Method, system, and graphical user interface for identifying and communicating with meeting spots

• US 7,831,917 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Karam, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sax; Steven P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson; Grant D
• Application Number:
  US11/323,115
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 715/733, 715/734, 715/751, 715/753, 715/758, 709/204, 701/207, 701/208
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

One aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method in which a server computer sends to a plurality of client devices associated with computer users in an online discussion information corresponding to: a map, an icon for a meeting spot to be overlaid on the map, a plurality of icons representing at least some of the computer users in the online discussion, to be displayed at a same time as the map, and an icon to initiate online communications between a respective client device and a computer associated with the meeting spot. The server receives a request to initiate online communications between the computer associated with the meeting spot and at least one client device in the online discussion; and initiates online communications between the computer associated with the meeting spot and the at least one client device in the online discussion.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a server computer,

sending to a plurality of client devices associated with computer users in an ongoing online discussion information corresponding to;

a geographic street map,

icons for at least two meeting spots to be overlaid on the geographic street map, wherein the meeting spots have physical locations represented on the geographic street map,

a plurality of icons representing at least some of the computer users in the ongoing online discussion, to be displayed at a same time as the geographic street map, wherein the at least some of the computer users are currently entered into two or more of the same meeting spots represented on the geographic street map, and

an icon to initiate online communications between a respective client device and a first currently selected meeting spot, wherein the online communications is selected from the group consisting of;

instant messaging, audio chat, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony, and video chat;

receiving a request to initiate online communications between the first currently selected meeting spot and at least one client device in the ongoing online discussion in response to an activation of the icon to initiate online communications; and

initiating online communications between the first currently selected meeting spot and the at least one client device in the ongoing online discussion while maintaining the ongoing online discussion.

2. The method of claim 1, including performing an operation selected from the group consisting of establishing a right to receive a consideration from an entity associated with the first currently selected meeting spot and receiving a consideration from the entity associated with the first currently selected meeting spot.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the consideration is selected from the group consisting of a referral fee and a commission.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the icon for the first currently selected meeting spot is also the icon to initiate online communications.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic street map, the icons for at least two meeting spots, the plurality of icons representing computer users in the ongoing online discussion, and the icon to initiate online communications are displayed in a single application window at each of the client devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of icons representing computer users in the ongoing online discussion are overlaid on the geographic street map.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least some of the plurality of icons representing computer users in the ongoing online discussion include respective screen names for respective computer users in the online discussion.

8. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a client device associated with a computer user, wherein the computer user is engaged in an ongoing online discussion with other computer users,

displaying;

a geographic street map,

icons for at least two meeting spots on the geographic map, wherein the meeting spots have physical locations represented on the geographic map,

one or more icons representing at least some of the other computer users engaged in the ongoing online discussion, displayed at a same time as the geographic street map, wherein the at least some of the other computer users are currently entered into two or more meeting spots represented on the geographic map that are also currently entered into by the computer user, and

an icon to initiate online communications with a first currently selected meeting spot, wherein the online communications is selected from the group consisting of;

instant messaging, audio chat, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony, and video chat; and

initiating online communications with the first currently selected meeting spot in response to the computer user selecting the icon to initiate online communications while maintaining the ongoing online discussion.

9. The method of claim 8, including receiving a consideration from an entity associated with the first currently selected meeting spot.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the consideration is a discount coupon.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the icon for the first currently selected meeting spot is also the icon to initiate online communications.

12. A graphical user interface on a computer with memory and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

icons for at least two meeting spots overlaid on a geographic street map, wherein the meeting spots have physical locations represented on the geographic street map,

a plurality of icons representing computer users engaged in an ongoing online discussion, displayed at a same time as the geographic street map, wherein the computer users engaged in the ongoing online discussion are currently entered into two or more of the same meeting spots represented on the geographic street map, and

an icon to initiate online communications between a first currently selected meeting spot and at least one computer associated with the computer users engaged in the ongoing online discussion, wherein the online communications is selected from the group consisting of;

instant messaging, audio chat, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony, and video chat, and,

wherein the online communications with the first currently selected meeting spot are initiated in response to a selection of the icon to initiate online communications while maintaining the ongoing online discussion.

