Context based virtual area creation
First Claim
1. A method in a network communications environment comprising a network service implemented by one or more server network nodes and supporting realtime communications between client network nodes of communicants in virtual areas that define respective communication contexts in the network communications environment, the method comprising by the network service:
- transmitting, to each of requesting ones of the client network nodes of a user and one or more other communicants, a respective specification of a graphical user interface comprising a graphical representation of a virtual area;
establishing presences for the user and the one or more other communicants in visual zones of the virtual area, wherein each communicant is able to leave one of the visual zones and enter another one of the visual zones;
responsive to a request received in connection with the graphical user interface on the client network node of the user, associating streaming media content with a media playback object in the virtual area and publishing the streaming media content on a global channel to which client network nodes of communicants who are present in any of the visual zones can subscribe;
managing synchronous delivery of the streaming media content to respective ones of the client network nodes of the communicants who are in the virtual area;
administering realtime communications between the client network nodes of ones of the communicants who are copresent in respective ones of the visual zones, wherein communicants in the same visual zone are able to communicate with one another while co-consuming the streaming media content with the communicants in the same visual zone and with the communicants in other visual zones of the virtual area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Examples of systems and methods for context based virtual area creation are described. Some examples provide a quick and easy way for users to wrap virtual areas around contexts of interest. Examples of such contexts may be defined in terms of one or more of content, people, and real-world location. The virtual areas support realtime communications between communicants (e.g., one or more of text chat, voice, video, application sharing, and file sharing) and provide a persistent historical repository for interactions in the virtual area. Summaries of activities and other events in virtual areas typically are published in realtime so that other communicants can readily obtain a quick summary of the activities occurring in a particular context and decide whether or not to join or otherwise participate in those activities.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method in a network communications environment comprising a network service implemented by one or more server network nodes and supporting realtime communications between client network nodes of communicants in virtual areas that define respective communication contexts in the network communications environment, the method comprising by the network service:
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transmitting, to each of requesting ones of the client network nodes of a user and one or more other communicants, a respective specification of a graphical user interface comprising a graphical representation of a virtual area; establishing presences for the user and the one or more other communicants in visual zones of the virtual area, wherein each communicant is able to leave one of the visual zones and enter another one of the visual zones; responsive to a request received in connection with the graphical user interface on the client network node of the user, associating streaming media content with a media playback object in the virtual area and publishing the streaming media content on a global channel to which client network nodes of communicants who are present in any of the visual zones can subscribe; managing synchronous delivery of the streaming media content to respective ones of the client network nodes of the communicants who are in the virtual area; administering realtime communications between the client network nodes of ones of the communicants who are copresent in respective ones of the visual zones, wherein communicants in the same visual zone are able to communicate with one another while co-consuming the streaming media content with the communicants in the same visual zone and with the communicants in other visual zones of the virtual area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus comprising one or more computers operable to implement a network service supporting realtime communications between network nodes of communicants in virtual areas that define respective communication contexts in a network communications environment, the apparatus operable to perform operations comprising
transmitting, to each of requesting ones of the network nodes of a user and one or more other communicants, a respective specification of a graphical user interface comprising a graphical representation of a virtual area; -
establishing presences for the user and the one or more other communicants in visual zones of the virtual area, wherein each communicant is able to leave one of the visual zones and enter another one of the visual zones; responsive to a request received in connection with the graphical user interface on the network node of the user, associating streaming media content with a media playback object in the virtual area and publishing the streaming media content on a global channel to which network nodes of communicants who are present in any of the visual zones can subscribe; managing synchronous delivery of the streaming media content to respective ones of the network nodes of the communicants who are in the virtual area; administering realtime communications between the network nodes of ones of the communicants who are copresent in respective ones of the visual zones, wherein communicants in the same visual zone are able to communicate with one another while co-consuming the streaming media content with the communicants in the same visual zone and with the communicants in other visual zones of the virtual area.
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20. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium having processor-readable program code embodied therein, the processor-readable program code adapted to be executed in a network communications environment by one or more computers to support realtime communications between network nodes of communicants in virtual areas that define respective communication contexts in the network communications environment and to perform operations comprising:
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transmitting, to each of requesting ones of the network nodes of a user and one or more other communicants, a respective specification of a graphical user interface comprising a graphical representation of a virtual area; establishing presences for the user and the one or more other communicants in visual zones of the virtual area, wherein each communicant is able to leave one of the visual zones and enter another one of the visual zones; responsive to a request received in connection with the graphical user interface on the network node of the user, associating streaming media content with a media playback object in the virtual area and publishing the streaming media content on a global channel to which network nodes of communicants who are present in any of the visual zones can subscribe; managing synchronous delivery of the streaming media content to respective ones of the network nodes of the communicants who are in the virtual area; administering realtime communications between the network nodes of ones of the communicants who are copresent in respective ones of the visual zones, wherein communicants in the same visual zone are able to communicate with one another while co-consuming the streaming media content with the communicants in the same visual zone and with the communicants in other visual zones of the virtual area.
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Specification