Method and apparatus for coordinating internet multi-media content with telephone and audio communications

• US 20050004977A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Honore, Francis A., Bhathena, Firdaus, Roberts, Pasha
• Granted Patent: US 7,725,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6429 Terminal adapters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6472 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6475 N-ISDN, Public Switched Telephone Network [PSTN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5191 interacting with the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0027 Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

Internet content is coordinated with audio communications, such that two or more parties can view the same media content on the Internet while simultaneously communicating over a traditional telephony network or via voice over network. A user computer displays shared content that corresponds to a second computer'"'"'s display, such that both parties view the same content on their browsers. Either of the parties is allowed to update the visual content of their browsers. Updates in the visual content are transmitted to the other parties so that all parties view the same, shared content. The shared content can include web pages, forms, applications, images, conferences, and files among other information.

Claims

1-56. -56. (canceled)

57. In a representative computer, a method of providing visual interaction across a network between a remote user computer and the representative computer, wherein a server is in communication with the user and representative computers, the method comprising:

generating a view that includes a representation of a user view from the user computer by periodically obtaining from the server a portion of shared data relating to the user view;

receiving inputs for changing the portion of shared data to alter the representation of the user view on the representative computer; and

detecting a change to the portion of shared data and transmitting the change in the representation of the user view within the portion of shared data to the server to change the portion of shared data on the server.

58. A method according to claim 57, wherein obtaining the portion of shared data comprises polling of the server by the representative computer.

59. A method according to claim 57, wherein obtaining the portion of shared data comprises pushing the portion of shared data from the server to the representative computer.

60. A method according to claim 57, wherein the portion of shared data is obtained in response to the occurrence of an event.

61. A representative computer capable of providing visual interaction across a network between a remote user computer and the representative computer, wherein a server is in communication with the user and representative computers, comprising:

a display;

input apparatus for receiving user input; and

processor apparatus operative to;

(1) display a view on the display that includes a representation of a user view from the user computer by periodically obtaining from the server a portion of shared data relating to the user view;

(2) receive user input for changing the portion of shared data to alter the representation of the user view on the representative computer; and

(3) detect a change to the portion of shared data and transmit the change in the representation of the user view within the portion of shared data to the server to change the portion of shared data on the server.

62. A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a representative computer system having a coupling of a memory, a processor, and at least one communications interface, provides a method for providing visual interaction across a network between a remote user computer and the representative computer, wherein the network further includes a server computer in communication with the user and representative computers, by performing the operations of:

generating a view that includes a representation of a user view from the user computer by periodically obtaining from the server computer a portion of shared data relating to the user view;

receiving inputs for changing the portion of shared data to alter the representation of the user view on the representative computer; and

detecting a change to the portion of shared data and transmitting the change in the representation of the user view within the portion of shared data to the server computer to change the portion of shared data on the server.

63. A server computer for providing visual interaction across a network between a remote user computer and a representative computer, comprising:

interfaces to respective communications links to the user and representative computers; and

processor apparatus operative to;

(1) establish a portion of shared data shared by the user computer and the representative computer, the shared data relating to a user view on the user computer, the user view generated from data received from the representative computer, by;

a) receiving a form represented by an array of objects from the representative computer;

b) transmitting the array of objects to the user computer;

c) receiving an altered array of objects from the user computer, where the user computer has selectively manipulated the array; and

d) transmitting the altered array of objects to the representative computer where the representative is capable of generating a representative view including the form;

(2) receive an input from the user computer to change the portion of shared data in order to alter the user view; and

(3) transmit the input to the representative computer to be used by the representative computer to alter the representative view.

64. The server computer of claim 63 wherein the processor apparatus is further operative to:

receive altered shared data from the representative computer to be used by the user computer to alter the user view; and

transmit the altered shared data to the user computer.

65. The server computer of claim 63 wherein the communications link between the server computer and the user computer further is established by providing to the user computer a web page including a selectable object for requesting a telephone call.

66. The server computer of claim 63, wherein the communications link to the user computer is established by providing a user applet to the user computer, and the communications link to the representative computer is established by providing a service applet to the representative computer, the user applet being operative to periodically poll the shared data stored on the user computer and to periodically poll the shared data on the server computer, the service applet being operative to periodically poll the shared data on the representative computer and to periodically poll the shared data on the server, and wherein the processor apparatus is further operative to:

receive from the user computer changes to the shared data on the user computer detected by the user applet;

provide to the user computer changes to the shared data on the server in response to detection by the user applet;

receive from the representative computer changes to the shared data on the representative computer detected by the service applet; and

provide to the representative computer changes to the shared data on the server in response to detection by the service applet, whereby the user applet and the service applet detect changes to the shared data in the user computer, server and representative computer so that the shared data reflects any changes made on either the user computer or the representative computer.