| US 7,519,667 B1 | ||
| Method and system for integrating instant messaging, streaming audio and audio playback | ||
| Stephen P. Capps, San Carlos, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash. (US) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 16, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/124,091. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/285981, filed on Apr. 23, 2001. | ||
| Int. Cl. G06F 15/16 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 709—206 [709/203; 709/205; 709/231] | 18 Claims |
| 18. A computer-controlled apparatus configured to perform a method for integrating audio playback, streaming audio, and instant
messaging in a client computer system, the method comprising:
receiving an indication that a streaming audio radio station is available at a first client computer, wherein the indication
is sent by a media player application on the first client computer to a first instant messaging client application on the
first client computer;
in response to receiving said indication, automatically providing a notification to a remote computer that said streaming
audio radio station is available at said first client computer for playback,
wherein the indication is received by the instant messaging client application and the notification is provided by the instant
messaging client application;
wherein the remote computer comprises a second instant messaging client application in communication with the first instant
messaging client application; and
wherein as a result of said communication, the first instant messaging client application displays in a first buddy list window
an entry for the remote computer, and the second instant messaging client application displays in a second buddy list an entry
for the first client computer;
receiving the notification at the remote computer and in response thereto displaying in the second buddy list window an icon
adjacent to the entry for the first client computer, the icon for indicating to a user of the remote computer that the audio
stream is available;
determining that the user of the remote computer selected the icon and in response thereto connecting the remote computer
to a streaming audio server application on the first computer;
receiving a request at said first client computer for said streaming audio radio station; and
in response to said request, transmitting streaming audio radio station directly from said first client computer to the remote
computer making said request so that the remote computer can play back the radio station, wherein the audio stream is transmitted
to the remote computer without going through a central server; and
determining that at least one of the first client computer or the remote computer stopped the playback of the radio station,
and in response thereto, stopping the audio stream.
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