| 摘要 |
<p>An instant message (IM) proxy (24) according to the present invention is capable of maintaining the availability status of a mobile subscriber (12) even when the mobile subscriber is roaming or temporarily out of a mobile network coverage area, and even after the IM proxy unsuccessfully attempts to send an instant message (42) to the mobile subscriber. Messages will continue to be re-sent to the mobile subscriber (12) in the near-real time manner characteristic of a typical instant message system until IM parameters programmed into a retry counter (38) and/or the timer (40) located at the proxy (24) are exceeded and the IM proxy drops the message. In addition, the IM proxy (24) of the present invention is capable of bundling instant messages intended for the mobile subscriber (12) to minimize mobile system overhead connection costs while at the same time minimizing IM system latency.</p> |
