Abstract:
An apparatus and method for instant message transmission includes a message center coupled to one or more servers and to an event engine by a network. An instant message is transmitted to the message center by the event engine over the network. An algorithm determines the optimum path for the transmission of the instant message. Users may share identical data via instant messaging, and may make changes to the data as it is streamed in real-time to designated users over the network. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to the field of computer-facilitated communications; more particularly, to instant messaging between users logged into a computer network. 
   BACKGROUND 
   A paramount concern in a modern enterprise is the ability to quickly respond to changing information. Electronic messaging systems such as instant messaging and e-mail have provided convenient tools for contacting people or groups of people efficiently. These systems provide a fast and inexpensive method for individuals to communicate and collaborate. Reliance on electronic communication has increased markedly in recent years. As technology advances, it is certain that organizations will become more dependent on immediate access to information to excel in a competitive environment. 
   It is also important for members of an organization to be able to effectively share identical screen images in real-time, such as text and graphics, among one or more client computers. Users typically share these images with one another using e-mail or instant message attachments. A practice known as “screen sharing” or “window sharing” is also used to allow for the display of identical information on computer screens or windows which are mutually connected in a distributed system. Nevertheless, these solutions have shortcomings. 
   For one, instant messaging is not used for screen sharing. Instead, users are typically connected via a slow connect medium, which adversely affects the instantaneous quality of instant messaging. Furthermore, when users send large attachments, there is an overall slowdown in the speed and reliability of their networks as server capacity is consumed at high levels. In addition, instant messaging systems are generally not scalable. There is typically only one path for a message to take over a network, and past systems have lacked the intelligence to find a more optimum path for the instant messages. Consequently, if there is too much traffic on a particular path, the recipient of an instant message may be subjected to a substantial delay. 
   Still another major shortcoming of existing instant messaging systems is that they do not provide a secure medium for confidential communication. Instant messaging has been traditionally conducted over the Internet, with communications sent via clear text. This type of insecure forum is often unacceptable for high-security business information. Finally, most instant messaging systems cannot track the presence of an individual throughout an organization. If an emergency happens within the organization, for example, there is no way to automatically alert the proper individuals using existing instant messaging technology. 
   What is needed is a comprehensive instant messaging system that allows for encrypted communication, collaborative screen sharing using the instant messaging system, and extensibility. Furthermore, an instant messaging system that is able to track the presence of individuals within an organization and to alert those individuals automatically if a predetermined event occurs would also be beneficial. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description that follows and from the accompanying drawings, which however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown, but are for explanation and understanding only. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an enterprise computing runtime environment according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating message center architecture according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating instant messaging collaboration according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating the steps of an instant messaging process according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating the steps of an instant messaging collaboration process according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating one example operation according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a peer-to-peer instant messaging collaboration process according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a computer system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   A system and method for instant messaging collaboration is described. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth, such as the architecture of a message center, details regarding particular types of instant messaging collaboration, and the use of the invention for sharing business reports, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, persons having ordinary skill in the computer arts will appreciate that these specific details may not be needed to practice the present invention. 
   According to one embodiment of the present invention, an instant messaging system is provided that allows users to transmit messages instantaneously to any user located in a list of users contained in the instant messaging system. The system is able to track the presence of users that are using the instant message system within an organization, and to send users alerts about changing information within the organization. For example, if the instant messaging system is used in an oil refinery and there is a dangerous condition occurring in the refinery, an instant message may be sent to the appropriate people within the refinery so that they are able to immediately respond to the event. The system also provides for instant messaging through e-mail if users are not using the instant messaging system. 
   In one embodiment, the instant messaging system allows users to plug in their own security, such as bit encryption, so that confidential information may be transmitted between users in a highly secure manner. In another embodiment, a proprietary instant messenger allows for peer-to-peer collaboration, completely bypassing a server for instant messaging. In this manner, users of the system may communicate directly with one another and share identical screen images without having to communicate through the Internet, or with any other server, for that matter. If an image on one user&#39;s screen changes, this change may be streamed in real-time to all other participants in the instant messaging collaboration. The instant messaging system of the present invention is also extensible, such that message deliveries can be farmed out to back-up servers to send instant messages to users if network traffic necessitates this type of transmission. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1  there is shown a block diagram illustrating an enterprise computing runtime environment according to one embodiment of the present invention. There is shown in  FIG. 1  a simplistic view of an enterprise computing runtime environment  101  containing a plurality of enterprise systems that are often utilized in an organization. In  FIG. 1 , these enterprise systems include “back office” applications  102  for enterprise resource planning (ERP), “front-office” applications  103  for customer relationship management (CRM), customized legacy systems  104 , and multi-dimensional/relational database management systems (RDBMS)  105 . Of course, a variety of other applications (not shown in this view) may also exist in the enterprise computing runtime environment  101 . These disparate systems may be coupled to one another using a local area network (LAN)  106 , a wide area network (WAN) or any other such networking environments commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, the intranet, and the Internet. Further, network  106  may include a wireless network, such that one or more computers may operate over a wireless LAN. 
   As is known in the art, the existing enterprise systems contain a variety of different data about the organization. For example, the ERP system  102  may contain data regarding essential business functions including payroll, manufacturing, general ledger, and human resources whereas the CRM system  103  may contain core information regarding the organization&#39;s customers. As data in these various systems changes (e.g., a sale is made, a new employee is hired, payroll is processed, etc.), one or more message queueing systems  107  may be used to allow these various applications  102 ,  103 ,  104 , etc., to exchange information on the data being stored in their systems. To this end, one implementation of the present invention employs a message queue server (e.g., the Microsoft RTM message Queue Server (MSMQ) (not shown in this view) although other message queuing systems may be used as well), to provide loosely-coupled and reliable network (across servers) communication services based on a message-queueing model. In MSMQ, messages are sent to a queue, where the message is retained in storage until it is removed and used by another application. In this manner, loosely-coupled applications can share data to provide an enterprise-wide view of information, such as data and business transactions. 
   An enterprise link  110  is coupled to the enterprise computing runtime environment  101  through a network connection, such as the Internet  111 . Of course, as is noted above, the network connection may also be a LAN, a WAN, a wireless network, or any other system of connections that allows one or more computers to exchange information. The enterprise link  110  integrates, in real-time, the disparate data in the message queues. The enterprise link  110  of the present invention is maintained active. It continuously accepts raw data feeds  121 ,  122 ,  123 , etc., from the existing enterprise systems, and then reformats, synchronizes, and consolidates the data. 
   In a traditional model, the data in the message queues is usually processed through the data flow system when a specified number of records have built up within the message queues (i.e., the data is then transmitted in batch mode). According to an algorithm contained within the data flow system of the present invention, however, individual records are processed through to the enterprise link  110  the moment that they appear; that is, the program continuously checks for new messages and handles them in real-time. In this manner, real-time data flow is transmitted through the raw data feeds  121 ,  122 ,  123  via the message queues. 
   It should be noted that although a message queueing system is used in one embodiment, the enterprise link  110  may also obtain data from the enterprise computing runtime environment  101  in a variety of other ways. These sources of data may be, for example, HyperText Transport Protocol (“HTTP”) requests and/or Application Programming Interface (“API”) calls and/or Web Services calls. In these alternative embodiments, the enterprise link  110  contains a web server (not shown in this view) to process the HTTP requests and/or another application or server to process the API and/or Web Service calls. 
   Regardless of how the enterprise link  110  receives the raw data feeds (e.g.,  121 - 123 ) the enterprise link  110  transmits the data it receives from the enterprise computing runtime environment  101  via a network connection  160  to an active data cache (ADC)  120 . Alternatively, the data may be transmitted to the ADC  120  via some other connection. The ADC  120  comprises a high-performance, memory-based persistent cache which stores the data (e.g., as shown by stars  131 ,  132 , and  133 ) it receives from the enterprise link  110 . The ADC  120  contains code which may be implemented in software such as Java™, Perl, C++, or other types of programming languages that can be stored on a computer-readable medium (e.g., a disk) to manage the data that is actively changing within the enterprise computing runtime environment  101  and to make the data accessible to the end-user in real-time. In this manner, the data represented by stars  131 ,  132 , and  133  in the ADC  120  is constantly changing such that it is synchronized in real-time with the data in the enterprise computing runtime environment  101 . The data  131 ,  132 , and  133  in the ADC  120  may also be made persistent to disk  140 , as disk  140  is optionally used for backup, restore, and recovery purposes. 
