Patent ID: 7549924
Filing Date: 2009-06-23
Classification: A63F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of providing a game to at least two users of an instant messaging service while the at least two users are engaged in an instant messaging session, the method comprising: in a user interface of an instant messaging system on a computing device, the user interface having a first region for exchanging instant messages and a second region for displaying available games, commencing an instant messaging session in the first region in which a first user exchanges instant messages with one or more other users, the one or more other users being members of the first user's buddy list; displaying a list of games in the second region while the first user is communicating with the one or more other users in the first region; upon the first user selecting one of the games, the selection being made while the first user is communicating with the one or more other users in the first region, transmitting a game module to the first and the one or more other users; and the first user commencing to play the selected game in the second region of the user interface with the one or more other users such that the first user plays the game with the one or more other users with whom the first user was exchanging instant messages at the time the first user selected the game, and wherein the first user and the one or more other users form a team in the selected game in which the team competes against additional users, wherein the first user exchanges instant messages with the one or more other users only in the first region of the user interface and wherein the user interface further includes a third region in which the first user exchanges instant messages only with the additional users against whom the team is competing.