Sharing data within an instant messaging session

Abstract

Sharing data within an instant messaging session is described. A user participating in an instant messaging session may request a data access key. The key, which provides access to data associated with the user, may then be transmitted via the instant messaging session to one or more other participants in the instant messaging session. The other instant messaging session participants can then use the key to access, via the instant messaging session, the data associated with the user.

1 . A method comprising:
 establishing an instant messaging session between a first client device and a second client device;   sending a request from the first client device to a calendar server for a first key to access calendar data of a first user associated with the first client device;   receiving the first key at the first client device from the calendar server;   transmitting the first key via the instant messaging session from the first client device to the second client device;   receiving a second key from the second client device via the instant messaging session, the second key permitting the first client device to access calendar data of a second user associated with the second client device;   receiving, from the second client device, display preferences specifying a manner of displaying the calendar data of the second user on a display interface of the first client device;   applying the display preferences specifying the manner of displaying the calendar data of the second user to the calendar data of the first user; and   simultaneously displaying the calendar data of the first user and the calendar data of the second user on the display interface of the first client device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display preferences include language, time zone, week start day, start hour for a day view, end hour for the day view, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display interface further includes shared calendar data of one or more additional users involved in the instant messaging session. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing an instant messaging user interface at the first client device, the instant messaging user interface including an instant messaging conversation, at least a portion of the calendar data of the first user, at least a portion of the calendar data of the second user, a meeting definition area, a reminder area, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the instant messaging user interface includes a private checkbox that when checked, indicates that particular information is not to appear to additional users, wherein the first user is sharing calendar data with the additional users. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the reminder area includes a selectable option to remind the first user of a meeting via email. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the reminder area includes a selectable option to remind the first user of a meeting via an online alerts system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the meeting definition area allows the first user to schedule a meeting. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically changing the simultaneous display of the calendar data of the first user and the calendar data of the second user on the display interface of the first client device in accordance with a calendar navigation implemented by the second user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calendar data of the first user and the calendar data of the second user are displayed in separate areas of the display interface. 
     
     
         11 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed, perform operations comprising:
 establishing an instant messaging session between a first client device and a second client device;   sending a request from the first client device to a calendar server for a first key to access calendar data of a first user associated with the first client device;   receiving the first key at the first client device from the calendar server;   transmitting the first key via the instant messaging session from the first client device to the second client device;   receiving a second key from the second client device via the instant messaging session, the second key permitting the first client device to access calendar data of a second user associated with the second client device;   receiving, from the second client device, display settings for the calendar data of the second user;   applying the display settings for the calendar data of the second user to the calendar data of the first user; and   simultaneously displaying the calendar data of the first user and the calendar data of the second user on a display interface of the first client device.   
     
     
         12 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 11 , wherein the display settings include a language setting, a time zone setting, a week start day setting, a start hour for a day view setting, an end hour for the day view setting, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 11 , wherein the display interface further includes shared calendar data of one or more additional users involved in the instant messaging session. 
     
     
         14 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 11 , further comprising providing an instant messaging user interface at the first client device, the instant messaging user interface including an instant messaging conversation, at least a portion of the calendar data of the first user, at least a portion of the calendar data of the second user, a meeting definition area, a reminder area, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 14 , wherein the instant messaging user interface includes a private checkbox that when checked, indicates that particular information is not to appear to additional users, wherein the first user is sharing calendar data with the additional users. 
     
     
         16 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 11 , further comprising automatically changing the simultaneous display of the calendar data of the first user and the calendar data of the second user on the display interface of the first client device in accordance with a calendar navigation implemented by the second user. 
     
     
         17 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 11 , wherein the calendar data of the first user and the calendar data of the second user are displayed in non-overlapping areas of the display interface. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to:
 establish an instant messaging session between the system and a computing device; 
 send a request from the system to a calendar server for a first key to access calendar data of a first user associated with the system; 
 receive the first key at the system from the calendar server; 
 transmit the first key via the instant messaging session from the system to the computing device; 
 receive a second key from the computing device via the instant messaging session, the second key permitting the system to access calendar data of a second user associated with the computing device; 
 receive, from the computing device, display settings for the calendar data of the second user; 
 apply the display settings for the calendar data of the second user to the calendar data of the first user; and 
 simultaneously display the calendar data of the first user and the calendar data of the second user on a display interface of the system. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the display settings include a language setting, a time zone setting, a week start day setting, a start hour for a day view setting, an end hour for the day view setting, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the calendar data of the first user and the calendar data of the second user are displayed in separate areas of the display interface.