Device for Wireless Networked Communications

• US 20070083594A1
• Filed: 01/18/2007
• Published: 04/12/2007
• 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 7,441,001 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 method of communication between two users using a system is claimed. Two communication devices are registered with at least one communication network and are capable of at least one communication type. A first user is allowed to connect to at least one communication network by using the first communication device. The first communication device is configured for wireless communication. From the first communication device, information indicating the location of the first user is sent to the system to enable the system to maintain a service record including the first user'"'"'s location information. The first user is allowed to request communication by selecting an identifier for the second user from a list of displayed user identifiers. Location information from a service record is retrieved for the second communication device in response to the request. Communication of a selected type is initiated using the communication network and the retrieved address information.

Claims

1. A method of communication between first and second users using a system having respective first and second communication devices, each registered with at least one communication network and being capable of at least one communication type, the method comprising:

allowing the first user to connect to at least one communication network by using the first communication device, the first communication device being configured for wireless communication;

sending to the system, from the first communication device, information indicating the location of the first user to thereby enable the system to maintain at least one service record including at least the first user'"'"'s location information;

allowing the first user to request communication with the second user by selecting an identifier for the second user, from a list of displayed user identifiers displayed to the first user in a personal user directory, and by selecting one of a plurality of communication types;

in response to the request, causing retrieval of location information from a service record for the second communication device;

receiving the location information for the second user; and

initiating communication of the selected type from the first to the second device using the at least one communication network and the retrieved address information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service record for the second communication device further includes information usable to associate at least one addressable channel with the second communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the first user to log in to the first communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing registration of at least one communication service capability of the first communication device, the communication service capability being at least one of the group consisting of audio, video, snapshot sharing, conference, file sharing, and data conferencing.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication service capability includes data conferencing that includes text communication.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication is initiated based on the communication service capabilities of the first device and previously registered communication service capabilities of at least the second communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication type is selected by default.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising indicating to the first user if the second user has not logged in.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein communications are established over at least a first and second network and at least one of the first and second is a wide area network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first communication device is configured for communication using cellular phone links.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing a first user to subsequently add a third user to the communication between the first and second users.

12. An apparatus for use by a first user for communication with a second user over a system having a plurality of communication devices, each registered with at least one communication network, being capable of at least one communication type and being associated with a respective user, the apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication capability configured to allow the first user to connect to at least one communication network;

software configured to send to the system, information indicating the location of the first user to thereby enable the system to maintain at least one service record including at least the first user'"'"'s location information; and

collaboration initiation software configured to display a list of user identifiers to the first user in a personal user directory and to allow the first user to request communication with the second user by selecting a displayed identifier for the second user, and a communication type, wherein the apparatus is configured to

cause, in response to the request, retrieval of location information from a service record for the second communication device,

receive the location information for the second communication device, and

initiate communication of the selected type from the first to the second device using at least one communication network and the retrieved address information.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising software that functions to allow the first user to log in to the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, being configured for at least one communication service capability selected from the group consisting of audio, video, snapshot sharing, conference, file sharing, and data conferencing.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the communication service capability includes data conferencing that includes text communication.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the communication is initiated based on the communication service capabilities of the apparatus and previously registered communication service capabilities of at least the second communication device.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the communication type is selected by default.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising indicating to the first user if the second user has not logged in.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first communication device is configured for communication using cellular phone links.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, further configured to allow a first user to subsequently add a third user to the communication between the first and second users.