13. The graphical user interface of claim 12, wherein the geographic street map, the icon for the meeting spot, the plurality of icons representing computer users engaged in the ongoing online discussion, and the icon to initiate online communications are displayed in a single application window.

14. The graphical user interface of claim 12, wherein the plurality of icons representing computer users engaged in the ongoing online discussion are overlaid on the geographic street map.

15. A system comprising at least one server, wherein the at least one server is configured to:

send to a plurality of client devices associated with computer users engaged in an ongoing online discussion information corresponding to a geographic street map, icons for at least two meeting spots to be overlaid on the geographic street map, wherein the meeting spots have physical locations represented on the geographic street map, a plurality of icons representing at least some of the computer users engaged in the ongoing online discussion, to be displayed at a same time as the geographic street map, “

wherein the at least some of the computer users are currently entered into two or more of the same meeting spots represented on the geographic street map, and an icon to initiate online communications between a respective client device and a first currently selected meeting spot, wherein the online communications is selected from the group consisting of;

instant messaging, audio chat, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony, and video chat;

receive a request to initiate online communications between the first currently selected meeting spot and at least one client device in the ongoing online discussion in response to an activation of the icon to initiate online communications; and

initiate online communications between the first currently selected meeting spot and the at least one client device in the ongoing online discussion while maintaining the ongoing online discussion.

16. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a server computer,

sending to a first client device, information corresponding to;

a geographic map, and

a plurality of icons for meeting spots to be overlaid on the geographic map, wherein the meeting spots have physical locations represented on the geographic map, wherein;

the plurality of icons are configured such that in response to selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the first client device, user identifiers for other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons are displayed at the first client device, and,

the other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons are currently entered into two or more meeting spots represented on the geographic street map that are also currently entered into by the user;

receiving a request from the first client device to initiate an online discussion with one or more of the other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons;

in response to receiving the request, initiating the online discussion between the first client device and other client devices associated with the one or more of the other users;

sending to the first client device and the other client devices in the ongoing online discussion information corresponding to an icon to initiate online communications between a respective client device and the meeting spot, wherein the online communications is selected from the group consisting of;

instant messaging, audio chat, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony, and video chat;

receiving a request to initiate online communications between the meeting spot and at least one client device in the ongoing online discussion in response to an activation of the icon to initiate online communications; and

initiating online communications between the meeting spot and the at least one client device in the ongoing online discussion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the geographic map is a geographic street map.

18. The method of claim 16, including performing an operation selected from the group consisting of establishing a right to receive a consideration from an entity associated with the meeting spot and receiving a consideration from the entity associated with the meeting spot.

19. A system comprising at least one server, wherein the at least one server is configured to:

send to a first client device, information corresponding to;

a geographic map, and

a plurality of icons for meeting spots to be overlaid on the geographic map, wherein the meeting spots have physical locations represented on the geographic map, wherein;

the plurality of icons are configured such that in response to selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the first client device, user identifiers for other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons are displayed at the first client device, and,

the other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons are currently entered into two or more meeting spots represented on the geographic street map that are also currently entered into by the user;

receive a request from the first client device to initiate an online discussion with one or more of the other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons;

in response to receiving the request, initiate the online discussion between the first client device and other client devices associated with the one or more of the other users;

send to the first client device and the other client devices in the ongoing online discussion information corresponding to an icon to initiate online communications between a respective client device and the meeting spot, wherein the online communications is selected from the group consisting of;

instant messaging, audio chat, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony, and video chat;

receive a request to initiate online communications between the meeting spot and at least one client device in the ongoing online discussion in response to an activation of the icon to initiate online communications; and

initiate online communications between the meeting spot and the at least one client device in the ongoing online discussion.