WO2015074450A1

WO2015074450A1 - Instant messaging (im) client side data transmission processprocess and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2015074450A1
Application number: PCT/CN2014/085254
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lei Zhang
Original assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
Priority date: 2013-11-21
Filing date: 2014-08-27
Publication date: 2015-05-28
Also published as: CN104660484B; CN104660484A

Abstract

An instant Messaging (IM) client side data transmission method is provided. The method includes uploading to a server, by a first IM client side using an account on a first device, data and a transmission condition to transmit the data such that the server transmits the data based on the transmission condition. The account is assigned by the server to an IM user of the first IM client side, and the transmission condition includes that there is an IM client side using the same account. The method also includes receiving, by a second IM client side using the same account, the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied by the second IM client side logging in the same account. The second IM client side is either an IM client side on a second device different from the first device or the first IM client side on the first device.

Description

INSTANT MESSAGING (IM) CLIENT SIDE DATA

TRANSMISSION PROCESSPROCESS AND APPARATUS

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No.

201310595071.6, filed on November 21, 2013, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of instant messaging (IM) and, more particularly, relates to IM client side data transmission processes and apparatuses. BACKGROUND

[0003] IM is a business of instant messaging based on Internet. A server used for IM assigned each IM user a unique account. When an IM client side is installed on a device, and the IM client side logs in using the account successfully, a real time instant messaging among different users may be achieved. [0004] When a user finds some important materials, or writes an article, or finds some useful web pages for work and life, because the above data are all private data, the user may not want other people involved in data transmission. A common practice is storing the private data into a personal storage device (a USB drive, a hard drive, a disc etc.), and then copying the private data into another device through the personal storage device. There are other processes of transmission data between different devices, e.g., transmission data between two QQ numbers in offline mode, or uploading and downloading the data to/from an Internet hard drive (QQ space notebook, QQ hard drive etc.). The above processes often are tedious, time consuming, occupying hard drives and internet spaces, and easy to generate trash information.

[0005] The disclosed processes and apparatuses are directed to solve one or more problems set forth above and other problems. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0006] According to various embodiments, there is provided an IM client side data transmission method. The method includes uploading to a server, by a first IM client side using an account on a first device, data and a transmission condition to transmit the data such that the server transmits the data based on the transmission condition. The account is assigned by the server to an IM user of the first IM client side, and the transmission condition includes that there is an IM client side using the same account. The method also includes receiving, by a second IM client side using the same account, the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied by the second IM client side logging in the same account. The second IM client side is either an IM client side on a second device different from the first device or the first IM client side on the first device.

[0007] According to various embodiments, there is provided an IM client side data transmission apparatus. The apparatus includes a data uploading unit and a data downloading unit. The data uploading unit is configured to upload to a server data and a transmission condition to transmit the data from a first IM client side using an account on a first device such that the server transmits the data based on the transmission condition. The account is assigned by the server to an IM user of the first IM client side, and the transmission condition includes that there is an IM client side using the same account. Further, the data downloading unit is configured to receive, by a second IM client side using the same account, the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied by the second IM client side logging in the same account. The second IM client side is either an IM client side on a second device different from the first device or the first IM client side on the first device.

[0008] Other aspects or embodiments of the present disclosure can be understood by those skilled in the art in light of the description, the claims, and the drawings of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The following drawings are merely examples for illustrative purposes according to various disclosed embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments; [0011] FIG. 2 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments;

[0012] FIG. 3 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments;

[0013] FIG. 4 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments; [0014] FIG. 5 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments;

[0015] FIG. 6 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments; [0016] FIG. 7 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments;

[0017] FIG. 8 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments;

[0018] FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments;

[0019] FIG. 10 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments;

[0020] FIG. 11 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments; [0021] FIG. 12 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments;

[0022] FIG. 13 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments;

[0023] FIG. 14 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments; [0024] FIG. 15 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments;

[0025] FIG. 16 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments; [0026] FIG. 17 depicts an exemplary environment incorporating certain disclosed embodiments; and

[0027] FIG. 18 depicts an exemplary computer system consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0029] FIGS. 1-16 depict exemplary IM client side data transmission processes and apparatuses in accordance with various disclosed embodiments. The exemplary processes and apparatus can be implemented, for example, in an exemplary environment 1700 as shown in FIG. 17.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 17, the environment 1700 can include a server 1704, an IM client terminal 1706, and a communication network 1702. The server 1704 and the IM client terminal 1706 may be coupled through the communication network 1702 for information exchange, for example, Internet searching, webpage browsing, etc. Although only one IM client terminal 1706 and one server 1704 are shown in the environment 1700, any number of IM client terminals 1706 or servers 1704 may be included, and other devices may also be included.

[0031] The communication network 1702 may include any appropriate type of communication network for providing network connections to the server 1704 and IM client terminal 1706 or among multiple servers 1704 or IM client terminals 1706. For example, the communication network 1702 may include the Internet or other types of computer networks or telecommunication networks, either wired or wireless.

[0032] A terminal, as used herein, may refer to any appropriate user terminal device with certain computing capabilities including, for example, a personal computer (PC), a work station computer, a notebook computer, a car-carrying computer (e.g., carried in a car or other vehicles), a server computer, a hand-held computing device (e.g., a tablet computer), a mobile terminal (e.g., a mobile phone, a smart phone, an iPad, and/or an aPad), a POS (i.e., point of sale) device, or any other user-side computing device. In various embodiments, the terms "terminal" and "terminal device" can be used interchangeably. [0033] A server, as used herein, may refer one or more server computers configured to provide certain server functionalities including, for example, search engines and database management. A server may also include one or more processors to execute computer programs in parallel.

[0034] The server 1704 and/or the IM client terminal 1706 may be implemented on any appropriate computing platform. FIG. 18 shows a block diagram of an exemplary computing system 1800 capable of implementing the server 1704 and/or the IM client terminal 1706. [0035] As shown in FIG. 18, the exemplary computer system 1800 may include a processor 1802, a storage medium 1804, a monitor 1806, a communication module 1808, a database 1810, peripherals 1812, and one or more bus 1814 to couple the devices together.

Certain devices may be omitted and other devices may be included.

[0036] The processor 1802 can include any appropriate processor or processors. Further, the processor 1802 can include multiple cores for multi-thread or parallel processing. The storage medium 1804 may include memory modules, for example, ROM, RAM, and flash memory modules, and mass storages, for example, CD-ROM, U-disk, removable hard disk, etc. The storage medium 1804 may store computer programs for implementing various processes, when executed by the processor 1802.

[0037] Further, the peripherals 1812 may include I/O devices, for example, keyboard and mouse, and the communication module 1808 may include network devices for establishing connections through the communication network 1702. The database 1810 may include one or more databases for storing certain data and for performing certain operations on the stored data, for example, webpage browsing, database searching, etc.

[0038] In operation, the IM client terminal 1706 may cause the server 1704 to perform certain actions, for example, an Internet search or other database operations. The server 1704 may be configured to provide structures and functions for such actions and operations. More particularly, the server 1704 may include a server used for IM. In various embodiments the IM client terminal 1706 may include a terminal, for example, a mobile terminal involved in the disclosed processes and systems.

[0039] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related parts are shown in FIG. 1. A client side, as used herein, may refer to an application program running on a client device, such as a terminal, and one or more client sides may be running on the client device. Under certain circumstances, a client side may also refer to a terminal device running the one or more application programs. [0040] As shown in FIG. 1, the process including the following steps.

[0041] In Step SI 1, after logging into an account (e.g., an IM account), a first IM client side (or a requesting IM client side) uploads to a server data and a transmission condition to transmit the data, such that the server transmits the data based on the transmission condition. The account is assigned by the server to an IM user and the transmission condition includes that there is an IM client side (or a receiving IM client side) using the same account.

[0042] In Step S12, a second IM client side (or the receiving IM client side) using the same account receives the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition, when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied and, optionally, when a device of the IM client side using the account has enough storage space and has an application program used to process the data installed. The second IM client side (or the receiving IM client side) is either an IM client side on a different device from first IM client side or on the same device with the first IM client side. The second IM client side may also coincide with the first IM client side.

[0043] It should be noted that the IM client sides (the first IM client side and the second

IM client side or the requesting IM client side and the receiving IM client side) log in using the same account may be installed on different devices, or may be IM client sides of different versions installed on a same device. The receiving IM client side and the requesting client side may also be the same IM client side on the same device, i.e., the receiving IM client side may also be the IM client side that uploads the data and the transmission condition to transmit the data to the server originally, as long as both client side is use the same account.

[0044] After the account is used to login on an IM client side successfully, i.e., after the server detects that the account is logged in successfully from an Internet Protocol (IP) address, the server records the login information of the account and the IP address of the account login. Afterwards, the above Step SI 1 and/or S12 may be performed. It should also be noted that the data for transmission can include binary data of texts, pictures, audio, videos, and/or other information.

[0045] Further, the IM user can apply for an account from the server in advance. When the application conditions are satisfied, the server assigns an account to the IM user. It should be noted that the account assigned by the server to each IM user is unique, such that each IM user may log in the IM client side through the assigned account to conduct instant messaging.

[0046] After a user logs in the server successfully through the IM client side using the assigned account, when the user finds some interesting private data, the user may upload the data to the server. It should be noted that, before uploading the data, the condition for the server to transmit the data is preset. In one embodiment, the account used to upload the data and the account used to download the data is the same account, so as to ensure the privacy of the data transmission. Thus, the transmission condition to transmit the data can include that a receiver of the data is an IM client side using the same account. Afterwards, Step SI 1 may be performed, i.e., the data and the condition set for the data to transmit the data are uploaded to the server through the IM client side that has logged in with the account.

[0047] When the server detects that the transmission condition is satisfied, the server checks whether the account has logged in through an IM client side. When the account has not logged in, the transmission of the data is abandoned for this time. When the account has logged in through an IM client side successfully, the server sends a transmission request to the IM client side that has logged in with the same account (i.e., the IM client side using the same account).

[0048] The user can decide whether to accept the data through the IM client side. When IM client side receives the instruction from the user to accept the data, the IM client side responds to the transmission request. The data is then pushed from the server to the IM client side that has logged in with the same account, and the data is stored in the local device (the device installed with the IM client side that has logged in with the same account).

