Avatar-based communications launching system
In one embodiment, a social networking system automatically establish a connection to a target user by selecting an avatar representing the target user, and establishing a connection by a communication channel based on current context and one or more rules configured by the target user.
1. A method by a server associated with a social-networking system, the method comprising:
receiving, by the server associated with the social-networking system, a request to select a communication channel for connecting a first user of the social-networking system with a second user of the social-networking system;
in response to detecting the activation, determining, by the server associated with the social-networking system, a current use by the second user of an application on a second client computing device associated with the second user;
selecting, by the server associated with the social-networking system, a communication channel associated with the application in current use on the second client computing device;
transmitting, by the server associated with the social-networking system, communication-channel information associated with the selected communication channel to a first client computing device associated with the first user for initiation of a communication session between an application on the first client computing device that is synchronous with the application in current use by the second user on the second client computing device, and
wherein transmitting the communication-channel information associated with the selected communication channel to the first client computing device associated with the first user who requested the communication channel automatically initiates the communication session between the first client computing device and the second client computing device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the request is received from another application on the first client computing device that is different from the application on the first client computing device that synchronous with the application on current use by the second user on the second client computing device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is received from a social networking application running on the first client computing device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the application in current use by the second user on the second client computing device comprises an instant messaging application, and
the communication-channel information is for initiating the communication session between the instant messaging application on the second client computing device and a synchronous instant messaging application on the first client computing device.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the instant messaging application is associated with the social-networking system.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the application in current use by the second user on the second client computing device comprises a gaming application, and
the communication-channel information is for initiating a chat session between the second client computing device and a synchronous gaming application on the first client computing device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the application in current use by the second user on the second client computing device comprises a SMS application, and
the communication-channel information is for initiating a SMS text message for transmission from a synchronous SMS application on the first client computing device.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting an avatar representing the second user for display to the first client computing device associated with the first user, wherein the request to select the communication channel is in response to the first user selecting the avatar representing the second user.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the avatar is a photographic picture representing the second user.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a selection of the selected communication channel from the first client computing device; and
in response to receiving the selection of the selected communication channel, initiating the communication session between the first client computing device and the second client computing device.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the communication-channel information associated with the selected communication channel automatically initiates the communication session between the first client computing device and the second computing device.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication-channel information transmitted to the first client computing device comprises a graphic icon representing the selected communication channel.
13. A server associated with the social-networking system, the server comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to:
receive a request to select a communication channel for connecting a first user of the social networking system with a second user of the social-networking system;
in response to detecting the activation, determine a current use by the second user of an application on a second client computing device associated with the second user;
select a communication channel associated with the application in current use on the second client computing device;
transmit communication-channel information associated with the selected communication channel to a first client computing device associated with the first user for initiation of a communication session between an application on the first client computing device that is synchronous with the application in current use by the second user on the second client computing device, and
wherein transmitting the communication-channel information associated with the selected communication channel to the first client computing device associated with the first user who requested the communication channel automatically initiates the communication session between the first client computing device and the second client computing device.
14. The server of claim 13 , wherein
the request is received from another application on the first client computing device that is different from the application on the first client computing device that is synchronous with the application on current use by the second user on the second client computing device.
15. The server of claim 13 , wherein the request is received from a social networking application running on the first client computing device.
16. The server of claim 13 , wherein:
the application in current use by the second user on the second client computing device comprises an instant messaging application, and
the communication-channel information is for initiating the communication session between the instant messaging application on the second client computing device and a synchronous instant messaging application on the first client computing device.
17. The server of claim 16 , wherein the instant messaging application is associated with the social-networking system.
18. The server of claim 13 , wherein:
the application in current use by the second user on the second client computing device comprises a gaming application, and
the communication-channel information is for initiating a chat session between the second client computing device and a synchronous gaming application on the first client computing device.
19. The server of claim 13 , wherein:
the application in current use by the second user on the second client computing device comprises a SMS application, and
the communication-channel information is used to initiate a SMS text message for transmission from a synchronous SMS application on the first client computing device.
20. The server of claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:
transmitting an avatar representing the second user for display to the first client computing device associated with the first user, wherein the request to select the communication channel is in response to the first user selecting the avatar representing the second user.
21. The server of claim 20 , wherein the avatar is a photographic picture representing the second user.
22. The server of claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:
receiving a selection of the selected communication channel from the first client computing device; and
in response to receiving the selection of the selected communication channel, initiating the communication session between the first client computing device and the second client computing device.
23. The server of claim 13 , wherein transmitting the communication-channel information associated with the selected communication channel automatically initiates the communication session between the first client computing device and the second computing device.
24. The server of claim 13 , wherein the communication-channel information transmitted to the first client computing device comprises a graphic icon representing the selected communication channel.