Remote Access and Social Networking Using Presence-Based Applications

• US 20110078228A1
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Shockley, Tiffany L., Gunn, Campbell D., Biggs, Todd S., Bristol, Anthony R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

Abstract

Various embodiments utilize a real-time instant messaging or presence based communications system as a mechanism to remotely control the operation, programming, and/or review of media content on a device or system such as a television, media center, gaming device, digital video recorder and the like. In addition, the use of the instant messaging or presence based communication system opens up various social networking options for users. For example, users can, if allowed, gain access to the viewing habits of individuals in their contact list and exchange information with one another to provide a rich, robust sharing environment.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing communication, using a presence based network, with an application executing on a client device, the establishing being performed in part by at least one or more bots that include instructions executable by one or more processors on a presence server;

employing the one or more bots to discover media consumption information of one or more contacts;

utilizing the one or more bots to engage in a human-like conversation with the application executing on the client device when the application executing on the client device initiates an online presence;

providing, via the human-like conversation, one or more program-related recommendations based on the media consumption information of the one or more contacts;

receiving a media consumption selection from the application executing on the client device; and

programming a media consuming device that is remote from the client device in accordance with the media consumption selection.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

purchasing the media consumption selection on behalf of a user of the application executing on the client device;

notifying the user of the purchase; and

programming the media consuming device to consume content associated with the media consumption selection.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein programming the media consuming device that is remote from the client device includes instructing the media consuming device to record content.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more bots reside as presence based contacts in a buddy list of a user of the application executing on the client device, and wherein the one or more bots are online in the presence based network whenever the user is online.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request, via the human-like conversation, for media consumption habits of a particular contact;

accessing the media consumption habits of the particular contact responsive to receiving the request; and

providing a response, via the human-like conversation, indicating the media consumption habits of the particular contact.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the response is based at least in part on a current online presence of the particular contact identified in the request.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the human-like conversation includes textually engaging the one or more bots using an interface activity window implemented in an instant messaging program.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising employing the one or more bots to implement safety viewing habits that manage the programming of the media consuming device.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising employing the one or more bots to generate notifications to a third person based on the safety viewing habits.

10. A method comprising:

establishing communication with a bot using a presence based network, the bot being an automated application, executable by one or more processors, that is configured to;

employ the presence based network to access media consumption information of one or more contacts associated with a user; and

engage in a human-like conversation with the user when the user initiates an online presence;

receiving, via the human-like conversation with the bot, one or more recommendations for consumption on a device, the one or more recommendations being based on the media consumption information of the one or more contacts associated with the user; and

utilizing the bot to remotely program the device to consume content based on the one or more recommendations.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein utilizing the bot to remotely program the device to consume the content includes programming the device to record the content.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the bot is employed as a context discovery mechanism which accesses the media consumption information of the one or more contacts while the user is offline.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the bot resides as a presence based contact in a buddy list of the user.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the bot is always online in the presence based network.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising requesting media consumption habits of a particular contact via the human-like conversation.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving a response from the bot via the human-like conversation, the response including the media consumption habits of the particular contact.

17. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the human-like conversation includes textually engaging the bot using an interface activity window implemented in an instant messaging program.

18. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, permit an online user to selectively engage at least one of a plurality of bots via a presence based instant messaging application executing on a client device, each bot comprising;

a client communication protocol component that communicates with the presence based instant messaging application executing on the client device via a human-like conversation; and

a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) that are configured to access outside services responsive to receiving a request from the online user via the human-like conversation.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the request received from the online user identifies a particular contact from a plurality of contacts stored for the online user, and at least one API is configured to discover individual media consumption habits associated with the particular contact identified.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the individual media consumption habits are associated with a current online presence of the particular contact.