[0049] Further, for the client side that has logged in with the account, a data receiving mode may be set in advance. That is, an online mode or an offline mode for receiving the data transmitted from the server and uploaded by the same account may be set in advance.

[0050] Under the online mode, the user is currently using the IM client side that has logged in with the account. On the other hand, the offline mode may include an away mode, a busy mode, a do-not-disturb mode, an invisible mode, or other modes that may indicate that the user is unwilling or inconvenient to operate the IM client side that has logged in the account.

[0051] More specifically, under the away mode, the user has currently left and cannot use the IM client side that has logged in with the account currently. Under the busy mode, the user is currently busy with no time to use the IM client side that has logged in with the account. Under the do-not-disturb mode, the user is currently unwilling to be disturbed by the IM client side that has logged in with the account. Further, under the invisible mode, the user is currently only willing to respond to interesting IM messages. Other modes may also be used. [0052] Further, the transmission condition may include: receiving by periodical downloading, receiving by downloading at fixed time interval, receiving by a specified time, etc. Thus, the user may pre-select the transmission condition to transmit the data based on needs.

[0053] FIG. 2 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related parts are shown in FIG. 2. Based on the process shown in FIG. 1, in order to achieve the function of receiving by a specified time, the receiving of the data by a specified time is included as a transmission condition to transmit the data. Because the Step S21 is similar to Step SI 1, only Step S12 is refined as Step S22. [0054] As shown in FIG. 2, the receiving of the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition by the IM client side using the account may include the following step(s).

[0055] In Step S22, when the transmission condition includes receiving the data by the specified time, and when the IM client side has logged in the server using the account through an original device or another device at the time of the arrival of the specified time for receiving the data, the IM client side receives the data transmitted by the server on the specified time.

[0056] The original device is the device installed with the IM client side that uploaded the data to the serve using the account. Thus, the original device has installed with the IM client side, and has logged in the account in the server through the IM client side successfully. [0057] The another device is a device installed with the IM client side that may be used to log in the account. Thus, the another device is also installed with the IM client side. [0058] Further, receiving by a specified time may be performed by: presetting a specified time for receiving the data; by the time of the arrival of the specified time, when the server detects the login of the account, the server sends the data to the IM client side that has logged in with the account. [0059] In one embodiment, the IM client side using the account may be the IM client side installed on the original device, or may be the client side installed on another device. Thus, by the time of the arrival of the specified time, the data is transmitted to the IM client side satisfying the transmission condition (the IM client side using the account), and the IM client side that has logged in with the account receives the data. Because the data is uploaded and downloaded through the same device or through different devices, the local or remote transmission of the data is achieved.

[0060] FIG. 3 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related parts are shown in FIG. 3. Based on the process shown in FIG. 1, in order to achieve the function of receiving a reminding message from the server at each time that the IM client side logs in the server successfully, the receiving of the data by next login is included as a transmission condition to transmit the data. Because the Step S31 is similar to Step SI 1, only Step S12 is refined as Step S32.

[0061] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the receiving of the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition by the IM client side using the account includes the following steps.

[0062] In Step S32, when the transmission condition to transmit the data includes receiving the data by next login, and when the IM client side uses the account to login the server again through the original device or another device, the IM client side outputs a reminding message. The reminding message is configured to remind the IM user to select which data to be downloaded from the data.

[0063] In Step S33, when an instruction for selecting to receive the data is received by the IM client side, the IM client side using the account sends to the server a data downloading request, such that the server transmits the data specified by the data downloading request to the IM client side using the account.

[0064] The IM client side may upload different data once or multiple times. Further, the user may use different devices (the different devices may be located at different locations), but may use the same account to log in the IM client side, and upload the data from different locations. Thus, the IM user may encounter interesting private contents at different locations, use the account to log in the server through the IM client sides at different devices, and upload to the server the data containing private contents.

[0065] Accordingly, each time when the user uses the account to log in the server successfully through the IM client side of the original device or another device, the IM client side may output the reminding message transmitted by the server. The user is informed by the reminding message that the server has stored one or more different data.

[0066] When the user selects one or more data items that need to be downloaded from the server, the IM client side receives the instruction for selecting to receive downloaded data. Afterward, the IM client side that has logged in with the account sends to the server a data downloading request. When the server receives the data downloading request and pushes the data that need to be downloaded for this time to the IM client side, the IM client side that has logged in with the account may download the data based on the selection of the IM user. [0067] For example, when the account logs in the server through the device installed with the IM client side, the IM client side that has logged in successfully may pop out a reminding message. When the user selects the reminding message (e.g., clicks the reminding message), the pop out page is switched to the page of the reminding message. The page of the reminding message lists one or more different data sent to the server using the account. The user may select one or more data items that need to be downloaded. For example, the user may check one or more data items listed on the page of the reminding message, which triggers the instruction for selecting containing one or more data items to the IM client side. The IM client side may then download from the server corresponding data items based on the instruction for selecting. [0068] Further, each time the IM client side logs in successfully with the account, when the transmission condition is satisfied, the server may transmit the reminding message to the IM client side that has logged in with the account, and the IM client side switches to the page of the reminding message to display the reminding message. It should be noted that the IM client side that logs in with the account may be the IM client side in another device, or be the IM client side of different version in the same device.

