COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20130091298A1
• Filed: 10/10/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Original Assignee: Talko Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Nager, Howard Benjamin, Pope, Matthew Jason, Richardson, Ransom Lloyd, Ozzie, Raymond Edward, Ozzie, Neil Bousquet, Speyer, Richard Zack
• Granted Patent: US 9,313,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/157 defining a virtual conference space and using avatars or agents computer conference optimisation or adaptation H04L12/1827
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

Methods and systems for integrated communications are provided. In one embodiment, a user input is received via a user interface. Media data is received in response to receiving the user input. The media data is streamed to one or more communication system users. In some embodiments, the media data is posted to a shared virtual space associated with a communication system channel. Other methods and systems are described.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by one or more computing devices, a user input via a user interface;

receiving, by the one or more computing devices, media data in response to receiving the user input;

streaming, by the one or more computing devices, the media data to one or more communication system users; and

posting, by the one or more computing devices, the media data to a shared virtual space associated with a communication system channel.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user input includes an associated input duration time period, and wherein receiving the media data includes receiving the media data for the input duration.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further including receiving an input modification, and wherein receiving the media data in response to the input modification includes receiving the media data for a time period greater than the input duration.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the media data includes audio media data.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the media data includes visual media data and wherein receiving the media data in response to the input includes receiving digital image data, and wherein receiving the media data in response to the input modification includes receiving video data.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein streaming the media data includes streaming the media data to at least a second communication system user, and wherein posting the media data includes simultaneously posting the media data to the shared virtual space associated with the communication system channel

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein streaming the media data includes transmitting the media data as low latency packetized data transmissions.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further including receiving a transmission from a second communication system user.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein receiving the transmission from the second communication system user does not time-wise overlap with the streaming the media data, wherein posting the media data includes sequentially posting the media data with respect to a post associated with the transmission from the second communication system user.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein receiving the transmission from the second communication system user time-wise overlaps with the streaming the media data, and wherein streaming the media data includes combining the media data and the transmission from the second communication system user as a multi-directional streaming media data transmission.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein receiving the transmission from the second communication system user time-wise overlaps with the streaming the media data, wherein posting the media data includes posting the media data and the transmission from the second communication system user as a combined media data post.

12. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:

receiving a user input via a user interface;

receiving media data in response to receiving the user input;

streaming the media data to one or more communication system users; and

posting the media data to a shared virtual space associated with a communication system channel.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the user input includes an associated input duration time period, and wherein receiving the media data includes receiving the media data for the input duration.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further including instructions for receiving an input modification, and wherein receiving the media data in response to the input modification includes receiving the media data for a time period greater than the input duration.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the media data includes audio media data.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the media data includes visual media data and wherein receiving the media data in response to the input includes receiving digital image data, and wherein receiving the media data in response to the input modification includes receiving video data.

17. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein streaming the media data includes streaming the media data to at least a second communication system user, and wherein posting the media data includes simultaneously posting the media data to the shared virtual space associated with the communication system channel

18. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein streaming the media data includes transmitting the media data as low latency packetized data transmissions.

19. The computer program product of claim 12, further including instructions for receiving a transmission from a second communication system user.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein receiving the transmission from the second communication system user does not time-wise overlap with the streaming the media data, and wherein posting the media data includes sequentially posting the media data with respect to a post associated with the transmission from the second communication system user.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein receiving the transmission from the second communication system user time-wise overlaps with the streaming the media data, and wherein streaming the media data includes combining the media data and the transmission from the second communication system user as a multi-directional streaming media data transmission.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein receiving the transmission from the second communication system user time-wise overlaps with the streaming the media data, wherein posting the media data includes posting the media data and the transmission from the second communication system user as a combined media data post.

23. A computing system comprising at least one processor, the at least one processor configured for:

receiving a user input via a user interface;

receiving media data in response to receiving the user input;

streaming the media data to one or more communication system users; and

posting the media data to a shared virtual space associated with a communication system channel.

24. The computing system of claim 23, wherein the user input includes an associated input duration time period, and wherein receiving the media data includes receiving the media data for the input duration.

25. The computing system of claim 24, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for receiving an input modification, and wherein receiving the media data in response to the input modification includes receiving the media data for a time period greater than the input duration.

26. The computing system of claim 25, wherein the media data includes audio media data.

27. The computing system of claim 25, wherein the media data includes visual media data and wherein receiving the media data in response to the input includes receiving digital image data, and wherein receiving the media data in response to the input modification includes receiving video data.

