Method, Apparatus, System, Medium, and Signals For Supporting Pointer Display In A Multiple-Party Communication

• US 20080244461A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AK Meeting IP LLC (Pueblo Nuevo LLC)
• Original Assignee: Uranus International Limited
• Inventors: Kropivny, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,627,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation

Abstract

Systems, apparatus and methods related to multiple-party communications conducted between client computers in a computer network. For example, a system for supporting multiple-party communications on a client computer in communication with a server in a computer network is disclosed. The system includes a client processor circuit operably configured to transmit a first cursor message to the server to elicit a first pointer message from the server, the first cursor message representing a change in a position of a first cursor associated with the client computer in response to user input received from a user of the client computer. The system also includes a server processor circuit operably configured to receive the first cursor message from the client computer, transmit the first pointer message to the client computer in response to the first cursor message, the first pointer message representing the change in the position of the first cursor provided by the first cursor message. The client processor circuit is operably configured to receive the first pointer message from the server and to cause a corresponding change in a position of a first pointer associated with the first cursor and displayed on a display area of the client computer, in response to the first pointer message.

Claims

1. A method for supporting multiple-party communications on a client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, the method comprising:

transmitting a first cursor message to the server to elicit a first pointer message from the server, said first cursor message representing a change in a position of a first cursor associated with the client computer in response to user input received from a user of the client computer; and

receiving said first pointer message from the server, said first pointer message representing said change in said position of said first cursor; and

causing a corresponding change in a position of a first pointer associated with said first cursor and displayed on a display area of the client computer, in response to said first pointer message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting said first cursor message to the server comprises transmitting a first cursor message representing a change in a position of one of:

a first cursor displayed on a display area of the client computer; and

a stylus tip in contact with a touch screen display area of the client computer.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising producing said first cursor message.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein producing said first cursor message comprises producing a message comprising a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the client computer, and position coordinates of a current position of said first cursor.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein producing said first cursor message comprises producing at least one of:

a persistent message that represents a track of said first cursor in arriving at said current position of said cursor; and

a non-persistent message representing said current position of said first cursor.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein producing said cursor message comprises:

receiving interrupt event signals from an operating system of the client computer;

determining whether at least one of said interrupt event signals represents receipt of user input from a user input device in communication with the client computer;

causing data representing said user input to be received from said operating system of the client computer and extracting change of position data from said data representing said user input; and

producing payload data for said first cursor message in response to said change of position data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving said first pointer message representing said change in said position of said first cursor comprises receiving a copy of said cursor message from the server.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving said first pointer message comprises receiving a message comprising a message identifier and position coordinates representing a position of said first cursor.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein causing said corresponding change in said position of said first pointer comprises causing said first pointer to be deleted and redisplayed at said position coordinates representing said position of said first cursor.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a second pointer message from the server, said second pointer message representing a change in a position of a second cursor associated with another client computer in the computer network; and

causing a corresponding change in a position of a second pointer displayed on said display area of the client computer in response to said second pointer message, said second pointer being associated with said second cursor.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein receiving said second pointer message comprises receiving a message comprising a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the other client computer, and position coordinates representing a position of said second cursor.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein causing said corresponding change in said position of said second pointer comprises:

determining whether said user identifier corresponds to a displayed pointer on said display area;

causing said pointer to be deleted and then redisplayed at said position coordinates on said display area when said user identifier corresponds to said displayed pointer; and

causing a new pointer to be displayed at said position coordinates on said display area when said user identifier does not correspond to a pointer already displayed on said display area.

