System and method to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users over a network

• US 7,870,197 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewis, Michael Pescatello, Shaw, Cameron
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart; Benjamin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beharry; Noel
• Application Number:
  US10/536,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,605 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1063 Discovery through centralising entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1085 involving dynamic management of active down- or uploading connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A system and method to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users over a network are described. In one preferred embodiment, multiple links to content information are dynamically generated for a sender user. Responsive to selection of a link by the sender user, the link and associated metadata information are communicated to at least one recipient user engaged in the real-time communications session with the sender user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to facilitate exchange of content among entities in a computer network during a real-time communications session over said computer network, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying a sender user and at least one recipient user, wherein said sender user and said at least one recipient user subscribe to an instant messaging application service, and wherein said sender user has defined at least one of content preferences and media preset preferences;

dynamically generating a plurality of hyperlinks to at least one audio file for said sender user based on said sender user'"'"'s content preferences and media preset preferences, wherein said hyperlinks are scripted in a computing reference language selected from among hypertext markup language and extensible markup language, wherein said at least one audio file resides on a remote content server, said content server being part of said computer network, wherein said at least one audio file is accessible by selection of a respective hyperlink, wherein said dynamic generation is performed on a communication server that is coupled with said remote content server, and wherein said dynamic generation is performed by taking into account said content preferences and media presets as follows;

if the sender user has programmed media presets, but has not generated any content preferences, generating additional links corresponding to content popularity;

if the sender user has programmed both media presets and content preferences, generating an equal number of links for the content preferences and media presets;

if the sender user has generated content preferences, but has not programmed media presets, generating additional links corresponding to preferences; and

inserting said hyperlink and said associated metadata in a real-time message displayed in a message window for said sender user;

transmitting said real-time message to said at least one recipient user;

responsive to selection of a hyperlink of said plurality of hyperlinks by said sender using during an instant messaging communications session with said at least one recipient user, communicating said hyperlink and associated metadata information to said at least one recipient user while engaged in said instant messaging communication session with said sender user for display to said recipient user in an instant messaging user interface as part of, and along with, said instant messaging communications session, wherein communicating said hyperlink is performed using said communication server;

wherein selection of said hyperlink allows said at least one recipient user to access said at least one audio file from said remote content server;

wherein said at least one recipient user can access said at least one audio file from said sender user during said real-time communications session by activating said hyperlink; and

wherein said at least one recipient user can access said at least one audio file from said sender user after said real-time communications session has ended by activating said hyperlink and initiating a file transfer from said remote content server, wherein said file transfer is selected from;

downloading said at least one audio file from said remote content server after said real-time communications sessions has ceased; and

streaming said at least one audio from said remote content server after said real-time communication session has ceased via a webstreaming protocol.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

presenting a list of at least some users of said instant messaging application service to said sender user to enable selection of said at least one recipient user, said list containing said at least one recipient user; and

receiving said selection of said at least one recipient user and a request to initiate said real-time instant messaging communication session.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time instant messaging communication session.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

presenting said plurality of hyperlinks in a content window to enable selection of said hyperlink by said sender user.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting said content information to said sender user; and

responsive to a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user, generating a content hyperlink to said transmitted content information and communicating said content hyperlink and associated metadata information to said at least one recipient user.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein said presenting further comprises the steps of:

locating said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time instant messaging communication session in said user database; and

retrieving said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.

8. A computer-implemented method to facilitate content sharing among entities during a real-time instant messaging communications session over a network, said method comprising the steps of:

presenting a user list containing said at least one recipient user to said sender user wherein said sender user has defined at least one of content preferences and media preset preferences; and

facilitating selection of said at least one recipient user from said user list, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time communication session;

dynamically generating a plurality of hyperlinks to at least one audio file for said sender user based on said sender user'"'"'s content preferences and media preset preferences, wherein said hyperlinks are scripted in a computing reference language selected from among hypertext markup language and extensible markup language, wherein said at least one audio file resides on a remote content server, said content server being part of said computer network, wherein said at least one audio file is accessible by selection of a respective hyperlink, wherein said dynamic generation is performed on a communication server that is coupled with said remote content server, and wherein said dynamic generation is performed by taking into account said content preferences and media presets as follows;

if the sender user has programmed media presets, but has not generated any content preferences, generating additional links corresponding to content popularity;

if the sender user has programmed both media presets and content preferences, generating an equal number of links for the content preferences and media presets;

if the sender user has generated content preferences, but has not programmed media presets, generating additional links corresponding to preferences; and

inserting said hyperlink and said associated metadata in a real-time message displayed in a message window for said sender user;

transmitting said real-time message to said at least one recipient user;

facilitating selection of a hyperlink to content information residing on a remote content server from a plurality of hyperlinks displayed for a sender user in a content window; and

facilitating real-time communication of said hyperlink and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time instant messaging communication session with said sender user for allowing said at least one recipient user to access said content information from said remote content server;

