Plug Into Messaging

1
Plug Into Messaging

• Extend the Messaging Experience

Gregory Cypes, Principal Software Engineer AIM
2
What is the AIM Developer Program?

• An engineering-driven effort at AOL to position
  AIM as a premier Web 2.0 platform
  
• A comprehensive set of APIs, each targeted at
  different types of applications
  
• A business model where AOL can freely support
  innovation, while retaining the ability to
  maintain network integrity

3
What are the goals of Open AIM?

• Help 3rd party developers to derive revenue from
  successful innovations on the AIM platform
  
• Make it known that AOL is interested in openness
  and building platforms
  
• Enhance the value of the AIM network by allowing
  developers to innovate on our platform
  

4
Components of Open AIM

• Web AIM APIs (sometimes referred to as WIM)
• Whimsicals
• Javascript embed-able objects (buddy list,
  presence, IM)
  
• Wimzi
• Javascript or Flash embed-able object for
  anonymous IM
  
• Direct Server APIs
• SDK APIs
• Custom Clients
• Plugins
• Bots

5
AIM SDK Info

• Core AIM technology library, supports all AIM
  functionality
  
• High Level COM API
• Platform supports for
• Windows
• Mac OS X
• Linux
• Windows Mobile
• Uses proven third-party technology
• NSS (Mozilla) for security
• sipXtapi (Pingtel) or RTC (Microsoft) for
  audio/video
  
• Used internally at AOL for AIM 6.x and others
• Usable by Java via Java wrapper

6
More SDK Info

• Custom Clients
• Build your own AIM experience into an
  application
  
• Build it on a device
• Plugins
• Full access to the API to build and extend
  features of AIM
  
• Bots
• Full APIbots can do file transfer, a/v etc.

7
What can it do for you?

• Presence/Buddy List
• File Transfer
• IM Sessions/Chat rooms
• Image Transfer
• SMS/IM Forwarding
• Buddy List Transfer
• Expressions and emoticons
• File Sharing
• Away messages and profiles
• PC-PC audio calls and conferences
• Expressions and emoticons
• File Sharing
• Privacy Management

• PC-PSTN audio calls
• Preference Management
• PC-PC video calls
• Presence lookup from email
• Military-grade encryption of all
  communications
  
• Email and toaster alerts
• Custom presence info
• AIM location services
• ICQ/federated interop
• AIM directory info
• Location Services
• Report spam/Notify
• Custom p2p sessions for data streaming

8
AIM Custom Clients

• Standalone AIM applications built on top of Open
  AIM
  
• Allows for creation of specialized clients
• Automatic support for AIM plugins
• Can be deployed as a server
• Custom Clients deployed in the field today
• SuperComputer Internationals Playlinc client
  (gamers client)
  
• Web Exs AIM Pro client (Enterprise client)
• Dopplegangers PCD Lounge (music lovers
  experience)
  
• AIM Lite (simple client experience)
• AIM Express (Web based client)
• And more to come

9
Demo
10
Open AIM Plugins

• Code that is loaded inside the AIM application
  when it signs onto the AIM service
  
• In-proc COM objects, can be written using
  standard tools in any language that supports COM
  
• Full support for Visual Studio.net 2005 and
  WPF/XAML
  
• Full Open AIM API exposed to plugins in general,
  anything AIM can do, a plugin can do
  
• AIMCC responsible for loading plugins, so plugins
  can function in any AIMCC-based application
  
• Can interact with the host application UI e.g.
  adding commands to AIM 6.xs Actions menu,
  Buddy List right-click menu and IM Window.

11
Plugin API

• Plugins primarily interact with 4 main
  interfaces
  
• IAccPlugin implemented by plugin to allow for
  initialization and shutdown
  
• IAccSession called by plugin to perform AIM
  operations (e.g. create A/V conversation)
  
• DAccEvents desired event handlers implemented
  by plugins (e.g. when an A/V session is
  initiated.)
  