13. An apparatus for supporting multiple-party communications on a client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting a first cursor message to the server to elicit a first pointer message from the server, said first cursor message representing a change in a position of a first cursor associated with the client computer in response to user input received from a user of the client computer; and

means for receiving said first pointer message from the server, said first pointer message representing said change in said position of said first cursor; and

means for causing a corresponding change in a position of a first pointer associated with said first cursor and displayed on a display area of the client computer, in response to said first pointer message.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for transmitting said first cursor message to the server comprises means for transmitting a first cursor message representing a change in a position of one of:

a first cursor displayed on a display area of the client computer; and

a stylus tip in contact with a touch screen display area of the client computer.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising means for producing said first cursor message.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for producing said first cursor message comprises means for producing a message comprising a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the client computer, and position coordinates of a current position of said first cursor.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for producing said first cursor message comprises means for producing at least one of:

a persistent message that represents a track of said first cursor in arriving at said current position of said cursor; and

a non-persistent message representing said current position of said first cursor.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for producing said cursor message comprises:

means for receiving interrupt event signals from an operating system of the client computer;

means for determining whether at least one of said interrupt event signals represents receipt of user input from a user input device in communication with the client computer;

means for causing data representing said user input to be received from said operating system of the client computer and extracting change of position data from said data representing said user input; and

means for producing payload data for said first cursor message in response to said change of position data.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for receiving said first pointer message representing said change in said position of said first cursor comprises means for receiving a copy of said cursor message from the server.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for receiving said first pointer message comprises means for receiving a message comprising a message identifier and position coordinates representing a position of said first cursor.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means for causing said corresponding change in said position of said first pointer comprises means for causing said first pointer to be deleted and redisplayed at said position coordinates representing said position of said first cursor.

22. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for receiving a second pointer message from the server, said second pointer message representing a change in a position of a second cursor associated with another client computer in the computer network; and

means for causing a corresponding change in a position of a second pointer displayed on said display area of the client computer in response to said second pointer message, said second pointer being associated with said second cursor.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said means for receiving said second pointer message comprises means for receiving a message comprising a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the other client computer, and position coordinates representing a position of said second cursor.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said means for causing said corresponding change in said position of said second pointer comprises:

means for determining whether said user identifier corresponds to a displayed pointer on said display area;

means for causing said pointer to be deleted and then redisplayed at said position coordinates on said display area when said user identifier corresponds to said displayed pointer; and

means for causing a new pointer to be displayed at said position coordinates on said display area when said user identifier does not correspond to a pointer already displayed on said display area.

25. An apparatus for supporting multiple-party communications on a client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, the apparatus comprising a processor circuit operably configured to:

transmit a first cursor message to the server to elicit a first pointer message from the server, said first cursor message representing a change in a position of a first cursor associated with the client computer in response to user input received from a user of the client computer; and

receive said first pointer message from the server, said first pointer message representing said change in said position of said first cursor; and

cause a corresponding change in a position of a first pointer associated with said first cursor and displayed on a display area of the client computer, in response to said first pointer message.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to transmit a first cursor message to the server, said first cursor message representing a change in a position of one of:

a first cursor displayed on a display area of the client computer; and

a stylus tip in contact with a touch screen display area of the client computer.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to produce said first cursor message.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to produce a cursor message comprising a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the client computer, and position coordinates of a current position of said first cursor.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to produce at least one of:

a persistent message that represents a track of said first cursor in arriving at said current position of said cursor; and

a non-persistent message representing said current position of said first cursor.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to:

receive interrupt event signals from an operating system of the client computer;

determine whether at least one of said interrupt event signals represents receipt of user input from a user input device in communication with the client computer;

cause data representing said user input to be received from said operating system of the client computer and extracting change of position data from said data representing said user input; and

produce payload data for said first cursor message in response to said change of position data.

31. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said first pointer message comprises a copy of said first cursor message transmitted to the server.

32. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said first pointer message comprises a message identifier and position coordinates representing a position of said first cursor.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to cause said first pointer to be deleted and redisplayed at said position coordinates representing said position of said first cursor.

34. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to:

receive a second pointer message from the server, said second pointer message representing a change in a position of a second cursor associated with another client computer in the computer network; and

cause a corresponding change in a position of a second pointer displayed on said display area of the client computer in response to said second pointer message, said second pointer being associated with said second cursor.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said second pointer message comprises a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the other client computer, and position coordinates representing a position of said second cursor.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to:

determine whether said user identifier corresponds to a displayed pointer on said display area;

cause said pointer to be deleted and then redisplayed at said position coordinates on said display area when said user identifier corresponds to said displayed pointer; and

cause a new pointer to be displayed at said position coordinates on said display area when said user identifier does not correspond to a pointer already displayed on said display area.

37. A computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to support multiple-party communications on a client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, said codes directing the processor circuit to:

transmit a first cursor message to the server to elicit a first pointer message from the server, said first cursor message representing a change in a position of a first cursor associated with the client computer in response to user input received from a user of the client computer; and

receive said first pointer message from the server, said first pointer message representing said change in said position of said first cursor; and

cause a corresponding change in a position of a first pointer associated with said first cursor and displayed on a display area of the client computer, in response to said first pointer message.

38. A computer readable signal encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to support multiple-party communications on a client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, said codes directing the processor circuit to:

transmit a first cursor message to the server to elicit a first pointer message from the server, said first cursor message representing a change in a position of a first cursor associated with the client computer in response to user input received from a user of the client computer; and

receive said first pointer message from the server, said first pointer message representing said change in said position of said first cursor; and

cause a corresponding change in a position of a first pointer associated with said first cursor and displayed on a display area of the client computer, in response to said first pointer message.

39. A method for supporting multiple-party communications in a computer network including a server and at least one client computer, the method comprising:

receiving a first cursor message at the server from the client computer, said first cursor message representing a change in a position of a first cursor associated with the client computer in response to user input received from a user of the client computer; and

transmitting a first pointer message to the client computer in response to said first cursor message, said first pointer message representing said change in said position of said first cursor provided by said first cursor message.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the server is operably configured to host a plurality of multiple-party communications and further comprising locating a multiple-party communication associated with a user identifier, said user identifier being associated with said cursor message.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein locating said multiple-party communication associated with said user identifier comprises locating a multiple-party communication associated with at least one of:

a user identifier included in a payload of said cursor message;

a port identifier associated with the client computer; and

an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the client computer.

42. The method of claim 40 further comprising producing said first pointer message in response to said first cursor message.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein producing said first pointer message comprises storing said first cursor message in a shared buffer associated with the associated multiple-party communication.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein transmitting said first pointer message comprises copying said first cursor message into a transmit buffer associated with said user identifier, to facilitate said transmitting.

45. The method of claim 39 further comprising establishing a multiple-party communication in response to a signal received from the client computer.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein establishing said multiple-party communication comprises creating a shared buffer and associating a communication identifier with said shared buffer.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein creating said shared buffer comprises:

allocating a plurality of memory stores to said multiple-party communication;

associating a start data pointer with said plurality of memory stores, said start data pointer representing a location of a store in which a first message associated with the multiple-party communication is stored;

associating a current data pointer with said plurality of memory stores, said current data pointer representing a location of a store in which a last message associated with the multiple-party communication is stored; and

associating a client sent pointer with said plurality of memory stores, said client sent pointer being associated with the client computer and representing a location of a store in which a last message sent to the associated client computer is stored.

48. The method of claim 43 further comprising:

receiving a message from the client computer representing a request by the client computer to clear content displayed on a display area of the client computer; and

transmitting a clear screen message to the client computer, said clear screen message being operable to cause content associated with messages previously transmitted to the client computer to be deleted on said display area of the client computer.

49. The method of claim 43 further comprising:

receiving a save message from the client computer, said save message representing a request by the user of the client computer to save content displayed on a display area of the client computer; and

causing pointer messages in said shared buffer to be saved to persistent storage.

