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First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at an instant message receiver, an instant message from an instant message sender;
determining, at the instant message receiver, that the received instant message text includes a textual link to a web page that was selected by the instant message sender;
fetching an image corresponding to the web page in response to a determination that the instant message includes the textual link to the web page, wherein the image is at least a portion of the web page;
storing the fetched image corresponding to the web page;
generating a thumbnail image preview of the fetched image that corresponds to the fetched portion of the web page and that includes one or more features having a scale that is reduced relative to one or more corresponding features of the fetched portion of the web page;
displaying, at the instant message receiver, at least a portion of the instant message including the textual link to the web page;
determining the occurrence of a user-generated triggering event on the instant message; and
displaying, at the instant message receiver, the thumbnail image preview of the fetched portion of the web page while displaying the portion of the instant message in response to the occurrence of the user-generated triggering event.
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Abstract
An instant message is received from an instant message sender and a determination is made that the instant message includes a link to a web page that was selected by the instant message sender. In response to determining that the instant message includes the link to the web page, an image corresponding to the web page is fetched and stored, and a thumbnail image preview of the fetched image is generated. In addition, the thumbnail image preview of the fetched portion of the web page is displayed while at least a portion of the instant message is displayed.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, at an instant message receiver, an instant message from an instant message sender; determining, at the instant message receiver, that the received instant message text includes a textual link to a web page that was selected by the instant message sender; fetching an image corresponding to the web page in response to a determination that the instant message includes the textual link to the web page, wherein the image is at least a portion of the web page; storing the fetched image corresponding to the web page; generating a thumbnail image preview of the fetched image that corresponds to the fetched portion of the web page and that includes one or more features having a scale that is reduced relative to one or more corresponding features of the fetched portion of the web page; displaying, at the instant message receiver, at least a portion of the instant message including the textual link to the web page; determining the occurrence of a user-generated triggering event on the instant message; and displaying, at the instant message receiver, the thumbnail image preview of the fetched portion of the web page while displaying the portion of the instant message in response to the occurrence of the user-generated triggering event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 13)
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5. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
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receiving, at an instant message receiver, an instant message from an instant message sender; determining, at the instant message receiver, that the received instant message text includes a textual link to a web page that was selected by the instant message sender; fetching an image corresponding to the web page in response to a determination that the instant message includes the textual link to the web page, wherein the image is at least a portion of the web page; storing the fetched image corresponding to the web page; generating a thumbnail image preview of the fetched image that corresponds to the fetched portion of the web page and that includes one or more features having a scale that is reduced relative to one or more corresponding features of the fetched portion of the web page; displaying, at the instant message receiver, at least a portion of the instant message including the textual link to the web page; determining the occurrence of a user-generated triggering event on the instant message; and displaying, at the instant message receiver, the thumbnail image preview of the fetched portion of the web page while displaying the portion of the instant message in response to the occurrence of the user-generated triggering event. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 14)
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9. A client computer configured to:
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receive an instant message from an instant message sender; determine that the received instant message text includes a textual link to a web page that was selected by the instant message sender; fetch an image corresponding to the web page in response to a determination that the instant message includes the textual link to the web page, wherein the image is at least a portion of the web page; store the fetched image corresponding to the web page; generate a thumbnail image preview of the fetched image that corresponds to the fetched portion of the web page and that includes one or more features having a scale that is reduced relative to one or more corresponding features of the fetched portion of the web page; display at least a portion of the instant message including the textual link to the web page; determine the occurrence of a user-generated triggering event on the instant message; and display the thumbnail image preview of the fetched portion of the web page while displaying the portion of the instant message in response to the occurrence of the user-generated triggering event. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 15)
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Specification