Instant Messaging Session Notification and Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing instant messaging systems lack effective notification mechanisms for users when they are logged into the same online identity from multiple devices simultaneously, potentially leading to unauthorized access or unawareness of concurrent sessions.
Innovation Solution
A notification system that alerts users of multiple concurrent instant messaging sessions across different devices, allowing users to track and manage these sessions through visual and audible notifications, with options to close specific or all sessions, using a process that communicates session information between instant messaging controllers and servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a user logs into the same instant messaging online identity multiple times from multiple different devices, then the user can access and communicate from multiple locations simultaneously, but the user may become unaware of concurrent sessions leading to potential unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a notification mechanism that provides feedback to users about concurrent sessions. When a user logs in from a new device, the system sends a notification to all active sessions informing them of the new login, enabling users to awareness of and respond to concurrent access attempts across multiple devices
Solution Approach 2:
The instant messaging server acts as an intermediary that tracks login events across different devices and coordinates notifications. The server receives login information from multiple clients, maintains state about concurrent sessions, and distributes appropriate notifications to ensure users are aware of all active sessions without requiring direct peer-to-peer communication
2Reliability
If the system notifies users of all concurrent sessions, then user awareness and security are improved, but the system complexity increases due to tracking and communication overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system leverages the existing instant messaging infrastructure to serve multiple purposes: the same server that handles normal IM communication also tracks login events, maintains session state, and distributes notifications. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated tracking systems by making the existing server multi-functional
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically tracks concurrent sessions and sends notifications without requiring manual configuration or intervention. The server autonomously monitors login events, identifies concurrent sessions, and distributes appropriate notifications based on predefined rules, reducing the need for complex user-side tracking mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
Notifying a user of multiple concurrent instant messaging sessions includes receiving a first request to establish a first instant messaging session associated with an instant messaging online identity assigned to a user using a first instant messaging controller and establishing the first instant messaging session in response to the first request. A second request is received to establish a second instant messaging session associated with the instant messaging online identity assigned to the user using a second instant messaging controller that differs from the first instant messaging controller. The second instant messaging session is established in response to the second request. A notification is communicated to at least the first instant messaging controller indicating the establishment of the second instant messaging session.