Method and apparatus for facilitating online communication
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a computing device to initiate a communication session, comprising:
- detecting if a desired participant is available to participate in a communication session;
transmitting an invitation to said desired participant if said desired participant is available;
receiving an acceptance from said desired participant, wherein said transmitting and said receiving are performed in substantially real time; and
upon receipt of said acceptance, automatically causing meeting information to be forwarded to a communication server, said communication server establishing said communication session involving said meeting initiator device and said desired participant.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, apparatus, computer program code, user interfaces and means for facilitating online communication.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method for operating a computing device to initiate a communication session, comprising:
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detecting if a desired participant is available to participate in a communication session;
transmitting an invitation to said desired participant if said desired participant is available;
receiving an acceptance from said desired participant, wherein said transmitting and said receiving are performed in substantially real time; and
upon receipt of said acceptance, automatically causing meeting information to be forwarded to a communication server, said communication server establishing said communication session involving said meeting initiator device and said desired participant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A user interface displayed on a display of an electronic computing device in conjunction with a network communications software application, the user interface comprising:
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an action section for presenting to the user a plurality of selectable communication type icons;
an outline section for presenting to the user a plurality of communication-related data; and
a content section including a frame for allowing the display and manipulation of a second software application by the user. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A user interface for a network communications software application, the user interface for display on an electronic computing device, the user interface comprising:
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an action section having at least a portion thereof presented in an upper half of a display of a first computing device during use of a first software application, the action section including a plurality of selectable action icons, the selection of any of which by a first user of the computing device initiates at least one of the following processes between the first user and a second user having a second computing device in communication with the first computing device over a communications network;
an online communication with a productivity application, a video communication, an audio communication, and a text message communication;
an outline section having at least a portion thereof presented in a right half of the display of the first computing device, the outline section including a plurality of selectable function icons and a plurality of communications data fields, the plurality of selectable function icons comprising at least one of;
a telephone keypad with selectable numeric keys, a volume control including a mute function, and a conference disconnect control;
the plurality of communications data fields comprising at least one of;
a name of a party to a conference, a name of other attendees of the conference, an indication of a host of the conference;
an address book of comprising addresses of other users available for the conference; and
a content section having at least a portion thereof presented in a lower half of the display of the first computing device, the content section including a frame for allowing the display and manipulation of a second software application by the first user, wherein the second software application is not required to be resident on the first computing device.
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22. A method for creating a user interface for a network communication software application, comprising:
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generating, in a first portion of a display screen of a computing device, an action section for presenting to the user a plurality of selectable communication type icons;
generating, in a second portion of the display screen of the computing device, an outline section for presenting to the user a plurality of communication-related data; and
generating, in a third portion of the display screen of the computing device, a content section including a frame for allowing the display and manipulation of a second software application by the user. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for initiating an online conference using a network communication software application on a first computing device, comprising:
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selecting a communication type icon for initiating one of the following processes of an online conference;
an online communication of a productivity application, a voice communication, a video communication and a text messaging communication;
selecting an attendee for the online conference; and
transmitting a text message for display on a computing device of the selected attendee, wherein the attendee may select an alternate destination for the display of the text message when the attendee is not using a second computing device having a network address assigned to the attendee. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for facilitating communications between a plurality of users, comprising:
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establishing a first user using a first computing device as a moderator of an online conference;
establishing a second user using a second computing device as an attendee of the online conference;
receiving, from the moderator, an indication of a software application and content managed by the software application to make available to the attendee, the software application resident on the first computing device; and
receiving from the attendee a revision to the content generated in a content section of a display of the second computing device during the online conference. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method for initiating an online conference, performed by a user, the method comprising:
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establishing a time for an online conference;
establishing a communication type for the online conference;
inviting at least one attendee to the conference; and
providing access to a productivity application to the attendee, wherein the productivity application is not resident on a computing device operated by the attendee.
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57. A computer program product for interfacing with a website, said computer product comprising:
a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing a series of steps to provide controlled simultaneous availability of a series of internet or extra net sites, said computer program product having;
computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the establishment of a series of individual passwords and group related passwords;
computer readable program code means for causing said computer to receive an input request from a user for access to a particular grouping of said series of sites;
computer readable program code means for causing said computer to request at least one password from said user;
computer readable program code means for causing said computer to compare said at least one password from said user with said established individual and group passwords;
computer readable program code means for providing to said user access to selected sites based on said users request and the result of said comparison of said at least one password with said established passwords;
computer readable program code means for causing said selected sites to be accessible to said user in the form of a simultaneous screen divided display; and
computer readable program code means for allowing said user to control the visual presentation of said selected sites including the modification of said visual display to select displayed information from ones of said selected sites in a separately user formed home site.
Specification