[0069] FIG. 4 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related are shown in FIG. 4. Based on the process shown in FIG. 1, in order to achieve the uploading or downloading of the data under the online mode or under the offline mode, Step SI 1 and Step S12 are refined as Step S41 and Step 42 respectively.

[0070] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the uploading of the data and the transmission condition to transmit the data using the account to the server by the IM client side may include the following step(s). [0071] In Step S41, under an offline mode or an online mode, the IM client side uploads the data and the transmission condition to transmit the data to the server using the account.

[0072] In the meantime, the IM client side using the account receives the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition by followings. [0073] In Step S42, the IM client side using the account receives, under the offline mode or the online mode, the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition.

[0074] Specifically, when the IM client side is under the online mode, the IM user may operate the IM client side to conduct instant messaging. Thus, the user may copy the data that need to be uploaded into the IM client side, and the IM client side may upload to the server the data immediately.

[0075] On the other hand, for an IM client side in under the online mode, when the transmission condition is satisfied, the server may send a transmission request to the IM client side under the online mode. When the IM user is willing to receive the data, the user may operate the IM client side to respond to the transmission request. Thus, the IM user may control the uploading and/or downloading of the data under the online mode.

[0076] In addition, when the IM client side is under the offline mode (including the away mode, the busy mode, the do not disturb mode, or the invisible mode), once the data is copied to the IM client side, the IM client side may upload to the server the data. In addition, when the IM client side does not finished the uploading of the data under the online mode, the uploading of the data may be continued after switching to the offline mode.

[0077] Similarly, when the client side does not finish the uploading of the data under the offline mode, the uploading of the data may be continued after switching to the online mode. Accordingly, when the IM client side is under offline mode, once the transmission condition is satisfied, the server sends the transmission request to the IM client side. The IM client side responds to the transmission request, and sends a feedback that the IM user is in offline mode to the servers. Thus, the server detects the account has logged in and is in the offline mode, the server pushes the data to the IM client side directly. Further, when the downloading of the data is not finished under the offline mode, the downloading of the data may be continued after switching to the online mode.

[0078] FIG. 5 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only related parts are shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, based on the process shown in FIG. 1, in order to achieve a security in the uploading of the data, before the IM client side uses the account to send data and the transmission condition to transmit the data to the server, the process further includes the following steps.

[0079] In Step S51, the IM client side sends an encrypting request to the server, receives an encrypting algorithm assigned by the server, and uses the encrypting algorithm to encrypt the data. In the mean time, the Step SI 1 is refined specifically as Step S52.

[0080] In Step S52, the IM client side uploads the data encrypted by the encrypting algorithm and the transmission condition to transmit the data to the server using the account. It should be noted that Step S53 is similar to Step S12. [0081 ] Specifically, after the IM client side logs in with the account, each time the data is sent to the server, an encrypting algorithm is applied from the server. And then, the IM client side accepts the password set by the user, encrypts the data with the encrypting algorithm, sends the encrypted data to the server to ensure the security of the data transmission further. It should be noted that the encrypting algorithm applied from the server by the IM client side that has logged in with the account may or may not be the same. Further, the encrypting algorithm is generated by the server randomly and sends to the IM client side. Further, for a bulk uploading of a plurality of the data through the same account, the same encrypting algorithm may be applied. Further, the encrypting algorithm is symmetric or asymmetric encrypting algorithm, e.g., a symmetric key encrypting algorithm Data Encryption Standard (DES), or a public-key system designed by Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman (RSA).

[0082] FIG. 6 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only related parts are shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, based on the process shown in FIG. 5, in order to achieve a security in the downloading of the data, after receiving the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition by the IM client side using the account, the process further includes the following step.

[0083] In Step S54, the encrypted data is decrypted with the key corresponding to the encrypting algorithm when the encrypted data is needed.

[0084] Accordingly, in order to prevent unauthorized use of the account for illegal purposes, e.g., downloading the data from the server through the IM client side that has logged in with the account and using the data in the absent of the IM user, Step S52 needs to be performed in advance to encrypt the data and upload the encrypted data. Even if the transmission condition is satisfied and the server has pushed the data to the IM client side that has logged in with the account, when the downloaded encrypted data are needed, the password preset for the encrypting algorithm (preset by the IM user) is still needed to decode the encrypted data, so as to prevent malicious use of the data by unauthorized user effectively. [0085] Further, additionally or optionally, in order to further prevent illegal decipher of the password, each time when the data encrypted by the encrypting algorithm is uploaded, the authentication code (digital signature) is received from the server, the user needs to input correct authentication code in the prompt box for authentication of the IM client side using the account to complete the uploading of the data to the server. The application of the digital signature ensures the security of the uploading and the downloading of the data, and prevents the malicious uploading of the data by certain computer virus.