wherein said at least one recipient user can access said content information from said sender user during said real-time communications session by activating said hyperlink; and

wherein said at least one recipient user can access said content information from said sender user after said real-time communications session has ended by activating said hyperlink and initiating a file transfer from said remote content server, wherein said file transfer is selected from;

downloading said file from said remote content server after said real-time communications sessions has ceased; and

streaming said file from said remote content server after said real-time communication session has ceased via a web-streaming protocol.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

facilitating initiation of said real-time instant messaging communication session; and

presenting a user interface area containing a real-time message window to said sender user.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein generating said plurality of hyperlinks further comprises the steps of:

receiving a request for said content information from said sender user; and

retrieving said user-generated content preferences and said user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein presenting said user list further comprises the steps of:

locating said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time instant messaging communication session in a user database; and

retrieving said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

facilitating access to said content information by said sender user; and

responsive to said sender user accessing said content information, facilitating transmission of a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user.

14. A machine-readable medium containing executable instructions, which, when executed in a processing system, cause said processing system to perform a method to facilitate exchange of content among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said medium selected from among a group of media consisting of read-only memory, random access memory, magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, and flash memory devices;

said method comprising the steps of;

identifying a sender user and at least one recipient user, wherein said sender user and said at least one recipient user subscribe to an instant messaging application service, and wherein said sender user has defined at least one of content preferences and media preset preferences;

dynamically generating a plurality of hyperlinks to at least one audio file for said sender user based on said sender user'"'"'s content preferences and media preset preferences, wherein said hyperlinks are scripted in a computing reference language selected from among hypertext markup language and extensible markup language, wherein said at least one audio file resides on a remote content server, said content server being part of said computer network, wherein said at least one audio file is accessible by selection of a respective hyperlink, wherein said dynamic generation is performed on a communication server that is coupled with said remote content server, and wherein said dynamic generation is performed by taking into account said content preferences and media presets as follows;

if the sender user has programmed media presets, but has not generated any content preferences, generating additional links corresponding to content popularity;

if the sender user has programmed both media presets and content preferences, generating an equal number of links for the content preferences and media presets;

if the sender user has generated content preferences, but has not programmed media presets, generating additional links corresponding to preferences; and

inserting said hyperlink and said associated metadata in a real-time message displayed in a message window for said sender user;

transmitting said real-time message to said at least one recipient user;

responsive to selection of a hyperlink of said plurality of hyperlinks by said sender using during an instant messaging communications session with said at least one recipient user, communicating said hyperlink and associated metadata information to said at least one recipient user while engaged in said instant messaging communication session with said sender user for display to said recipient user in an instant messaging user interface as part of, and along with, said instant messaging communications session, wherein communicating said hyperlink is performed using said communication server;

wherein selection of said hyperlink allows said at least one recipient user to access said at least one audio file from said remote content server;

wherein said at least one recipient user can access said at least one audio file from said sender user during said real-time communications session by activating said hyperlink; and

wherein said at least one recipient user can access said at least one audio file from said sender user after said real-time communications session has ended by activating said hyperlink and initiating a file transfer from said remote content server, wherein said file transfer is selected from;

downloading said at least one audio file from said remote content server after said real-time communications sessions has ceased; and

streaming said at least one audio from said remote content server after said real-time communication session has ceased via a web-streaming protocol.

15. The machine-readable medium according to claim 14, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

presenting a list of at least some users of said instant messaging application service to said sender user to enable selection of said at least one recipient user, said list containing said at least one recipient user; and

receiving said selection of said at least one recipient user and a request to initiate said real-time instant messaging communication session.

16. The machine-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time instant messaging communication session.

17. The machine-readable medium according to claim 14, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

presenting said plurality of hyperlinks in a content window to enable selection of said hyperlink by said sender user.

18. The machine-readable medium according to claim 14, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.

19. The machine-readable medium according to claim 14, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

transmitting said content information to said sender user; and

responsive to a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user, generating a content hyperlink to said transmitted content information, and communicating said content hyperlink and associated metadata information to said at least one recipient user.

20. The machine-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein said presenting further comprises the steps of:

locating said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time instant messaging communication session in said user database; and

retrieving said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.

21. A machine-readable medium containing executable instructions, which, when executed in a processing system, cause said processing system to perform a method to facilitate exchange of content among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said medium selected from among a group of media consisting of read-only memory, random access memory, magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, and flash memory devices;

said method comprising the steps of;

presenting a user list containing said at least one recipient user to said sender user wherein said sender user has defined at least one of content preferences and media preset preferences; and

facilitating selection of said at least one recipient user from said user list, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time communication session;

dynamically generating a plurality of hyperlinks to at least one audio file for said sender user based on said sender user'"'"'s content preferences and media preset preferences, wherein said hyperlinks are scripted in a computing reference language selected from among hypertext markup language and extensible markup language, wherein said at least one audio file resides on a remote content server, said content server being part of said computer network, wherein said at least one audio file is accessible by selection of a respective hyperlink, wherein said dynamic generation is performed on a communication server that is coupled with said remote content server, and wherein said dynamic generation is performed by taking into account said content preferences and media presets as follows;

