Methods, systems, and computer program products for processing a request for a resource in a communication

• US 10,904,178 B1
• Filed: 04/02/2018
• Issued: 01/26/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gummarus, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gummarus, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Morris, Robert Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Miah, Razu A
• Application Number:
  US15/943,681
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• 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 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4396 by muting the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast

Abstract

A computer-implemented method (and non-transitory media) are provided, comprising at least a portion of an instant messaging application that is configured to cooperate with an apparatus, the instant messaging application, when executed, configured to cause a device to: display an instant messaging interface including: a text entry user interface element for receiving entered text, a plurality of user interface elements for generating attachment requests that are valid according to a criterion schema defining at least one of a format or a vocabulary, the plurality of user interface elements including: a first menu item with corresponding first text, and a second menu item with corresponding second text.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

allowing creation of and access to at least a portion of an instant messaging application that is configured to cooperate with an apparatus, the instant messaging application, when executed, configured to cause a portable device to;

display an instant messaging interface of the instant messaging application including;

a text entry user interface element for receiving entered text, and

a plurality of user interface elements for causing attachment requests to be sent that are valid according to a criterion schema defining at least one of a format or a vocabulary, the plurality of user interface elements including;

a first menu item with corresponding first text, and

a second menu item with corresponding second text,

receive, via the instant messaging interface, an indication of a selection on the first menu item with corresponding first text,

based on the receipt, via the instant messaging interface, of the indication of the selection on the first menu item with corresponding first text;

send, to the apparatus and with a communicant identifier associated with a user of the instant messaging application, a first attachment request that includes a first uniform resource identifier (URI) and that is valid according to the criterion schema defining at least one of the format or the vocabulary,

after sending, to the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, the first attachment request that is valid according to the criterion schema defining at least one of the format or the vocabulary;

receive, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, a first response,

in response to the receipt, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, of the first response;

display, via the instant messaging interface, at least one first image that is automatically identified based on the first attachment request,

receive, via the instant messaging interface, an indication of a selection on the second menu item with corresponding second text,

based on the receipt, via the instant messaging interface, of the indication of the selection on the second menu item with corresponding second text;

send, to the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, a second attachment request that includes a second uniform resource identifier (URI) and that is valid according to the criterion schema defining at least one of the format or the vocabulary,

after sending, to the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, the second attachment request that is valid according to the criterion schema defining at least one of the format or the vocabulary;

receive, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, a second response, and

in response to the receipt, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, of the second response;

display, via the instant messaging interface, at least one second image that is automatically identified based on the second attachment request; and

causing storage of the at least portion of the instant messaging application.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the instant messaging application is configured such that, when executed, the text entry user interface element for receiving entered text is displayed simultaneously with the first menu item, and is further displayed simultaneously with the second menu item;

the instant messaging application is configured to communicate incoming messages when the user is a contactee and outgoing messages when the user is a contactor, utilizing a communications protocol, such that the incoming messages and the outgoing messages are addressed using the communicant identifier which takes the form of a communication address associated with a communicant alias corresponding to the user;

the instant messaging interface is configured to display, as plain text, at least a portion of at least one outgoing message that corresponds with the first attachment request or the second attachment request, simultaneously with at least a portion of at least one of;

the at least one first image or the at least one second image; and

the at least one first image is automatically identified based on the first attachment request and the at least one second image is automatically identified based on the second attachment request, utilizing a service that is separate from the apparatus and that is in communication with the apparatus via at least one network.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first attachment request and the second attachment request are of a first attachment request type, and the instant messaging application, when executed, is configured to cause the portable device to:

receive, via the text entry user interface element of the instant messaging interface, the entered text,

based on the receipt, via the text entry user interface element of the instant messaging interface, of the entered text;

send, to the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, a third attachment request that is of a second attachment request type and includes the entered text,

after sending, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, the third attachment request that is of the second attachment request type and includes the entered text;

receive, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, a third response, and

in response to the receipt, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, of the third response;

display, via the instant messaging interface, at least one third image that is automatically identified based on the third attachment request;

wherein the at least one third image is automatically identified based on the third attachment request by performing a matching operation with the entered text, where the entered text is part of a query entered by the user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first attachment request and the second attachment request are of a first attachment request type, and the instant messaging application, when executed, is configured to cause the portable device to:

receive, via the text entry user interface element of the instant messaging interface, the entered text,

based on the receipt, via the text entry user interface element of the instant messaging interface, of the entered text;

send, to the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, a third attachment request that is of a second attachment request type and includes the entered text, and

after sending, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, the third attachment request that is of the second attachment request type;

receive, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, the first response;