[0086] FIG. 7 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related parts are shown in FIG. 7. Based on the process shown in FIG. 1, in order to ensure the device (where the data is downloaded to) can use the data normally and to avoid unnecessary downloading, Step S12 is refined as Step S72. Step S71 is similar to Step SI 1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the receiving of the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition by the IM client side using the account includes the following step(s). [0087] In Step S72, the IM client side using the account determines whether the device of the IM client side using the account has enough storage space when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied. The IM client side using the account does not receive the data transmitted by the server when the device does not have enough storage space. The IM client side using the account receives the data transmitted by the server when the device has enough storage space.

[0088] Specifically, when the transmission condition is satisfied, the IM client side using the account (the IM client side that has logged in with the account) may receive the transmission request sent from the server. The IM client side first detects whether the device (the device installed with the IM client side) has enough storage space left. When the device does not have enough storage space left, the data downloading task is abandoned directly for this time in responding to the transmission request. Thus, an incomplete downloading of the data (a generation of useless data and a waste of the bandwidth) can be avoided. Of course, when there is enough storage space left, the data pushed by the server is received in responding to the transmission request.

[0089] FIG. 8 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission process consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related parts are shown in FIG. 8. Based on the process shown in FIG. 1, in order to ensure the device (where the data is downloaded to) is installed with the application program that can use the data, Step S12 is refined as Step S82. Step S81 is similar to Step SI 1.

[0090] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the receiving of the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition by the IM client side using the account may include the following step(s). [0091] In Step S82, the IM client side using the account determines whether the device of the IM client side using the account has installed the application program used to process the data when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied. The IM client side using the account reminds the user to install the application program when the application program is not installed. The IM client side using the account does not receive the data transmitted by the server when the instruction not installing the application program is received. The IM client side using the account receives the data transmitted by the server when the instruction installing the application program is received and after the application program is installed. [0092] Specifically, the data of different file types need different matching application programs to process the data. For example, for a file type 'word' file, office word may be needed; for a JPG format file, image processing software is needed. Thus, when the transmission condition is satisfied, the IM client side using the account detects whether the device has installed the application program that can process the data.

[0093] When the application program has been installed, the data pushed by the server is received and stored. When the application program has not been installed, the IM client side reminds the user to install the application program. When the IM client side receives the instruction not installing the application program, the data downloading task is abandoned directly for this time in responding to the transmission request.

[0094] When the IM client side receives the instruction installing the application program, the IM client side may search the application program that can process the data in the server or other servers. When the server has the application program, the application program is downloaded to the device through the IM client side and be installed. After the installation, the IM client side receives the data transmitted by the server. Thus, by detecting the application program processing the data in advance, the IM client side using the account effectively prevents unnecessary downloading.

[0095] Thus, when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied, the IM client side that has logged in with the account determines whether the device of the IM client side using the account has enough storage space, and whether the device of the IM client side has installed the application program that can be used in processing the data. The data transmitted by the server is not received when the device does not have enough storage space. When the device has enough storage space, but has not installed the application program to process the data, the user is reminded to install the application program used for processing the data. The IM client side that has logged in with the account does not receive the data sent by the server when the instruction not installing the application program used for processing the data is received. The IM client side that has logged in with the account receives the data sent by the server when the instruction installing the application program used for processing the data is received and after the application program used for processing the data is installed.

[0096] Specifically, when transmission condition is satisfied, the IM client side that has logged in with the account receives the transmission request sent from the server, or receives the reminding message sent to the IM client side from the server. The reminding message includes a list of one or more data items that can be currently downloaded from the server. At this time, the IM client side that has logged in with the account determines first that whether the current device has enough storage space (used to store the downloaded data). When there is not enough storage space, the data downloading task is abandoned directly for this time.

[0097] When the device has enough storage space, the IM client side needs to determine whether the current device has installed the application program for the data based on the file type of the data. When the application program has been installed, the data is downloaded from the server. When the application program has not been installed, the user is reminded to install the application program. When the instruction installing the application program used for processing the data is received, the application program is installed. After user installs the application program, the current device is detected to have installed the application program used for the data, and the current device has enough storage space and the buffer space for the data, the IM client side that has logged in with the account downloads the data. When the user chooses not to install the application program, after receiving the instruction not installing the application program used for processing the data, the IM client side that has logged in with the account abandons the task of receiving the data sent from the server.

[0098] In certain embodiments, for a situation that the same service provider provides different services (including IM service) using the same account, when a service side using the same account sends the data to the IM client side that has logged in with the account, the data may be uploaded to the server assigning the account by the service side. Further, specifically, the Step S12 includes the following steps.

[0099] When the service side using the account sends the data to the IM client side that has logged in with the account, and when the data have been sent to the server, and when the transmission condition has been satisfied, the IM client side that has logged in with the account receives the data transmitted by the server. Further, the service side using the account that can be used to send the data to the IM client side that has logged in with the account includes, but not limited to, an E-mail, a game communication platform, a WeChat, a space, a Twitter, an audio- video player, a browser, etc. [00100] It should be noted that the account is the assigned account by the service provider.

When the service provider provides a plurality of different services, each service may use the same account, e.g., the service provider provides an IM service, a mail services, a game service etc. When the user applies registration from a service provider, after the server provided by the service provider assigned an account to the user, the user may use the same account for the different services provided by the service provider, and the user does not need to apply a different account for each different service.