if the sender user has programmed media presets, but has not generated any content preferences, generating additional links corresponding to content popularity;

if the sender user has programmed both media presets and content preferences, generating an equal number of links for the content preferences and media presets;

if the sender user has generated content preferences, but has not programmed media presets, generating additional links corresponding to preferences; and

inserting said hyperlink and said associated metadata in a real-time message displayed in a message window for said sender user;

transmitting said real-time message to said at least one recipient user;

facilitating selection of a hyperlink to content information residing on a remote content server from a plurality of hyperlinks displayed for a sender user in a content window; and

facilitating real-time communication of said hyperlink and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time instant messaging communication session with said sender user for allowing said at least one recipient user to access said content information from said remote content server;

wherein said at least one recipient user can access said content information from said sender user during said real-time communications session by activating said hyperlink; and

wherein said at least one recipient user can access said content information from said sender user after said real-time communications session has ended by activating said hyperlink and initiating a file transfer from said remote content server, wherein said file transfer is selected from;

downloading said file from said remote content server after said real-time communications sessions has ceased; and

streaming said file from said remote content server after said real-time communication session has ceased via a web-streaming protocol.

22. The machine-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

facilitating initiation of said real-time instant messaging communication session; and

presenting a user interface area containing a real-time message window to said sender user.

23. The machine-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein generating said plurality of hyperlinks further comprises the steps of:

receiving a request for said content information from said sender user; and

retrieving said user-generated content preferences and said user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database.

24. The machine-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.

25. The machine-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein presenting said user list further comprises the steps of:

locating said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time instant messaging communication session in a user database; and

retrieving said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.

26. The machine-readable medium according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

facilitating access to said content information by said sender user; and

responsive to said sender user accessing said content information, facilitating transmission of a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user.

27. A system to facilitate content sharing among entities during a real-time instant-messaging communications session over a network, said system comprising:

at least one processing server configured to;

identify a sender user and at least one recipient user, wherein said sender user and said at least one recipient user subscribe to an instant messaging application service, and wherein said sender user has defined at least one of content preferences and media preset preferences; and

generate dynamically a plurality of hyperlinks to at least one audio file for a sender user based on said sender user'"'"'s content preferences and media preset preferences, wherein said hyperlinks are scripted in a computing reference language selected from among hypertext markup language and extensible markup language, wherein said at least one audio file resides on a remote content server, said content server being part of said computer network, wherein said at least one audio file is accessible by selection of a respective hyperlink, wherein said dynamic generation is performed on a communication server that is coupled with said remote content server, and wherein said dynamic generation is performed by taking into account said content preferences and media presets as follows;

if the sender user has programmed media presets, but has not generated any content preferences, generating additional links corresponding to content popularity;

if the sender user has programmed both media presets and content preferences, generating an equal number of links for the content preferences and media presets;

if the sender user has generated content preferences, but has not programmed media presets, generating additional links corresponding to preferences; and

inserting said hyperlink and said associated metadata in a real-time message displayed in a message window for said sender user;

at least one communications server coupled to said at least one processing server to communicate said hyperlink and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time instant-messaging communication session with said sender user, in response to selection of a hyperlink of said plurality of hyperlinks, for allowing said at least one recipient user to access said content information at a later time;

wherein said at least one recipient user can access said at least one audio file from said sender user during said real-time communications session by activating said hyperlink; and

wherein said at least one recipient user can access said at least one audio file from said sender user after said real-time communications session has ended by activating said hyperlink and initiating a file transfer from said remote content server, wherein said file transfer is selected from;

downloading said at least one audio file from said remote content server after said real-time communications sessions has ceased; and

streaming said at least one audio file from said remote content server after said real-time communication session has ceased via a web-streaming protocol.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein said at least one communications server further presents a user list to said sender user to enable selection of said at least one recipient user, said user list containing said at least one recipient user, and receives said selection of said at least one recipient user and a request to initiate said real-time instant-messaging communication session.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time instant-messaging communication session.

30. The system according to claim 27, wherein said at least one communications server further presents said plurality of hyperlinks in a content window to enable selection of said hyperlink by said sender user.

31. The system according to claim 27, wherein said at least one processing server further inserts said hyperlink and said associated metadata in a real-time message displayed in a message window for said sender user, and said at least one communications server further transmits said real-time message to said at least one recipient user.

32. The system according to claim 27, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.

33. The system according to claim 27, wherein said at least one communications server further transmits said content information to said sender user, responsive to a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user, said at least one processing server further generates a content hyperlink to said transmitted content information, and said at least one communications server further communicates said content hyperlink and associated metadata information to said at least one recipient user.

34. The system according to claim 28, wherein said at least one processing server further locates said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time instant-messaging communication session in said user database, and retrieves said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.