Patent ID: 8447814

Claim:
An instant messaging system for controlling one or more devices through instant messaging communication, the instant messaging system including an automated instant messaging client and a dispatcher, wherein the automated instant messaging client is configured to: connect with an instant messaging server; establish a user identity with the instant messaging server, the user identity causing the automated instant messaging client to appear as human user to the instant messaging server; receive an instant messaging command from another user through the instant messaging server, the instant messaging command specifying a function to be performed at a device selected from among the one or more devices; control the other user's access to functions of the device based on permissions established for the other user; forward the instant message command to the dispatcher when the permissions indicate that the other user has been given access to the specified function at the device; receive a device related instant message from the dispatcher, the device related instant message including an informational response for the device; and forward the device related instant messages to the instant messaging server for delivery to the other user; and wherein the dispatcher is configured to: receive the instant message command from the instant messaging client interface; analyze the received instant message command to identity the device as a recipient device for the instant message command; translate the instant message command to meet a specific data format for the device; route the translated instant message command to the device; receive an informational response from the device in the specific data format; translate the information response into a device related instant message that includes the informational response; and send the device related instant message for deliver to the other user.