Context based virtual area creation

摘要

Examples of systems and methods for context based virtual area creation are described. Some examples provide a quick and easy way for users to wrap virtual areas around contexts of interest. Examples of such contexts may be defined in terms of one or more of content, people, and real-world location. The virtual areas support realtime communications between communicants (e.g., one or more of text chat, voice, video, application sharing, and file sharing) and provide a persistent historical repository for interactions in the virtual area. Summaries of activities and other events in virtual areas typically are published in realtime so that other communicants can readily obtain a quick summary of the activities occurring in a particular context and decide whether or not to join or otherwise participate in those activities.

主权项

1. A method in a network communications environment comprising a network service implemented by one or more server network nodes and supporting realtime communications between client network nodes of ones of a user and one or more other communicants in virtual areas, the method comprising by at least one of the one or more server network nodes:
receiving a request from the client network node of the user in connection with a content item; based on the request, communicating with the client network node of the user to receive user input in connection with at least one of a first interface element to associate the content item with a new virtual area and a second interface element to associate the content item with an existing virtual area; based on the receipt of user input in connection with the first interface element, creating the new virtual area and associating the content item with the new virtual area, and thereafter administering the realtime communications between the client network nodes operated by respective communicants in the new virtual area in connection with the content item; and based on the receipt of user input identifying the existing virtual area in connection with the second interface element, associating the content item with the identified existing virtual area, and thereafter administering the realtime communications between the client network nodes operated by respective ones of the communicants in the identified existing virtual area in connection with the content item.