Ambient communication session

• US 9,094,476 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Singh, Ujjwal, Singhal, Nikhyl P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B
• Application Number:
  US13/526,340
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-205
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

In general, this disclosure describes techniques for initiating a communication session when a user indicates she or he is available to participate in the communication session. In one example, a method includes receiving, by a first communication device, an indication that a user is available to participate in a communication session that enables communication between different communication devices. Responsive to receiving the at least one signal, the communication session may be initiated in an inactive mode at the first communication device. The first communication device may receive a request from a second communication device to participate in the communication session. Responsive to receiving the request, the communication session may be switched from the inactive mode to an active mode.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a first communication device, at least one signal indicating that a user is available to participate in a communication session that enables communication between different communication devices;

responsive to receiving the at least one signal, initiating the communication session in an inactive mode of operation at the first communication device;

receiving, at the first communication device, a request from a second communication device to participate in the communication session; and

responsive to receiving the request, switching the communication session at the first communication device from the inactive mode of operation to an active mode of operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the communication session is in the inactive mode, an application associated with the communication session is at least one of having an output display size less than a full display size or operating without an output display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein switching the communication session to the active mode comprises changing the output display size for the application associated with the communication session to a full-screen mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein switching the communication session to the active mode comprises the first communication device joining the communication session.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the at least one signal, providing a notification to at least one other communication device indicating that the first communication device is available to participate in the communication session.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein providing the notification comprises providing the notification only to other communication devices that are identified as currently available to participate in the communication session.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the notification is displayed, by the at least one other communication device, in a live feed in a social media application associated with the at least one other communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a notification that the first communication device is available to participate in the communication session in a live feed of a social media application only when the first communication device is logged into the social media application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein switching the communication session to the active mode further comprises the second communication device joining the communication session.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

switching the communication session from active mode back to inactive mode when only the first communication device is participating in the communication session.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, at the first communication device, at least one signal indicating that the user is unavailable to participate in the communication session; and

responsive to receiving the at least one signal indicating that the user is unavailable, terminating the communication session.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, at the first communication device, the at least one signal further comprises:

receiving, at an input device of the first communication device, user input indicating the user is available for the communication session.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one signal comprises at least one first signal, and wherein initiating the communication session further comprises:

providing, by the first communication device, at least one second signal to a host device communicatively coupled to the first communication device, wherein the at least one second signal indicates the first communication device is available to participate in the communication session; and

establishing, by the host device, the communication session.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a touch target on a touch-sensitive display device of the first communication device, wherein toggling the touch target changes a status of the communication device between available and unavailable.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a first communication device, at least one signal indicating that a user is available to participate in a communication session, wherein the communication session enables communication between different communication devices;

responsive to receiving the at least one signal, providing a notification to one or more other communication devices associated with the first communication device, wherein the notification indicates that the first computing device is available to participate in the communication session;

initiating the communication session in an inactive mode, wherein no communication devices are participating the communication session while in the inactive mode;

receiving, from a second communication device of the one or more other communication devices, a request to join the communication session;

responsive to receiving the request, switching the communication session into an active mode of operation; and

joining the first communication device and the second communication device to the communication session in the active mode of operation.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining that the one or more other communication devices are associated with the first communication device when identities associated with the one or more other communication devices are included in one or more relationship groups that identify one or more users having at least one common characteristic with respect to a user of the first communication device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, from the first computing device, at least one signal authorizing the second computing device to participate in the communication session,

wherein joining the first communication device and the second communication device into the active communication session is based on receiving the at least one signal authorizing the second computing device to participate in the communication session.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

responsive to switching the communication session into the active mode, signaling an output device of the first communication device to display an application associated with the communication session in a full-screen mode.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing a programmable processor to perform operations comprising:

receive, at a first communication device, at least one signal indicating that a user is available to participate in a communication session that enables communication between different communication devices;

responsive to receiving the at least one signal, initiate the communication session in an inactive mode at the first communication device;

receive, at the first communication device, a request from a second communication device to participate in the communication session; and

responsive to receiving the request, switch the communication session at the first communication device from the inactive mode to an active mode.

20. A computing device, comprising:

a network interface to connect to a real-time communication session having a plurality of participants;

an output device that displays image data; and

one or more processors configured to receive at least one signal indicating that a user is available to participate in a communication session that enables communication between different computing devices, responsive to receiving the at least one signal, initiate the communication session in an inactive mode, receive a request from a second computing device to participate in the communication session, responsive to receiving the request, launch the communication session, and invite the second computing device to join the communication session.