Sharing Application Output In Chat Environment

• US 20080034038A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chien, Eric, Montgomerie, Jamie, Jeong, Hyeonkuk, Lemay, Steve, Van Os, Marcel, Forstall, Scott, Ciudad, Jean-Pierre, Abuan, Joe, Westen, Peter, Stochosky, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/462,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20080034038A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Contents such as a GUI or application output can be shared in a chat environment. The user can choose to share own contents or request that contents be shared by another user (e.g., a chat partner). It can be possible to control the shared GUI or application from the recipient'"'"'s location. The shared content can be integrated in content that is transmitted as part of a chat session.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for sharing content, the method comprising:

receiving, in a device, a user input requesting that contents from an application program be shared, the user input being made in a chat environment including the device;

determining, in response to the user input, at least one chat identity of an entity registered in the chat environment; and

forwarding, using the determined chat identity, an invitation to the entity'"'"'s device regarding sharing the contents from the application program, the invitation being generated from the user input.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the entity accepts the invitation, further comprising performing the sharing of the contents from the application program.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the contents from the application program are from the device and the user input requests that the contents be shared with the entity, and wherein performing the sharing comprises forwarding the contents from the application program from the device upon acceptance of the invitation.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the contents from the application program include at least one input control, further comprising performing an operation in the device upon receiving a command from the entity'"'"'s device, the command being generated using the input control.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the contents from the application program originate from the entity'"'"'s device and the user input requests that the entity share the contents, and wherein performing the sharing comprises receiving the contents from the application program from the entity'"'"'s device upon acceptance of the invitation, and presenting the contents in the device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the contents from the application program include at least one input control, further comprising receiving an input in the device made using the input control, and forwarding a command based on the input to the entity'"'"'s device for performing an operation in the entity'"'"'s device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising presenting in the device an input control configured to be used for selectively alternating the device between presenting:

A) the contents received from the entity'"'"'s device; and

B) graphical user interface contents not received from the entity'"'"'s device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the input control is also configured to be used for transferring a selected information portion to the entity'"'"'s device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the input control is configured to initiate the transfer of the selected information portion upon the selected information portion being dragged onto the input control.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the entity is identified, for forwarding the invitation, from a contact list associated with the chat environment.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the entity is currently participating in a chat session when the user input is received, and wherein the identification is based on the chat session.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein a user selection of the entity from the contact list is made in connection with the user input.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user input is made using a control in the application program.

14. A computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method for sharing content, the method comprising:

receiving, in a device, a user input requesting that contents from an application program be shared, the user input being made in a chat environment including the device;

determining, in response to the user input, at least one chat identity of an entity registered in the chat environment; and

forwarding, using the determined chat identity, an invitation to the entity'"'"'s device regarding sharing the contents from the application program, the invitation being generated from the user input.

15. A computer-implemented method for sharing content, the method comprising:

presenting, in a chat environment of a first device that is associated with a first entity, chat content received from at least a second entity who is using a second device;

presenting, in the first device, application program contents shared from the second device, the first entity having been identified in the chat environment for receiving the shared application program contents from the second device.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the chat content comprises a video feed from the second device.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein there is presented, at the second device, a view indicating that the application program contents are shared.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein there is also presented, at the second device and in association with the presented view, a video feed from the first device.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the entity is identified, for forwarding the invitation, from a contact list associated with the chat environment.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the entity is currently participating in a chat session when the user input is received, and wherein the identification is based on the chat session.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein a user selection of the entity from the contact list is made in connection with the user input.

22. A computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method for sharing content, the method comprising:

presenting, in a chat environment of a first device that is associated with a first entity, chat content received from at least a second entity who is using a second device;

presenting, in the first device, application program contents shared from the second device, the first entity having been identified in the chat environment for receiving the shared application program contents from the second device.

23. A computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a graphical user interface for sharing content, the graphical user interface comprising:

a chat content area presenting chat content in a chat environment, the graphical user interface being generated in a first device associated with a first entity, the chat content received from at least a second entity who is using a second device; and

an application content area presenting application program contents shared from the second device, the first entity having been identified in the chat environment for receiving the shared application program contents from the second device.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the chat content comprises a video feed from the second device.