Instant Message Interface for Protocol Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing instant message (IM) technologies require modifying the originating application to communicate with different target applications, making it difficult to interact with new applications and requiring extensive modifications when protocols change, limiting data exchange efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An IM interface that uses a messaging Application Programming Interface (API) and Forms Definition Language (FDL) forms to generate and transfer instant messages in protocols specific to both the originating and target applications, allowing protocol-independent data exchange without modifying the originating application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the originating application is modified to communicate with different target applications, then protocol compatibility is improved, but device complexity and modification requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an instant message interface as an intermediary component that sits between the originating application and the target application. This interface handles protocol conversion and message formatting, allowing the originating application to communicate with different target applications without modification. The intermediary translates messages between different protocols, resolving the contradiction by maintaining protocol compatibility while avoiding application modification complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication system into distinct components: the originating application, the instant message interface, and the target application. By separating the protocol handling functionality into the intermediate message interface, the system allows each component to remain independent and unchanged while still achieving protocol compatibility across different applications
2Adaptability or versatility
If the originating application is modified for each new target application, then communication capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The instant message interface is designed as a universal component that can handle communications with multiple different target applications through a single interface. Rather than requiring separate modifications for each application, the universal interface adapts to different protocols automatically, improving ease of operation while maintaining broad communication capability
3Manufacturing precision
If protocol-specific modifications are made to the originating application, then communication precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The message interface acts as a specialized intermediary that handles protocol-specific implementations while presenting a uniform interface to the originating application. This allows precise protocol implementation in the intermediary layer without requiring the originating application to be modified for each protocol, thus maintaining both communication precision and application flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
An instant message (IM) interface configured to extend a target application over an IM link of a communication network is provided according to the invention. The IM interface includes a communication interface configured to transfer a reply IM to an originating application. The IM interface further includes a processing system configured to obtain data from the target application and provide an output form to a messaging Application Programming Interface (messaging API). The output form is provided from a set of Forms Definition Language (FDL) forms. The messaging API is substantially protocol-dependent and the set of FDL forms is protocol-independent. The processing system is further configured to generate the reply IM in an originating application protocol using the data, the output form, and one or more protocol-specific libraries of the messaging API. The reply IM is an originating application protocol-specific IM.