METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING USER SOFTWARE TO COMMUNICATE WITH NETWORK-RESIDENT SERVICES

摘要

Popular operating systems for user devices, such as personal computers (PCs), PDAs, pocketPCs, smartphones, and similar such personal devices, typically come bundled with software that is already installed, maintained and run on a user's computer, namely, a non-specialized HTTP client/web browser and a non-specialized instant messaging client. A device is described which presents a user's instant messaging client and HTTP client/web browser as a unified device for handling real-time user interactions with a network resident application. Since this device represents a network application's interface to a user it is termed a pseudodevice. The pseudodevice, which interfaces with network application software, formats user queries as hyperlinked instant messages that are then sent to the user. The user responds by clicking on a hyperlinked message, which invokes the user's web browser and causes the browser to convey the response as an HTTP request back to the pseudodevice. The pseudodevice adapts communication to the user device depending upon the HTTP requests it receives.