Context based virtual area creation
First Claim
1. A method in a network communications environment comprising a network service implemented by one or more computers, the method comprising by the network service:
- responsive to a request received from a network node of a first communicant, associating a source of live streaming data with a display component of a graphical user interface comprising a graphical representation of a virtual area, wherein the live streaming data comprises a live video capture stream, a live screen capture stream, and a live audio capture stream;
transmitting, to each of one or more requesting network nodes of one or more other communicants, a respective specification of the graphical user interface comprising a first display area for the display component and a second display area for a text chat component;
establishing respective presences for the first communicant and the one or more other communicants in the virtual area;
publishing visual streaming data comprising the live video capture stream and the live screen capture stream in the first display area, publishing chat streams sourced from the network node of the first communicant and the one or more requesting network nodes of the one or more other communicants in the second display area, and publishing the live audio capture stream on a global channel to which the one or more requesting network nodes of the one or more other communicants who are present in the virtual area can subscribe.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Examples of systems and methods for context based virtual area creation are described. Some examples provide a quick and easy way for users to wrap virtual areas around contexts of interest. Examples of such contexts may be defined in terms of one or more of content, people, and real-world location. The virtual areas support realtime communications between communicants (e.g., one or more of text chat, voice, video, application sharing, and file sharing) and provide a persistent historical repository for interactions in the virtual area. Summaries of activities and other events in virtual areas typically are published in realtime so that other communicants can readily obtain a quick summary of the activities occurring in a particular context and decide whether or not to join or otherwise participate in those activities.
3 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method in a network communications environment comprising a network service implemented by one or more computers, the method comprising by the network service:
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responsive to a request received from a network node of a first communicant, associating a source of live streaming data with a display component of a graphical user interface comprising a graphical representation of a virtual area, wherein the live streaming data comprises a live video capture stream, a live screen capture stream, and a live audio capture stream; transmitting, to each of one or more requesting network nodes of one or more other communicants, a respective specification of the graphical user interface comprising a first display area for the display component and a second display area for a text chat component; establishing respective presences for the first communicant and the one or more other communicants in the virtual area; publishing visual streaming data comprising the live video capture stream and the live screen capture stream in the first display area, publishing chat streams sourced from the network node of the first communicant and the one or more requesting network nodes of the one or more other communicants in the second display area, and publishing the live audio capture stream on a global channel to which the one or more requesting network nodes of the one or more other communicants who are present in the virtual area can subscribe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus comprising one or more computers operable to implement a network service in a network communications environment, the apparatus operable to perform operations comprising:
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responsive to a request received from a network node of a first communicant, associating a source of live streaming data with a display component of a graphical user interface comprising a graphical representation of a virtual area, wherein the live streaming data comprises a live video capture stream, a live screen capture stream, and a live audio capture stream; transmitting, to each of one or more requesting network nodes of one or more other communicants, a respective specification of the graphical user interface comprising a first display area for the display component and a second display area for a text chat component; establishing respective presences for the first communicant and the one or more other communicants in the virtual area; publishing visual streaming data comprising the live video capture stream and the live screen capture stream in the first display area, publishing chat streams sourced from the network node of the first communicant and the one or more requesting network nodes of the one or more other communicants in the second display area, and publishing the live audio capture stream on a global channel to which the one or more network requesting nodes of the one or more other communicants who are present in the virtual area can subscribe. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-readable data storage apparatus comprising a memory component storing executable instructions that are operable to be executed by a processor, wherein the memory component includes:
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executable instructions to associate a source of live streaming data with a display component of a graphical user interface comprising a graphical representation of a virtual area in response to a request received from a network node of a first communicant, wherein the live streaming data comprises a live video capture stream, a live screen capture stream, and a live audio capture stream; executable instructions to transmit, to each of one or more requesting network nodes of one or more other communicants, a respective specification of the graphical user interface comprising a first display area for the display component and a second display area for a text chat component; executable instructions to establish respective presences for the first communicant and the one or more other communicants in the virtual area; executable instructions to publish visual streaming data comprising the live video capture stream and the live screen capture stream in the first display area, publish chat streams sourced from the network nodes of respective ones of the first communicant and the one or more other communicants in the second display area, and publish the live audio capture stream on a global channel to which the one or more requesting network nodes of the one or more other communicants who are present in the virtual area can subscribe. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification