System for Managing Real-Time Communications

• US 20070078931A1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pragmatus AV LLC (Pragmatus, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Collaboration Properties Incorporated
• Inventors: Ludwig, Lester, Lauwers, J., Burnett, Gerald, Burns, Emmett, Lantz, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A system for real-time communication between a plurality of separated users is claimed. The system includes a record including associated location information of where a first user is logged in. Computer software causes display of a user identifier for a second user on the display of a communication device of the first user for selection by the first user. Collaboration initiation software causes the retrieving of necessary addressing information for the second user upon selection by the first user. The collaboration initiation software causes the establishing of a connection between the first and second users, and to enable real-time communication including between the users. The system is configured to indicate to the first user whether another user is not logged in and to display at least two real-time communication types of the group consisting of video, audio and data conferencing on the display of the first user.

Claims

1. ) A system for real-time communication between a plurality of separated users, comprising:

at least one communication device for use by each of the plurality of users and having an associated display;

at least one communication network to which at least a first user can connect by logging in at a communication device;

at least one record for the first logged in user, the at least one record including associated location information of where the first user is logged in;

at least one communication network to which at least a second user can connect by logging in at a communication device;

at least one record for the second logged in user, the at least one record including associated location information of where the second user is logged in;

computer software that functions to cause display of a user identifier for at least the second user on the display of at least the first user'"'"'s communication device for selection by the first user; and

collaboration initiation software that functions upon selection by the first user, to cause the retrieving of necessary addressing information for the second user, and to cause the establishing of a connection between the first and second users, and thereby to enable real-time communication between the users,

wherein the system is configured to indicate to the first user whether another user is not logged in and to display at least two real-time communication types of the group consisting of video, audio and data conferencing on the display of the first user.

2. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to indicate to the first user that the second user is not available if no record is found for the second user.

3. ) The system of claim 2, wherein the location information in the record of at least one user includes addressing information.

4. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the system maintains information as to the capabilities of at least one of the communication devices and is further configured to establish real-time communication based on the information as to the capabilities of at least one of the communication devices.

5. ) The system of claim 4, wherein the system is further configured to

allow the first user to select at least one of the at least two real-time communication types;

and

upon selection by the first user, establish real-time communication of the selected communication type between the first and second users.

6. ) The system of claim 5, wherein the data conferencing includes text.

7. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the system, in response to the causing of the establishing of a connection between the first and second users, is further configured to notify the second user of the first user'"'"'s identity.

8. ) The system of claim 7, wherein the first user is connected to a first communication network and the second user is connected to a second communication network.

9. ) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one user identifier in the directory comprises one of the group consisting of an icon and text representing the user.

10. ) The system of claim 4, wherein at least one communication device is a wireless device.

11. ) A system for real-time communication between a plurality of separated users, comprising:

at least one communication device for use by each of the plurality of users and having an associated display;

at least one communication network to which at least a first user can connect by logging in at a first communication device;

at least one record for the first logged in user, the at least one record including associated location information of where the first user is logged in;

at least one communication network to which at least a second user can connect by logging in at a second communication device;

at least one record for the second logged in user, the at least one record including associated location information of where the second user is logged in; and

computer software for

causing a user identifier for at least the second user to be displayed in a personal user directory, in which the users are selected by the first user, on the display of the first user'"'"'s device,

causing retrieval of necessary addressing information for the second user upon the first user selecting the displayed second user'"'"'s identifier to attempt to initiate communication with the second user,

causing at least two real-time communication types of the group consisting of video, audio and data conferencing to be displayed for user selection on the display of the first user'"'"'s device, and

using the retrieved addressing information to facilitate real-time communication between the first and second users over at least one communication network,

wherein the real-time communication is of a selected type if the first user selects a displayed communication type and is of a default type if the first user does not select a displayed communication type.

12. ) The system of claim 11, wherein the system is configured to indicate to the first user that the second user is not available if no record is found for the second user.

13. ) The system of claim 11, wherein the location information in the record of at least one user includes address information.

14. ) The system of claim 13, wherein the system is further configured to provide the location information to the communication device of at least one user.

15. ) The system of claim 11, wherein at least one record further includes information as to the capabilities of at least one of the communication devices and wherein the system is further configured to establish real-time communication based on the information as to the capabilities of at least one of the communication devices.

16. ) T he system of claim 15, wherein the data conferencing includes text.

17. ) The system of claim 11, wherein the system, in response to the causing of the establishing of a connection between the first and second users, is further configured to notify the second user of the first user'"'"'s identity.

18. ) The system of claim 17, wherein the first user is connected to a first communication network and the second user is connected to a second communication network.

19. ) The system of claim 11, wherein at least one user identifier in the directory comprises one of the group consisting of an icon and text representing the user.

20. ) The system of claim 14, wherein at least one communication device is a wireless device.