Remote control-based instant messaging
First Claim
1. An instant messaging remote control, comprising:
- an instant messaging user interface that is configured to;
display at least one of (a) a status indicator listing active and inactive sessions of a user, (b) a message indicator listing new messages that have been received by the user, or (c) a conversation indicator listing a count of active sessions or messages of the user, the count being an alphanumeric representation of a number of active sessions or messages;
receive a new message that includes a reference to audio/visual or programming content;
display the reference to the audio/visual or programming content; and
receive a request to access the audio/visual or programming content, the request including a received program code, the received program code indicating a first source of the audio/visual or programming content and being associated with a first program guide of the first source; and
an audio/visual remote control coupled to the instant messaging user interface that is configured to;
correlate the received program code to a local program code, the local program code indicating a second source of the audio/visual or programming content and being associated with a second program guide of the second source;
insert the local program code in a remote control message; and
transmit the remote control message to an audio/visual or programming device to provide the requested audio/visual or programming content.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for instant messaging remote control are disclosed. An instant messaging remote control includes an audio/visual remote control, an instant messaging user interface, an instant messaging navigator, a keypad and an integrated messaging/remote control application module. The instant messaging user interface enables a user to view instant messaging status and control instant messaging functions. The instant messaging navigator enables a user to switch between instant messaging sessions. The integrated messaging/remote control application module enables a set of application that integrate the operation of instant messaging and remote control of audio/visual devices, such as televisions, computers, radios and other devices. Additionally, the integrated messaging/remote control application module includes features that enable seamless transitions between an instant messaging remote control and a personal computer for carrying on one or more instant messaging sessions.
44 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An instant messaging remote control, comprising:
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an instant messaging user interface that is configured to; display at least one of (a) a status indicator listing active and inactive sessions of a user, (b) a message indicator listing new messages that have been received by the user, or (c) a conversation indicator listing a count of active sessions or messages of the user, the count being an alphanumeric representation of a number of active sessions or messages; receive a new message that includes a reference to audio/visual or programming content; display the reference to the audio/visual or programming content; and receive a request to access the audio/visual or programming content, the request including a received program code, the received program code indicating a first source of the audio/visual or programming content and being associated with a first program guide of the first source; and an audio/visual remote control coupled to the instant messaging user interface that is configured to; correlate the received program code to a local program code, the local program code indicating a second source of the audio/visual or programming content and being associated with a second program guide of the second source; insert the local program code in a remote control message; and transmit the remote control message to an audio/visual or programming device to provide the requested audio/visual or programming content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system, comprising:
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an instant messaging/remote control controller configured to integrate functionality of an instant messaging device and a remote control, and further configured to; receive a new message that includes a reference to audio/visual or programming content; display the reference to the audio/visual or programming content; receive a request to access the audio/visual or programming content, the request including a received program code, the received program code indicating a first source of the audio/visual or programming content and being associated with a first program guide of the first source; correlate the received program code to a local program code, the local program code indicating a second source of the audio/visual or programming content and being associated with a second program guide of the second source; insert the local program code in a remote control message; and transmit the remote control message to an audio/visual or programming device to provide the requested audio/visual or programming content; and a display configured to display at least one of (a) a status indicator listing active and inactive sessions of a user, (b) a message indicator listing new messages that have been received by the user, or (c) a conversation indicator listing a count of active sessions or messages of the user, the count being an alphanumeric representation of a number of active sessions or messages. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method, comprising:
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receiving, using a computing device that is configured to integrate functionality of an instant messaging device and a remote control, an instant message that includes a reference to audio/visual or programming content, wherein the audio/visual or programming content includes one or more of television shows, movies, websites or entertainment programming guides; displaying, using the computing device, the reference to the audio/visual or programming content; receiving, using the computing device, a request to access the audio/visual or programming content, the request including a received program code, the received program code indicating a first source of the audio/visual or programming content and being associated with a first program guide of the first source; correlating the received program code to a local program code, the local program code indicating a second source of the audio/visual or programming content and being associated with a second program guide of the second source; inserting the local program code in a remote control message; and transmitting, using the computing device, the remote control message to an audio/visual or programming device to provide the requested audio/visual or programming content.
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23. A method for generating rating statistics among a group of users using instant messaging, comprising:
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transmitting, using a computing device that is configured to integrate functionality of an instant messaging device and a remote control, a tag within an instant message that triggers a receiving device to display a rating mechanism upon receipt of the instant message; receiving, using the computing device, a reply instant message that includes a tag that identifies a user'"'"'s rating; parsing, using the computing device, the received reply instant message to evaluate the user'"'"'s rating within the tag; computing, using the computing device, statistics for ratings received from multiple users within the group of users using the instant messaging; and transmitting, by the computing device, the computed statistics to each of the multiple users within the group of users using the instant messaging in response to completing the computing.
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24. A method for generating voting statistics among a group of users using instant messaging, comprising:
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transmitting, using a computing device that is configured to integrate functionality of an instant messaging device and a remote control, a tag within an instant message that triggers a receiving device to display a voting mechanism; receiving, using the computing device, a reply instant message that includes a tag that identifies a user'"'"'s voting; parsing, using the computing device, the received reply instant message to evaluate the user'"'"'s voting within the tag; computing, using the computing device, statistics for votes received from multiple users within the group of users using instant messaging; and transmitting, by the computing device, the computed statistics to each of the multiple users within the group of users using the instant messaging in response to completing the computing. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification