Instant messaging with audio
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving an input during an instant messaging session indicating a selection of at least one of a plurality of audio items from an audio menu, wherein the plurality of audio items are taken from a content item, wherein the input is provided through interaction with at least one of a plurality of audio representations displayed in the audio menu, wherein each said audio representation corresponds to a respective said audio item, and wherein the audio menu arranges the plurality of audio representations for display in a first window that receives the input and that is separate from a second window that is utilized to display text messages during the instant messaging session; and
causing an output of the selected audio item by one or more of a plurality of computing devices that participates in the instant messaging session, wherein the input specifies the plurality of computing devices that participates in the instant messaging session such that the output of the selected audio item is;
caused for a sender selected subset of the plurality of computing devices that participates in the instant messaging session; and
not caused for a separate sender selected subset of at least one other computing device that participates in the instant messaging session.
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Abstract
Instant messaging with audio is described. In an implementation, a method includes receiving an input during an instant messaging session indicating a selection of at least one of a plurality of audio items from an audio menu. The plurality of audio items is taken from a content item. An output is caused of the selected audio item by one or more of a plurality of computing devices that participates in the instant messaging session.
25 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving an input during an instant messaging session indicating a selection of at least one of a plurality of audio items from an audio menu, wherein the plurality of audio items are taken from a content item, wherein the input is provided through interaction with at least one of a plurality of audio representations displayed in the audio menu, wherein each said audio representation corresponds to a respective said audio item, and wherein the audio menu arranges the plurality of audio representations for display in a first window that receives the input and that is separate from a second window that is utilized to display text messages during the instant messaging session; and causing an output of the selected audio item by one or more of a plurality of computing devices that participates in the instant messaging session, wherein the input specifies the plurality of computing devices that participates in the instant messaging session such that the output of the selected audio item is; caused for a sender selected subset of the plurality of computing devices that participates in the instant messaging session; and not caused for a separate sender selected subset of at least one other computing device that participates in the instant messaging session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method comprising:
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examining content to locate a plurality of audio items; generating a plurality of audio representations, wherein each said audio representation is selectable to cause an output of a corresponding said audio item by a plurality of computing devices that participates in an instant messaging session; and arranging the plurality of audio representations for display in a first window in which the user selects an audio representation and that is separate from a second window that is utilized to display text messages during the instant messaging session; and wherein each of the plurality of audio representations is also selectable to specify the plurality of computing devices such that the output of the corresponding audio item is; caused for a sender selected subset of the plurality of computing devices; and not caused for a separate sender selected subset of at least one other computing device that participates in the instant messaging session. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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accessing a web site over a network; and purchasing a plurality of audio representations and a plurality of audio items through interaction with the web site, wherein; each of the audio representations corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of audio items; the plurality of audio items are taken from a content item; and
the plurality of audio representations are;displayable during an instant messaging session, wherein the audio representations are selectable after a receiving user receives and the receiving user accepts an audio menu invitation during the instant messaging session; and selectable to cause the respective said audio item to be output on a sender selected subset of at least one computing device that participates in the instant messaging session, and further selectable to cause the respective said audio item not to be output on a separate sender selected subset of at least one computing device that participates in the instant messaging session. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. One or more computer readable storage media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, direct the computer to:
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display a first window for display of text messages communicated during an instant messaging session; display a second window having a plurality of audio representations that are selectable during the instant messaging session, wherein the second window is displayed after a receiving user receives and the receiving user accepts an audio menu invitation; and when one or more said audio representations are selected from within the second window, cause an output of a respective one or more of a plurality of audio items for a sender selected subset of members participating in the instant messaging session, and further does not cause an output for a separate sender selected subset of members participating in the instant messaging session. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A computing device comprising:
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a processor; and memory configured to maintain a messaging module that is executable on the processor to; establish an instant messaging session over a network; and output a plurality of audio representations for display on a display device during the instant messaging session, wherein; the plurality of audio representations correspond to a plurality of audio items taken from a content item, wherein the plurality of audio representations are arranged for display in a first window that is separate from a second window that is utilized to display text messages during the instant messaging session; and each said audio representation is selectable from within the first window to; cause an output of a corresponding said audio item at a sender selected subset of one or more computing devices that participate in the instant messaging session; and not cause an output for a separate sender selected subset of at least one other computing device that participates in the instant messaging session. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A system comprising:
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a network; a plurality of computing devices communicatively coupled to the network; and at least one server communicatively coupled to the network and including a manager module, wherein; the manager module is executable to communicate a messaging module to each of the plurality of computing devices in response to a request for initiation of an instant messaging session between the plurality of computing devices; each said messaging module is executable on a respective said computing device to output a plurality of audio representations of audio items during the instant messaging session, wherein the plurality of audio representations are arranged for display in a first window that is separate from a second window that is utilized to display text messages during the instant messaging session; and each said audio representation is selectable from within the first window to; cause an output of a respective said audio item on a sender selected subset of the plurality of computing devices that participate in the instant messaging session; and not cause an output for a separate sender selected subset of at least one other computing device that participates in the instant messaging session. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A system comprising at least one server having a processor and memory, wherein:
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the at least one server is configured to be communicatively coupled to a network; the at least one server includes a manager module that is executable on the processor to arrange space in the memory for storing one or more audio menus; each said audio menu is executable to output a plurality of audio representations of audio items during an instant messaging session; wherein the audio items are selected by the sender to be output at a sender selected subset of the devices participating in the instant messaging session, and not output for a separate sender selected subset of the devices participating in the instant messaging session; each said audio menu is displayed when a receiving user of said audio menu receives and the receiving user of said audio menu accepts an audio menu invitation during the instant messaging session, wherein the audio menu invitation is configured to allow a sending user to cancel the audio menu invitation before the receiving user accepts the audio menu invitation; each said audio menu, when stored in the memory, is available to the plurality of computing devices over the network; and the space in the memory is available to a content provider to store at least one said audio menu in the memory for a fee.
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Specification