   An active designer  154  is the component module of the enterprise link  110  that determines the particular data that is contained within the ADC  120 . Active designer  154  determines the process by which the data  131 ,  132 , and  133  is transmitted to the ADC  120 . As is shown in  FIG. 1 , the active designer  154  is also connected to the enterprise computing runtime environment  101  via the Internet  111 . The active designer  154  essentially contains one or more lists of data flow definitions that define which operations are to be performed on the data that is transmitted to the active designer  154  through the network connection  111 . Again, the code for the data flow definitions may be implemented in software such as JAVA, Perl, C++, C#, or other types of programming languages that can be stored on a computer-readable medium. 
   By way of example, when sales data arrives at the ERP  102 , the active designer  154  may contain a set of data flow definitions on how to retrieve, transform, and display this data. Each data flow definition may include executable software code instructing the enterprise link  110  to retrieve, by way of example, the data within the salesperson field whenever a sale is made, to describe how many sales that salesperson has made for the day, etc., and then to transmit this data to the ADC  120 . 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the ADC  120  is connected to a message center  170  through the Internet  111 . Alternatively, connections to the message center  170  may be made through the intranet, a LAN, a WAN, or any of the other conventional network connections. The message center  170  is essentially a broadcast center in that it transmits instant messages about important data that is actively changing within the enterprise computing runtime environment  101 . When the ADC  120  receives a transmission about changing data and/or an event that occurred within the enterprise computing runtime environment  101 , it transmits this data to an event engine  180 . The event engine  180  may be coupled to the ADC  120  through the Internet, the intranet, a LAN, a WAN, or any of the other network connections. The event engine  180  contains an algorithm for determining that an instant message about the particular event needs to be transmitted to the message center  170 . If the event engine  180  determines that a message about the particular event must be transmitted to the message center  170 , it transmits this data to an Application Programmer&#39;s Interface (API) contained within the message center architecture. The message center  170  then executes instantaneous message delivery to one or more users, as will be described in more detail herein. In addition, the message center  170  allows for instant messaging collaboration among one or more users as will also be described herein. A monitoring service such as a switchboard (not shown in this view), may also track a user of the instant messaging system and will notify a user who is a recipient of an instant message. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2  there is shown a block diagram of the message center architecture according to one embodiment of the present invention. The main server component  200  of the message center  170  includes the API layer  201  which may interface with a variety of outside components in an enterprise computing runtime environment through an event engine  202 . The event engine  202  may be coupled to the main server component  200  via a network connection  203 , such as an intranet or Internet network or any other type of network connection as described herein. The main server component  200  also includes a presence component  209  and a user manager  204 . The presence component  209  determines the state of individual instant messenger users  220  and  230 ; that is, whether users  220  and  230  are on-line or off-line, and variations of how contactable a particular user is. Of course, it should be noted that although only two users  220  and  230  are illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the number of users may vary. In some instances, hundreds or thousands of users may simultaneously use the instant messaging system described herein. 
   The presence component  209  may determine, for example, that a user is off-line, and therefore may not receive an instant message. The presence component may also determine that even though a user may not be using instant messaging, that the user has an e-mail address, where the instant message may be sent to be viewed the next time the user checks e-mail. The user manager  204  allows the server component  200  to obtain log-in information for various users. The user manager  204  also maintains lists of users that the server component  200  may communicate with via instant messaging. Local user information  205 , including the name and e-mail address of users, may also be contained within the server component  200  of the message center architecture. 
