Method and system for integrating instant messaging, streaming audio and audio playback

Abstract

A method and system are provided for integrating a streaming audio server application, an instant messaging client application, and a media player application. The instant messaging client application may be utilized to engage in an instant messaging session with other users. The instant messaging client application can notify participating users that an audio stream is available from the media player application. The streaming audio server obtains a selection via the instant messenger and then streams the audio track to the requester. The streaming audio server may also be utilized to provide a streaming audio radio station at a client computer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 124,091, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 285,981. Both of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention generally relates to the field of computer-based instant messaging. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and system for integrating an instant messaging client application, a streaming audio server application, and an audio playback application.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Audio player applications exist that allow users to manage and playback music on their computer. For instance, these applications typically allow a user to play compact discs, listen to audio tracks encoded in the Motion Picture Experts Group audio layer 3 format (“MP3”), listen to streaming audio available over the Internet, and to manage their collection of digital music. H...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Enables real-time audio sharing and simultaneous listening among users, enhancing social interaction and music sharing experiences by providing a seamless integration of audio streaming and instant messaging functionalities.

Problems solved by technology

However, these types of programs do not allow a user to directly share their music collection with other users.

However, these programs do not allow sharing in real, or near real-time.

Moreover, these programs do not provide any facility for two users to listen to a song at the same time.

However, the currently available music playback applications provide no functionality for two or more remote Internet users to listen to a song at the same time.

Again, however, the transfer of the audio track does not take place fast enough to listen to the music in real time.

In fact, depending upon the bandwidth of each user's connection, such a transfer may take a long period of time to complete.

Therefore, while instant messaging applications allow users to converse in near real-time, these types of applications also do not permit users to listen to music together in real-time.

However, these applications allow no interactivity with other users while listening to the streaming audio radio station.

Moreover, streaming audio server applications are typically difficult to setup and operate, and, therefore, are not utilized by individual users to share their music libraries.

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