State change alerts mechanism

Abstract

A communications system including one or more alert gates and an alert controller. Each alert gate is configured to detect a different type of alert feed corresponding to a particular kind of alert. The alert controller is connected to the alert gates and operable to receive detected alerts from the alert gates and to deliver the detected alerts to a user of the communications system.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 authorizing a first remote device to establish a network connection to one or more servers;   receiving at an alert gate associated with the one or more servers, an alert feed from the first remote device corresponding to an alert indicative of a change in state at the first remote device;   sending over an open connection, by an alert multiplexer associated with the one or more servers, the alert to a second remote device;   wherein the alert corresponds to an alert message; and   wherein the alert message is at least one of: a pop-up window, an icon, or an audio alarm.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the change of state exists when a new message is sent to the second remote device. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the change of state exists when a stock price exceeds a limit. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the change of state exists when adverse weather conditions are detected in a specified geographic region. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the open connection is established using an encrypted key. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the alert message includes information about a condition that triggered the alert. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the alert multiplexer maintains a record of alert types registered for by the second remote device. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the open connection is an open TCP connection. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more memories operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:   authorize a first remote device to establish a network connection to one or more servers;   receive at an alert gate associated with the one or more servers, an alert feed from the first remote device corresponding to an alert indicative of a change in state at the first remote device;   send over an open connection, by an alert multiplexer associated with the one or more servers, the alert to a second remote device;   wherein the alert corresponds to an alert message; and   wherein the alert message is at least one of: a pop-up window, an icon, or an audio alarm.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the change of state exists when a new message is sent to the second remote device. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the change of state exists when a stock price exceeds a limit. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the change of state exists when adverse weather conditions are detected in a specified geographic region. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the open connection is established using an encrypted key. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the alert message includes information about a condition that triggered the alert. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the alert multiplexer maintains a record of alert types registered for by the second remote device. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the open connection is an open TCP connection. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 authorizing one or more servers to establish a network connection to a first remote device;   receiving at the first remote device over an open connection an alert indicative of a change of state at a second remote device;   wherein the alert is initially transmitted from the second remote device to an alert gate associated with the one or more servers and forwarded from an alert multiplexer associated with the one or more servers to the first remote device;   presenting the alert on a display of the first remote device, wherein the alert may be activated on the first remote device to link to an alert message.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented communications method of  claim 17 , wherein the change of state exists when a new message is sent to the second remote device. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented communications method of  claim 17 , wherein the open connection is an open TCP connection. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented communications method of  claim 17 , wherein the alert message includes information about a condition that triggered the alert.