• IAccCommandTarget optional implemented by
  plugin to receive commands from AIM UI

12
Open AIM Widgets

• Available for AIM Lite (http//x.aim.com/laim)
  and for AIM 6.x
  
• Uses JavaScript and Boxely UI technology for
  rapid development and deployment of plugins
  
• Widgets have full access to the Open AIM API
• Widgets are zip files that contain
• JavaScript
• Manifest file containing Open AIM key and plugin
  information
  
• Optional Boxely file, if your plugin contains UI

13
Demo
14
AIM Location Services

• Currently a plugin for AIM 6.x and Open AIM
  clients
  
• Opt-In plugin shares location info with users on
  your buddy list
  
• Integrated with Mapquests API to plot buddies on
  the map
  
• First plugin that uses the Boxely engine to
  render UI
  
• Available via the web APIs Can be used by cell
  phones
  
• Set your location outside your client via an AIM
  Location Web page

15
Open AIM Bots

• Bots are automated AIM clients
• Typically, writing a bot involves writing a lot
  of basic stuff for login, authentication, etc,
  and only basic text functionality supported
  
• With AIMCC, all bot infrastructure is provided
  developers can simply focus on their business
  logic
  
• AccBot shell application loads bot plugins that
  perform the bot functionality
  
• Bots can fully access enhanced IM functionality,
  including file transfer, audio/video, images
  
• Some ideas
• Easy upload of images and podcasts to AOL
  Journals
  
• Send an IM with a location, get back a map
• Dial-A-Song

16
Demo
17
Keys and Fingerprints

• All AIM Developer APIs require keys
• Keying allows us to identify who is using our
  network, and to restrict/deny access if abuse
  occurs
  
• A key is a unique text string common practice
  for Web APIs (Google Search, Google Maps)
  
• Keys for plugins and clients require
  fingerprints
  
• Fingerprinting prevents unauthorized use of a
  key
  
• A fingerprint is a SHA-256 hash of a DLL or EXE
• AIMCC automatically sends keys and fingerprints
  to the AIM servers during login
  
• Web service requests include key in the URL

18
Keys

• Separate keys for Web Services, Plugins, and
  Custom Clients
  
• Plugin and client keys have different levels
• Development key no fingerprint required, but
  usage limited to 200 logins/day
  
• Deployment key fingerprint required, usage
  limited to 200K logins/day or 2M logins/month
  
• Unlimited key fingerprint required, no usage
  limits
  
• Web services keys also have usage limits
• Unlimited keys require a relationship with AOL

19
AIM Urls

• aim scheme URLs can allow web pages to pass
  commands to AIM clients
  
• Complements AIM web services
• Some examples
• aimaddBuddy?screenname (adds buddy to
  buddylist)
  
• aimgoIM?screenname (brings up IM window)
• aimgoTalk?screenname (brings up Talk
  window)
  
• aimbuddyIcon?src (sets buddy icon)
• Low-tech but simple way to integrate

20
Open AIM Examples Deployed Today

• Custom Clients
• Doppelgangers PCD Lounge
• Playlinc
• AIM Pro
• Plugins
• Obopay
• AIM Tunes
• QQ Games
• Bots
• Prof. Gilzot
• Spleak
• And More to Come

21
What is AIM Tunes?
22
Still not convinced?

• 3 Steps to integrate Web IM
• http//dev.aol.com/data_sheets/WebAIM_Quick_Start_
  Guide.pdf
  
• AIM Widgets
• Visual Studio not required
• Turn key solution
• AIM Gallery
• Easy to upload finished work
• Comments and feedback built into the site

23
Getting Started

• Official site - http//developer.aim.com to get
  keys and download the SDK
  
• Read the Quickstart guide
• Look at the plugin tutorials
• Look at the sample code
• Look at the interface docs available online
• Searchable via Your Favorite Search Engine
• Let us know what obstacles you ran into

24
Contact Info

• AIM Developer main page
• http//developer.aim.com
• Get Plugins, Bots, Clients and other goodies
• http//gallery.aim.com
• My Info
• http//www.gregsmind.com
• Gregory.Cypes_at_corp.aol.com