| 主权项 |
1. An improved method for the dissemination of an alert message to a plurality of personal computers using a network communications protocol, said computers comprising clients, each said clients subscribing to a central server, said server comprising an alert message cache, said server adapted to receive and store alert messages, and said server adapted to generate and store alert ID numbers, said method comprising,
a first triggering step comprises the use of a HTTP packet comprising a request for a Boolean value relating to whether there are new alert messages and said packet comprises approximately 20 bytes, a second step wherein said client contacts the central server and requests the value of said alert ID number in said memory, said value reflecting the number of alert messages received by said central server, a third step wherein said server transmits said value to said client, a fourth step wherein said client compares a stored value at the client with the value of the transmitted alert ID number, and if said transmitted value exceeds said stored value, a fifth step wherein said client transmits a second message to said server and requests for the server to transmit all unread alert messages in a GetUnreadAlerts request from said server that are specific to said client, and if there are unread alert messages specific to said client in said server, a sixth step wherein said server sends to client all unread alert messages specific to the client, and, a further step wherein said client updates the stored value in its memory to reflect the number of additional unread alert messaged transmitted from said server to said client in response to said second message, and wherein, upon the reception of said unread alert messages in said sixth step, said alert messages are in instant message format and said client opens a window on a display panel to display said alert messages, wherein said communications protocol comprises protocols for the transmission of messages over the internet. |
