TELECOMMUNICATION AND MULTIMEDIA MANAGEMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A communication method for communicating on a first communication device over a network, the method comprising:
- receiving local media streams on the first communication device originating at the first communication device;
progressively and persistently storing the received local media streams on the first communication device as the local media streams are received;
ascertaining network capabilities between the first communication device and the network as the local media streams are being received;
progressively transmitting the locally received media streams over the network as the local media streams are being received when the ascertained network capabilities are sufficient to support the progressive transmission;
receiving over the network remote media streams from a remote communication device at the first communication device;
progressively and persistently storing on the first communication device the remote media streams as the remote media streams are received over the network;
receiving rendering mode instructions at the first communication device to render the remote media streams either;
(i) as the remote media streams are received over the network in a near real-time mode;
or(ii) at a later time from persistent storage in a time-shifted mode; and
progressively rendering the received media streams in response to the received rendering mode instructions.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telecommunication and multimedia management apparatus and method that supports voice and other media communications and that enables users to: (i) participate in multiple conversation modes, including live phone calls, conference calls, instant voice messaging or tactical communications; (ii) review the messages of conversations in either a live mode or a time-shifted mode and to seamlessly transition back and forth between the two modes; (iii) participate in multiple conversations either concurrently or simultaneously; (iv) archive the messages of conversations for later review or processing; and (v) persistently store media either created or received on the communication devices of users. The latter feature enables users to generate or review media when either disconnected from the network or network conditions are poor and to optimize the delivery of media over the network based on network conditions and the intention of the users participating in conversations.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A communication method for communicating on a first communication device over a network, the method comprising:
-
receiving local media streams on the first communication device originating at the first communication device; progressively and persistently storing the received local media streams on the first communication device as the local media streams are received; ascertaining network capabilities between the first communication device and the network as the local media streams are being received; progressively transmitting the locally received media streams over the network as the local media streams are being received when the ascertained network capabilities are sufficient to support the progressive transmission; receiving over the network remote media streams from a remote communication device at the first communication device; progressively and persistently storing on the first communication device the remote media streams as the remote media streams are received over the network; receiving rendering mode instructions at the first communication device to render the remote media streams either; (i) as the remote media streams are received over the network in a near real-time mode;
or(ii) at a later time from persistent storage in a time-shifted mode; and
progressively rendering the received media streams in response to the received rendering mode instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification