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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 Web service on the Internet or a local application in the user's comput

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 Web service on the Internet or a local application in the user's computer. The user can share one or more third-party services or applications with other user(s) in an instant messaging session through the application agents.

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1. A system for providing real-time communication over a global network in a session between two or more users, each of said two or more users using a device communicatively coupled to the global network, said system comprising: a plurality of user devices, each including a processor operatively cou

1. A system for providing real-time communication over a global network in a session between two or more users, each of said two or more users using a device communicatively coupled to the global network, said system comprising: a plurality of user devices, each including a processor operatively coupled with a device interface, a network interface, and a memory;an instant messaging server comprising: a processor for executing one or more application;a memory for storing a plurality of third party applications;a registration interface application configured to provide said plurality of users with an interface for registering one or more IMLets for accessing one or more third party application with their user device;a client messaging application which runs on said plurality of user devices, said client application providing a user interface communicated to said users via said device interface, said user interface comprising: a message entry window for the user to enter data;a communication window for displaying messages entered in a session, wherein said IMLet is associated with users' screen names, aliases, icons, or combinations of users' screen names, aliases, and icons; anda selection window for accessing one or more of said plurality of third party applications located remotely from the plurality of user devices and configured for providing enhanced communication capability beyond instant text messaging;wherein said plurality of devices are configured to access, via said network interface, said one or more third party application if they have registered the IMLet corresponding to said one or more third party application;wherein when any of said one or more third party applications is activated, the third party application represented by said activated application agent runs on top of the client messaging application such that all users in said session can instantly, simultaneously use the third party application represented by said activated third party application agent without leaving said session and without having to load said third party application from said memory if said users have registered the IMLet corresponding to said one or more third party application. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said third party application comprises an application selected from among a group of applications consisting of: an instant translation service; a speech synthesis service; an automatic publishing service; a picture sharing service; a map sharing service; a quote service; and a Web search engine. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said activated third party application agent addresses other applications on the other side of said session via the user's message protocol. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein selection window further comprises a plurality of distinct visual cues, each of which being representative of one of said third party applications; and wherein said processor associates one or more of said visual cues to a contact in the user's contact list, said association being based on the user's prior use or/and use frequency, with said contact, of the third party application represented by said visual cues. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein whenever said contact joins said session, the application agent represented by said associated visual cue is automatically activated. 6. The system of claim 4, wherein any of said third party applications can be registered as a contact in the user's list of contacts. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein said selection window displays any of: a list of unregistered third party applications, each of which being available to be stacked on said client messaging application; and a list of registered third party applications, each of which being already stacked on said client messaging application and is immediately available to be activated by the user. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the user can register an application agent by dragging a symbol representative of said third party application from said list of unregistered third party applications to said list of registered external applications. 9. The system of claim 7, wherein said list of unregistered application agents is updated without need of changing said client application. 10. A method for incorporating external resources into an instant messaging session supported by an instant messaging system, said instant messaging system comprising a client messaging application which runs on a number of devices communicatively coupled to the Internet, comprising the steps of: providing information through said client messaging application comprising: providing a registration interface application for providing a plurality of users with an interface for registering one or more IMLets for accessing one or more third party applications with their user device;providing a user interface displayed on each device's screen from which the users communicate with at least another user, said user interface comprising a message entry window for said user to enter data,providing a communication window for displaying messages entered in said instant messaging session, wherein said IMLet is associated with users' screen names, aliases, icons, or combinations of screen names, aliases, and icons, andproviding a selection window for accessing one or more of said third party applications,the method further comprising the steps of: activating an third party application from a list of available third party applications, wherein each of said third party applications is available to be activated by the user if said user has registered the IMLet corresponding to said third party application, thereby providing an enriched communication session beyond simple, replicated text message content; andsharing the third party application between at least two users in said instant messaging session if both of said at least two users have registered the IMLet corresponding to said third party application. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said third party application is selected from among a group of applications consisting of: an instant translation service; a speech synthesis service; an automatic publishing service; a picture sharing service; a map sharing service; a quote service; and a Web search engine. 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: registering a third party application by dragging a symbol representative of said third party application from a list of unregistered third party applications to said list of registered third party applications, wherein each of said unregistered third party applications is available to be registered on said client application; andunregistering a registered third party application by dragging a symbol representative of said registered third party application from said list of registered third party applications to said list of unregistered third party applications. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said symbol is an icon or a title. 14. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: registering a third party application by applying a number of mouse-clicking commands; andunregistering a registered third party application by applying a number of mouse-clicking commands. 15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: associating one or more of visual cues to a contact in the user's contact list, each visual cue representing one of said registered third party application, said association being based on the user's prior use or/and use frequency, with said contact, of the third party applications represented by said visual cues. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: automatically activating the third party applications represented by said associated visual cues whenever said contact joins said instant messaging session. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said contact can be any of: a screen name representing a human contact; a name or a visual cue representing an interactive service; and a name or visual cue representing one of said registered third party applications. 18. A system for providing real-time communication over a global network in a messaging and content sharing session between a plurality of users, each of said plurality of users using a device communicatively coupled to the global network, said system comprising: a plurality of user devices, each including a processor operatively coupled with a device interface, a network interface, and a memory;an instant messaging server comprising: a processor for executing one or more application;a memory for storing a plurality of third party applications;a registration interface application configured to provide said plurality of users with an interface for registering one or more IMLets for accessing one or more third party application with their user device;a messaging and content sharing application which runs on said plurality of user devices, said messaging and content sharing application providing a user interface communicated to said users via said device interface, said user interface comprising:a message entry window for the user to enter data;a communication window for displaying messages entered in a session, wherein said IMLet is associated with users' screen names, aliases, icons, or combinations of screen names, aliases, and icons; anda selection window for accessing one or more of said plurality of third party applications located remotely from the plurality of user devices;wherein said plurality of devices are configured to access, via said network interface, said one or more third party application if they have registered the IMLet corresponding to said one or more third party application;wherein when any of said one or more third party application is activated, the third party application represented by said activated application agent runs on top of the client messaging application such that all users in said session can instantly, simultaneously use the third party application represented by said activated third party application agent without leaving said session and without having to load said external application from said memory if said users have registered the IMLet corresponding to said one or more third party application. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said third party application comprises a picture sharing service. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein selection window further comprises a plurality of distinct visual cues, each of which being representative of one of said third party applications; and wherein said processor associates one or more of said visual cues to a contact in the user's contact list, said association being based on the user's prior use or/and use frequency, with said contact, of the third party application represented by said visual cues.