   A variety of plug-ins  206 ,  207 , and  208 , may be connected to the main server component  200  to allow the message center  170  to contact instant messaging users  220  and  230 . In the embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 2 , the plug-ins  206 ,  207 , and  208  include a propietary instant messaging plug-in  206  that interfaces directly with a proprietary instant messaging server  240 , and a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) plug-in  207  that interfaces directly with a mail server  211 . Of course, a variety of other plug-ins may be used as well. A Microsoft Instant messaging plug-in  208  allows the message center to interface with Microsoft&#39;s instant messaging server  210 . The server component  200  logs on to Microsoft&#39;s instant messaging server  210  as a peer. The server component  200  has its own user that may log into the MIcrosoft instant messaging server  210  through a network connection such as the Internet  215   
   Components of the enterprise computing runtime environment may use the event engine  202  to transmit messages through the API layer  201  directly to the Microsoft instant messaging server  210  through plug-in  208 . The Microsoft instant messaging server  210  may then use the Internet  215  to transmit the instant message to a user  220 . For instance, if an instant message needs to be sent to user  220  within an organization, the event engine  202  immediately transmits this message to the server component  200 . The user manager  204  resolves the user&#39;s e-mail address on the Microsoft instant messaging server  210 . The server component  200  employs the presence component  203  to determine whether or not user  220  is on-line. If user  220  is not on-line, then a message is transmitted back to the message center  170  indicating that the user is not on-line and thus cannot be contacted. Alternatively, the server component  200  may send the instant message to the user  220  via e-mail through the SMTP mail protocol plug-in  207  for the user  220  to receive next time the user checks his in-box. If the user  220  is on-line, however, then the plug-in  208  immediately transmits the message via the Internet  215  to the Microsoft instant messaging server  210 . The Microsoft instant messaging server  210  then transmits the message to the user  220 . 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, a user  230  may receive instant messages without using the Microsoft instant messaging server  210 . For example, the proprietary instant messaging plug-in  206  allows instant messages to be transmitted from the event engine  202  to users who are logged into a proprietary server  240 . If a message arrives at the server component  200  from the event engine  202  for the user  230 , the user manager  204  is able to resolve the user&#39;s  230  e-mail address and transmit the message to the user  230  via the proprietary server  207 . In addition, the message center is able to determine how the user  230  is logged on to the system. That is, it recognizes that the user  230  is logged on using the proprietary server  240  and therefore is able to send the message to the user  230  via the proprietary instant messaging plug-in  206 . 
   Instant messages may be sent using the proprietary instant messaging plug-in  206  and the SMTP plug-in  207  simultaneously. Or, alternatively, an algorithm within the server component  200  may contain a set of rules to determine the best mode of instant message transmission. For example, if a message arrives at the message center for user  220 , an algorithm may dictate that the instant message first try to be sent via the Microsoft instant messaging server  210 , next through the proprietary server  240 , and, if this fails, through the SMTP plug-in  207  via the mail server  211 . 
   In another embodiment, an algorithm may be used to try to transmit the instant message through the proprietary server  240  first, the Microsoft instant messaging server  210  second, and the mail server  211  last. The proprietary server  240  may be connected to the server component  200  and to the users  230  and  220  via a standard Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) connection  216 . Thus, the proprietary server  240  allows messages to be transmitted using bit-encryption or other highly secure transmission methods. The users  220  and  230  may also be connected to each other via the TCP/IP connections  216  and to the mail server  211  via the TCP/IP connection  216 . 
   In addition, two components of the proprietary server  240  allow for the farming out of network traffic to multiple in-house servers. A presence component  251  of the proprietary server  240  is able to detect the presence of users  220  and  230  of the system, that is, whether or not users  220  and  230  are logged on to the proprietary server  240 . A message component  252  of the proprietary server  240 , handles message delivery to users  220  and  230 . 
   If multiple messages are transmitted to the proprietary server  240  it may farm them out to back-up servers  241 ,  242 ,  243 , etc., via the TCP/IP connection  216  located in-house if network traffic is too extensive. In this way, the instant messaging system is scalable. If hundreds of users in an organization need to receive an instant message, these messages may be farmed out to as many back-up servers  241 ,  242 ,  243 , etc., as necessary and then transmitted to the appropriate users. Furthermore, users  220  and  230  may also communicate directly, without going through a proprietary server  240 . This type of direct connection may be brokered by the proprietary server  240 . In this case, the proprietary server  240  may set up a direct connection between user  220  and user  230  if the proprietary server is unable to connect to the users  220  and/or  230 . 
   In the example embodiment of  FIG. 2 , proprietary server  240  may set up a direct connection between user  220  and user  230  using an algorithm. According to the algorithm, the proprietary server  240  sends user  220  the IP address of user  230  (or vice versa). User  220  and user  230  then try to connect directly, bypassing proprietary server  240  for communication. If the communication is successful, the users  220  and  230  partake in instant message collaboration. If not, the instant message may be brokered back to the proprietary server  240 . Thus, the instant messaging system can not only provide collaboration to users  220  and  230 , the instant messaging system may also find the optimum path for the instant messages to use within the system. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a block diagram illustrating instant messaging collaboration according to one embodiment of the present invention. When a user  301  receives a message via the server component  320  of the message center via network connection  321 , a chat window or some other icon appears on the user&#39;s client computer screen  304 . When user  301  selects the chat window, a new window appears on client computer screen  304  which contains data that the sender wants user  301  to see. 
