Methods, systems, and products for network conferencing

• US 20050240679A1
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Wesley
• Granted Patent: US 7,587,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for conducting a conference amongst remote participants. Prior to the conference a library of digital objects is communicated to a participant communications device. During the conference a synchronization command is communicated from a host communications device to the participant communications device. The synchronization command commands the participant communications device to present an object from the library of digital objects. A synchronization acknowledgment is then received from the participant communications device, and the synchronization acknowledgment confirms a successful presentation of the object on the participant communications device.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a conference amongst remote participants, comprising the steps of:

communicating a library of digital objects to a participant communications device;

communicating a synchronization command from a host communications device to the participant communications device via a distributed computing network, the synchronization command commanding the participant communications device to present an object from the library of digital objects; and

receiving a synchronization acknowledgment from the participant communications device, the synchronization acknowledgment confirming a successful presentation of the object on the participant communications device.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of delaying communication of a subsequent synchronization command until the synchronization acknowledgment is received from the participant communications device.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of ignoring receipt of the synchronization acknowledgment from a particular participant communications device, thus allowing the particular participant communications device to present any object from the library of digital objects.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating a synchronization override command from the host communications device to the participant communications device, the synchronization override command allowing the participant communications device to present any object from the library of digital objects.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of accessing a list of participant communications devices.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of communicating the library of digital objects to each participant communications device in the list.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of communicating the library of digital objects is performed prior to the conference.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of communicating the synchronization command is performed during the conference.

7. A system, comprising:

a Conferencing Module stored in a memory device, and a processor communicating with the memory device;

the Conferencing Module communicating a library of digital objects, the library of digital objects communicated to a participant communications device, and a synchronization command is communicated from a host communications device to the participant communications device via an Internet Protocol communications network, the synchronization command commanding the participant communications device to present an object from the library of digital objects, and receiving a synchronization acknowledgment from the participant communications device, the synchronization acknowledgment confirming a successful presentation of the object on the participant communications device.

11. A system according to claim 7, wherein the communications module communicates the library of digital objects prior to the conference.

12. A system according to claim 7, wherein the synchronization command is communicated during the conference.

13. A system according to claim 7, wherein communication of a subsequent synchronization command is delayed until the synchronization acknowledgment is received from the participant communications device.

14. A system according to claim 7, wherein receipt of the synchronization acknowledgment is ignored, thus allowing the particular participant communications device to present any object from the library of digital objects.

15. A system according to claim 7, wherein a synchronization override command is communicated from the host communications device to the participant communications device, the synchronization override command allowing the participant communications device to present any object from the library of digital objects.

16. A system according to claim 7, wherein the system accesses a list of participant communications devices.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the library of digital objects is communicated to each participant communications device in the list.

8. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

a Conferencing Module stored on the computer-readable medium, the Conferencing Module communicating a library of digital objects, the library of digital objects communicated to a participant communications device, and a synchronization command is communicated from a host communications device to the participant communications device via an Internet Protocol communications network, the synchronization command commanding the participant communications device to present an object from the library of digital objects, and receiving a synchronization acknowledgment from the participant communications device, the synchronization acknowledgment confirming a successful presentation of the object on the participant communications device.

18. A computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the conferencing module delays communication of a subsequent synchronization command until the synchronization acknowledgment is received from the participant communications device.

19. A computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the conferencing module ignores receipt of the synchronization acknowledgment, from a particular participant communications device, thus allowing the particular participant communications device to present any object from the library of digital objects.

20. A computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the conferencing module communicates a synchronization override command from the host communications device to the participant communications device, the synchronization override command allowing the participant communications device to present any object from the library of digital objects.