Low bandwidth chat system

• US 20080021968A1
• Filed: 07/19/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Virtualdesign Net Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Virtualdesign Net Incorporated
• Inventors: Majors, Kenneth, Deboy, Scott
• Application Number:
  US11/880,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021968A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A chat system provided in a computer network including a plurality of client workstations and a server computer.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

(a) a first user interconnected to a network;

(b) a second user interconnected to said network;

(c) a server interconnected to said network;

(d) said first user joining a first chat session by interconnecting with said server;

(e) said second user joining said first chat session by interconnecting with said server;

(f) said first user sending messages to said second user though said chat session;

(g) where said first chat session is identified by a common website being viewed in a respective browser by said first user and said second user;

(h) wherein said first user and second user communicate in a peer-to-peer manner for transmitting at least some of said messages.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said network is an Internet.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said first user and said second user are interconnected to a second chat session with said server.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said chat session is through a plug in for said browser of said first user.

5. The computer system of claim 4 wherein said plug in presents a message window showing recently displayed messages.

6. The computer system of claim 5 wherein said plug in shows other users in said first chat session.

7. The computer system of claim 6 wherein said plug in provides a window for entering a new message.

8. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said first user and second user communicate in a peer-to-peer manner for video conferencing associated with said chat session.

9. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said first user and second user communicate in a peer-to-peer manner for image sharing associated with said chat session.

10. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said first user and second user obtain messages from said server being provided in a push manner.

11. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said first user and second user communicate in a peer-to-peer manner for audio sharing associated with said chat session.

12. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said first user uses a relay on the network to access said server.

13. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said first user uses a rendezvous feature to access said server.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said server broadcasts the same information to said first user fewer times than the number of chat sessions said first user has simultaneously active.