Video messaging

Abstract

Systems and techniques for transferring electronic data between users of a communications system by receiving, at an instant messaging host, a video file from a sender and intended for a recipient; authenticating the video file; and sending the video file to the intended recipient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communications method, comprising:
 enabling instant messaging communication between a sender and at least one recipient through an instant messaging host; and   enabling video communication between the sender and the recipient through the instant messaging host.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving and authenticating a text instant from the sender at the instant messaging host. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein authenticating comprises identifying a screen name associated with at least one of the sender and the recipient. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein authenticating comprises identifying an IP address associated with at least one of the sender and the recipient. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining capabilities of the recipient at the instant messaging host. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein determining comprises identifying hardware associated with the recipient. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein determining comprises identifying software associated with the recipient. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising reporting the capabilities of the recipient to the sender. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the sender displays a user interface according to the capabilities of the recipient. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving, at the instant messaging host, a request to establish video communication. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the request is from the sender. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the request is from the recipient. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising authenticating the request. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein authenticating comprises identifying a screen name associated with at least one of the sender and the recipient. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein authenticating comprises identifying an IP address associated with at least one of the sender and the recipient. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein enabling video communication comprises establishing a generic signaling interface channel, a control channel, and a video channel between the sender and the recipient. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the control channel comprises a TCP/IP socket. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the video channel comprises a UDP channel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the video channel comprises a TCP channel. 
     
     
         20 . A communications apparatus comprising an instant messaging host configured to:
 enable instant messaging communication between a sender an at least one recipient; and   enable video communication between the sender and the recipient.