Patent ID: 7200634
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An instant messaging (IM) system interfaced with a mobile phone network, said IM system comprising: a plurality of clients, each client having a different account from every other client, each client having IM client applications of one or more client types, said client types including mobile phone client types having a mobile phone with a unique mobile phone telephone number, and including a plurality of computer network interfaced client types; an IM server selectively connected to said client types and providing a prescribed range of functionality to said clients; each client type of said computer network interfaced clients having a unique identifier to enable access thereto via said computer network; and each client account being a single account on said IM server for all of its client types that can access said IM server; wherein each of said account is identified by a unique identification number being based on the unique mobile phone telephone number, and wherein said IM server records each said unique identifier of each and every client type of said client matched with said unique identification number of said client, such that the unique identification number is common to all of the client types of said client; wherein said client with a mobile phone is able, through said IM server, to send to or receive from any client type of another client a message, and the another client is identified in said client's mobile phone in relation to the message by the unique identification number.