28. The computing system of claim 23, wherein streaming the media data includes streaming the media data to at least a second communication system user, and wherein posting the media data includes simultaneously posting the media data to the shared virtual space associated with the communication system channel

29. The computing system of claim 23, wherein streaming the media data includes transmitting the media data as low latency packetized data transmissions.

30. The computing system of claim 23, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for receiving a transmission from a second communication system user.

31. The computing system of claim 30, wherein receiving the transmission from the second communication system user does not time-wise overlap with the streaming the media data, wherein posting the media data includes sequentially posting the media data with respect to a post associated with the transmission from the second communication system user.

32. The computing system of claim 30, wherein receiving the transmission from the second communication system user time-wise overlaps with the streaming the media data, and wherein streaming the media data includes combining the media data and the transmission from the second communication system user as a multi-directional streaming media data transmission.

33. The computing system of claim 30, wherein receiving the transmission from the second communication system user time-wise overlaps with the streaming the media data, wherein posting the media data includes posting the media data and the transmission from the second communication system user as a combined media data post.

34. A computer-implemented method comprising

receiving, by one or more computing devices, a plurality of media items from a communication system, the plurality of media items including at least audio media items and visual media items;

providing, by the one or more computing devices, a user interface including a time-wise sequence display of the audio media items and a time-wise sequence display of the visual media items;

accessing, by the one or more computing devices, the audio media item including sequencing the display of the visual media items based on the display of the audio media items; and

accessing, by the one or more computing devices, the visual media items including sequencing the display of the visual media items independently of the display of audio media items.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein the audio media items include a plurality of audio segments corresponding to respective audio transmissions by one or more users associated with a channel of the communication system.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 35, wherein at least a portion of the audio segments correspond to a multi-party conversation.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 36, wherein the multi-party conversation includes an ongoing multi-party conversation.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein accessing the audio media items includes accessing one or more audio segments associated with a prior portion of the ongoing multi-party conversation.

39. The computer-implemented method of claim 38, wherein accessing the audio media items includes accessing a streaming audio sequence associated with a current portion of the ongoing multi-party conversation.

40. The computer-implemented method of claim 35, wherein each audio segment includes an associated identifier of a creator of the audio segment.

41. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein receiving the visual media item includes displaying the visual media item based on, at least in part, a minimum display time for received visual media items.

42. A computer program product residing on a non-transitory computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a plurality of media items from a communication system, the plurality of media items including at least audio media items and visual media items;

providing a user interface including a time-wise sequence display of the audio media items and a time-wise sequence display of the visual media items;

accessing the audio media item including sequencing the display of the visual media items based on the display of the audio media items; and

accessing the visual media items including sequencing the display of the visual media items independently of the display of audio media items.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the audio media items include a plurality of audio segments corresponding to respective audio transmissions by one or more users associated with a channel of the communication system.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein at least a portion of the audio segments correspond to a multi-party conversation.

45. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the multi-party conversation includes an ongoing multi-party conversation.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein accessing the audio media items includes accessing one or more audio segments associated with a prior portion of the ongoing multi-party conversation.

47. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein accessing the audio media items includes accessing a streaming audio sequence associated with a current portion of the ongoing multi-party conversation.

48. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein each audio segment includes an associated identifier of a creator of the audio segment.

49. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein receiving the visual media item includes displaying the visual media item based on, at least in part, a minimum display time for received visual media items.

50. A computing system comprising at least one processor, the at least one processor being configured for:

receiving a plurality of media items from a communication system, the plurality of media items including at least audio media items and visual media items;

providing a user interface including a time-wise sequence display of the audio media items and a time-wise sequence display of the visual media items;

accessing the audio media item including sequencing the display of the visual media items based on the display of the audio media items; and

accessing the visual media items including sequencing the display of the visual media items independently of the display of audio media items.

51. The computing system of claim 50, wherein the audio media items include a plurality of audio segments corresponding to respective audio transmissions by one or more users associated with a channel of the communication system.

52. The computing system of claim 51, wherein at least a portion of the audio segments correspond to a multi-party conversation.

53. The computing system of claim 52, wherein the multi-party conversation includes an ongoing multi-party conversation.

54. The computing system of claim 53, wherein accessing the audio media items includes accessing one or more audio segments associated with a prior portion of the ongoing multi-party conversation.

55. The computing system of claim 54, wherein accessing the audio media items includes accessing a streaming audio sequence associated with a current portion of the ongoing multi-party conversation.

56. The computing system of claim 51, wherein each audio segment includes an associated identifier of a creator of the audio segment.

57. The computing system of claim 50, wherein receiving the visual media item includes displaying the visual media item based on, at least in part, a minimum display time for received visual media items.