WEB SERVICES VIA INSTANT MESSAGING

摘要

A method and system for accessing one or more web services (WS) from a mobile terminal using an instant messaging (IM) client are provided. Each web service appears to the IM client as a virtual IM user with whom the IM client can communicate. When the IM client requests to communicate with a web service virtual user, the IM message is routed through a mobile IM server to an IM/WS gateway, which obtains a description of the requested web service, prompts the IM client for any required web service input, and composes a web services formatted message to send to the web services provider. When the IM/WS gateway receives a response back from the web service, the IM/WS gateway translates the response into one or more IM messages and sends the IM message(s) to the requestor IM client. The IM/WS gateway can combine web services to provide a higher value service to an IM user. The operator's value added services, such as billing and location, can be used in these types of composite services.