50. The method of claim 43 further comprising:

receiving an open message from the client computer, said open message representing a request by the user of the client computer to load content previously saved during the multiple-party communication;

saving pointer messages in said shared buffer to a persistent memory;

transmitting a clear screen message to the client computer, said clear screen message being operable to cause content associated with pointer messages previously transmitted to the client computer to be deleted on a display area of the client computer;

loading a plurality of previously saved pointer messages into said shared buffer from said persistent memory; and

transmitting said plurality of previously saved pointer messages to the client computer.

51. The method of claim 43 further comprising:

receiving a page change message from the client computer said page change message representing a request by the user of the client computer to change content displayed on a display area of the client computer;

saving pointer messages in said shared buffer to a persistent memory store; and

transmitting a clear screen message to the client computer, said clear screen message being operable to cause content associated with pointer messages previously transmitted to the client computer to be deleted on said display area of the client computer.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising loading a plurality of previously saved pointer messages into said shared buffer from said persistent memory and transmitting said previously saved messages to the client computer.

53. The method of claim 52 further comprising determining a message type associated with said pointer message and wherein transmitting said previously saved pointer messages comprises transmitting only pointer messages of a persistent message type to the client computer.

54. The method of claim 45 further comprising associating a client table with a communication identifier identifying said multiple-party communication.

55. The method of claim 54 further comprising storing an identification of the client computer in the client table.

56. The method of claim 55 further comprising associating a receive buffer and a transmit buffer with the client identifier, said receive buffer being operably configured to store cursor messages received from the client computer and said transmit buffer being operably configured to store pointer messages to be transmitted to the client computer.

57. The method of claim 55 further comprising:

receiving a disconnect message from the client computer, said disconnect message representing a request by the user of the client computer to disconnect from the multiple-party communication; and

deleting said identification of the client computer in the client table.

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising causing the multiple-party communication to be discontinued when said identification of the client computer is an only client computer in the client table and wherein said disconnect message includes a request by said user of the client computer to discontinue the multiple-party communication after disconnecting the client computer.

59. The method of claim 57 further comprising causing the multiple-party communication to continue running when at least one of:

the client computer is not an only client computer in the client table; and

said disconnect message does not include a request to discontinue the multiple-party communication after disconnecting the client computer; and

said disconnect message includes a request to keep the multiple-party communication running after disconnecting the client computer.

60. The method of claim 39 wherein said client computer is a first client computer in a multiple-party communication, and further comprising:

receiving a second cursor message at the server, said second cursor message representing a change in a position of a second cursor displayed on a second client computer in the computer network; and

transmitting a second pointer message to said first and second client computers, said second pointer message representing said change in said position of said second cursor provided by said second cursor message.

61. The method of claim 60 further comprising associating a time of receipt of said first cursor message at the server with said first cursor message and associating a time of receipt of said second cursor message at the server with said second cursor message, and wherein transmitting said first pointer message and transmitting said second pointer message comprises transmitting said respective pointer messages in a time order corresponding to said time of receipt of each corresponding cursor message.

62. An apparatus for supporting multiple-party communications in a computer network including a server and at least one client computer, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a first cursor message at the server from the client computer, said first cursor message representing a change in a position of a first cursor associated with the client computer in response to user input received from a user of the client computer; and

means for transmitting a first pointer message to the client computer in response to said first cursor message, said first pointer message representing said change in said position of said first cursor provided by said first cursor message.

63. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the server is operably configured to host a plurality of multiple-party communications and further comprising means for locating a multiple-party communication associated with a user identifier, said user identifier being associated with said cursor message.

64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said means for locating said multiple-party communication associated with said user identifier comprises locating a multiple-party communication associated with at least one of:

a user identifier included in a payload of said cursor message;

a port identifier associated with the client computer; and

an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the client computer.

65. The apparatus of claim 63 further comprising means for producing said first pointer message in response to said first cursor message.

66. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein said means for producing said first pointer message comprises means for storing said first cursor message in a shared buffer associated with the associated multiple-party communication.

