Network-based intercom system and method for simulating a hardware based dedicated intercom system
First Claim
25. A method for providing efficient, non-interruptive, distance communication by way of a network-based intercom system, said system integrated on a plurality of non-dedicated computers providing respective stations of a network, said system comprising software, said software comprising a dispatcher module in any one of said computers, said software further comprising an intercom module in each of said computers, the method comprising the steps of:
- selectively placing a network-based intercom panel display and a message banner on a screen of each of said stations facilitated by said software control;
maintaining a dispatcher list of all current stations in said network in said one of said computers;
coordinating all current messages by computer readable instructions in said software in said dispatcher by;
designating at least one station number to which each of said messages is sent, assigning at least one audible tone per message, said tone being unique to an addressee to whom said message is being sent, and routing all of said messages automatically when a final one of a predetermined number of options has been selected;
selectively, automatically sounding said at least one audible tone at a respective one of said computers when one of said messages is sent to said one of said computers; and
wherein said messages are automatically received on respective ones of said banners without addressee input, such that each of said messages is received in a non-interruptive manner and a notification of the arrival of a message is also received in the form of said audible tone, so that an addressee may selectively view the screen without stopping other activities.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network-based intercom system and method comprises software and the necessary portions of a computer network on which it is implemented. The software includes a dispatcher portion to be installed on any of the computers of the network, and an intercom module portion to be installed on each of the participating computers in the system. The system has the advantage that it can be installed on non-dedicated computers, thus avoiding costly and inconvenient wiring and hardware installation. The system provides automatic message receipt without unnecessarily interrupting a recipient. This is achieved by signaling that a message has been sent by an assigned audible tone that is unique to the addressee. Thus, the recipient becomes aware that he or she has automatically received a message. The message is displayed in a banner on the addressee'"'"'s computer monitor for selective viewing based on an order of priority.
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Citations
64 Claims
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25. A method for providing efficient, non-interruptive, distance communication by way of a network-based intercom system, said system integrated on a plurality of non-dedicated computers providing respective stations of a network, said system comprising software, said software comprising a dispatcher module in any one of said computers, said software further comprising an intercom module in each of said computers, the method comprising the steps of:
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selectively placing a network-based intercom panel display and a message banner on a screen of each of said stations facilitated by said software control;
maintaining a dispatcher list of all current stations in said network in said one of said computers;
coordinating all current messages by computer readable instructions in said software in said dispatcher by;
designating at least one station number to which each of said messages is sent, assigning at least one audible tone per message, said tone being unique to an addressee to whom said message is being sent, and routing all of said messages automatically when a final one of a predetermined number of options has been selected;
selectively, automatically sounding said at least one audible tone at a respective one of said computers when one of said messages is sent to said one of said computers; and
wherein said messages are automatically received on respective ones of said banners without addressee input, such that each of said messages is received in a non-interruptive manner and a notification of the arrival of a message is also received in the form of said audible tone, so that an addressee may selectively view the screen without stopping other activities. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 64)
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28. A method of using a network-based intercom system for efficient, non-interruptive, distance communication, said system being configured for implementation on a network comprising a plurality of computers providing respective stations of said network, said system comprising software including a dispatcher module for any one of said computers, said software further including an intercom module in each of said computers, the method of using comprising the steps of:
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selectively displaying a message banner on a monitor of one of said computers;
initiating a message send by;
bringing up a simulated intercom panel via user interface means, selecting components of a message from lists on said intercom panel;
completing a message send via user interface means. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A network based computer intercom user interface implemented on a plurality of stations of a network, comprising:
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a software-based simulated intercom panel and means for selectively displaying said simulated intercom panel on the screen of each of said plurality of stations;
a software-based banner display and means for selectively displaying messages received at each of s aid plurality of stations on said banner display; and
a software controlled, audible signal and means for generating said audible signal wherein said audible signal is unique to a user of the intercom system, and wherein said audible signal is generated by at least one of the plurality of stations for selectively notifying the user when a message for the user is received by the at least one station. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64-1. The method of providing efficient, non-interruptive, distance communication of claim 25, the step of routing further comprising automatically routing at least one message in response to actuation by a sender of a remote control device.
Specification