Patent ID: 7433700
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for transmitting IM information to participants of an instant messaging system, comprising: commencing a conversation between a first user and a second user; automatically establishing, in response to the commencing, a direct coupling channel between the first user and the second user; and conducting the exchange of IM information between the first user and the second user using the direct coupling channel; wherein the establishing of the direct coupling channel between the first user and the second user involves querying an echo server to determine a nature of any intermediary functionality involved in the direct coupling of the IM information between the first user and the second user; wherein the establishing of the direct coupling channel involves selecting a transport handler for implementing the direct coupling channel that meets prescribed criteria; wherein the selecting of the transport handler involves computing a score for each of a plurality of transport handlers based on plural criteria, and selecting a transport handler having the best score.