Techniques for insertion of content into chat communication

• US 9,477,375 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2014
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewis, Justin, Paun, Ruxandra Georgiana
• Primary Examiner(s): TITCOMB, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US14/462,120
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 715/733
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols

Abstract

A computer-implemented technique can include providing, at a computing device including one or more processors, a chat application user interface for display. The chat application user interface can be associated with a real-time chat communication between a user of the computing device and another user of another computing device via a chat application. The technique can also include determining that the user of the computing device is interacting with a non-chat application other than the chat application. Additionally, the technique can include determining shareable content of the non-chat application and modifying the chat application user interface to include a selectable indicator of the shareable content. The technique can also include receiving a selection of the selectable indicator by the user, and in response to receiving the selection, transmitting the shareable content of the non-chat application to the other user of the other computing device via the chat application.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

providing, at a computing device including one or more processors, a chat application user interface for display, the chat application user interface being associated with a real-time chat communication between a user of the computing device and another user of another computing device via a chat application, the chat application user interface including (i) a textual input portion configured to receive text input from the user, and (ii) a selectable text transmit indicator configured to cause transmission of the text input in the textual input portion to the other user when the text transmit indicator is selected by the user;

determining, at the computing device, whether the user is interacting with a non-chat application;

when the user is interacting with a non-chat application;

determining, at the computing device, with which particular non-chat application of a plurality of actively executing non-chat applications the user is interacting;

determining, at the computing device, shareable content of the particular non-chat application;

modifying, at the computing device, the selectable text transmit indicator to include a selectable indicator of the shareable content;

receiving, at the computing device, a selection of the selectable indicator by the user, wherein the selectable indicator comprises a thumbnail image representative of the shareable content; and

in response to receiving the selection, transmitting, from the computing device, the shareable content of the non-chat application to the other user of the other computing device via the chat application.

2. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

providing, at a computing device including one or more processors, a chat application user interface for display, the chat application user interface being associated with a real-time chat communication between a user of the computing device and another user of another computing device via a chat application;

determining, at the computing device, that the user of the computing device is interacting with a non-chat application other than the chat application;

determining, at the computing device, shareable content of the non-chat application;

modifying, at the computing device, the chat application user interface to include a selectable indicator of the shareable content;

receiving, at the computing device, a selection of the selectable indicator by the user; and

in response to receiving the selection, transmitting, from the computing device, the shareable content of the non-chat application to the other user of the other computing device via the chat application.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein determining that the user of the computing device is interacting with the non-chat application comprises receiving a user input with respect to the non-chat application.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the selectable indicator comprises a thumbnail image representative of the shareable content.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the shareable content comprises a Uniform Resource Locator for a webpage.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the chat application and the non-chat application are executed by a web browser at the computing device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the chat application user interface includes a textual input portion configured to receive text input from the user, and a selectable text transmit indicator configured to cause transmission of the text input in the textual input portion to the other user when the text transmit indicator is selected.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein modifying the chat application user interface to include the selectable indicator of the shareable content comprises replacing the selectable text transmit indicator with the selectable indicator of the shareable content when no text is present in the textual input portion.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising replacing the selectable indicator of the shareable content with the selectable text transmit indicator when text is input to the textual input portion by the user.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein determining that the user of the computing device is interacting with the non-chat application comprises:

executing a plurality of actively executing non-chat applications;

determining a particular one of the plurality of actively executing non-chat applications with which the user is interacting; and

assigning the particular one of the plurality of actively executing non-chat applications as the non-chat application with which the user is interacting.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein:

the non-chat application comprises a web browser;

the shareable content comprises a video playing in the web browser; and

transmitting the shareable content of the non-chat application to the other user of the other computing device via the chat application comprises embedding the video in the chat application.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the chat application is executed by a web browser.

13. A computing device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory, computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising;

providing a chat application user interface for display, the chat application user interface being associated with a real-time chat communication between a user of the computing device and another user of another computing device via a chat application;

determining that the user of the computing device is interacting with a non-chat application other than the chat application;

determining shareable content of the non-chat application;

modifying the chat application user interface to include a selectable indicator of the shareable content;

receiving a selection of the selectable indicator by the user; and

in response to receiving the selection, transmitting the shareable content of the non-chat application to the other user of the other computing device via the chat application.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein determining that the user of the computing device is interacting with the non-chat application comprises receiving a user input with respect to the non-chat application.

15. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the selectable indicator comprises a thumbnail image representative of the shareable content.

16. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the chat application and the non-chat application are executed by a web browser at the computing device.

17. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the chat application user interface includes a textual input portion configured to receive text input from the user, and a selectable text transmit indicator configured to cause transmission of the text input in the textual input portion to the other user when the text transmit indicator is selected.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein modifying the chat application user interface to include the selectable indicator of the shareable content comprises replacing the selectable text transmit indicator with the selectable indicator of the shareable content when no text is present in the textual input portion.

19. The computing device of claim 18, further comprising replacing the selectable indicator of the shareable content with the selectable text transmit indicator when text is input to the textual input portion by the user.

20. The computing device of claim 13, wherein:

the non-chat application comprises a web browser;

the shareable content comprises a video playing in the web browser; and

transmitting the shareable content of the non-chat application to the other user of the other computing device via the chat application comprises embedding the video in the chat application.