MOBILE ORIGINATED INTERNET RELAY CHAT

摘要

Internet Relay Chat is provided for mobile devices (e.g., mobile telephones) using an IRC proxy approach. The mobile chat proxy server (100) facilitates 2-way text conversations between users of cell phones, web browser users, and/or other chat group users, e.g., Instant Messaging service users. In the IRC proxy approach, SMPP and/or Interworking Function (IWF) interfaces are used to provide Internet Relay Chat functionality to mobile handsets (102).IRC proxy is provided by a mobile chat proxy server (100), also referred to as a "mobile originated chat server" or "chat server", and/or under its trademark name of a "MOChat proxy server". The mobile chat proxy server (100) exchanges message objects with a wireless Internet gateway. The mobile chat proxy server (100) uses standard IRC protocol in communications with the standard or conventional IRC server (190) supporting the relevant chat group. The mobile chat proxy server (100) maintains a real-time proxy connection to the conventional IRC server for each mobile device. In operation, the mobile chat proxy server (100) interprets chat messages from mobile devices, and determines if and how they should be forwarded to the conventional IRC server (190). The mobile chat proxy server (100) utilizes an RMI interface between the mobile chat proxy server (100) and the wireless Internet gateway for sending messages to chat group participants using mobile handsets (102).