Embedding active contextual information in a message

1 . A method for embedding active contextual information in a message, comprising:

displaying information in a message on a computing device;

scanning the information for a selected term;

displaying a user interface representation for the selected term in the message; and

providing active contextual information from a server for the selected term to the computing device, wherein the active contextual information is accessible via the user interface representation that is associated with the message.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing active contextual information further comprises

sending a subscription from the computing device to the server for active contextual information for the selected term;

receiving the active contextual information at the computing device; and

displaying the active contextual information in the user interface representation for the selected term in the message.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

pushing an update of the active contextual information from the server to the computing device when the active contextual information changes; and

displaying the updated active contextual information in the user interface representation for the selected term in the message.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising entering text in the message, wherein the message is a near real-time message selected from the group consisting of an instant message, a chat message, and a text message.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein scanning the information for the selected term further comprises scanning the information for the selected term at the computing device using a client side application operating on the computing device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising formatting a display of the active contextual information based on a content of the active contextual information.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising dynamically providing a selected set of actions to the user based on a content of the active contextual information.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sending the message to a second computing device;

scanning the information for a selected term;

displaying the user interface representation for the selected term in the message at the second computing device; and

providing active contextual information from the server for the selected term to a user of the second computing device, wherein the active contextual information is accessible via the user interface representation in the message at the second computing device.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the user interface representation for the selected term in the message, wherein the user interface representation is an icon located adjacent to the selected term.

10 . A system for displaying active contextual information in a message on a computing device, comprising:

an active data module operating on a server in communication with the computing device; and

an active contextual information module configured to:

scan information in the message;

identify a selected term in the message; and

subscribe to the active data module to receive active contextual information for the selected term at the computing device;

receive updated active contextual information from the active data module for the selected term when the active contextual information for the selected term changes; and

display the active contextual information for the selected term on the computing device in a user interface representation associated with the message.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the computing device is one of a desktop computing device and a mobile computing device.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the message is a near real-time message.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the active contextual information application is configured to operate on the computing device.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the user interface representation is displayed in one of the message and a separate window on the computing device from the message.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the updated active contextual information is pushed from the server to the computing device when a change in the active contextual information occurs.

16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the active contextual information application operates within a Unified Communication Advanced (UCA) system.

17 . A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for embedding active contextual information in a message, comprising:

displaying information in a message on a computing device;

scanning the information for a selected term;

displaying a user interface representation for the selected term in the message; and

providing active contextual information from a server for the selected term to the computing device, wherein the active contextual information is accessible via the user interface representation associated with the message.

18 . The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein providing active contextual information further comprises

sending a subscription from the computing device to the server for active contextual information for the selected term;

receiving the active contextual information at the computing device; and

displaying the active contextual information in the user interface representation for the selected term in the message.

19 . The computer program product of claim 17 , further comprising:

pushing an update of the active contextual information from the server to the computing device when the active contextual information changes; and

displaying the updated active contextual information in the user interface representation for the selected term.

20 . The computer program product of claim 17 , further comprising formatting a display of the active contextual information based on a content of the active contextual information.