67. The apparatus of claim 66 wherein said means for transmitting said first pointer message comprises means for copying said first cursor message into a transmit buffer associated with said user identifier, to facilitate said transmitting.

68. The apparatus of claim 62 further comprising means for establishing a multiple-party communication in response to a signal received from the client computer.

69. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein said means for establishing said multiple-party communication comprises creating a shared buffer and associating a communication identifier with said shared buffer.

70. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein said means for creating said shared buffer comprises:

means for allocating a plurality of memory stores to said multiple-party communication;

means for associating a start data pointer with said plurality of memory stores, said start data pointer representing a location of a store in which a first message associated with the multiple-party communication is stored;

means for associating a current data pointer with said plurality of memory stores, said current data pointer representing a location of a store in which a last message associated with the multiple-party communication is stored; and

means for associating a client sent pointer with said plurality of memory stores, said client sent pointer being associated with the client computer and representing a location of a store in which a last message sent to the associated client computer is stored.

71. The apparatus of claim 66 further comprising:

means for receiving a message from the client computer representing a request by the client computer to clear content displayed on a display area of the client computer; and

means for transmitting a clear screen message to the client computer, said clear screen message being operable to cause content associated with messages previously transmitted to the client computer to be deleted on said display area of the client computer.

72. The apparatus of claim 66 further comprising:

means for receiving a save message from the client computer, said save message representing a request by the user of the client computer to save content displayed on a display area of the client computer; and

means for causing pointer messages in said shared buffer to be saved to persistent storage.

73. The apparatus of claim 66 further comprising:

means for receiving an open message from the client computer, said open message representing a request by the user of the client computer to load content previously saved during the multiple-party communication;

means for saving pointer messages in said shared buffer to a persistent memory;

means for transmitting a clear screen message to the client computer, said clear screen message being operable to cause content associated with pointer messages previously transmitted to the client computer to be deleted on a display area of the client computer;

means for loading a plurality of previously saved pointer messages into said shared buffer from said persistent memory; and

means for transmitting said plurality of previously saved pointer messages to the client computer.

74. The apparatus of claim 66 further comprising:

means for receiving a page change message from the client computer said page change message representing a request by the user of the client computer to change content displayed on a display area of the client computer;

means for saving messages in said shared buffer to a persistent memory; and

means for transmitting a clear screen message to the client computer, said clear screen message being operable to cause content associated with pointer messages previously transmitted to the client computer to be deleted on said display area of the client computer.

75. The apparatus of claim 74 further comprising means for loading a plurality of previously saved pointer messages into said shared buffer from said persistent memory and means for transmitting said previously saved messages to the client computer.

76. The apparatus of claim 75 further comprising means for determining a message type associated with said pointer message and wherein said means for transmitting said previously saved pointer messages comprises means for transmitting only pointer messages of a persistent message type to the client computer.

77. The apparatus of claim 68 further comprising means for associating a client table with a communication identifier identifying said multiple-party communication.

78. The apparatus of claim 77 further comprising means for storing an identification of the client computer in the client table.

79. The apparatus of claim 78 further comprising means for associating a receive buffer and a transmit buffer with the client identifier, said receive buffer being operably configured to store cursor messages received from the client computer and said transmit buffer being operably configured to store pointer messages to be transmitted to the client computer.

80. The apparatus of claim 78 further comprising:

means for receiving a disconnect message from the client computer, said disconnect message representing a request by the user of the client computer to disconnect from the multiple-party communication; and

means for deleting said identification of the client computer in the client table.

81. The apparatus of claim 80 further comprising means for causing the multiple-party communication to be discontinued when said identification of the client computer is an only client computer in the client table and wherein said disconnect message includes a request by said user of the client computer to discontinue the multiple-party communication after disconnecting the client computer.

82. The apparatus of claim 80 further comprising means for causing the multiple-party communication to continue running when at least one of:

the client computer is not an only client computer in the client table; and

said disconnect message does not include a request to discontinue the multiple-party communication after disconnecting the client computer; and

said disconnect message includes a request to keep the multiple-party communication running after disconnecting the client computer.

83. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein said client computer is a first client computer in a multiple-party communication, and further comprising:

means for receiving a second cursor message at the server, said second cursor message representing a change in a position of a second cursor displayed on a second client computer in the computer network; and

means for transmitting a second pointer message to said first and second client computers, said second pointer message representing said change in said position of said second cursor provided by said second cursor message.

84. The apparatus of claim 83 further comprising means for associating a time of receipt of said first cursor message at the server with said first cursor message and means for associating a time of receipt of said second cursor message at the server with said second cursor message, and wherein said means for transmitting said first pointer message and said means for transmitting said second pointer message comprises means for transmitting said respective pointer messages in a time order corresponding to said time of receipt of each corresponding cursor message.

85. An apparatus for supporting multiple-party communications in a computer network including a server and at least one client computer, the apparatus comprising a processor circuit operably configured to:

receive a first cursor message at the server from the client computer, said first cursor message representing a change in a position of a first cursor associated with the client computer in response to user input received from a user of the client computer; and

transmit a first pointer message to the client computer in response to said first cursor message, said first pointer message representing said change in said position of said first cursor provided by said first cursor message.

86. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to host a plurality of multiple-party communications and said processor circuit is operably configured to locate a multiple-party communication associated with a user identifier, said user identifier being associated with said cursor message.

87. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to locate a multiple-party communication associated with at least one of:

a user identifier included in a payload of said cursor message;

a port identifier associated with the client computer; and

an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the client computer.

88. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to produce said first pointer message in response to said first cursor message.

89. The apparatus of claim 88 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to produce said first pointer message by storing said first cursor message in a shared buffer associated with the associated multiple-party communication.

90. The apparatus of claim 89 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured facilitate transmitting said first pointer message by copying said first cursor message into a transmit buffer associated with said user identifier.

91. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to establish a multiple-party communication in response to a signal received from the client computer.

92. The apparatus of claim 91 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to create a shared buffer and associate a communication identifier with said shared buffer.

93. The apparatus of claim 92 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to create said shared buffer by:

allocating a plurality of memory stores to said multiple-party communication;

associate a start data pointer with said plurality of memory stores, said start data pointer representing a location of a store in which a first message associated with the multiple-party communication is stored;

associate a current data pointer with said plurality of memory stores, said current data pointer representing a location of a store in which a last message associated with the multiple-party communication is stored; and

associate a client sent pointer with said plurality of memory stores, said client sent pointer being associated with the client computer and representing a location of a store in which a last message sent to the associated client computer is stored.

94. The apparatus of claim 89 said processor circuit is operably configured to:

receive a message from the client computer representing a request by the client computer to clear content displayed on a display area of the client computer; and

transmit a clear screen message to the client computer, said clear screen message being operable to cause content associated with messages previously transmitted to the client computer to be deleted on said display area of the client computer.

95. The apparatus of claim 89 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to:

receive a save message from the client computer, said save message representing a request by the user of the client computer to save content displayed on a display area of the client computer; and

cause pointer messages in said shared buffer to be saved to persistent storage.

96. The apparatus of claim 92 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to:

receive an open message from the client computer, said open message representing a request by the user of the client computer to load content previously saved during the multiple-party communication;

save pointer messages in said shared buffer to a persistent memory;

delete said pointer messages in said shared buffer;

transmit a clear screen message to the client computer, said clear screen message being operable to cause content associated with pointer messages previously transmitted to the client computer to be deleted on a display area of the client computer;

load a plurality of previously saved pointer messages into said shared buffer from said persistent memory; and

transmit said plurality of previously saved pointer messages to the client computer.