   In one example, the data may be in the form of a report  306  which is displayed in a specified format, such as a graph. The data may be active. That is, as data changes within the enterprise computing runtime environment these changes are immediately made available to the user  301  (or any user specified by the algorithm contained within the event engine) in real-time via the server component  320  of the message center. At this point, the user&#39;s  301  client computer is communicating directly with the server component  320  via connection  321 . 
   Hosted inside the user&#39;s  301  client computer is the data. User  301  may click on the chat window to view the data on the user&#39;s client computer screen  304 . Moreover, the user  301  may share the data with users  302  and  303  via the proprietary server  350 . If the user  301  decides to share the data with users  302  and  303 , the user  301  may use a viewer  335  to display a drop-down screen  340 . A space  345  for text entry in the drop-down screen  340  is provided as well as a conversation window  355  to allow for instant messaging, that is, for “chatting” with users  302  and  303  via the proprietary server  350 . The user  301  may send the data comprising the graphical report  306  in the form of an instant message to users  302  and  303  through the proprietary server  350 . This message is streamed through the propriety server  350  via the instant messaging protocol. Icons appear on users&#39;  302  and  303  client computer screens  370  and  371 , indicating that they are the recipients of an instant message. When the users  302  and  303  click on the icons, they are able to see the exact data, in this example, the graphical report  306 , that is shown on user&#39;s  301  computer screen. Users  302  and  303  are able to click on their viewers  375  and  385 , to display drop-down screens  380  and  390 . Spaces for text entry  381  and  391  and conversation windows  382  and  392  may be used to convey messages to users  301 ,  302 , and  303  involved in the instant messaging collaboration in the manner described herein. 
   In addition, users  301 ,  302 , and  303  are able to annotate the data in real-time in order to make changes to the data or insert comments. As a user  301 , for example, annotates the data, the annotated data is streamed in real-time to users  302  and  303  who are involved in the instant messaging collaboration via the proprietary server  350 . Furthermore, users  302  and/or  303  may also make changes to the data in real-time, which may be streamed through the proprietary server  350  to the users  301 ,  302 , and  303 . 
   Another feature of the present invention allows for client computers that have pen-enabled data input. For example, a user  301  may circle a portion of the graphical report  306  with a pen-type device coupled to user&#39;s  301  client computer. This circle appears in real-time on users&#39;  302  and  303  computer screens in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Spaces for pen-enabled entries  346 ,  383 , and  393 , such as handwriting recognition windows, may be located on users  301 ,  302 , and  303  drop-down screens  340 ,  380 , and  390 . This feature permits instant messaging collaboration to be conducted using tablet personal computers where the main data entry device is not a keyboard but, a pen-type device. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a flow chart illustrating the steps of an instant messaging process according to one embodiment of the present invention. An event engine receives data in the form of a graphical report from an ADC (block  401 ). The event engine determines that the data needs to be transmitted instantaneously to a user via the message center (block  402 ). The presence component of the message center determines that the user is logged on to the Microsoft instant messaging server and the proprietary server (block  403 ). The message center determines that the optimum path for the data is first through the proprietary server and second through the Microsoft instant messaging server (block  404 ). The user manager in the message center resolves the user&#39;s e-mail address (block  405 ). The data is streamed to the user in the form of an instant message through the proprietary server via the instant messaging protocol (block  406 ). The user successfully receives the data in real-time from the proprietary server (block  407 ). 
     FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating the steps of an instant messaging collaboration process according to one embodiment of the present invention. A first user receives an instant message including an active report from the message center via the proprietary server (block  501 ). A chat window appears on the first user&#39;s client computer screen (block  502 ). The first user selects the chat window (block  503 ). Active data in the form of a sales report instantaneously downloads to the first user&#39;s computer screen (block  504 ). 
   In this example, the first user decides to share the sales report with a second and third user, and thus selects the viewer feature on the user&#39;s computer screen (block  505 ). A drop-down menu is displayed on the first user&#39;s computer screen (block  506 ). The first user utilizes a keypad to type in a message in the conversation window of the drop-down menu and sends this message as well as the sales report to the second and third users through the proprietary server using the instant messaging protocol (block  507 ). 