[00101] Thus, in one embodiment, not only the IM client side using the account may send the data to the server, but also the different service side using the same account may uploading the data to the server. When the data is sent to the IM client side that has logged in with the account through the service side, once the transmission condition is satisfied, the server may send data transmission request to the IM client side that has logged in with the account. When the IM client side receives the confirmed receiving instruction from the user, the data transmitted from the server is received in responding to the data transmission request.

[00102] FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related parts are shown in FIG. 9. It should be noted that the IM client side data transmission apparatus provided in FIG. 9 and the IM client side data transmission process provided in FIG. 1 may be applied to each other mutually. The IM client side data transmission apparatus includes a data uploading unit 91, and a data downloading unit 92. The data uploading unit 91 is configured to upload to a server data and a transmission condition to transmit the data using an account, such that the server transmits the data based on the transmission condition. The account is assigned by the server to an IM user, and the transmission condition includes that there is an IM client side using the same account. The data downloading unit 92 is configured to receive the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition using the account, when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied, and, optionally, when a device of the IM client side using the account has enough storage space and has an application program used to process the data installed. [00103] It should be noted that the IM client sides (the first client side and the second client side or the requesting client side and the receiving client side) may also be the same IM client side on the same device, i.e., the receiving IM client side may also be the IM client side that uploads the data and the condition to transmit the data to the server originally, as long as both client side is use the same account. And the client sides installed on different devices all include the data transmission apparatus of the IM client side. Thus, when the current device uploads the data through the data uploading unit 61, and when the transmission condition is satisfied, the server detects the current IM client side using the account (by detecting the IP used to log in the account, the device of the IM client side that has logged in with the account is detected). The current device using the account does not need to be the original device (may be another device). Further, the data downloading unit 62 contained in the current IM client side using the account receives the data transmitted from the server. Thus, this embodiment achieves the data transmission with the same device or different devices. [00104] FIG. 10 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related parts are shown in FIG. 10. Based on the apparatus shown in FIG. 9, in order to achieve the function that the server transmits the data by a specified time and the IM client side that has logged in with the account receives the data by a specified time, the data downloading unit 92 may include a receiving -by-a-specified-time unit 921. The receiving-by-a-specified-time unit 921 is configured to receive the data transmitted by the server on a specified time for receiving the data, when the transmission condition to transmit the data includes receiving the data by the specified time, and when the IM client side has logged in the server using the account through an original device or another device at the time of the arrival of the specified time for receiving the data.

[00105] FIG. 11 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related parts are shown in FIG. 11. Based on the apparatus shown in FIG. 9, in order to ensure the in time receiving of the data, each time the account logs in the server successfully through the device installed with the IM client side, the server transmits a reminding message to promote selective receiving of the data. Specifically, the data downloading unit 92 includes a message reminding unit 922, and a selective receiving unit 923. The message reminding unit 922 is configured to output a reminding message, when the transmission condition to transmit the data includes receiving the data by next login, and when the IM client side uses the account to login the server again through the original device or another device. The reminding message is configured to remind the IM user to select which data to be downloaded from the data. The selecting receiving unit 923 is configured to send a data downloading request to the server using the account, when an instruction for selecting to receive the data is received, such that the server transmits the data specified by the data downloading request to the IM client side using the account.

[00106] FIG. 12 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related parts are shown in FIG. 12. As an embodiment, for the data interchange between the IM client server and the server under the online mode or under the offline mode, the data uploading unit 91 includes a mode uploading unit 914 specifically. The mode uploading unit 914 is configured to upload the data and the transmission condition to transmit the data to the server using the account under an offline mode or an online mode. The data downloading unit 92 includes a mode downloading unit 924 specifically. The mode downloading unit 924 is configured to receive the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition using the account under an offline mode or an online mode. [00107] FIG. 13 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related parts are shown in FIG. 13. As an embodiment, in order to achieve the encrypted data uploading, the IM client side data transmission apparatus further includes an encrypting-algorithm obtaining unit 93. The encrypting-algorithm obtaining unit 93 is configured to send an encrypting request to the server, to receive an encrypting algorithm assigned by the server, and to use the encrypting algorithm to encrypt the data. And the data uploading unit 91 includes an encrypted-data uploading unit 911 specifically. The encrypted-data uploading unit 911 is configured to upload the data encrypted by the encrypting algorithm and the transmission condition to transmit the data using the account to the server.

[00108] FIG. 14 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related parts are shown in FIG. 14. Further, based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, in order to achieve a security usage of the data, the IM client side data transmission apparatus further includes a decrypting unit 94. The decrypting unit 94 is configured to decrypt the encrypted data with the key corresponding to the encrypting algorithm, when the encrypted data is needed.

[00109] FIG. 15 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related parts are shown in FIG. 15. In order to prevent incomplete downloading of the data in a situation that the device of the IM client side using the account does not have enough storage space left, the data downloading unit 92 further includes a storage-space -predetermining downloading unit 925. The storage-space-predetermining downloading unit 925 is configured to determine whether the device of the IM client side using the account has enough storage space when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied. The IM client side using the account does not receive the data transmitted by the server when the device does not have enough storage space. The IM client side using the account receives the data transmitted by the server when the device has enough storage space. [00110] FIG. 16 depicts another exemplary IM client side data transmission apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments. For illustrative purposes, only certain related parts are shown in FIG. 16. For a situation that whether the device of the IM client side using the account has installed the application program used to process the data, the data downloading unit 92 further includes an application-program-predetermining downloading unit 926. The application-program-predetermining downloading unit 926 is configured to determine whether the device of the IM client side using the account has installed the application program used to process the data when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied. The user is reminded to install the application program when the application program is not installed. The data transmitted by the server is not received when the instruction not installing the application program is received. The data transmitted by the server is received using the account when the instruction installing the application program is received and after the application program is installed.

