Instant messaging system and method

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for processing an instant message from a source wireless communication device to a destination device are described herein. In one aspect of the invention, an exemplary method includes receiving the instant message from the source wireless communication device, the instant message having a source wireless communication identifier, a destination instant messenger identifier, and data contents; extracting the source wireless communication identifier, the destination instant messenger identifier and the data contents from the instant message; retrieving a source instant messenger identifier corresponding to the source wireless communication identifier; binding the source instant messenger identifier with the source wireless communication identifier; and transmitting the data contents with the source instant messenger identifier to the destination device over a communication network, based on the destination instant messenger identifier. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

1 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of displaying a status message of an instant messenger subscriber in a network-based system, the method including:
 receiving a status request querying a status of a first instant messenger (IM) subscriber from a second IM subscriber, the status request including an instant messenger identifier of the first IM subscriber;   retrieving the status of the first IM subscriber, based on the instant messenger identifier of the first IM subscriber;   displaying the status of the first IM subscriber on a display device of the second IM subscriber; and   causing a presence indicator corresponding to the first IM subscribe to be displayed, the presence indicator sufficiently representing a characteristic of the first IM subscriber.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further including:
 examining the instant messenger identifier of the first IM subscriber to determine the characteristic of the first IM subscriber; and   assigning the presence indicator to the first IM subscriber, the presence indicator representing the characteristic of the first IM subscriber.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further including:
 examining the instant messenger identifier of the first IM subscriber to determine whether the first IM subscriber is a mobile subscriber; and   if the first IM subscriber is a mobile subscriber:   retrieving a mobile identifier corresponding to the instant messenger identifier; and   retrieving the status of the first IM subscriber based on the mobile identifier.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first IM subscriber is a mobile phone subscriber, and wherein the presence indicator comprises a graphic symbol indicating the first IM subscriber is a mobile phone subscriber. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first IM subscriber is an enterprise organization, and wherein the presence indicator comprises a logo image of the enterprise organization. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , further including:
 displaying an online status if the first IM subscriber is online; and   displaying an offline status if the first IM subscriber is offline.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further including:
 displaying a bright presence indicator if the first IM subscriber is online; and   displaying a dim presence indicator if the first IM subscriber is offline.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , further including displaying a special character if the first IM subscriber is online. 
     
     
         38 .- 54 . (canceled)