Instant messaging communication system and method
First Claim
1. A computing device comprising:
- one or more processors; and
one or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing device to provide instant messaging communication between a first user and at least one other user via a communication network, comprising;
executing an instant messaging client at a user terminal of the first user, said instant messaging client having a user interface comprising a message composition region;
said instant messaging client receiving a selection of media for insertion into said instant messaging communication from said first user by receiving a reference to said media entered by said first user in said message composition region;
said instant messaging client generating a link comprising the address of the selected media at a network element remote from the user terminal and creating a selectable control with said link embedded therein, whereby the media is accessible by activating the selectable control;
inserting said selectable control in the message composition region of said instant messaging client;
said instant messaging client receiving user-viewable text entered by said first user into said message composition region in addition to said selectable control; and
said instant messaging client transmitting the contents of said message composition region of the instant messaging client, including the selectable control and the user-viewable text, to the at least one other user over said communication network responsive to a command from said first user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of providing instant messaging communication between a first user and at least one other user via a communication network. The method comprises: executing an instant messaging client at a user terminal of the first user, the instant messaging client having a user interface comprising a message composition region; the instant messaging client receiving a selection of media for insertion into the instant messaging communication from the first user; the instant messaging client generating a link comprising the address of the selected media at a network element and creating a selectable control with the link embedded therein; inserting the selectable control in the message composition region of the instant messaging client; the instant messaging client receiving user-viewable text entered by the first user into the message composition region in addition to the selectable control; and the instant messaging client transmitting the contents of the message composition region of the instant messaging client to the at least one other user over the communication network responsive to a command from the first user.
38 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A computing device comprising:
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one or more processors; and one or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing device to provide instant messaging communication between a first user and at least one other user via a communication network, comprising; executing an instant messaging client at a user terminal of the first user, said instant messaging client having a user interface comprising a message composition region; said instant messaging client receiving a selection of media for insertion into said instant messaging communication from said first user by receiving a reference to said media entered by said first user in said message composition region; said instant messaging client generating a link comprising the address of the selected media at a network element remote from the user terminal and creating a selectable control with said link embedded therein, whereby the media is accessible by activating the selectable control; inserting said selectable control in the message composition region of said instant messaging client; said instant messaging client receiving user-viewable text entered by said first user into said message composition region in addition to said selectable control; and said instant messaging client transmitting the contents of said message composition region of the instant messaging client, including the selectable control and the user-viewable text, to the at least one other user over said communication network responsive to a command from said first user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A user terminal for providing instant messaging communication between a first user of the user terminal and at least one other user via a communication network, comprising:
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a processor arranged to execute an instant messaging client; a display arranged to display a user interface of said instant messaging client, said user interface comprising a message composition region; and a network interface for communicating with said communication network; wherein said instant messaging client is configured to receive a selection of media for insertion into said instant messaging communication from said first user by receiving a reference to said media entered by said first user in said message composition region, generate a link comprising the address of the selected media at a network element remote from the user terminal, create a selectable control with said link embedded therein whereby the media is accessible by activating the selectable control, insert said selectable control in the message composition region of said instant messaging client, receive user-viewable text entered by said first user into said message composition region in addition to said selectable control, and transmit the contents of said message composition region, including the selectable control and the user-viewable text, as a message to the at least one other user over said communication network responsive to a command from said first user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for providing instant messaging communication between a first user and at least one other user over a communication network, comprising:
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a first user terminal of said first user arranged to execute an instant messaging client, said instant messaging client having a user interface comprising a message composition region, wherein said instant messaging client is configured to receive a selection of media for insertion into said instant messaging communication from said first user by receiving a reference to said media entered by said first user in said message composition region, generate a link comprising the address of the selected media at a network element remote from the first user terminal, create a selectable control with said link embedded therein whereby the media is accessible by activating the selectable control, insert said selectable control in the message composition region, receive user-viewable text entered by said first user into said message composition region in addition to said selectable control, and transmit the contents of said message composition region, including the selectable control and the user-viewable text, as a message to the at least one other user over said communication network responsive to a command from said first user; and at least one further user terminal of said at least one other user arranged to execute a further instant messaging client, said further instant messaging client having a further user interface, wherein said further instant messaging client is arranged to receive said contents of said message composition region, display said contents of said message composition region in said further user interface, execute a media player within said further user interface responsive to said at least one other user selecting said selectable control, access said media using said address embedded in said selectable control, and display said media to said at least one other user.
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Specification