[00111] Another goal of the present disclosure is to provide an IM client side, the IM client side includes the data transmission apparatus used for the IM client side. The data transmission apparatus used for the IM client side may be a software unit running inside the IM client side, or may be an independent plug-in integrated into the IM client side or running in the application system of the IM client side. In the embodiment, the data is uploaded to the sever using the account in advance, and then the data is downloaded through the IM client side of the current device or another device that has logged in the server successfully. Thus, the local or remote transmission of the private data using one account is achieved, and this approach is more humanized and more secure.

[00112] It should be noted that, in the present disclosure each embodiment is

progressively described, i.e., each embodiment is described and focused on difference between embodiments. Similar and/or the same portions between various embodiments can be referred to with each other. In addition, exemplary apparatus (e.g., a server) is described with respect to corresponding processes. [00113] The disclosed processes, and/or apparatus can be implemented in a suitable computing environment. The disclosure can be described with reference to symbol(s) and step(s) performed by one or more computers, unless otherwise specified. Therefore, steps and/or implementations described herein can be described for one or more times and executed by computer(s). As used herein, the term "executed by computer(s)" includes an execution of a computer processing unit on electronic signals of data in a structured type. Such execution can convert data or maintain the data in a position in a memory system (or storage device) of the computer, which can be reconfigured to alter the execution of the computer as appreciated by those skilled in the art. The data structure maintained by the data includes a physical location in the memory, which has specific properties defined by the data format. However, the

embodiments described herein are not limited. The steps and implementations described herein may be performed by hardware.

[00114] A person of ordinary skill in the art can understand that the modules included herein are described according to their functional logic, but are not limited to the above descriptions as long as the modules can implement corresponding functions. Further, the specific name of each functional module is used for distinguishing from on another without limiting the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[00115] As used herein, the term "module" can be software objects executed on a computing system. A variety of components described herein including elements, modules, units, engines, and services can be executed in the computing system. The processes and apparatuses can be implemented in a software manner. Of course, the processes and apparatuses can be implemented using hardware. All of which are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[00116] In various embodiments, the disclosed modules can be configured in one apparatus (e.g., a processing unit) or configured in multiple apparatus as desired. The modules disclosed herein can be integrated in one module or in multiple modules. Each of the modules disclosed herein can be divided into one or more sub-modules, which can be recombined in any manner.

[00117] One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that suitable software and/or hardware (e.g., a universal hardware platform) may be included and used in the disclosed processes and systems. For example, the disclosed embodiments can be implemented by hardware only, which alternatively can be implemented by software products only. The software products can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium including, e.g., ROM/RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc. The software products can include suitable commands to enable a terminal device (e.g., including a mobile phone, a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to implement the disclosed embodiments.

[00118] Note that, the term "comprising", "including" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that the process, process, article, or apparatus containing a number of elements also include not only those elements, but also other elements that are not expressly listed; or further include inherent elements of the process, process, article or apparatus. Without further restrictions, the statement "includes a " does not exclude other elements included in the process, process, article, or apparatus having those elements. [00119] The embodiments disclosed herein are exemplary only. Other applications, advantages, alternations, modifications, or equivalents to the disclosed embodiments are obvious to those skilled in the art and are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY AND ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

[00120] Without limiting the scope of any claim and/or the specification, examples of industrial applicability and certain advantageous effects of the disclosed embodiments are listed for illustrative purposes. Various alternations, modifications, or equivalents to the technical solutions of the disclosed embodiments can be obvious to those skilled in the art and can be included in this disclosure. [00121] IM client side data transmission processes and apparatuses are provided. An IM client side uploads data and a transmission condition to transmit the data using an account to a server, such that the server transmits the data based on the transmission condition. The account is assigned by the server to an IM user. The transmission condition includes that a receiver of the data is another IM client side using the account. The another IM client side may also include the IM client side that uploads the data and the transmission condition to transmit the data to the server originally, as long as the client side is using the account. The IM client side using the account receives the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition, when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied, and when a device of the IM client side using the account has enough storage space and has an application program used to process the data installed. In the embodiment, the data is uploaded to the sever using the account in advance, and then the data is downloaded through the IM client side of the current device or another device that has logged in the server successfully. Thus, the local or remote transmission of the private data using one account is achieved, and this approach is more humanized and more secure.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An instant messaging (IM) client side data transmission method, comprising:

uploading to a server, by a first IM client side using an account on a first device, data and a transmission condition to transmit the data such that the server transmits the data based on the transmission condition, wherein the account is assigned by the server to an IM user of the first IM client side, and the transmission condition includes that there is an IM client side using the same account; and

receiving, by a second IM client side using the same account, the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied by the second IM client side logging in the same account,

wherein the second IM client side is either an IM client side on a second device different from the first device or the first IM client side on the first device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmission condition includes a specified time, and the receiving the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition further comprises:

receiving the data transmitted by the server on the specified time for receiving the data, when the second IM client side has logged in the server using the same account at the time of the arrival of the specified time for receiving the data.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the transmission condition includes transmitting the data by next login, and the receiving the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition further comprises: outputting a reminding message configured to remind the IM user to select which data to be downloaded from the server, when the second IM client side uses the same account to login the server; and

when an instruction selecting to receive the data is received, sending a data downloading request to the server using the same account, such that the server transmits the data specified by the data downloading request to the second IM client side using the same account.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the uploading to the server the data and the transmission condition to transmit the data further comprises:

under one of an offline mode and an online mode, uploading the data and the transmission condition to transmit the data to the server using the account; and

the receiving the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition further comprises:

using the same account under the one of the offline mode and the online mode, receiving the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition.

5. The method according to claim 1, before uploading to the server the data and the transmission condition to transmit the data, further comprising:

sending, by the first IM client side, an encrypting request to the server;

receiving, by the first IM client side, an encrypting algorithm assigned by the server; and encrypting, by the first IM client side, the data to be uploaded using the encrypting algorithm received from the server, wherein the uploading to the server the data and the transmission condition to transmit the data further comprises:

uploading, by the first IM client side using the account, the encrypted data and the transmission condition to transmit the data to the server.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

after receiving the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition by the second IM client side using the same account, decrypting the encrypted data with a key corresponding to the encrypting algorithm.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition further comprises:

when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied by logging in the same account, determining whether the second device has enough storage space;

when it is determined that the second device does not have enough storage space, abandoning the receiving of the data transmitted by the server; and

when it is determined that the second device has enough storage space, receiving the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition.

8. The method according to claim 1 or claim 7, wherein the receiving the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition further comprises:

when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied by logging in the same account, determining whether an application program used to process the data has been installed on the second device;

when it is determined that the application program used to process the data has not been installed on the second device, prompting the user to install the application program;

abandoning the receiving of the data transmitted by the server when an instruction not installing the application program is received from the IM user corresponding to the prompting; and

receiving the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition when an instruction installing the application program is received from the IM user corresponding to the prompting and after the application program is installed.

9. An instant messaging (IM) client side data transmission apparatus, comprising:

a data uploading unit configured to upload to a server data and a transmission condition to transmit the data from a first IM client side using an account on a first device such that the server transmits the data based on the transmission condition, wherein the account is assigned by the server to an IM user of the first IM client side, and the transmission condition includes that there is an IM client side using the same account; and

a data downloading unit configured to receive, by a second IM client side using the same account, the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied by the second IM client side logging in the same account,

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the transmission condition includes a specified time, and the data downloading unit further comprises:

a receiving-by-a-specified-time unit configured to the data transmitted by the server on the specified time for receiving the data, when the second IM client side has logged in the server using the same account at the time of the arrival of the specified time for receiving the data.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the transmission condition includes transmitting the data by next login, and the data downloading unit further comprises:

a message reminding unit configured to:

output a reminding message configured to remind the IM user to select which data to be downloaded from the server, when the second IM client side uses the same account to login the server; and

when an instruction selecting to receive the data is received, send a data downloading request to the server using the same account, such that the server transmits the data specified by the data downloading request to the second IM client side using the same account.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein: the data uploading unit further comprises a mode uploading unit configured to, under one of an offline mode and an online mode, upload the data and the transmission condition to transmit the data to the server using the account; and

the data downloading unit further comprises a mode downloading unit configured to, using the same account under the one of the offline mode and the online mode, receive the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein:

the apparatus further comprises an encrypting-algorithm obtaining unit configured to: send an encrypting request to the server;

receive an encrypting algorithm assigned by the server, and

encrypt the data to be uploaded using the encrypting algorithm received from the server, and

wherein data uploading unit further comprises an encrypted-data uploading unit configured to upload the encrypted data and the transmission condition to transmit the data to the server using the same account.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a decrypting unit configured to, after receiving the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition by the second IM client side using the same account, decrypt the encrypted data with a key corresponding to the encrypting algorithm.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the data downloading unit further comprises a storage-space-predetermining downloading unit configured to:

when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied by the second IM client side logging in the same account, determine whether the second device has enough storage space; when it is determined that the second device does not have enough storage space, abandon the receiving of the data transmitted by the server; and

when it is determined that the second device has enough storage space, receive the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition.

16. The process according to claim 9 or claim 15, wherein the data downloading unit further comprises an application -program-predetermining downloading unit configured to:

when the transmission condition to transmit the data is satisfied by the second IM client side logging in the same account, determine whether an application program used to process the data has been installed on the second device;

when it is determined that the application program used to process the data has not been installed on the second device, prompt the user to install the application program;

abandon the receiving of the data transmitted by the server when an instruction not installing the application program is received from the IM user corresponding to the prompting; and

receive the data transmitted by the server based on the transmission condition when an instruction installing the application program is received from the IM user corresponding to the prompting and after the application program is installed.