history in response to an activation of said synchronization module.  
     
     
         28 . The source device for synchronizing a message history according to  claim 27 , wherein said synchronization module is adapted to determine a destination for said message history.  
     
     
         29 . The source device for synchronizing a message history according to  claim 28 , wherein said synchronization module is further adapted to combine any associated data related to said history into a combined message history.  
     
     
         30 . The source device for synchronizing a message history according to  claim 29 , wherein said synchronization module is further adapted to transfer said combined message history to a final destination device in response to said determining of said destination is said final destination device.  
     
     
         31 . The source device for synchronizing a message history according to  claim 28 , wherein said synchronization module is further adapted to transfer said message history to a final destination device in response to said determining of said destination is said final destination device.  
     
     
         32 . A destination device for synchronizing a message history, comprising: 
 an interface adapted to communicate with a source device; and    a processor, wherein said processor is configured to establish a communication channel with said source device through said interface in response to a synchronization request at said source device and to activate a synchronization module configured to accept said message history from said source device in response to an activation message from said source device.    
     
     
         33 . The destination device according to  claim 32 , wherein said synchronization module is adapted to determine a destination of said message history.  
     
     
         34 . The destination device according to  claim 33 , wherein said synchronization module is further adapted to combine any associated data related to said message history into a combined message history.  
     
     
         35 . The destination device according to  claim 34 , wherein said synchronization module is further adapted to transfer said combined message history to a final destination device in response to said determining of said destination is said final destination device.  
     
     
         36 . The destination device according to  claim 33 , wherein said synchronization module is further adapted to transfer said message history to a final destination device in response to said determining of said destination is said final destination device.  
     
     
         37 . The destination device according to  claim 33 , wherein said synchronization module is further configured to convert said message history to a pre-selected data format in response to said determining of said destination is said destination device.  
     
     
         38 . The destination device according to  claim 37 , wherein said synchronization module is further configured to store converted message history in a predetermined location on said destination device.  
     
     
         39 . A system for synchronizing a chat history, comprising: 
 a communication network;    a source device configured to transfer said chat history over said communication network;    a destination device configured to received said chat history;    a source synchronization module executing on said source device; and    a destination synchronization module adapted to execute on said destination device, wherein said source synchronization module is configured to transfer said chat history in response to an activation of said destination synchronization module by said source synchronization module.    
     
     
         40 . The system for synchronizing a chat history according to  claim 39 , wherein said source synchronization module is further configured to initiate transfer of said chat history in response to receiving a synchronization request at said source device.  
     
     
         41 . The system for synchronizing a chat history according to  claim 39 , wherein said destination synchronization is configured to determine a destination of said chat history.  
     
     
         42 . The system for synchronizing a chat history according to  claim 41 , wherein said destination synchronization module is further adapted to combine any associated data related to said chat history into a combined chat history.  
     
     
         43 . The system for synchronizing a chat history according to  claim 42 , wherein said destination synchronization module is further adapted to transfer said combined chat history to a final destination device in response to said determining of said destination is said final destination device.  
     
     
         44 . The destination device according to  claim 42 , wherein said synchronization module is further adapted to transfer said chat history to a final destination device in response to said determining of said destination is said final destination device.  
     
     
         45 . The destination device according to  claim 42 , wherein said destination synchronization module is further configured to convert said chat history to a pre-selected data format in response to said determining of said destination is said destination device.  
     
     
         46 . The destination device according to  claim 45 , wherein said destination synchronization module is further configured to store converted message history in a predetermined location on said destination device.  
     
     
         47 . A computer readable storage medium on which is embedded one or more computer programs, said one or more computer programs implementing a method of transferring a message history data, said one or more computer programs comprising a set of instructions for: 
 initiating a transfer of said chat history;    transferring said chat data in response to an establishment of a communication channel;    combining associated data related to said chat history; and    determining a destination of said chat history.    
     
     
         48 . The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 47 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: 
 converting said chat history to a previously selected data format in response to said destination is a current computing platform; and    storing converted chat history in a location previously determined.    
     
     
         49 . The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 47 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: 
 transmitting a completion message in response to a completion of said storing.    
     
     
         50 . The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 47 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: 
 attempting to connect to said destination in response to said destination is not a current computing platform.    
     
     
         51 . A computer readable storage medium on which is embedded one or more computer programs, said one or more computer programs implementing a method of transferring a chat history, said one or more computer programs comprising a set of instructions for: 
 transferring said chat history in response to an establishment of a communication channel with said destination;    converting received data to a previously selected data format; and    storing converted chat history in a previously selected location.    
     
     
         52 . The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 51 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: 
 transmitting a completion message in response to a completion of said storing.    
     
     
         53 . A computer readable storage medium on which is embedded one or more computer programs, said one or more computer programs implementing a method of synchronizing a message history, said one or more computer programs comprising a set of instructions for: 
 initiating a transfer of said message history;    transferring said message history in response to an establishment of a communication channel; and    determining a destination of said message history.    
     
     
         54 . The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 53 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: 
 converting said message history to a previously selected data format in response to said destination is a current computing platform; and    storing converted message history in a location previously determined.    
     
     
         55 . The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 54 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: 
 transmitting a completion message in response to a completion of said storing.    
     
     
         56 . The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 54 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: 
 attempting to connect to said destination in response to said destination is not a current computing platform.    
     
     
         57 . The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 56 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: 
 transferring said message history in response to an establishment of a communication channel with said destination;    converting received data to a previously selected data format; and    storing converted message history data in a previously selected location.    
     
     
         58 . The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 57 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: 
 transmitting a completion message in response to a completion of said storing.