System and method of wireless instant messaging

Abstract

A method of operating a server includes receiving a single message, from a messaging client, addressed to a group. The group is resolved to user identifiers that identify both wireless device clients and Internet clients. A message is sent to each of the wireless device clients and each of the Internet clients.

1 . A method of operating a server, comprising:
 receiving a single message, from a messaging client, addressed to a group;   resolving the group to user identifiers that identify both wireless device clients and Internet clients; and   sending a message to each of the wireless device clients and each of the Internet clients.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the group is identified by a unique group identifier. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the resolving comprises consulting a database that relates group identifiers to user identifiers. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the messaging client is on a wireless device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the single message is an instant message, and the server is an instant messaging server. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the Internet clients is on a desktop computer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the server performing the method maintains presence information for the wireless device clients. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising determining that a wireless device client, from among said wireless device clients, is in an unknown presence state based on a predetermined time period having passed after receipt of presence information from the wireless device client without having received additional presence information from the wireless device client. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising refraining from transmitting a message to those of the wireless device clients that are in an unknown state. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the single message has presence information indicating a presence state of the messaging client. 
     
     
         11 . A mobile communication device comprising:
 a communication subsystem configured to send, to an instant messaging server, a single instant message addressed to a group that comprises both wireless device clients and Internet clients.   
     
     
         12 . The mobile communication device of  claim 11  wherein the group is identified by a unique group identifier. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile communication device of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the Internet clients is on a desktop computer. 
     
     
         14 . A wireless instant messaging system comprising:
 a wireless messaging server configured to receive a single message addressed to a group, and to resolve the group to client identifiers that identify both wireless device clients and Internet clients, and to send a message to each of the wireless device clients and each of the Internet clients.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the group is identified by a unique group identifier. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising a database that relates the group's unique identifier to user identifiers for the wireless device clients and the Internet clients. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein at least one of the Internet clients is on a desktop computer. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the single message is an instant message, and the server is an instant messaging server. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the server is configured to determine that a wireless device client, from among said wireless device clients, is in an unknown presence state based on a predetermined time period having passed after receipt of presence information from the wireless device client without having received additional presence information from the wireless device client. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  further comprising refraining from transmitting the message to those of the wireless device clients that are in an unknown state.