97. The apparatus of claim 92 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to:

receive a page change message from the client computer said page change message representing a request by the user of the client computer to change content displayed on a display area of the client computer;

save pointer messages in said shared buffer to a persistent memory;

delete said pointer messages in said shared buffer; and

transmit a clear screen message to the client computer, said clear screen message being operable to cause content associated with pointer messages previously transmitted to the client computer to be deleted on said display area of the client computer.

98. The apparatus of claim 97 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to load a plurality of previously saved messages into said shared buffer from said persistent memory and to transmit said previously saved messages to the client computer.

99. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to determine a message type associated with said pointer message and wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to transmit said previously saved pointer messages by transmitting only pointer messages of a persistent message type to the client computer.

100. The apparatus of claim 91 said processor circuit is operably configured to associate a client table with a communication identifier identifying said multiple-party communication.

101. The apparatus of claim 100 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to store an identification of the client computer in the client table.

102. The apparatus of claim 101 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to associate a receive buffer and a transmit buffer with the client identifier, said receive buffer being operably configured to store cursor messages received from the client computer and said transmit buffer being operably configured to store pointer messages to be transmitted to the client computer.

103. The apparatus of claim 101 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to:

receive a disconnect message from the client computer, said disconnect message representing a request by the user of the client computer to disconnect from the multiple-party communication; and

delete said identification of the client computer in the client table.

104. The apparatus of claim 103 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to cause the multiple-party communication to be discontinued when said identification of the client computer is an only client computer in the client table and wherein said disconnect message includes a request by said user of the client computer to discontinue the multiple-party communication after disconnecting the client computer.

105. The apparatus of claim 103 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to cause the multiple-party communication to continue running when at least one of:

the client computer is not an only client computer in the client table; and

said disconnect message does not include a request to discontinue the multiple-party communication after disconnecting the client computer; and

said disconnect message includes a request to keep the multiple-party communication running after disconnecting the client computer.

106. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein said client computer is a first client computer in a multiple-party communication, and wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to:

receive a second cursor message at the server, said second cursor message representing a change in a position of a second cursor displayed on a second client computer in the computer network; and

transmit a second pointer message to said first and second client computers, said second pointer message representing said change in said position of said second cursor provided by said second cursor message.

107. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to associate a time of receipt of said first cursor message at the server with said first cursor message and to associate a time of receipt of said second cursor message at the server with said second cursor message, and wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to transmit said first pointer message and to transmit said second pointer message in a time order corresponding to said time of receipt of each corresponding cursor message.

108. A computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing a server processor circuit to support multiple-party communications in a computer network including the server and at least one client computer, said codes directing the server processor circuit to:

receive a first cursor message at the server from the client computer, said first cursor message representing a change in a position of a first cursor associated with the client computer in response to user input received from a user of the client computer; and

transmit a first pointer message to the client computer in response to said first cursor message, said first pointer message representing said change in said position of said first cursor provided by said first cursor message.

109. A computer readable signal encoded with codes for directing a server processor circuit to support multiple-party communications in a computer network including the server and at least one client computer, said codes directing said server processor circuit to:

receive a first cursor message at the server from the client computer, said first cursor message representing a change in a position of a first cursor associated with the client computer in response to user input received from a user of the client computer; and

transmit a first pointer message to the client computer in response to said first cursor message, said first pointer message representing said change in said position of said first cursor provided by said first cursor message.

110. A system for supporting multiple-party communications on a client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, the system comprising:

a client processor circuit operably configured to;

transmit a first cursor message to the server to elicit a first pointer message from the server, said first cursor message representing a change in a position of a first cursor associated with the client computer in response to user input received from a user of the client computer;

a server processor circuit operably configured to;

receive said first cursor message from the client computer;

transmit said first pointer message to the client computer in response to said first cursor message, said first pointer message representing said change in said position of said first cursor provided by said first cursor message; and

said client processor circuit being operably configured to receive said first pointer message from the server and to cause a corresponding change in a position of a first pointer associated with said first cursor and displayed on a display area of the client computer, in response to said first pointer message.