System and method for providing instant messaging capability in conjunction with an online reference

• US 20060200525A1
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Li, Li, Li, Ying, Burdick, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Methods for providing instant messaging capability in conjunction with an online reference is provided. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving an indication to initiate display of online content, selecting at least one reference in response to the indication, the at least one reference being associated with a source, and displaying the at least one reference in association with an instant messaging enablement indicator. If desired, the instant messaging enablement indicator may be different depending upon whether the source associated with the at least one reference is not instant messaging enabled, is instant messaging enabled but not currently online, and is instant messaging enabled and currently online. Accordingly, the method may further include determining if the source associated with the at least one selected reference is instant messaging enabled and, if so, determining if the source is currently capable of at least one of receiving and transmitting instant messages.

Claims

1. A method for providing instant messaging capability in conjunction with an online reference, the method comprising:

receiving an indication to initiate display of online content;

selecting at least one reference in response to the indication, the at least one reference being associated with a source; and

displaying the at least one reference in association with an instant messaging enablement indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication to initiate display of online content comprises receiving a search query.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the source associated with the at least one selected reference is instant messaging enabled.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein if it is determined that the source associated with the at least one selected reference is not instant messaging enabled, displaying the at least one reference in association with an instant messaging enablement indicator comprises displaying the at least one reference in association with a first instant messaging enablement indicator.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein if it is determined that the source associated with the at least one selected reference is instant messaging enabled, the method further comprises determining if the source is currently capable of at least one of receiving and transmitting instant messages.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein if it is determined that the source associated with the at least one selected reference is not currently capable of at least one of receiving and transmitting instant messages, displaying the at least one reference in association with an instant messaging enablement indicator comprises displaying the at least one reference in association with a second instant messaging enablement indicator.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein if it is determined that the source associated with the at least one selected reference is currently capable of at least one of receiving and transmitting instant messages, displaying the at least one reference in association with an instant messaging enablement indicator comprises displaying the at least one reference in association with a third instant messaging enablement indicator.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving an indication that the third instant messaging enablement indicator has been selected by a user; and

enabling instant messaging between the source and the user.

9. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

10. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 8.

11. A computer programmed to perform the method of claim 1.

12. A computer system for providing instant messaging capability in conjunction with an online reference, the computer system comprising:

a first receiving module for receiving an indication to initiate display of online content;

a selecting module for selecting at least one reference in response to the indication, the at least one reference being associated with a source; and

a displaying module for displaying the at least one reference in association with an instant messaging enablement indicator.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the first receiving module is configured to receive a search query.

14. The computer system of claim 12, further comprising a first determining module for determining if the source associated with the at least one selected reference is instant messaging enabled.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein if it is determined that the source associated with the at least one selected reference is instant messaging enabled, the computer system further comprises a second determining module for determining if the source is currently capable of at least one of receiving and transmitting instant messages.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein if it is determined that the source is currently capable of at least one of receiving and transmitting instant messages, the computer system further comprises:

a second receiving module for receiving an indication that the instant messaging enablement indicator has been selected by a user; and

an enablement module for enabling instant messaging between the source and the user.

17. A user interface embodied on at least one computer-readable medium, the user interface for providing instant messaging capability in conjunction with an online reference, comprising:

a reference display area configured to display at least one reference in response to an indication to initiate display of online content, the at least one reference being associated with a source; and

an instant messaging enablement display area configured to display an instant messaging enablement indicator in association with the at least one reference.

18. The user interface of claim 17, wherein if the source associated with the at least one reference is not instant messaging enabled, the instant messaging enablement display area is configured to display a first instant messaging enablement indicator in association with the at least one reference.

19. The user interface of claim 17, wherein if the source associated with the at least one reference is instant messaging enabled but not currently capable of at least one of receiving and transmitting an instant message, the instant messaging enablement display area is configured to display a second instant messaging enablement indicator in association with the at least one reference.

20. The user interface of claim 17, wherein if the source associated with the at least one reference is instant messaging enabled and currently capable of at least one of receiving and transmitting an instant message, the instant messaging enablement display area is configured to display a third instant messaging enablement indicator in association with the at least one reference.