Facilitating communications between computer users across a network
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- providing, on a first client device of a first user, a stand-alone graphical object that represents a second user of a communications program that facilitates communications across a network, the stand-alone graphical object being configured to allow the first user of the client device to perform an action otherwise available through an interface of the communications program regardless of whether the interface of the communications program is running when an operation corresponding to the action is performed via the stand-alone graphical object;
detecting, using at least one processor, that the stand-alone graphical object that represents the second user has been positioned on or near a first icon representing a file; and
in response to detecting that the stand-alone graphical object that represents the second user has been positioned on or near the first icon representing the file, sending the file represented by the first icon to the second user of the communications program regardless of whether the interface of the communications program is running.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A stand-alone icon (i.e., an icon that is not part of an application interface) is provided to facilitate communications across a network between users of at least one communications program. The icon represents a contact or a set of contacts. Status information regarding the contact or set of contacts is received and displayed using the icon or in response to an operation performed on the icon. The icon additionally may provide an interface for performing actions related to the contact or set of contacts. The actions may generally include, for example, retrieving profile information about the contact, setting an alert to indicate that the contact'"'"'s network/login status (e.g., login, logout, or idle) has changed, or performing communications with the contact.
69 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing, on a first client device of a first user, a stand-alone graphical object that represents a second user of a communications program that facilitates communications across a network, the stand-alone graphical object being configured to allow the first user of the client device to perform an action otherwise available through an interface of the communications program regardless of whether the interface of the communications program is running when an operation corresponding to the action is performed via the stand-alone graphical object; detecting, using at least one processor, that the stand-alone graphical object that represents the second user has been positioned on or near a first icon representing a file; and in response to detecting that the stand-alone graphical object that represents the second user has been positioned on or near the first icon representing the file, sending the file represented by the first icon to the second user of the communications program regardless of whether the interface of the communications program is running. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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at least one processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to; provide, on a client device of a first user, a stand-alone graphical object that represents a second user of a communications program that facilitates communications across a network, the stand-alone graphical object being configured to allow the first user of the client device to perform an action otherwise available through an interface of the communications program regardless of whether the interface of the communications program is running when an operation corresponding to the action is performed via the stand-alone graphical object; detect that the stand-alone graphical object that represents the second user has been positioned on or near a first icon representing a file; and in response to detecting that the stand-alone graphical object that represents the second user has been positioned on or near the first icon representing the file, send the file represented by the first icon to the second user of the communications program regardless of whether the interface of the communications program is running. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a client device to:
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provide, on a client device of a first user, a stand-alone graphical object that represents a second user of a communications program that facilitates communications across a network, the stand-alone graphical object being configured to allow the first user of the client device to perform an action otherwise available through an interface of the communications program regardless of whether the interface of the communications program is running when an operation corresponding to the action is performed via the stand-alone graphical object; detect that the stand-alone graphical object that represents the second user has been positioned on or near a first icon representing a file; and in response to detecting that the stand-alone graphical object that represents the second user has been positioned on or near the first icon representing the file, send the file represented by the first icon to the second user of the communications program regardless of whether the interface of the communications program is running. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification