Method and computer program product for establishing real-time communications between networked computers
First Claim
1. A method for communicating presence information about a first user associated with a first computer to a second computer, the method comprising:
- (a) determining, by the first computer, presence information associated with the first user based on interaction by the first user with the first computer;
(b) sending, by the first computer, the presence information to the second computer; and
(c) periodically repeating steps (a) and (b) to update the presence information.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and computer program product is provided for establishing real-time communications between computer users connected by a communications network. An invitation is created by a first computer. An invitation is data that proposes a communication session. An invitation can indicate the status or availability of the sending user or of some other resource. Creation of the invitation is followed by the transfer of the invitation from the first computer to at least one second computer. The invitation can be transferred electronically through the network, or physically, by the transfer of a magnetic medium bearing the invitation. The invitation contains parameters to configure an invitation communicator application for communications between the first and second computers. The second computer accepts the invitation and invokes an invitation communicator application to allow communication.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for communicating presence information about a first user associated with a first computer to a second computer, the method comprising:
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(a) determining, by the first computer, presence information associated with the first user based on interaction by the first user with the first computer;
(b) sending, by the first computer, the presence information to the second computer; and
(c) periodically repeating steps (a) and (b) to update the presence information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for communicating presence information about a first user associated with a first computer to a second computer, the system comprising:
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a first computer program executing on the first computer, said first computer program determining presence information associated with the first user based on interaction by the first user with the first computer;
means for transferring the presence information to the second computer; and
a second computer program executing on the second computer, said second computer program receiving and providing the presence information to a user of the second computer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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13. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having control logic stored therein for communicating presence information about a first user associated with a first computer to a second computer, the computer control logic comprising:
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means for execution on the first computer to determine presence information associated with the first user based on interaction by the first user with the first computer;
means for making the presence information available to the second computer; and
means for execution on the second computer to receive and provide the presence information to a user of the second computer.
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15. A computer-based method for providing to a second computer presence information about a first user associated with a first computer, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining, by the first computer, the presence information about the first user;
(b) transmitting, by the first computer, the presence information to the second computer; and
(c) periodically repeating steps (a) and (b) to update the presence information.
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16. A computer-based method for accessing, by a second computer, presence information about a first user associated with a first computer, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining, by the first computer, the presence information about the first user;
(b) accessing, by computer code on the second computer, the presence information; and
(c) periodically repeating steps (a) and (b) to update the presence information.
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23. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a second computer to access presence information about a first user associated with a first computer, the computer control logic comprising:
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first computer readable program code means for causing the second computer to access the presence information about the first user, wherein said first computer readable program code means includes at least one of;
Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language (DHTML) code, a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) script, a Server Side Include (SSI) script, a cookie, Java code, a Java Script, an Active X control, and a GIF file; and
second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to periodically execute said first computer readable program code means.
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Specification