   Continuing with this example, the second and third users receive the exact data that is displayed on the first user&#39;s computer screen (block  508 ). The first user annotates the sales data by using a pen-type device to circle a portion of the data (block  509 ). This change in the data is instantaneously streamed in real-time to the second and third users (block  510 ) who are involved in an instant messaging collaboration via the proprietary server with the first user. The second and third users use drop-down menus on their respective computer screens to communicate with the users involved in the collaboration (block  511 ). The second and third users make changes to the active data report, pen-enabled or otherwise (block  512 ). These changes are streamed to the users involved in the instant messaging collaboration (block  513 ). 
   A flow chart illustrating one example operation according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 6 . A proprietary server receives from the message center multiple instant messages to be received by hundreds of recipient users (block  601 ). The proprietary server detects the presence of the recipient users who are logged on to the proprietary server (block  602 ). According to an algorithm contained within the proprietary server, the proprietary server farms out some of the instant messages to second, third, fourth, etc. back-up servers (block  603 ). The back-up servers transmit the instant messages to recipient users via a message component in the back-up servers (block  605 ). 
     FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a peer-to-peer instant messaging collaboration process according to one embodiment of the present invention. A proprietary server receives an instant message from a first user for a second user (block  701 ). Since the IP address that the proprietary server has for the first user may be different than the IP address that a peer of the first user would use (because of Network Address Translation (NAT)), the first user also send the proprietary server the IP address of his client computer along with the instant message (block  702 ). The proprietary server sends the second user both IP addresses of the first user (block  703 ). According to an algorithm contained within the client computer of the second user, the client computer determines an optimum path for instant messaging collaboration between the first user and the second user (block  704 ). If the second user determines the optimum path is through direct peer-to-peer collaboration (block  705 ), the second user sends the first user his IP address (block  706 ). The second user then connects to the first user directly via the IP address using the TCP/IP connection, completely bypassing the proprietary server (block  707 ). The users communicate directly, engaging in direct peer-to-peer instant messaging collaboration (block  708 ) via the TCP/IP connection. Alternatively, if the second user determines that he is unable to directly connect to the first user (block  709 ), the second user sends the IP address of his client computer to the proprietary server (block  710 ). The second user&#39;s IP address is passed to the first user via the proprietary server (block  711 ). According to an algorithm contained within the client computer of the first user, an optimum path for instant messaging collaboration is determined (block  712 ). If the optimum path is a direct connection, the first user and the second user connect directly via the IP address using the TCP/IP connection (block  713 ). 
   Referring now to  FIG. 8  there is shown a computer system  800  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The computer system  800  includes a processor  802  that executes a program that includes instructions that cause the algorithm to perform the steps of the invention. The processor  802  is coupled through a bus  801  to a random access memory (RAM)  803 , a read only memory (ROM)  804 , and a mass storage device  805 . The ROM  804  may store the program to execute the steps of the invention. The RAM  803  may be used as an interim storage space for storing an instant message before it is transmitted to a user, or, for example, for storing an instant message before it is downloaded by a user, for example. Mass storage device  805  could be a disk or tape drive for storing data and instructions. 
   A display device  806  for providing visual output is also coupled to bus  801  for communicating information and command selections to processor  802 . Keyboard  807  is coupled to bus  801  for communicating information and command selections to processor  802 . Another type of input device is cursor control unit  808 , which may be a device such as a mouse or trackball, for communicating direction commands that control cursor movement on display  809 . 
   For example, the cursor control unit  808  may be used to click on a box that will display the instant messages and/or active data transmitted to the computer system  800 . Yet another type of input device is a pen-type device  810 , for making pen-enabled annotations to a document or for entering messages in handwriting recognition windows (not shown in this view) on drop-down menus on the display  809 . 
   Processor  802  is shown coupled through bus  801  to an input/output (I/O) interface  811 , which can be used to control and transfer data to electronic devices connected to computer  800 , such as other computers, tape records, and the like. 
   Network interface device  812  is coupled to bus  801  and provides a physical and logical connection between computer system  800  and network medium, such as the Internet. Depending on the network environment in which computer  800  is used, this connection is typically to a server computer, but it can also be to a network router or to another client computer. Note that the architecture of  FIG. 8  is provided only for purposes of illustration, and that a client computer is used in conjunction with the present invention is not limited to this specific architecture. 
   In the foregoing, a system and method for instant messaging collaboration has been described. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes in the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.