Patent · US Active

Method and system of integrating instant messaging with other computer programs

US7451186B2 · kind B2 · utility

24Cited by
1References
37Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 10, 2004
Grant dateNov 11, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 30, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L51/046
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Described is a system and method by which client programs such as desktop applications can use instant messaging functionality. An application program interface is provided that allows a client program (e.g., an application program) to interact with an instant messaging infrastructure, such as via event calls to initiate conversations, send messages and/or obtain presence information. This enables other programs to create new user experiences that integrate the messaging infrastructure, such as displaying presence, or enabling instant messages to be sent from within an application program. Document collaboration is also facilitated, by allowing users to send instant messages (or the document) to other users, including sending an instant message directly to a user associated with a specific comment or change to the document.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.