wherein the at least one first image is automatically identified based on the third attachment request by performing a matching operation with the entered text, where the entered text is part of a query entered by the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user interface elements including the first menu item and the second menu item are each buttons that are conditionally displayed utilizing a hypertext markup language (HTML) including the first and second URIs, based on a receipt of a signal from the apparatus via at least one network.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user interface elements including the first menu item and the second menu item are each buttons that are received from the apparatus via at least one network utilizing a hypertext markup language (HTML) including the first and second URIs, and are not conditionally displayed based on a request for the buttons sent to the apparatus via the at least one network.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging interface includes a send user interface element for sending the entered text to the apparatus in response to a user selection thereof, where, after the entered text is sent to the apparatus, at least one third image is:

automatically identified based on the entered text, received from the apparatus via a network, and displayed via the instant messaging interface.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein different images are received from the apparatus via the network and displayed via the instant messaging interface, based on different menu selection by a user and different entered text.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the entered text is capable of being as vague as language per the user, with the at least one third image being automatically identified by a web service based on the language.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging interface displays at least one menu with multiple menu items for, in response to a selection on at least one of the multiple menu items thereof, causing receipt, via a network, of content including one or more images and display thereof via the instant messaging interface simultaneously with the at least one of the multiple menu items.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging interface displays at least one menu with multiple menu items for, in response to a selection on at least one of the multiple menu items thereof, causing receipt, via a network, of at least one additional menu with at least one additional menu item and display thereof via the instant messaging interface simultaneously with the at least one of the multiple menu items, for, in response to a selection on the at least one additional menu item, causing receipt, via the network, of content and display thereof via the instant messaging interface simultaneously with the at least one additional menu item.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging interface simultaneously displays at least one menu with one or more images and multiple menu items for, in response to a selection on at least one of the multiple menu items thereof, causing receipt, via a network, of content including one or more additional images and display thereof via the instant messaging interface simultaneously with the at least one of the multiple menu items.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging interface simultaneously displays at least one menu with one or more images and multiple menu items for, in response to a selection on at least one of the multiple menu items thereof, causing receipt, via a network, of at least one additional menu including one or more additional images with at least one additional menu item and display thereof via the instant messaging interface simultaneously with the at least one of the multiple menu items, for, in response to a selection on the at least one additional menu item, causing receipt, via the network, of content and display thereof via the instant messaging interface simultaneously with the at least one additional menu item.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging interface simultaneously displays at least a portion of multiple menus each with one or more images and multiple menu items for, in response to a selection on at least one of the multiple menu items thereof, causing receipt, via a network, of content including one or more additional images and display thereof via the instant messaging interface simultaneously with the at least one of the multiple menu items.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging interface simultaneously displays at least a portion of multiple menus each with one or more images and multiple menu items for, in response to a selection on at least one of the multiple menu items thereof, causing receipt, via a network, of at least one additional menu including one or more additional images with at least one additional menu item and display thereof via the instant messaging interface simultaneously with the at least one of the multiple menu items, for, in response to a selection on the at least one additional menu item, causing receipt, via the network, of content and display thereof via the instant messaging interface simultaneously with the at least one additional menu item.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein, based on the receipt, via the instant messaging interface, of the indication of the selection on the first menu item with corresponding first text:

the first attachment request is only capable of requesting the first response including the at least one first image.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of:

the at least portion of the instant messaging application includes an entirety of the instant messaging application;

the portable device includes at least one of a personal computer or a mobile device;

the at least portion of the instant messaging application is created by a development thereof;

the instant messaging application is configured to cooperate with the apparatus by communicating with the apparatus;

the instant messaging application is configured such that interaction therewith is capable of invoking a network browser application;

the apparatus includes at least one of one or more servers, or one or more relays;

the apparatus is equipped with another communications agent;

the communicant identifier includes at least one of a contactor identifier or a contactee identifier;

in each instance of the displaying in response to the receiving, the displaying occurs in immediate response to the receiving;

in each instance of the displaying in response to the receiving, the displaying occurs after at least one intermediate operation that occurs in immediate response to the receiving;

each instance of receiving includes receiving, from the apparatus, that which was received by the apparatus from a web service;

each instance of sending includes sending, to the apparatus, that which is sent by the apparatus to a web service;

at least one of the first menu item or the second menu item includes a menu item control that initiates a command in response to a user selection thereon;

at least one of the first menu item or the second menu item includes a hyperlink;

selection on at least one of the first menu item or the second menu item results in a call;

at least one of the first menu item or the second menu item is constructed using a mark-up language;

at least one of the first menu item or the second menu item is received as a message attachment;

at least one of the first menu item or the second menu item is associated with a uniform resource locator;

at least one of the first URI or the second URI includes at least one uniform resource locator (URL);

the first menu item includes the corresponding first text;

the second menu item includes the corresponding second text;

the indication of the selection on at least one of the first menu item or the second menu item does not invoke a network browser application;

the indication of the selection on at least one of the first menu item or the second menu item is received via the instant messaging interface in response to a detection of a user touch on a touchscreen of the portable device;

the indication of the selection on at least one of the first menu item or the second menu item includes a signal;

the indication of the selection includes selection information;

the indication of the selection on at least one of the first menu item or the second menu item is received from code associated with the instant messaging interface;

the communications agent is separate from the instant messaging application;

the communications agent is integrated with the instant messaging application;

the communications agent receives incoming messages and sends outgoing messages;

the at least one first image is automatically identified based on the first attachment request, at the apparatus;

the at least one first image is automatically identified based on the first attachment request, by the apparatus;

the at least one first image is automatically identified based on the first attachment request, using the apparatus and at least one separate system;

the at least one first image is included with the first response;

a link to the at least one first image is included with the first response;

the at least one first image is retrieved by the portable device from a system separate from the apparatus;

the at least one second image is automatically identified based on the second attachment request, at the apparatus;

the at least one second image is automatically identified based on the second attachment request, by the apparatus;

the at least one second image is automatically identified based on the second attachment request, using the apparatus and at least one separate system;

the at least one second image is included with the second response;

a link to the at least one second image is included with the second response;

the at least one second image is retrieved by the portable device from a system separate from the apparatus;

the vocabulary defines one or more valid values;

the format includes at least one of one or more image format types, one or more video format types, one or more markup languages, one or more scripting languages, one or more byte code, or one or more machine code;

the criterion schema defines at least one of a format or a vocabulary;

the entered text includes tag text;

the entered text is entered by the user of the instant messaging application;

or

the at least portion of the instant messaging application is part of a system, where the system further comprises the apparatus and the portable device.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer instructions of an instant messaging application, the instant messaging application, when executed by one or more processors of a portable device including a touchscreen, causing the one or more processors to:

display an instant messaging interface of the instant messaging application including;

a text entry user interface element for receiving entered text, and

one or more user interface elements for causing one or more attachment requests to be sent that are valid according to a criterion schema defining at least one of a format or a vocabulary, the one or more user interface elements including a first menu item with corresponding first text, where the first menu item is conditionally displayed based on a receipt of a signal from an apparatus via a network;

receive, via the instant messaging interface, an indication of a touch selection on the first menu item with corresponding first text,

based on the receipt, via the instant messaging interface, of the indication of the touch selection on the first menu item with corresponding first text;

send, to the apparatus and with a communicant identifier associated with a user of the instant messaging application, a first attachment request that includes a first uniform resource identifier (URI) and that is valid according to the criterion schema defining at least one of the format or the vocabulary,

after sending, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, the first attachment request that is valid according to the criterion schema defining at least one of the format or the vocabulary;

receive, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, a first response,

in response to the receipt, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, of the first response;

display, via the instant messaging interface, at least one first image that is automatically identified based on the first attachment request,

receive, via the text entry user interface element of the instant messaging interface, the entered text,

based on the receipt, via the text entry user interface element of the instant messaging interface, of the entered text;

send, to the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, a second attachment request that is valid according to the criterion schema defining at least one of the format or the vocabulary,

after sending, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, the second attachment request that is valid according to the criterion schema defining at least one of the format or the vocabulary;

receive, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, a second response, and

in response to the receipt, from the apparatus and with the communicant identifier associated with the user of the instant messaging application, of the second response;

display, via the instant messaging interface, content that is automatically identified based on the second attachment request; and

causing storage of the at least portion of the instant messaging application;

wherein the instant messaging application, when executed by the one or more processors of the portable device including the touchscreen, causes the instant messaging interface to display at least a portion of at least one outgoing message that corresponds with at least one of the first attachment request or the second attachment request, simultaneously with at least a portion of at least one of the at least one first image or the content.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18, wherein the instant messaging application, when executed by the one or more processors of the portable device including the touchscreen, causes operation such that the criterion schema is associated with a hypertext markup language (HTML) that is used to display the first menu item, and the first attachment request is displayed without displaying the first URI.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18, wherein the instant messaging application, when executed by the one or more processors of the portable device including the touchscreen, causes operation such that the criterion schema is associated with a hypertext markup language (HTML) used to display the first menu item without requiring a request to the apparatus, and the first attachment request is displayed as plain text without displaying the first URI.