Methods, systems, and products for network conferencing

• US 20050268242A1
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• 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 7,694,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

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

Claims

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

during the conference, communicating an object from a library of digital objects to a participant communications device, the object communicated via a distributed computing network;

during the conference, downloading the library of digital objects to the participant communications device via the distributed computing network;

during the conference, communicating a synchronization command from a host communications device to the participant communications device via the distributed computing network, the synchronization command instructing the participant communications device to present another 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, wherein when the library of digital objects is downloaded to the participant communications device, only communicating a subsequent synchronization command to synchronize the participant communications device to the host communications device.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

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

8. A system, comprising:

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

the Conferencing Module

i) during the conference, communicating an object from a library of digital objects to a participant communications device, the object communicated via a distributed computing network,

ii) during the conference, downloading the library of digital objects to the participant communications device via the distributed computing network,

iii) during the conference, communicating a synchronization command from a host communications device to the participant communications device via the distributed computing network, the synchronization command instructing the participant communications device to present another object from the library of digital objects, and

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

9. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

a Conferencing Module stored on the computer-readable medium, the Conferencing Module

i) during the conference, communicating an object from a library of digital objects to a participant communications device, the object communicated via a distributed computing network,

ii) during the conference, downloading the library of digital objects to the participant communications device via the distributed computing network,

iii) during the conference, communicating a synchronization command from a host communications device to the participant communications device via the distributed computing network, the synchronization command instructing the participant communications device to present another object from the library of digital objects, and

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