IM Router Architecture for Inter-Domain Server Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Instant Messaging (IM) systems lack a robust method for interconnecting and managing IM servers across different domains and networks, limiting secure and efficient communication between various institutions, enterprises, and public users.
Innovation Solution
A new routing method and equipment, featuring a management module and routing module within IM routers, utilize unique identifiers to facilitate connectivity and communication between IM servers, enabling network addressing and secure connections through neighbor routers and routing strategies like maximum speed and hop count control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flat structure with all servers connected to each other is used, then connectivity between IM servers is achieved, but network complexity and management difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the IM server network into multiple domains, with each domain managed by a dedicated IM router. Servers are segmented into different administrative domains rather than forming a single flat network, reducing overall network complexity while maintaining inter-domain connectivity through structured routing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
IM routers are introduced as intermediary devices between IM servers in different domains. These routers manage server information, perform domain lookups, and facilitate communication between domains, eliminating the need for direct server-to-server connections and simplifying network management.
2Productivity
If primary and backup controllers are introduced to manage servers, then load balance and service performance improve, but the system complexity and control overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The IM router performs multiple functions including server information management, domain lookup, routing decisions, and load distribution. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional device rather than separate primary and backup controllers, the system achieves improved performance while reducing control structure complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol conversion gateways are used to facilitate information exchange, then compatibility between different enterprises' IM servers is improved, but data processing overhead and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The IM router pre-establishes and maintains a database of server information including domain names, server addresses, and routing paths before actual communication occurs. This preliminary preparation enables direct routing decisions without real-time protocol conversion, reducing data processing time while maintaining compatibility through pre-configured routing information.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
This invention discloses a new Instant Messaging(IM) routing method and routers, to manage IM servers and provide network addressing, utilizing the management module and routing module. Among them, the management module is used to maintain the router's own information and the information of IM servers, comprising of: (1) Unique identification Router ID(RID) for every IM router in the entire network, (2) Information of one or multiple servers that every IM router manages, (3) Unique identification Host ID(HID) of every IM server in the entire network; Routing module provides routing method to facilitate the connectivity and communication between the IM servers based on the identification HID and identification RID. The significance of this invention is: Establishes a new form of IM network architecture by utilizing routing method and routers, allowing private, public IM servers to achieve reliable connectivity and communication, so as to fulfill the IM need of different businesses or organizations in a complex network environment.