Instant messaging session invite for arranging peer-to-peer communication between applications

• US 7,584,265 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Mejia, Benjamin A., Dickerman, Howard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr.; William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bayard; Djenane M
• Application Number:
  US11/751,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 709/228, 709/218, 709/204, 709/212, 709/216, 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Arrangements and procedures for arranging peer-to-peer communications sessions between applications are described. In one implementation, a first application executing at a first device utilizes online presence information of an instant messaging service to select a second application with which to engage in the peer-to-peer session. The second application is associated with a second device and registered with the instant messaging service as being peer-to-peer session invite capable. The first application arranges the peer-to-peer session via components of the instant messaging service. The arranged peer-to-peer session is functionally independent of the instant messaging service.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

processing on a processor the computer implemented method;

storing on a computer readable storage medium computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, performs the computer implemented method;

selecting a first application associated with a first device to participate in a peer-to-peer communication session;

inviting a second application associated with a second device to participate in a peer-to-peer communication session with the first application;

arranging a peer-to-peer communication session between the second application and a third application associated with the first device;

wherein selecting the first application and inviting the second application are performed based on session invite information coordinated by an instant messaging service, whereby the selecting and inviting facilitates arranging peer-to-peer communications between first and second applications;

wherein arranging the peer-to-peer communication session between the second application and the third application comprises coordinating, by the first application, the peer-to-peer communication session via a fourth application associated with the second device;

wherein the second and third applications are not client platforms of the instant messaging service, and the first and fourth applications are respective client platforms of the instant messaging service.

2. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein selecting the first application and inviting the second application are performed independent of whether the first or second applications are respectively executing on the first or second devices.

3. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein inviting the second application to participate in the peer-to-peer communication session is done programmatically or via user interaction with a user interface.

4. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions for registering an application with the instant messaging service to indicate to a different application that the application is capable of engaging in the peer-to-peer communication session, the first and second applications being registered with the instant messaging service.

5. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions for:

registering the first application with the instant messaging service; and

responsive to registering the first application, adding one or more user interface (UI) components to the first application, the one or more UI components being responsive to user input to initiate the peer-to-peer communication session.

6. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions for:

responsive to receiving a peer-to-peer session acceptance message, determining whether the first application is executing at the first device; and

responsive to determining that the first application is not executing, launching the first application for participation in the peer-to-peer communication session.

7. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions for:

responsive to receiving a peer-to-peer session invite message, determining whether the second application is available at the second device; and

responsive to determining that the second application is not available, downloading the second application from a server coupled to the second device, the server being identified by the session invite message.

8. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions for:

responsive to receiving a peer-to-peer session invite message, determining whether the second application is executing at the second device; and

responsive to determining that the second application is not executing, launching the second application for participation in the peer-to-peer communication session.

9. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions for inviting the second application to participate in the peer-to-peer communication session further comprise instructions for:

obtaining registration information corresponding to the second application from the instant messaging service; and

communicating a session invitation message to a messaging client platform associated with the second application, the session invitation message for accepting or declining participation by the second application in the peer-to-peer communication session.

10. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprising instructions for:

determining an online status of an entity based on presence information provided by the instant messaging service; and

wherein inviting the second application to participate in the peer-to-peer communication session is performed based on whether the online status indicates that entity is logged into the second device.

11. A device for using an instant messaging service to arrange a peer-to-peer communication session between networked applications the device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory encoded with computer-program instructions executable by the processor, the computer-program instructions for;

selecting a first application associated with a first device to participate in a peer-to-peer communication session;

inviting a second application associated with a second device to participate in a peer-to-peer communication session with the first application;

arranging a peer-to-peer communication session between the second application and a third application associated with the first device;

wherein selecting the first application and inviting the second application are performed based on session invite information coordinated by an instant messaging service, whereby the selecting and inviting facilitates arranging peer-to-peer communications between first and second applications;

wherein arranging the peer-to-peer communication session between the second application and the third application comprises coordinating, by the first application, the peer-to-peer communication session via a fourth application associated with the second device;

wherein the second and third applications are not client platforms of the instant messaging service, and the first and fourth applications are respective client platforms of the instant messaging service.

12. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein the first and second applications respectively comprise functionality independent of the instant messaging service.

13. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein the first or second application is a word processor, spreadsheet, e-mail, image processing, Web browser, or other application.

14. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein the computer-program instructions, before instructions for receiving the application identifiers, further comprise instructions for:

registering the second application with the instant messaging service to indicate that the second application implements a session invite interface used by the instant messaging session to arrange the peer-to-peer session; and

issuing a request to the instant messaging service to determine peer-to-peer session capable applications that have registered with the instant messaging service.

15. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein the computer-program instructions for arranging the peer-to-peer session further comprise instructions for:

communicating a session invite message to a messaging client platform executing at a device associated with the first or second applications; and

responsive to communicating the session invite message, receiving a peer-to-peer session acceptance or decline message from the messaging client platform.

16. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein the computer-program instructions for arranging the peer-to-peer session are performed by first and second messaging client platforms independent of whether the first and/or second application are loaded or executing on corresponding networked devices.

17. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein the computer-program instructions for arranging the peer-to-peer session further comprise instructions for:

determining that the peer-to-peer session has been accepted; and

responsive to acceptance of the peer-to-peer session, launching the first and/or second application for participation in the peer-to-peer session.