Message exchange server allowing near real-time exchange of messages, and method
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a system providing a service allowing a plurality of users to communicate with each other in near real-time, said method comprising:
- for each of said plurality of users storing a temporary greeting;
allowing users currently in communication with said system to receive to temporary greetings of other users currently in communication with said system, and allowing said users to send messages to said other users;
maintaining an index of users previously in communication with said system to exchange messages with others in near-real time, and no-longer in communication with said system to exchange messages in near real-time;
providing users currently in communication with said system with greetings of said users previously in communication with said system;
receiving an originated message from one of said users currently in communication with said system, for one of said users previously in communication with said system response to a greeting of said one of said users previously in communication with said system;
storing said originated message for later retrieval by said one of said users previously in communication with said system.
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Abstract
A method provides users of a system facilitating the exchange of messages in near-real time, the option of hearing greetings of other users currently in communication with the system and sending messages to them, and of hearing greetings of users who were previously in communication with the system to exchange messages in near real-time. Thus, current users can hear greetings of others who they missed. Advantageously, current users may spend more time using the system listening to messages of users no longer connected to the system.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of operating a system providing a service allowing a plurality of users to communicate with each other in near real-time, said method comprising:
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for each of said plurality of users storing a temporary greeting;
allowing users currently in communication with said system to receive to temporary greetings of other users currently in communication with said system, and allowing said users to send messages to said other users;
maintaining an index of users previously in communication with said system to exchange messages with others in near-real time, and no-longer in communication with said system to exchange messages in near real-time;
providing users currently in communication with said system with greetings of said users previously in communication with said system;
receiving an originated message from one of said users currently in communication with said system, for one of said users previously in communication with said system response to a greeting of said one of said users previously in communication with said system;
storing said originated message for later retrieval by said one of said users previously in communication with said system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer readable medium, storing computer executable instructions that when loaded at a message exchange server, used to exchange messages between users, adapts said message exchange server to:
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for each of said plurality of users store a temporary greeting;
allow users currently in communication with said server to receive temporary greetings of other users currently in communication with said server, and allowing said users to send messages to said other users;
maintain an index of users previously in communication with said server to exchange messages with others in near-real time, and no-longer in communication with said server to exchange messages in near real-time;
provide users currently in communication with said server with greetings of said users previously in communication with said server;
receive an originated message from one of said users currently in communication with said server, for one of said users previously in communication with said system in response to a greeting of said one of said users previously in communication said system;
store said originated message for later retrieval by said one of said users previously in communication said system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus facilitating exchange of voice messages, comprising:
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a network interface interconnecting said apparatus to a communications network, to allow a message originator to dispatch a voice message to a recipient;
a processor in communication with said network interface;
memory for storing voice messages to be exchanged, said memory storing program instructions, adapting said apparatus to;
for each of said plurality of users store a temporary greeting;
allow users currently in communication with said server to listen to temporary greetings of other users currently in communication with said apparatus, and allowing said users to send messages to said other users;
maintain an index of users previously in communication with said apparatus to exchange messages with others in near-real time, and no-longer in communication with said apparatus to exchange messages in near real-time;
provide users currently in communication with said apparatus with greetings of said users previously in communication with said apparatus;
receive a message from one of said users currently in communication with said apparatus, for one of said users previously in communication with said system in response to a greeting of said one of said users previously in communication with said system;
store said message for later retrieval by said one of said users previously connected. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification