The invention provides a framework that allows a number of software application agents to be stacked on top of an instant messenger application. Each of the software application agents establishes a connection with a third-party external service on the Internet or a local application in the user's computer...http://www.google.com.au/patents/US20050210396?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20050210396 - System and method for seamlessly bringing external services into instant messaging sessions and into users' authoring environment
