Patent ID: 8886736

Claim:
A method for enabling a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) messaging client to converse with an instant messaging client over a network during communication with one or more sensor nodes in the WSN, the method comprising: identifying a first instant messaging client from among a plurality of instant messaging clients that a user is using for conversing by sending messages, wherein the first instant messaging client employs a first instant messaging protocol that is different from a second instant messaging protocol employed by a second instant messaging client from among the plurality of instant messaging clients; determining one or more instant messaging protocols that are employed by the identified at least one instant messaging client; configuring the WSN messaging client to communicate with the first instant messaging client, wherein configuring the WSN messaging client comprises: selecting an application programming interface (API) from among a plurality of API's each configured to provide instant messaging communication functionality, wherein the selected API provides instant messaging communication functionality compatible with the first instant messaging protocol; and implementing within the WSN messaging client, instant messaging communication capability based on functionality provided within the selected API; and configuring the first instant messaging client for network communication with the one or more sensor nodes in the WSN through the WSN messaging client, by adding to the first instant messaging client a messaging buddy with a unique identifier name associated with the configured WSN messaging client.