Method and Apparatus for Social Network Communication Over a Media Network

Abstract

A system that transmits a request to initiate a communication session with a member device of a social network may include, for example, activating a speech capture element, maintaining activation of the speech capture element in accordance with a pattern of prior speech messages, detecting a speech message at the activated speech capture element, and transmitting the detected speech message, or a derivative thereof, to the member device of the social network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 initiating a first communication session between a first device associated with a first member of a social network and a second device associated with a second member of the social network, the first communication session comprising an exchange of text messages between the first member and the second member in the first communication session being performed within the social network;   presenting a button as part of the first communication session, the button being related to an audio communication session between the first member and the second member or a video communication session between the first member and the second member;   receiving an interaction with the button from the first member;   based on the interaction, initiating a second communication session between the first device and the second device, wherein the second communication session comprises either the audio communication session or the video communication session;   receiving input speech from the first member as part of the second communication session; and   transmitting, to the second device in the second communication session, the input, speech.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining a speech capture element in an active state for at least a period of time during the second communication, the period of time calculated based on a pattern of prior speech messages associated with the first member of the social network.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving input speech captured by the speech capture element during the active state.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 transmitting, to the second device in the first communication session, a message representative of the input speech.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection from among a list of members of the social network of the second member, the selection being made by the first member.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining the period of time based on a time between: an activation of the second communication session, and a period after detecting that the first member has stopped speaking, wherein the determining of the period of time is according to the determination of the pattern of prior speech messages of the first member.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein speech captured by the first member and the second member in the second communication session is transcribed into text, and wherein the text is added as part of the first communication session. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transmitting a command to a media processor to activate a state of a speech capture element. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the speech capture element is maintained for a length of time equal to the period of time, in an active state, and wherein the active state is independent of the selection. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the first device, an audio message; and   reproducing, via a speaker, the audio message.   
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 initiating a first communication session between a first device associated with a first member of a social network and a second device associated with a second member of the social network, the first communication session comprising an exchange of text messages between the first member and the second member in the first communication session being performed within the social network; 
 presenting a button as part of the first communication session, the button being related to an audio communication session between the first member and the second member or a video communication session between the first member and the second member; 
 receiving an interaction with the button from the first member; 
 based on the interaction, initiating a second communication session between the first device and the second device, wherein the second communication session comprises either the audio communication session or the video communication session; 
 receiving input speech from the first member as part of the second communication session; and 
 transmitting, to the second device in the second communication session, the input, speech. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory stores additional executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations further comprising:
 maintaining a speech capture element in an active state for at least a period of time during the second communication, the period of time calculated based on a pattern of prior speech messages associated with the first member of the social network.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the memory stores additional executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations further comprising:
 receiving input speech captured by the speech capture element during the active state.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the memory stores additional executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations further comprising:
 transmitting, to the second device in the first communication session, a message representative of the input speech.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory stores additional executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations further comprising:
 receiving a selection from among a list of members of the social network of the second member, the selection being made by the first member.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the memory stores additional executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations further comprising:
 determining the period of time based on a time between: an activation of the second communication session, and a period after detecting that the first member has stopped speaking, wherein the determining of the period of time is according to the determination of the pattern of prior speech messages of the first member.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein speech captured by the first member and the second member in the second communication session is transcribed into text, and wherein the text is added as part of the first communication session. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the memory stores additional executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations further comprising:
 transmitting a command to a media processor to activate a state of a speech capture element.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the speech capture element is maintained for a length of time equal to the period of time, in an active state, and wherein the active state is independent of the selection. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory stores additional executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations further comprising:
 receiving, from the first device, an audio message; and   reproducing, via a speaker, the audio message.